Easy McCoy, Seattle born Rapper Now Residing in Portland, Or, is currently prepping for his newest release, “The Lights On Me”.  Easy McCoy is finalizing his transition from ‘acclaimed artist’, “Soul P” into one of Hip-Hop’s most thoughtful and progressive Emcees.  “This is me now”, says McCoy, referring to his current project, “The Lights On Me” as a symbol of ‘musical rebirth’! The Rapper says, “After 12 years of working, touring and learning, I’ve grown to understand who “I” am. Now, I am comfortable being ‘Easy McCoy’.  

Born and raised in Seattle’s tough ‘Yesler Terrace’ neighborhood, Easy McCoy describes his first musical experience as “purely organic”.  As a youth growing up in inner-city America, Hip-Hop music was a huge influence on our lives; we listened to music to escape.  McCoy sites influences from both coasts, such as NAS, Talib Kweli, Ice Cube and NWA.  Easy McCoy had a passion for music however, a turbulent childhood landed him constantly in and out of jail delaying his career. At the age of 18, McCoy finished his ‘final’ stint in the correctional system and returned to his passion, ‘music’.  While Rap played only a minor role in his earlier years, EasyMcCoy readily admits that he penned some of his best lyrics during his time behind bars, giving him a platform to speak responsibly about his struggles.  “It became a way of life,” McCoy says of his time in the streets. “We didn’t do it to look cool, we did it to survive and to eat; that’s why I chose not to glorify it in my music.

At the age of 14, Easy McCoy’s legal troubles transplanted him to Portland, Oregon where he eventually became connected with local producers, rappers and engineers in the city’s tight knit music scene.  He released his first albums “Simply Soul” in 2003 and “The Soul Affect” in 2006 via an independent label, “Simply Soul Entertainment”.  However, he struggled to pin down his sound.  The pervasive religious content in his songs where he spoke a lot about God and how he felt The Christ influenced his life made him a hit in the Christian Hip Hop niche. Despite meeting peers who shared similar lifestyles and struggles, McCoy wasn’t able to create the music that he wanted to.

McCoy’s album, “The Soul Affect” showcased a “raw and more political” side of himself, setting up the foundation for his transformation into one of Hip-Hop’s conscious Emcees.  His third album, “the Premiere” released on Beatmart/Sony Records in 2006 was the final push in a new direction, ushering in a fresh new start for this fourth album.  “It was a growth process, as I collaborated with new artists, explored new son concepts and incorporated new and unique elements into my music”, said McCoy. 

Combined with over a decade of evolving and experimenting this will be Easy McCoy’s most self-defining album to date.  With the aid of ‘Grammy nominated’ producers, ‘Incorporated Elements’, the Portland based rapper has crafted a line up of songs that showcase a much broader range of his work.  On one of the album’s lead singles, “My Life”, McCoy still references his faith, while exploring life revelations over an upbeat R&B tinged track.  “It’s an honest, open letter”, says McCoy. “People relate to the simple things we say, so I Rap in a way that people can understand me on a basic, human level”.