Meet Isidro Cornejo | Artist & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Isidro, what role has risk played in your life or career?
They say fortune favors the bold and I believe that 100 percent. You need to overcome your fears first before you can tackle risk. See lots of us allow our fears to hold us back so we never even get to the point of taking risks. We stay living in a safe have often taken the safer more cautious routes. However, when you have your mind set on something and you believe in it. You need to rid yourself of all the fearful thoughts and embrace the unknown. Take that leap, take that risk or else you will never know what may have been if you did.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I try to make music that’ll inspire hope in us all. I’m sure there are plenty of artist that do the same but what differs is my background. I come from a family of 12 who immigrated from Mexico and lived out the American portion of their lives in the city of Long Beach, CA. Now growing up, gangs and violence was a common thing in the neighborhood. We were pulled between the Mexican country way of living and this new urban life. I definitely saw the the struggles of my family and neighbors from that perspective which made me want to be a speaker for people who lived like us. It aint easy living with 12 people in a one bedroom apartment and dealing with the stuff going on outside. That is where i draw my inspiration from, from the struggles of poor families doing their best to get by, from the streets that suck our youth in to them and don’t let go, from the drug abuse that turns someones life upside down to the point you don’t even recognize that person anymore and from the block trauma all this can have on our mental health. I thank God every day for helping us move and overcome the problems we faced and face still. Nothing will ever be perfect but you can sure try to make it so or improve your current situation. For this, I am grateful to have had been introduced to hiphop. I wouldn’t be the person I am without being the rapper I always wanted to be. Drama House.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Depends what their into but for sure I’m taking them to get some fire greenery first haha! Gotta show them Long Beach, its my city so they are going to get the whole tour. Take them to the little neighborhood spots where folks make food out their cribs. like Mariscos el Garage where Don Diego would make cocktails out his garage. Long Beach is a diverse city so you get a little bit of everything when it comes to food and culture. With that being said were trying everything: Vietnamese, Cambodian, Hawaiian, Indian, Italian, Persian etc… Sol Cal is big though and being from a beach city, I like going to the beach or cruising the beach so we have to hit Huntington, Hermosa, Manhattan, Venice, Santa Monica and Malibu. Also going to hit Hawkins in Watts for a burger and go see the Watts Towers. We also have to go see the different Kobe Murals in the city and also go shop at the Marathon store. Nipsey was one of my favorite upcoming rappers and I’m always inspired when I go back to his spot. I’m all about Mom and Pop shops, places in the hood or just small businesses that deserve more recognition for their quality of products. All these big corporations already have money, they don’t need anymore of mine. So if your with me, were going around the city buying, eating and supporting local businesses.

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?
It definitely stems from my family. Growing up, we struggled day in and day out but we were always together in doing so. My brother Cesar, especially felt that I had a talent and would do everything in his power to encourage me to keep working on my craft. I’ve been privileged enough to have amazing mentors throughout my life. Derek, A.C and Thots One were amongst the best hiphop mentors i had. They opened up a graffiti shop where kids from around the city could go and express themselves with any of the 5 hiphop elements. They had emcees, graffiti writers, breakers and even folks that beat boxed all in one shop part taking in the culture. That really taught me what it was all about, community. It also, inspired me and from there i started battling recording on tapes or home studios, just doing whatever I could to practice and showcase my skills. Without these first mentors, Im not sure if I would have gotten this far.

Instagram: @cdro562

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRKogltt81euDyNeYa0CH3Q