We had the good fortune of connecting with Aric Rountree and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aric, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I reason I picked the more artistic path is mainly because it gives me the opportunity to communicate in different ways. Art allows me to connect with different types of people regardless of where they came from. Art especially music impacts more than just the minds it penetrates the soul.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve always had a love for writing and music in all its forms ever since I was a kid. I was always obsessed with rap because it allowed someone like me who couldn’t sing an opportunity to still use my voice to make music. What made me want to get into rapping was a need to hear more story-driven music from various perspectives and concepts. Hip-hop has always had a story-driven aspect to it but I feel like the concepts have now become a bit one-dimensional. As people mature and evolve so do our experiences, behaviors and outlooks. Hip Hop needs to adapt to those changes. My music pertains to the “human experience” as a whole… not just one aspect of that experience. I want my music to be fun to listen to as well as easy to relate to regardless of where you come from. Music that everyone can relate to makes it easier to see similarities with one another. I also want my music to challenge your perspective by looking at another’s. Music that introduces new perspectives creates opportunities for empathy. I’m most excited about the new music I’ve been working on this year because I feel that I’ve honed my craft enough to properly articulate the messages and stories in the style that best fits me with a producer that fits my particular style of rapping and storytelling.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Most of my friends are geeks who like to stay home lol. So if we ever got bored of watching anime and playing video games, I would go to my favorite local bar Goodfellas, Frank and Sons is a cool place to kick it at. It’s like Costco for geeks lol. I’m a big fan of Mom and Pop shops when it comes to eating so I would take my friends to soul food places like Beolas and Radical Dog Fish and BBQ. Pazole Place has the best damn carne asada in town!!! And there’s always something going on in Downtown Riverside.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Big shout out to my Mom and Dad for teaching me all dreams are possible as long as you have a plan and work ethic. Thanks to my brotha from another mutha, Vince for helping me find my voice as an artist ( JUMBO JET MONEY!!!) My Lady, Pita for being have faith and patience in the vision. My brother Shamar for supporting the dream And the homie Dixon for being an amazing producer and friend.

Website: Spotify-https://fanlink.to/claritymc

Instagram: https://fanlink.to/Claritymc909

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7w9rzXepR-0DfKzRnNLpng

Other: Link to all social media pages- https://biglink.to/FollowClarityMC Apple Music- https://music.apple.com/us/artist/claritymc/1457313176

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