Ohene Cornelius – A movement and a force all on his own

BY Jenni Ruiza (@RuizaJenni)

The Boogie Down is known for revolutionary artists in Hip-Hop – but think about the most recent artists who’ve come from the Bronx and changed the face of music: Fat Joe, Swizz Beatz, Slick Rick, KRS One, Mary J. Blige. It’s not until recently has the borough started to pick back up again with its birthing of unique artists the way it used to. Ohene Cornelius, a movement and force, proves that nontraditional style and a strong building of one’s brand is all you need to get a little attention. With his signature experimental sounds and work [also an actor and writer], Cornelius is working on the debut of his album, “American Idle”, due June 6th.

Q. What part of the Bronx are you from?

A. I was born in Harlem, but grew up for a large amount of my time on Cypress Ave.

Q. When did you first realize you were meant to be an artist?

A. Meant to be an artist is a loaded statement. I am an artist. I don’t know if I was meant to be one. That gets into issues of destiny and fate, and for me, each person has, on a basic level, control over their destiny. I’ve made an active choice as an adult to stay in the arts, through the thick and thin.

I want my purpose in life to be an adjunct result of my commitment to the arts community at large. Some people have an amazing talent to do things and don’t pursue it. Were they any less meant to be an artist than me, no, but I am an artist because I choose to live through my creative work.

(more…)