Many children of the early 2000’s listened to Eminem and Linkin Park. Think about if their music was blended collectively. The results of that combination may very well be Jeff Thompson, higher referred to as Ekoh. His music profession has been on the rise lately, and each of these legendary acts have been sources of inspiration for him.
“I’m a child that was raised on Eminem and Linkin Park and was influenced by each worlds,” he mentioned. “I used to be at all times a giant fan of particular person expression, creativity, and fervour.”
Ekoh was very self-aware as a child. He knew he didn’t excel in workforce sports activities however discovered he thrived on his personal, which is how his music journey started.
“After I was on my own determining methods to create and specific myself, I discovered myself,” he says.
Ekoh’s creativity was seen and felt when he wrote music. His dream grew to become to do what the performers he listened to did, carry out and encourage. He wished his music to be blaring within the headphones of gymgoers, runners, and children that wanted an escape similar to he did.
Habit at an Early Age
His highway to success was not a simple one. He discovered himself in rehab at 18 years outdated to beat addictions to painkillers, heroine, and cocaine. He acknowledges that the trigger or sources of his addictions is a smorgasbord of points. He grew up the kid of a single mom who had him and his brother earlier than she was 18. He discovered himself being drawn to easy types of pleasure that he had quick access to, together with meals, alcohol, and ultimately prescription drugs and medicines.
“No matter was simply accessible,” he mentioned. “With meals, it was no matter gave me pleasure. When I’m feeling some form of means, consuming this can assist convey me down. I additionally grew up within the oxycontin period, and we didn’t know the way dangerous it was.”
The excellent news was that he was capable of get assist earlier than it was too late. When he left rehab, Ekoh was prepared for a recent begin, however he was uncertain what that appeared like. Within the meantime, he simply did the one factor he cherished – and felt he was good at – creating music.
“I didn’t know easy methods to document or something about tune construction, or something like that. I simply began doing it to precise myself.”
Health Turned a New Gas
Whereas Ekoh was in rehab, he needed to work with a private coach. His first expertise with that coach led him to find that he may use coaching as a strategy to regulate himself and keep on observe.
“I get up each morning with a full tank and wanted a strategy to get it out as a result of if it stays in me, it rots, so to talk. Train, again then, was a means to be ok with myself and guarantee that I’d sleep effectively at night time.”
Ekoh lives in Las Vegas, which has change into a bodybuilding and health hotbed. So, he’s in the correct place to scratch his health itch. Ekoh does boxing coaching as soon as every week, and he performs weight exercises and Excessive Depth Interval Coaching cardio as effectively. He significantly enjoys utilizing a VersaClimber, despite the fact that he doesn’t assume it’s a common machine with different gymgoers.
Ekoh mentioned, “I really feel like not many individuals use it as a result of I’m the one one that’s on it once I go to the fitness center.”
His Dream Turned His Profession
Ekoh is an impartial artist, which means that he doesn’t work with a document label or administration. He described his rise to stardom as a “sluggish construct,” however he ascended persistently and now has many followers on social media and at his concert events.
“It has been one fan at a time, one tune at a time, one present at a time,” he proclaimed. “When it received to some extent that it was sustainable and not using a job, that was one other huge step for me.”
That components is one he follows to today, emphasizing that he makes music for followers and focuses on being found by followers as an alternative of executives. Social media has been a giant asset for him, and he credit it for a big a part of his publicity and success.
“When you do it the correct means and make stuff that folks can join with, you’ll discover your viewers. Folks now have been taking discover on greater ranges.”
Expertise Ekoh In Particular person
His viewers will get to see him reside at varied stops when he goes again on the highway in 2025. He might be performing over 20 dates in a number of cities all through the nation, and for those who plan to see him, be able to rock out and produce additional power and Vans footwear with you so he can presumably signal them.
“I attempt to give the expertise of the music in individual, which is emotional depth, power, authenticity, and we’ve a very good time. We go arduous,” he acknowledged. “As for the Vans, that simply sort of grew to become our factor.
Despite the fact that he might be on the highway, that won’t be an excuse for him to skip coaching. He nonetheless finds a strategy to get the exercises in as a result of they’re part of who he’s and helps him thrive when he will get onstage as a result of he’s attempting to entertain hundreds of followers and provides them a memorable present.
“I leap rope whereas rapping a verse earlier than I’m going onstage,” he defined. “Train shouldn’t be solely essential for me mentally, but in addition profession clever. I want to have the ability to management my respiratory when I’m rapping, and it helps me do this.”
Ekoh’s future is vivid, however he hopes that his journey to this point could make a optimistic affect on another person. His highway might not have been as clean as different rising stars in his business, however the mixture of restoration, health, and pursuing his ardour was value each step. He’s additionally proud that his story exhibits that no matter the place one begins, they will get the place they wish to go together with the correct work ethic and fervour.
“That’s fairly cool.”
Ekoh’s Versa Climber HIIT Exercise
When you occur to have entry to a Versa Climber or related cardio machine, you’ll be able to attempt a pattern of Ekoh’s HIIT exercise for your self. He begins his coaching classes by happening it for 15-20 minutes earlier than he lifts.
“It will kick your ass,” he says fairly confidently.
Heat-up for 1 minute
90 seconds on, 30 seconds off
Repeat 7-8 occasions.
Cool-down for one minute.
*When you don’t have entry to a VersaClimber, you should utilize a step mill or elliptical with the very best incline setting.