INTERVIEWS

DENVER, COLORADO | OGDEN THEATRE

11/13/2017

Photographer/Writer: Mowgli Miles

The queen of the 818 gave Interracial Friends some of her time while in Denver on The OG In My System Tour where she has opened for Lil Debbie every night across the U.S.

Raven Felix dropped out of high school when she was 16, and she is far from what you would think of anyone who has dropped out of high school. She has flipped the stereotype upside down entirely. Currently 22 years of age, she is an official member of Taylor Gang - one of the most popular groups to ever emerge on the modern-day scene. She has dropped official albums under co-signs from Snoop-Dogg and Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang. And now she is living the dream touring. Raven is a perfect example of what happens when you truly believe in yourself entirely. She worked hard and her talent was noticed at a young age. I was lucky enough to secure a scheduled interview with Raven by emailing her management. After she finished her set we sat down backstage to talk racism, Donald Trump, The Wall, and much more...

For the people who don't know you, can you you please state your name and what you do?

Raven: I'm Raven Felix, I guess I could call myself a recording artist, or artist in general. I don't like to say rapper. Because I sing too and I don't like boxing myself in.

So the first question I ask everyone, can we end racism? Is it possible?

Raven: Yeah, and you know it's funny I think this question is huge, like there's so much behind it. It's broad. But the only answer I can really give that's a good answer on my part is you know people of passing privilege; whether it be of whatever race. Also being vocal to family members about racism. People of different colors endure it in different ways. I'm Hispanic , Puerto Rican and Mexican. So I grew up with my mom   I think ending racism per-say is a long journey. But we can't look at it like that

Mikey Mike: I think the media spins shit so much that we think there's this resurgence of white-supremecy, and I don't think it's true. I look around at all the people I know, I don't known anyone in my life who's a genuine fucking racist. And I know a lot of people. And I'm from Maryland in a small town, and there I knew friends, certain parents that were quasi... that had racial prejudices. But even the ones I knew who were maybe the most racist on paper, still would stop in a minute to help somebody of a different race or whatever. So I think there's obviously still prejudices that everyone has of different people. The more time we spend with different people of different backgrounds, the more it's disappearing everyday.

Great answer. So what causes genuine hate?

Mikey Mike: Well I think everything comes from within. So anything somebody's pointing at somebody else, they're pointing at themselves they just don't know it. You know that feeling of hatred or anger, always esteems from you, and it only exist in you. So if you want you can point at somebody else but it's about you! So that's my feeling. I think it comes from within. I think it comes from guilt, it comes from anger. They don't want to put it on themselves so they project it on somebody else.

So do you have anything coming up, anything you'd like to plug at all?

Mikey Mike: We're just going to drop about a song a month, and have more videos. Everything you can find on my Instagram, my website, yeah it's all there. Just going to be leaking shit, poems, everything. Yeah, it's all encompassing, it's just life.

Do you have any closing messages? Anything you want to leave with the people, the struggling artist? 

Mikey Mike: Yeah, wear condoms! Yupp, wear condoms. Oh, and for the artist, just keep pushing. You have to make the doors. You're going to have to grind forever. I see people who do it for like two years and they're like nothing happened... it's like are you fucking kidding me? I was in a bedroom for ten years, making beats all day, and writing hooks for other people until I got so good at writing hooks I was like fuck it, why am I trying to be apart of somebody else's trip? I'll make my own trip! I mean I'm not the best singer in the world, I'm not the best rapper. But you know I feel I got something to say, I say and people listen. I'm still waiting for someone to pinch me and say yo you gotta get a real job... but, it doesn't happen. I think if you're doing you, and you're really giving your fucking cheese straight out of you, people feel it. No matter where they're from, people say yeah, I get down with this.

Yo, that's a perfect answer! Thank you so much for this bro!

Mikey Mike is BY FAR one of the most enthusiastic people I have ever met. Maybe it's just because I caught him after his set and he was coming off of the high performing for a live crowd will give you... but something tells me he literally always carries this positive energy with him everywhere he goes. His vibe is infectious and he can lighten up any room. Mikey reminded me about the simpler things in life. Such as just being alive which means to be present and aware. Refreshing. Beyond refreshing.

Much love for the love Mikey!

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