Kenny M. Alvarez, better known as I.K.P. (The Infamous King of Positivity) is an individual who has carefully mapped out his lifelong path through music. Kenny Alvarez is the last child born to a modest middle class family of a particularly distinct ethnic group known as the Garifuna people, a culture indigenous to the Central American Caribbean coast; him being a 2nd generation American with heritage of Honduran origin. I.K.P. began writing rap songs at age 14 as a way to find his own voice that would allow him to stand out from his older siblings while being able to explore his imagination and muse about his life on a day-to-day basis. Heavily inspired by the most successful artists of 90s era mainstream hip-hop such as Nas, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, 2Pac, DMX and the like, I.K.P. used them to formulate his own rhyme style. I.K.P. cites his high school English teachers as motivators for strengthening his writing abilities; his teachers would often find themselves impressed with his uncanny ability to use diction to perfectly express his thoughts in the most concise and descriptive manner. He recalls learning many poetic devices, such as alliteration and assonance, specifically for use in his lyrics, which he would concentrate on often in his spare time.
I.K.P.’s journey to the music world is highlighted by sporadic appearances at talent shows, open-mic nights and community performances throughout. During his 5-year service in the U.S. Marines being based in North Carolina, I.K.P. would find sparse club venues and open-mic nights to perform at during his spare time. As he continued to hone his performance craft, he attempted to produce a full-length mixtape-style compilation On The Verge Of Collapse with the help of various music makers across the web. The end product was completed by early 2008, but did not fare well beyond friends and acquaintances at venues where he would perform. Taking another approach, I.K.P. decided to become educated to what it would take to create a project on a bigger scale, which brought on the birth of his independent entity, Ominous E.Y.E. Enterprises. Attending Full Sail University, I.K.P. has decided not to take the normal route as an indie artist looking for a deal, but to create a self-representative independent company that puts his education to use and creates a solid platform for which to officially launch his artistic endeavors.
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