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King Dhakir (pronounced Dha-kear) blazes “edutainment” in literature and music that sparks the mind of those who come across his work. Whether through songs or books, he strives to not only educate, but also provide the pleasure of learning through comedy, drama, history, and other forms of writing. The Chicago native pushes emotions from his work which seeps through the feelings of listeners and readers as he takes you to a journey that touches the five senses and various stages of consciousness.
As a music artist, the no nonsense MC sparks the inevitable gift of a true lyricist. Chi-Skilz, short for "Chicago Skills, is his performing name, and has performed across the Tri-State area. He’d developed a love for music by experiencing basement parties in the early 90's, and listening to his sister's collection of vinyl records on turntables.
Releasing a music video in the summer of 2006, and two albums in 2005 and 2006 (Sun of a Field Negro EP and Charismatic Superfly, respectively), he would later work on his debut novel
I Hate My Job in late-November of 2007.
I Hate My Job is now available @
http://www.kingdhakir.com, as the King prepares to serve another dish of that “feel good” to take the readers for the ride of their lives.
King
is all over the cybersphere; you can check him out at MySpace,
Facebook,
Twitter,
LinkedIn,
and YouTube! |
Click
cover to purchase YOUR copy of I Hate My Job today!
| Surviving while earning scraps and living under the roofs of others, Justice King is a college graduate who struggles with finding his calling in life. Unruly customers, demanding managers and sophomoric co-workers push his patience to the edge as he earns a steady pay-check that only lasts until the next. He faces the challenge of steering away from the temptation of fast money and thinks about the future once rent and property increases evict long-time residents from their homes. As smiles and laughter come in the form of side hustles, skirt chasing, and passing jokes with a close friend, the temporary high outside the workplace is what keeps his mind from exploding. The story of I Hate My Job is the vision of people who inspire to live the life of their choice with the sacrifice of getting out their dreams and creating their own vision. It’s the story of laughs, cries, pain, and joy, and the battle of lifting the spirits of the inner self.
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I HATE MY JOB: THE MOVIE. What's the catch-phrase on the IHMJ poster that epitomizes the story?
Fire Your Boss (insert theatre release date here).
Why I HATE MY JOB? When and how did the story begin to take shape?
Late-November 2007 was the period when I started the novel. I did it because I wanted to get back into writing.
I hadn’t written a short story in four years, since taking a creative writing class in college during the spring of ’03. Rusty ain’t even the word to describe my writing touch (laughs). My writing was OFF with a capital “O.” I stayed in a zone once I got my mojo back a few months afterwards.
I needed something that would catch folks’ attention from the gate. So I came up with the title. The title may be gimmicky, but the writing is FAR from the typical run-of-the-mill work. And then it later bit me in the ass because I really do hate my job (laughs).
The original storyline was about a woman personified as Hip-Hop and how she needed to be saved. I turned that idea into I HATE MY JOB because the topic hit closer to home.
What are three adjectives that best describe I HATE MY JOB?
Funky, Eclectic, and Masterful
What are three adjectives that best describe YOU?
Too many to name. I’m universal.
At first glance, one might think I HATE MY JOB is a street/urban novel; what makes the novel go beyond the genre?
I don’t think it’s a street-urban novel. Yeah, its focus is in the city, but that’s just the backdrop of the story.
The main idea and plot of the story are centered in a department store. I never knew working in a shoe store was considered “street-urban.”
That’s like saying The Great Gatsby is a “jazz” novel because of the music in the book.
I really don’t have a genre. I view myself as a literary writer because I promote literacy (reading, comprehension, and application) through my writing, and I’m versatile. I can write any and every genre once I put my mind into a particular element of choice.
What, ultimately, do you hope to accomplish through your writing?
Spreading the wealth of knowledge and laughter. It seems as if ignorance is cool nowadays, and walking around mad is fashionable.
I HATE MY JOB is the medicine in the ice cream. You’ll receive knowledge amidst the entertainment that’s in the book. It’s all about balance to the reader as a writer.
You went the indie publishing route with I HATE MY JOB; what has been your experience with traditional publishing? Did you try to pursue editors and agents?
I never tried to pursue traditional publishing. An author will NEED to grind REGARDLESS if that person wants success, so there was no reason for me to go the traditional route when I can gross the majority of the profits for myself.
There are pros and cons for both. However, I don’t want to step out of a plantation only to step into another.
I’m looking for a distribution deal. Not an author’s deal. I know my self-worth.
As far as editing, of course, EVERY writer needs an editor. That’s a must. But I really don’t need an agent as of now because the “middle-man” is not important until I get those big deals. I’m competent and capable of managing myself since I’ve just started.
Do you have a standard process to your writing? Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I’m a mood writer; sometimes I love writing, and sometimes I absolutely want nothing to do with it.
I need to be inspired. Forcing art is an injustice to my creativity. That’s why I hate deadlines.
But it’s a WRAP once I’m in a zone. My mind takes me to whatever my creativity would like for me to go, and THEN I plan; I map out plots, sub-plots, character development, symbolisms, etc.
The technical-scientific part of writing is what I love. The flow, syllable count, rhyme-scheme, and poetics are what I enjoy. The actual story is just the cherry on top.
My plan for the next book is to rhyme throughout the whole novel, like one giant rap song. The execution is going to be mind-blowing…WATCH!
As a music artist, you perform under the name Chi-Skilz (short for Chicago Skills); how does music and its nuances, rhythms, beats, etc. blend itself into your writing style? Does it?
Rhyming and MCing has helped me tremendously, especially with the use of flow and words, metaphors, punchlines, similes, and other literary devices.
Everything runs on mathematics, even music sheets and the flow of words. The number of syllables in a sentence and paragraph is important when it comes to flow. If the beat of the words in a sentence is uneven, then the flow will be off.
I learned that from music and writing rhymes.
I’m pretty much a conceptual artist, which means I don’t like to make a song unless it has a concept. That part of me has bled into my writings because you'll see crazy concepts and literary devices in I HATE MY JOB.
With that being said, I wouldn’t say I was influenced by other authors. If anything, I was influenced by some of the greatest MCs in Hip-Hop, such as Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, and KRS-One.
KING DHAKIR: My Life & Times -- The Soundtrack. What three tracks would make it onto a soundtrack of your life, and why?
Lenny Williams – Cause I Love You
Public Enemy – Fight the Power
Too Short – Freaky Tales
Those three tracks basically sum up my life in a nutshell. The explanation of my personality is manifested through those songs as my thoughts are multi-dimensional. I can be romantic (Lenny), and possess the gift of gab when it comes to women (Too Short). And the rebel in me (Public Enemy) throws out societal norms, like how I refuse to write from a woman’s perspective, which is normal in the literary business, even when a male is the author.
You're walking down the street - looking sharp, perfect day; what's the song that plays in your head?
Great question. I would say “Freddie’s Dead” by Curtis Mayfield, just the instrumental (laughs). The whole Superfly soundtrack is dope.
Word Association. What comes to mind when you see the following words:
I HATE MY
JOB: Masterful
CHI-SKILZ: Charismatic
WRITING: Superb
MUSIC: Excellent
KING DHAKIR: Supreme
Being new to the game of publishing, what are some things you've already learned about the publishing process and the publishing industry?
The hardest work is when the project is done, and the book industry is NO different from the rap industry as far as cliques, petty beefs, shiesty business practices, and other shadiness that goes on when money is involved.
I’m just doing me by keeping my mind’s eye (intelligence) wide open.
What have you done and what are you doing—as an author and a publisher—to promote I HATE MY JOB?
I recently bought ad space on a few websites, and I’m passing out bookmarks on the go. I’m also planning on participating in book fairs as well as setting up vendors and book signings around the NYC area. Hit up my website @
www.kingdhakir.com to order a copy of a euphoric, mind-blowing read…I GUARANTEE.
What projects are you currently working on?
I’m just brainstorming as of now. I dislike rushing my work. When I get the writing bug back once I’m satisfied with the reception of I HATE MY JOB, look out, because Daddy’s coming home for dinner.
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