Problem Child
Quan
By Talithia Kelly

From the depths of Bad News, VA comes Quan, a nigga who’s character is more complex than that Marc Echo magazine.  Born in Bridgeport, CT Quan bounced around and finally made a home in VA. As a teen he took a wrong turn along the way and served a seven year bid in the penitentiary.  Experiences such as that provided the framework for “Just a Moment”. The track was a child born from the memories and situations surrounding Quan at the time of his incarceration- such as his sister being sent to the war in Iraq, his brother also going to the feds and the death of many friends his heart was hurting.  “I put my pain in my pen.  God blessed me to bring those words and feelings to life that I was feeling.  For Nas to appreciate it and the world to appreciate was an honor,” Quan said.

With so much emotional turbulence built up inside, it’s no wonder Quan has a lot on his mind in regards to life. “You got to cherish every moment.  In life there’s no rehearsal.  The decisions that you make determines how your life turns out.  I’m still battling with things I did with my life as a teenager in the streets.  I cherish those that ain’t here and I try to make sure everybody in my circle knows that I love them.  I try to be there and make people smile not in the common sense but in being me.  You can’t save the world but you can make somebody day brighter.  A compliment, a hug or whatever the case may be,” The 20-something said.

Life isn’t easy and Quan’s going to share his lessons through his wisdom and words.  After a conversation with him it’s not hard to tell that his music will fall along the lines of “conscious” street rap as opposed to some “bubble gum” garbage as he shares his experiences about street life and the industry. “With the industry there’s a lot of smoke in mirrors.  Cats will say one thing and do another or tell you something they feel you need to hear at the moment to be non confrontational, it’s not a lot of honesty in the game.  There’s a lot of gimmicks.  You have to be true to yourself.  A lot of what these dudes spittin about, rappin about they ain’t do and they ain’t live.  Just know the talents you’ve been blessed with come from God.  The moment you forget that you forget yourself,” Quan said.

After his release, Quan linked up with his manager and immediately started putting material together.  Coincidence would have it that the engineer he was working with happened to be working on Nas’ album.  Quan was also working with Nas’ producer DJ LES, which led up to Nas hearing the song.  Once Nas heard the song the rest was history.

After signing with Ill Will Records in ’04 Quan was suddenly the object of a bidding war where Atlantic Records won. Since inking with Atlantic Quan knows his life been have gotten better but no less easier. “I have a son. I am able to provide a better future for him. [But] it’s a lot of pressures in the industry.  Everything you say and do you can be held accountable for.  Every move you make has to be calculated.  The music industry is worse than the drug game, to be honest with you,” Quan said.

Currently Quan is working on his album. There isn’t an official date of release as of yet but we may be blessed by the end of this year or early 07’.  Until that time all we can do is look underground and cop mix-tapes but Quan dropped some insight on what to what to expect from him as an artist, “A person ain’t measured by their intentions but by their deeds and actions alone.  Just know that I’m a real nigga and I really got something to talk about.  I really came to leave my mark.  I’m here to shed light on the parts of the street life that people ain’t seen or if they have seen don’t have anybody to speak for them.  I speak for niggas that ain’t got no voice. I represent women that bust they ass every morning for their kids to get them sh-t they never had.  I’m here to show people that dreams do come true no matter where you come from.”