Meet Santana Askan of Phoenix Arizona

Today we’d like to introduce you to Santana Askan

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Started with drumming. I wanted to be a drummer for a metal band. Somewhat musically inclined. When my mother passed away I always wrote poetry about my feelings when she passed. I was good at it. My English teacher always praised me for my ability to write. I graduated high school and 3 years later I would sit in my car and free style with my friends Bremen and Bailee. We were inseparable. I sucked at first but it was fun so I kept at it. At that time I broke up with my girlfriend and moved down to the valley of phoenix Arizona. Met my bother David Monreal. He was already in a rap group. We would then free style all the time. Eventually we would basically make songs in his car. I wrote over 70+ songs on YouTube beats. Having fun. The homie Bryce showed us how to make beats on Reaper. We practiced and started making really dope beats. The songs started coming naturally… my music sucked but I kept at it. The first album was ‘Fossils’ just a bunch of song I thought we good. The 2nd album ‘The Beautiful Deception’ was about my break up with my ex Girlfriend. It was better then the first more structured. When my 3rd album ‘The only stain in the spotless room’ I knew I had something. People started recognizing the talent. People were calling my form of music “Dark Alternative Rap” which I thought was dope. Being recognized for something I made from scratch is something I can’t express or explain. Doing shows people started singing my songs with me. Goosebumps till this day. I met my homie KMRN and started making beats for him. Eventually we made a project called ‘Local Penguin Jesus’ the songs on this project have been a staple in my music journey. Proving I can write music that wasn’t my genre. I changed my stage name from ‘Talika’ to ‘Tallikuh’ I got tired of people saying my name wrong. With the new name I dropped my first single called ‘Issues’ about dealing with depression, anxiety, and holding pain. Expressing why I have these issues and what caused them. Writing about my child hood in Flagstaff Arizona. Has been hard for me. 70+ shows later. 5000$ worth of merch all over the United States. 4 projects later. I’m still here creating my 5that project.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road had its struggles. Being a head chef and some knee injuries. I’ve always worked through it. Sometimes I feel like I should just quit music but always ended up going back. Coming back 2x stronger.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Rap has been a staple in my music. I grew up on Thrash metal, Grunge, 90’s Rap. I’m known for Dark Alternative Rap music. Being a Native American hiphop artist I hope one day the Native American community supports me in what I do. I’m proud of the things I’ve accomplished in these 7 years and still being who I am today. Never changed or switched. I set myself apart from others cause I’m different. I don’t try hard to be someone I’m not. Dark heavy beats with heavy percussion. With the flow of Jcole, Mac miller, and Jid type beats. With the writing of Jonathan Davis. Is what sets me apart from the others.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Hit me up. I’m ready to work. I make beats for those who need a fresh taste of something different.
I’m on Instagram and all social media platforms under Tallikuh_phxaz

Pricing:

• 100$ beat exclusives

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linqapp.com/santana_askan
• Instagram: Tallikuh_phxaz
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tallikuh_phxaz
• Other: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/tallikuh/

Image Credits
Film by Ceesz
Daniel Vidales
Tothetop