DNA

INTERVIEW: KIM “GOODLOOK” SEABROOK

VALIDATED: IN YOUR OPINION, HOW HAS BATTLE RAPPING EVOLVED SINCE THE SMACK DVD PIONEER ERA?

DNA: I FEEL BACK THEN BATTLING WAS MORE SO A HOBBY OR A COOL THING TO DO AND NOW IT'S BECOME A CAREER FOR A LOT OF US. BACK IN THE DAY WE WOULD BATTLE IN A PARK OR THE STREET CORNER AND NOW WE SELL OUT VENUES THATS 1,500 PLUS WHICH OPENED OTHER AVENUES FOR US SUCH AS BET, RAP GAME, WILD 'N OUT, ESPN, ETC.

VALIDATED: WHAT MADE YOU TRANSITION FROM A RECORDING ARTIST TO A BATTLE RAPPER?

DNA: MY ENGINEER MOVED FROM NY TO FLORIDA, I WAS OUT OF A STUDIO AND I HAD NO PLACE TO RECORD. I WANTED TO GAIN POPULARITY SO PEOPLE WOULD LISTEN TO MY MUSIC. IN THE PROCESS OF THAT I FELL IN LOVE WITH BATTLE RAP AND WOUND UP BATTLING MORE THEN RECORDING. LOL

VALIDATED: IN 2009, AT AGE 17, GRIND TIME INTRODUCES YOU TO THE WORLD AS A BATTLE RAPPER. HOW DID YOU LAND THE OPPORTUNITY AND WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM IT?

DNA: IN 2009 I JOINED GRIND TIME AFTER REACHING OUT TO PH (REST IN PEACE) ON MYSPACE. I SENT HIM A VIDEO OF ME RAPPING AND HE GAVE ME A TRY OUT AFTER THAT. I WOUND UP LOSING THE TRY OUT BUT THEY THOUGHT I DID SO GOOD THEY MADE ME APART OF GRIND TIME. WHAT I LEARNED FROM IT WAS I NEEDED TO PACE MYSELF BETTER IN BATTLES AND ALSO USE MY FREESTYLE ABILITY TO MY ADVANTAGE BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS I LOST.

VALIDATED: NOVEMBER 15TH, 2011, YOU VERSUS DIZASTER AT KOTD, ARGUABLY THE BIGGEST BATTLE OF YOUR CAREER. WHAT DID YOU TAKE AWAY FROM THAT EXPERIENCE?

DNA: WHAT I TOOK FROM THE DISASTER BATTLE WAS THAT IN BATTLE RAP I'M HERE TO STAY. I WAS REALLY NERVOUS GOING INTO THAT BATTLE AND WASN'T SURE I WOULD BE ABLE TO BEAT DISASTER. SO FOR THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE TO SAY I DID AND HAVING DRAKE THERE WHILE IT HAPPENED WAS A DEFINING MOMENT IN MY CAREER. FROM THERE FORWARD I NEVER DOUBTED MYSELF AGAIN.

VALIDATED: IN 2016 YOU PASSED ARSONAL AND BECAME THE MOST VIEWED AMERICAN BATTLE RAPPER EVER. DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR INITIAL REACTION WHEN YOU GOT THE NEWS OF THE ACHIEVEMENT?

DNA: I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I WAS IN 2ND PLACE. LOL BUT AFTER THE INITIAL SHOCK I FELT PROUD BECAUSE AS MANY BATTLES AND BATTLERS THERE ARE IT WAS MIND BLOWING THAT I WAS WATCHED THE MOST. NOW I'M BACK IN 2ND BECAUSE ARSONAL HAD A FEW BIG BATTLES BUT I'LL CATCH HIM AGAIN. LOL

VALIDATED: WHAT'S YOUR IDEAL BATTLE THAT HAS YET TO HAPPEN, YOU VERSUS WHOM IN WHICH VENUE ON WHICH PLATFORM?

DNA: THE IDEAL BATTLE FOR ME AT THIS POINT IN MY CAREER IS TO TRANSCEND FROM BATTLE RAP INTO ACTING OR MUSIC. AT THIS POINT I FEEL I BATTLED AND DID EVERYTHING I NEED TO DO IN BATTLE RAP.

VALIDATED: WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT AS A BATTLE RAPPER AND WHY?

DNA: THROUGHOUT MY 150 BATTLES I HAVEN'T CHOKED ONCE.

VALIDATED: WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST CHALLENGING MOMENTS IN YOUR CAREER?

DNA: HAVING TO REINVENT MYSELF SO MANY TIMES BECAUSE I BATTLED SO MUCH.

VALIDATED: WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO IS LOOKING TO FOLLOW YOUR FOOTSTEPS?

DNA: NEVER GIVE UP BECAUSE THE BATTLE INDUSTRY IS JUST LIKE THE MUSIC INDUSTRY... IT'S DESIGNED FOR YOU TO QUIT. ALWAYS BE YOURSELF AND DON'T FEED INTO THE NEGATIVITY OR BACKLASH BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE YOU QUESTION WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

VALIDATED: AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE MOSTLY RECOGNIZED FOR?

DNA: I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED AS ONE OF THE MOST CREATIVE, INNOVATIVE ARTIST IN THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS.

VALIDATED: WHAT IS YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA INFO AND HOW ELSE CAN FANS KEEP UP WITH YOU?

DNA: MY SOCIAL MEDIA INFO IS... INSTAGRAM: @DNAGTFOH, TWITTER: @DNA_GTFOH AND MY EMAIL FOR BOOKINGS OR FEATURES IS DNAALLFEATURES@GMAIL.COM.