“When I’m in my artistic zone, I can’t hear or see anything except what I’m trying to put on the paper. It’s like I go in a trance!”

-Aaliyah Anderson, from the forthcoming young adult novel “The Diary of Aaliyah Anderson”

A couple of months back, I uploaded the most popular article I’ve written so far entitled Three Reasons Why Most Of Our Youth Don’t Have a Chance At Success. It caused a very healthy discussion but folks were still pointing fingers at young people, still acting as if we’re all dysfunctional. Why is it so hard to accept that there is some positivity coming from the millennial generation? Why do we keep harping on the ratchetness, self-hate and negativity that we’re constantly fed? We will right this ship!

When I wrote my first novel The Diary of Aaliyah Anderson, I made a vow to be the voice of my generation. I made a promise to myself to prove to the world that you can put major support and backing behind positive content to young adults. And with 29,000 reads and counting on Wattpad, a publishing deal with DC Bookdiva Publications and a staff writing position for three websites and a magazine (Sista’s Keeper), my goals are being achieved! But I’m still not satisfied…….

Another vow I made to myself was that I’d do everything in my power to make The Diary of Aaliyah Anderson the new  coming-of-age novel that everyone has in their collection. I want my  novel to be put in the same category as Sister Soulja’s The Coldest  Winter Ever and Omar Tyree’s Flyy Girl. It has all the potential in  the world too. But, when it comes to success, I’m rather impatient. I  want the message of The Diary of Aaliyah Anderson to take over  the world right now! But how am I going to do that if the young people in  my hometown of Macon, GA barely recognize what I’m doing? Yeah,  that’s a huge problem…….

For the longest time, I kept hearing about this rapper named Que. He  had a large group of female followers at almost every middle and high  school in Macon. He was headlining local shows and opening for  nationally renowned music artists like Diggy Simmons, Jacob Latimore and the OMG Girls and he hadn’t even graduated high school yet. I was amazed!

I started listening to his music and realized that he actually had a message. He was going out of his way to promote positivity and having a good time. And he was getting major recognition and love for it. As a BMB (Business Minded Brother) I tend to look at things in a deep and analytical sense. I stopped looking at the artist Que and started looking at Que, the budding musical brand. This brother is doing some revolutionary things man! I’m not lying at all!

All entrepreneurs can take a lesson from this young man. I know I have! After scheming on it for months, I finally got a chance to chop it up with Que about his rise to musical prominence.

 

Randall: From my research on your background, you’ve been performing since you were a child. How have you been able to turn your passion for music into a career?

Que: I turned my music into a career by putting much of my time and energy into it, I always dreamed about being a music artist, and felt like I was blessed with a God given talent, so I took it in consideration and built a career.

 

Randall: You boast about being a versatile, clean artist. How have you been able to keep things positive?

Que: I kept things positive by doing music that’s clean and that does not influence drugs, violence and poverty. Also, I avoid using profanity and write about subjects that can affect a person in a positive way,

 

Randall: Ever since you’ve started performing in Macon, you’ve taken the city by storm! Rapper T.I. said in an interview on BET’s 106 & Park last year that it’s extremely important for an artist to get their city, state and/or region behind him. How were you able to do this so effectively?

Que: I stayed humble and respectful to my peers around my community, I also participated in charitable organizations around the city like Feed The Homeless visiting the children’s hospital to give gifts to the patients and really showing the citizens of Macon how appreciative I am of their support.

 

Randall: How important has surrounding yourself with the positive people been to your success as an artist and a young man?

Que: My positive surroundings encourage me to do the right things, and make sure I don’t stain my image or the brand I’m building. My fans, family, and friends are all positive people and that motivates me to keep pushing such a great movement.

 

Randall: The Business Dictionary defines “branding” as “The process involved in creating a unique name and image for a product in the consumers’ mind, mainly through advertising campaigns with a consistent theme. Branding aims to establish a significant and differentiated presence in the market that attracts and retains loyal customers.” From what I see, you’ve been incredibly successful in this regard.

Que: Yes my brand has extended internationally. Fans from Africa and Germany to Canada and other parts of the U.S have become strong supporters of my image.

 

Randall: How does it feel to open up for established acts such as Diggy Simmons, The OMG Girlz and Tank?

Que: It felt great to open for Diggy Simmons and the OMG girls! Diggy is actually one of my role models in the industry so just to walk the same stage as him was amazing. The OMG girls and Tank are also very talented. It was an honor meeting all of them and having the opportunity to perform with them.

 

Randall: How important is faith to your success?

Que: Faith plays a big role in my success because I have to believe in myself. I believe that I can succeed in everything I put my mind to. If you don’t believe yourself no one else will.

 

Randall: There’s a myth that the younger generation, especially young people in the black community, are misguided and counterproductive. On a daily basis I’m trying to fight and show the world that we’re a force to be reckoned with. With all the great things you’re doing now, what do you have to say to our critics?

Que: There are still young educated black youths out here in the world. Not all young black people are misguided, and there are many of us that are doing something productive with our lives. I just wish we could unite and support each one another so we could stop giving these critics something to talk about.

 

Randall: What upcoming projects do you have on the horizon?

Que: I have a single called Dance Floor that I am about to push. Meanwhile, I’m getting prepared for more concerts for this month and July. I also have a couple of meetings coming up with some major labels about distribution.

 

Randall: Where can we find you?

Que: You can find me on:

Facebook.com/Que95

Twitter.com/Queofficial

Instagram.com/QueWorld

YouTube.com/Mquis95

 

My official website is the

TheRealQue.com

 

 

Do you have any questions, comments or concerns? Do you have somebody you want me to interview? Contact me directly at:

Email: [email protected]

Ask.Fm: @YoungandGiftedBooks

Twitter: @AuthorRandallB

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randall.barnes.501

 

Check out a preview of my forthcoming Young Adult novel The Diary of Aaliyah Anderson on Wattpad!

http://www.wattpad.com/story/6314747-the-diary-of-aaliyah-anderson