Today we’d like to introduce you to Clifford King, Jr.
Hi Clifford, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
How’s it going? My name is Cliff, but some may know me by my music Producer name “InnerCity Bang”. This is kind of a 2-part thing since I’m a firefighter and a music producer so for music, I grew up listening to family members play drums and piano in church. My Grandpa had a piano at his house so every time I went over, I would play on that because they didn’t have toys for me. At the age of 6, my parents bought me my first keyboard, a Casio one for Christmas. I started playing every day teaching myself.
I never took lessons so I got used to playing by ear. From 1st-5th grade, I would play my own original music for the school talent shows. Over the years, I started getting deeper into actually producing my own music. Got my first real production program (FL Studio) in high school. I would make beats in high school and college for people to freestyle at parties or in the dorms. I had a passion for producing.
I would rap and sing also but producing was what I loved doing the most. I began to make beats for my cousin here and there and continued to get better at my craft. 2015 was the first time I saw a beat battle where producers go head-to-head against each other’s beats. I was so inspired by the whole movement and scene, I went from 2016 to 2019 participating in official SXSW beat battles, making it to the final round multiple times.
This led me to connect with tons of people from around the nation who are all talented and have done some amazing things collaboration-wise. Some of these producers I had met had (even though they had major placements already) were pretty humble cool people and I ended up becoming actual friends with them.
For firefighting, my dad was a firefighter so I had always wanted to become one as well for as long as I can remember. I stayed out of trouble and active with sports growing up and eventually in college football. I came back to Texas and tested multiple times and finally made it in and became a San Antonio Firefighter.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I would be lying if I said the road was always smooth. I would have to say I had to learn not to doubt myself and my skills just because things hadn’t taken off in a big way back then. It doesn’t happen overnight and sometimes it’s easy to just think where you are in the furthest you can ever go.
I had to stop waiting or expecting things to present themselves to me. I had to take risks and chances on networking and getting out of my comfort zone. I would say I’m kind of an introvert, so I had to break out of that and get out and do beat battles, go-to studio sessions, go see other music events, etc.
I’m pretty comfortable now with networking and collaborating with others mainly because the beat battles forced me to get out of my shell and get myself and my music out there. There’s a certain feeling when you put yourself out there and show your music to hundreds of people at once.
I went knowing that there probably were Grammy-nominated producers and artists who went Gold and Platinum, and sure enough, I was right. It’s scary at first just because I worry too much and don’t like being in front of a crowd. What made me even more nervous was seeing big names I recognized sitting there specifically to judge me and my music.
In the end, it paid off when I saw people jumping and clapping and making the infamous “stank face”, which that face means the beat was really really dope. It’s all about facing the challenges and finding a way to overcome them no matter how many times you have to face them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a music producer/songwriter. I produce many genres of music but my specialty I would say is hip hop and R&B. I think most who know me, know me from hearing or seeing me at SXSW doing the beat battles. But my sound, I think is most known for having hard drums, good percussion, mostly high energy, and hard melodies, basically, everyone knows I do mostly everything original.
I’m most proud of how far I’ve come just in life. I had goals and being a firefighter and making it in music were 2 of them. I’ve been a firefighter now for 5-6 years and my music continues to elevate and reach people I wouldn’t have expected it to. There’re people locally that I work with a lot, and they are all dope.
There are also up-and-coming artists and producers, Grammy-nominated artists and producers, all have tons of talent and I have had or currently have some things possibly in the works. I don’t speak too much on things that aren’t complete so just know there are some special things in the works. What sets me apart from others I think is that I feel I am originally diverse with my beat-making.
I’m able to create almost anything while still keeping it original. At the same time, if I need to chop samples for someone, I’m capable of doing that also. I have also created background music for a few short films and music for fashion show runways, so I’m pretty versatile.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I would like to say if you have a passion, go for it and don’t give that up no matter what. I have made music since I was a child.
I’ve gone through school, jobs, heartbreaks, promotions, having kids, marriage, having a whole career, the good days, and even the bad days. Music has always been there through it all. It has gotten me through a lot because I was able to take emotions and put them into a song or beat.
If I needed to feel better after a bad day, I could just go and make a chill beat that I was proud of and it would pick me back up. You might not realize it, but music is way more than a few sounds, and notes. Certain keys give you a certain feel or vibe. Music will always be a part of my world.
Pricing:
- Basic Lease- $10
- Pre-Made Exclusive Beats- $150
- Custom Exclusive Beats-starting at $200
Contact Info:
- Website: www.innercitybanggotbeats.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/innercitybanggotbeats
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/innercitybang
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/innercitybang
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvmoPkRgFpL3OjZL9k1ZwYQ
- SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/innercitybang
Image Credits
Final Touch Photography
