Today we’d like to introduce you to BF Steve.
Hi BF, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am currently an active artist in San Diego, CA. However, my entire life’s work was done in Los Angeles, CA.
I’ve been an active musician since I was a child. I started with playing violin and singing in choir when I was middle school, and by high school, I was actively part of the school choir, and drama club, and had a rock band of my own with friends from other schools. Throughout college and my 20’s, I actively pursued a career in music with my bands and my own solo music.
I studied Voice and Music Theory in my short time in college before I dropped out. Those days were so valuable to me because it taught me everything I already knew intuitively and helped me understand it on an intellectual level.
As I approached my 30s, I stopped pursuing a career in music and decided to start my own business as a personal trainer and parkour coach. That’s when I left Los Angeles to live in San Diego. I was good at fitness, but for those 5 years, I did very little writing or performing.
After my fitness career failed and I got burnt out, I decided to come back to the music scene. But this time, I would not play rock music, and I would do what I always thought was cool but did not believe I could do: Rap.
I released my first mixtape in 2019 under my full name, Steve Cheung. I was back in the game, fresh in a new city, and had no gear because I had sold most of it in order to fund my fitness business. So, instead of making excuses, I recorded the entire thing on my iPhone using Garageband. I named that mixtape “Pocket Jams.”
By 2020, I had used my unemployment money to fund my music career. I bought a laptop, mics, beat-making software, pianos, and more. Now, I am proud to use my humble studio in my room to record my own music, as well as other local artists’ music.
Today, I am focused on performing and building a following in my town while putting together a portfolio of music to sell and license, and lastly, recruiting local artists to record their songs in my studio.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been “smooth” in any sense. One of the main things I struggle with as a rapper is not being taken seriously.
Some of the factors include the fact that I am not your typical applicant. I don’t rap about a lot of the things that most rappers rap about. I did not come from a “rough” neighborhood or grow up in a broken home. I am well-articulated and don’t speak in slang or trends, and my style of music is a bit on the fun and lighter side.
The Hip Hop industry comes from a lot of pain, trauma, and hardship. Thus, most rappers relate to these topics when they rap.
Of course, being the type of person who I am, I don’t feel the need to talk about ALL of my hardships. Yeah, I had a good family with my own room and plenty of food. Yeah, I never had to gangbang or sell drugs to make it. Yeah, I don’t act tough in my music or my persona.
However, most people don’t realize that my problems don’t have to look like everyone else’s in order to drive me; in order to help me grow. My music comes from the heart.
Because I am always positive and uplifting, no one knows that I grew up in the rough streets of LA until I was 8. No one knows that I was sexually abused when I was 5 years old. No one knows that I have a biological father who I have not seen or talked to in 20 years. Just because I don’t share these things with most people (especially in my music) does not mean they aren’t real to me.
My biggest hardship to this day is not being taken seriously by those who judge me based on my lifestyle. I’m too “soft” or “sensitive” to be a rapper.
I say: “screw that.” That’s my edge. That’s what sets me apart from the rest.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I feel that I’ve really set a standard for myself as far as lyrical prowess. My music is fun and uplifting, and I rap about topics that most people dare to think about.
I write, produce, and edit all of my music and videos in my room. It’s my own private studio in which I am able to do everything I need to drive my business.
On top of that, I have made a name for myself in the local San Diego community and am currently recording clients and accepting new clients to help them make their musical visions come to life.
I record all mine and my client’s music on my MacBook and use all my skills from making beats to playing guitar, bass, drums, piano, and more in order to produce.
My biggest accomplishment is where I’ve come from in the last 3 years. I started out as a rocker who wanted to be a rapper, had no money or equipment, recorded an entire mixtape using an iPhone and a pair of stock Apple Headphones, and made a prominent impact on my community in a genre I had no idea I could be so good at.
Lastly, I am breaking the mold by writing music that is not based on what people want to hear but based on what I want to hear. I am mixing rock, hip hop, metal, and trap music to create my own sound, and have never shy’d away from the challenge of being myself to its fullest potential.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I see the industry shifting in so many ways due to social media. Already, we are seeing that people are interested in short, engaging posts and less interested in singles, music videos, and albums.
Of course, I intend to integrate my brand and my marketing to involve both: short engaging posts and old-school music trends.
One thing I see that most artists are lacking these days is the live aspect. It’s important to have a strong presence online, but what is the point if you can’t execute those skills live? At some point, your fans will want to see you perform.
I hope to keep that edge because of my background in rock n roll, choir, theater, and more. I don’t just want to be a rapper. I want to be a musician; I want to be an artist.
With that being said, DJs and EDM music are hitting hard in the industry right now, and I feel that the mix of House/DubStep + Hi [ Hop/Rap Vocals are the future. Mark my words.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bfsteve.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bf_stv
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/bfstevemusic
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/bf_steve
