Music and Me

Hello everyone, I'm Kyle Monk. I am a basketball player, an uncle, a brother, a coach, a friend, a student, and a video gamer. I am originally born in Modesto, California. Not the typical Californian lifestyle of palm trees, ocean breezes, and feet in the sand. But, I am 3 hours from the beach, while also being 2 hours from the Sierra Nevada mountain ranges. Known as the in the "Central Valley". Basketball is my main passion and love. I fell in love with basketball when I was six years old and have been coaching the past two summers, eventually aspiring to be a coach in the future.

Basketball has opened many doors and opportunities for me. Bringing me to Converse. I found Converse through the transfer portal bringing me on a visit here and eventually enrolling as a student athlete. I am the youngest of four children and currently an Uncle to my 6 year old nephew and 3 year old niece. I have never to been to the East Coast so I am excited to learn more about the culture and the type of lifestyle South Carolina has to offer!

Music, as well, I would say has some therapeutic affect to me. 

1.  An example (or two) of something that I like right now: 

One of my best friends, or mentors, is from Chicago so he introduced me to much of the famous Chicago rap scene. Lil durk, being one of my favorite rappers, is a Chicago made artist who is known for "drill music". Although his drill music is very good, and motivating, I also like his more lyrical songs. I  originally was introduced to Lil Durk in 2018 when I became very close to my best friend, but grew to love him and listen to his music daily. Here is one of my favorite songs that I play every single day. Listen to this song where Durk speaks about his fearless demeanor in "Lion eyes":

2. An example of music thats deeply important to me:

I do like various genre's of music. And from different cultures, but the lyrics of the songs are really what connects with me. I love quotes and lyrics that tell a story, or tell a lesson. One of my most important rappers, and artists that resonates with me is Rod Wave. He may be personified as "sad" or an emotional artist, but he actually tells many stories and important lessons in his music. Growing up in the prime moments of Covid-19 really affected me emotionally and socially. I was 16-18 years old when Covid-19 pretty much shut down my life. This song by Rod wave was extremely important when life was especially the hardest. Listen to the lyrics behind this song: 

I loved the lyrics where he says, "Ain't nobody told me the road would be easy, I can't believe, made it this far, My whole life, I've been workin' so hard"

3. An example of a music I don't really connect with. 

One genre of music I don't necessarily connect with is Country music. Being from Modesto, the city I grew up in, there is some city life and then on the outskirts there is a lot of country farmland life. I never really identified with the country life, nor the farmland life. I had never been on a farm, never grew any fruits or vegetables, nor had pet animals beside a dog. I lived near downtown in neighborhoods of hundreds of smaller houses. So this type of lifestyle is hard for me to understand. I have many friends, or people that I know who really really enjoy this music.