How did both of you guys get the name focus?
Focus: When I first started in the industry I was young and I was always trying to find a tag name because I was always using my name. And my dad is in the industry as the bass player for Chic so he didn't really want me to get into the industry so he was like "if you want to get into the industry you need to start focusing," " you need to focus on your schoolwork you need to focus and stop the b.s." My dad used to come at me like that but he would always use that word focus. Then one day I was walking in Brooklyn and I looked around and I just saw the word focus in an advertisement or something and just for some reason what my dad said to me kind of echoed in my head. So when I went back to the block with my boys I said, "yo my name is focus."
Fokis: For me I got to that because I have always been in group, after group, after group and every time I have always been the hungriest one in my team. So the last group that I was in before I became a solo artist and we had like 18 songs done and then my partner didn't want to do it anymore. So I came up with that name in the back of my head but I didn't want to move with it and then one day I was like "if you really want to do this music thing you really need to focus," and that was it.
So how did you start Loyalty Records?
Fokis: It was about creating my own. I know the sound I wanted to hear and what I want to represent as a brand.
What was the sound you wanted to hear?
Fokis: Just good music with some content, something with some substance. A lot of the stuff that's going on now we're like forced to hear it. The Internet gives people a lot of options. so I'm just trying to make some good music
So is that why you guys decided to release the album digitally over the internet?
Focus: We just decided to release it just because when we release it when we release it online you're able to reach a wide audience. You know that's a maximum, that's the main objective trying to reach as many people as possible. So give it to them free with some good music and hopefully get them hooked and they'll keep coming back for some good music.
So how does it work can they download the album from a site or something?
Fokis: Yea, it's an EP. It will be available for free on http://www.myspace.com/fokis2k and a slew of other websites. 20/20 coming September 16.
How long have you guys known each other?
Fokis: Definitely two years, I want to say close to three years.
How did you guys meet?
Focus: The funny thing about it is we met on the Internet. I was in a really bad place as far as my career was concern and I would hear stuff with other kids biting my name. And my people was telling me about a kid named Fokis from the Lower East Side and you need to check this kid out because he's biting your name. I was like no I'm not having it, so I looked him up and I heard his music and I liked his stuff and I noticed that he spelled his name different. So when we finally connected he was like man I been trying to get with you and I was like word? He wasn't trying to get notoriety off my name and there were a lot of kids taking a lot of meetings just saying that they were Fokis and cats thought they were me because I didn't put my face out there. So me and him started connecting and I saw his grind I had to have mutual respect.
I read that you have a reality show coming out?
Fokis: Yes, it's a reality show called "Road to Riches," the whole show is basically about an artist that is trying to get a record deal, so I documented the whole thing. I'm converting it to a documentary style to accompany with my "Road to the Riches" album. The album is crazy it has Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and Benie. It's perfect because that music was made during my market grind so it shows everything, me going to Florida, Atlanta, going here going there and it just really shows you what it takes to make it happen. I definitely recommend check that out. You can see it on my Myspace page www.myspace.com/fokis2k or on www.youtube.com/fokistv
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