Meet Latik McNeil | Artist, Entrepreneur, & Community Servant

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

Hi Latik, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I don’t know if i’d call it a “thought process”, as much as a “life process”. I already had the energy of hustle in me since i was a kid, selling dolllar store candy at school. so when life hit hard, i had to hustle harder. And i didn’t have many resources other than myself, with skills and knowledge i had gained over the years of being an artists and student of life around me. So i decided to find more ways to monetize dance/poetry performance. From paid features to competitions to paid music video appearances and more.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As an artist that ventures into various artistic and professional endeavors, i don’t believe that I’m the best at any of them. Most rappers, dancers, poets, entrepreneurs and such claim to be the best at what they do. What sets me apart is my value in quality and balance. In each method i choose, i work to the best of my ability, while also maintaining a balance of multiple styles, genres, energies, and intentions. While i can be lyrical, i also want to be sonically in tune. While i can freestyle, i also want to make use of learned techniques. While i want to make the maximum profit, i want to make the maximum impact. I have never seen this world as black and white, but as a complex spectrum that can be simply understood through balance, instead of contradiction. As a person who struggled with internal conflict with my mental health and external conflict with my varying environments, i had to learn that these opposing qualities were just a part of the puzzle that was my art, my career, and my philosophy.

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?
I would most definitely take my friend to see the less mainstream art scene of Baltimore. I would of course allow them to experience the Inner Harbor and the classic, typical parts of the city, but the real fun would come with visiting some of the “Mom & Pop” bars of the area. For a good, affordable drink and some old-school community vibes, i would go down to Greg’s Place or Odyssey Lounge. If i wanted to be bit more classy, i would head over to Harbor East and catch a beautiful, seafood or steak dinner at The Oceanaire and a movie across the street at the cinema. For fun, i would take them to one of the many open mics, gallery showings, dance battles, rap battles, showcases, and karaoke events happening almost any day in the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to give a major amount of love and gratitude towards my brothers Nova & Icon. Icon is essentially who “discovered” me and connected me to the Baltimore art scene. He introduced me to Nova who would then become my mentor and guide me to developing the many connections that helped establish and propel my career. Since then they have stuck around, grown with me, and supported me to the best of their ability and i cannot be any more thankful.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_illestrate/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latik-mcneil-2572a875

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_illestrate

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatikHopelessRomantic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kaylyn2005

Image Credits
Mike Jon Photography (@convowithmikejon)