What is your name and what city do you rep?

“My name is Ahjalon Franklin

Stage names: Ahjalon Mateen aka (ahji boumayè, Johnny Sanctum) I rep Aurora Colorado all day everyday, also Jacksonville, FL and Charlotte, NC cause I lived out there for a min and still got my thugs out there” -Ahjalon Mateen

Tell us about your latest releases, what inspired you to create them?

“From the start my goal was to be different so majority of my project up to my latest releases are an eccentric, neo soul, experimental sound created to reach a broader audience not yet known to the culture. The releases were inspired by the pure intent of just having fun and making music that tells my story in a way that makes me feel good, and not falling victim to being a perfectionist.” -Ahjalon Mateen

What is unique about you and your music?

“I’m unique because I am a chameleon to my surrounds and I don’t match stereotypes when it comes to the hobbies I love or the music I listen to. Which fits into the type of music I love making which has its own sound, yet a mix of many genres in one.” -Ahjalon Franklin

What shaped your music?

“Trial and error with making music and my everyday struggle has shaped it from sounding like the next hot thing and chose to stand out by making different music.” -Ahjalon Franklin

When did you realize you were going to make music professionally?

“I’ve known since I was about 3 or 4 listening to moms playing west coast music and pops bumping east coast tracks. I knew I wanted to be on tv making music like my first inspiration which was tupac, and bone thugs & harmony.” -Ahjalon Mateen

What type of music do you listen to?

“I listen to all types of music, so if I can bop my head to it then I can vibe to it. That’s just how I was brought up.” -Ahjalon Mateen

What inspires you to write music?

“I started out writing poetry and freestylin with my brothers which I love to do, and I had a friend tell me one time to put my poetry to a beat.” -Ahjalon Mateen

What do you do when you don’t do music (creative or otherwise) and that you are passionate about?

“I love to be with my daughter, family, just cruise, exploring new places, and going on adventures because you see more when you do more!

Happiness to you is…

Love.” -Ahjalon Mateen

What do you wish you were told when you first started making music that you think would help artists just starting out?

“I wish I would’ve known that I didn’t need an expensive studio to make music, and that I didn’t need anyone else made responsible for distribution when I could market myself.” -Ahjalon Mateen

Tell us about your upcoming projects…

My project will be a genre clash with a clearer and smoother sound

Where do we find you music / music projects?

“You can find my projects on YouTube, Apple Music, iTunes, SoundCloud, Spotify, @ Ahjalon Franklin, Ahjalon Mateen, Ahji Boumayè

Any last words for the readers?

“Live for something, or die for nothing” -Ahjalon Mateen