Seattle’s musical personality is often defined by the grunge movement, mostly because of Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and other similar artists. However, there are many different genres of local music and artists that go overlooked, such as the up and coming rapper Fantasy A. Fantasy A is an autistic Seattle rapper who aspires to express himself through the creation of music, despite his personal challenges.
He has caught many people’s attention over the years because of his unique style of music, and his personality overall. He appeals to those who wish to elevate media representation of people with disabilities, make it in music, or just conquer their personal challenges; something that can resonate with almost anybody. He described the best parts about being a rapper as “expressing my feelings, showing people that I can rap about my personal life struggles, and meeting others,” ideas that really indicate the type of music you are going to hear from him, and the type of person that he is.
He said that, in a word, his music is “Life. Because I usually write about my life, what’s been going on with me, what’s been bothering me, and what I don’t like about it. Life is really important to me.” You can really see these ideas expressed throughout his music, as many of his lyrics are very personal, something that feels truly real and authentic.
He also raps about current events, and what they make him feel. For instance, he has songs about everything from news in the NFL to his opinions on crimes in Seattle. This sort of music is what really characterizes Fantasy A, a combination of personal stories, and personal takes on bigger affairs. Regardless of the topic, one can be sure that they will be hearing his true feelings through his songs.
But getting to where he is now was no small task. He had to face, and is still facing, many challenges that block his path to success. Fantasy A repeatedly mentioned his struggles with trust, that he feels as though there were people who took advantage of him throughout his life, saying, “Another word that describes my music is betrayed, because some people took advantage of me, and I have to be careful of that.” The music industry itself isn’t abundant with trust and forgiveness, and it appears that Fantasy A is not exempt from those same struggles. This idea also plays a huge role in many of his songs, where he talks about his experience with scammers or other trust related grievances.
When asked about some more of these blockages, he said, “The biggest challenge I have faced is to not let my disability overcome my ability to make music.” Fantasy A serves as an example that you can be whatever you want to be. This message is what led to his connection with Best Buddies, a program that connects disabled kids with peers to create friendships, in addition providing opportunities for leadership development, integrated employment, or just providing a space for everybody.
Fantasy A was asked to perform at the Best Buddies palooza, an event that he says he will never forget. “They asked me to MC, and I am actually down for that! It was the greatest experience I’ve ever had with Best Buddies.” He remains an avid supporter of the program.
2020 has been an interesting year for Fantasy A; it brought a whole new set of challenges along with a whole new set of events. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, progress has slowed for Fantasy A, although he did talk about how he is able to still give live performances through Instagram and Facebook. Although these innovations are necessary to maintain a safe environment, Instagram live performances just won’t be the same as performances in person.
Fantasy A is making his way through music, proving people wrong at every stop. His message for anybody who doesn’t know him is that “I’m the most trustworthy person that puts myself out there. If they ever need anything, or anyone to trust, I’ll be there.” He topped off the interview by saying, “My motto that they have to remember is to be themselves, be inspired, and be respectful.”
