Midnight Spotlight: Ross Maq

Each week, 889@Night will recognize local unsigned talent and promote their music on air as well as on our website. We highlight the talented few who got that “fire”. By the end of the week, we let our listeners choose whether they want these artists to be added to constant rotation or not. This week starting today, July 9, 2012, we are highlighting local rapper Ross Maq and playing his music at midnight and 12:30 am every night this week.

Born in Melrose, Massachusetts and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, Ross Maq grew up listening to hip-hop music from an early age. He is inspired by rappers such as Run-DMC, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Wu Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Jay-Z, Big L, Big Pun, Canibus, and more. Ross Maq originally started off as a DJ in 1996 and started working with local rappers to create his own DJ mixtapes. He used to sell his mixtapes in school and in the local record shops in Lowell.

After a while, DJing wasn’t enough for him and his love for hip-hop made him want to try rapping. He then began going to local cyphers and open mic events and dropping freestyles among the local rappers that he was working with. Since he kicked his first freestyle, he has hit the groung running and never looked back. He has done hundreds of shows, radio appearances, and he also owns and operates his own graphic design and promotions firm called 495 Designz. Ross Maq has worked with some really established rappers and producers like J. Cardim, Cardiak, and Jahlil Beats.

His current single is called “Rollin” and features Showoff artist Kali Raps and it’s produced by Jahlil Beats. Tune into 889@Night on Monday July 9th, 2012 for a live interview with Ross Maq where you can learn more about him and make sure you tune in all week at midnight and 12:30AM for new music from Ross Maq. Follow him on Twitter and download his project The Mixtape here.

 By Malcolm J. Gray