Mic Titan: Representin' himself

Charles "Mic Titan" Escalanti likes to motivate the crowd and move them emotionally when he performs his original music at Open Aired, located at 2103 Winterhaven Dr. in Winterhaven.

He said it is his goal to let younger listeners know that hip-hop is not about expensive cars and bling, but rather real-world problems that are universal to many.

Escalanti was born in 1980 in Yuma, and is a member of the Quechan Indian Tribe. He describes himself as a romantic comedy wrapped inside of a horror film.
 
For his dedicated passion to create music, Escalanti has been the recipient of several awards during the last two years. At the West Coast American Indian Music Awards in Seattle, Wash., he was nominated for 2009 Album of the Year and Best in Hip-Hop 2009.
 
"The awards focus on indigenous Native Americans, and brings us together to showcase our talents," said Escalanti. "It's like a modern-day powwow, and is a place where we can sing many types of music. Winning those two awards was exhilarating, exciting and surprising."
 
Escalanti said hip-hop has had a very positive impact on his life.
 
"I am an Emcee, which is the motivator of the crowd and master of ceremonies during performances. Hip-hop gives me a way to express everything I am feeling. It has kept me out of trouble, and has saved my life. The reason I did not get so involved with the drug culture, which is often glorified in this style of music, was because of hip-hop.
 
"Not all of hip-hop represents a criminal lifestyle. My mom could not see anything wrong with the music I listened to growing up, and as long as I had a pen and paper, I wasn't running around all night doing foolish nonsense."
 
Escalanti said he does not represent mainstream rap.
 
"The message I want to get to younger listeners is that they don't have to buy into the image or the marketing ploys of media about hip-hop. Instead, they can be themselves. There are a lot of people that will understand what they are going through. Not everybody's problem is not having enough ice or grills on their teeth, or worrying about their 37-inch rims. Those are made-up marketing schemes, and the images they create are no different than a painted picture. They're fake."
 
Escalanti said singing allows him to chronicle the stages of his life.
 
"Hip-hop is my personal journal and my anger management. Everything I say is how I feel at that moment. It is as real as if I was talking to you in your car."
 
Escalanti is a founding member of Open Aired and of the music group Cerebral Arts, and said none his success would have been possible without the support of local artists, the arts community,  and the mentors at Open Aired.
 
"Open Aired is what allowed me to harness and build my skills," said Escalanti. "We are there to support each other. We have open communication and we focus on creative and constructive criticism. The honesty encourages us and is what helps us grow."
 
Escalanti's next live performance will be at Open Aired on June 6.
 
For more information call 581-7707, or log onto www.myspace.com/theonlymictitan.