Many youngsters of the early 2000’s listened to Eminem and Linkin Park. Think about if their music was blended collectively. The results of that combination might be Jeff Thompson, higher often called Ekoh. His music profession has been on the rise lately, and each of these legendary acts had 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 stated. “I used to be all the time a giant fan of particular person expression, creativity, and keenness.”
Ekoh was very self-aware as a child. He knew he didn’t excel in group 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 youngsters that wanted an escape identical to he did.
Dependancy at an Early Age
His highway to success was not a straightforward 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 He discovered himself in rehab at 18 years outdated to beat addictions to painkillers, heroine, and cocaine.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 finally prescription capsules and medicines.
“No matter was simply accessible,” he stated. “With meals, it was no matter gave me pleasure. When I’m feeling some kind of method, consuming this can assist deliver me down. I additionally grew up within the oxycontin period, and we didn’t understand how unhealthy it was.”
The excellent news was that he was in a position to get assist earlier than it was too late. When he left rehab, Ekoh was prepared for a contemporary 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 the best way to file or something about track construction, or something like that. I simply began doing it to precise myself.”
Health Turned a New Gasoline
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 solution to regulate himself and keep on observe.
“I get up each morning with a full tank and wanted a solution to get it out as a result of if it stays in me, it rots, so to talk. Train, again then, was a method to be ok with myself and guarantee that I might sleep nicely at evening.”
Ekoh lives in Las Vegas, which has develop into a bodybuilding and health hotbed. So, he’s in the fitting place to scratch his health itch. Ekoh does boxing coaching as soon as per week, and he performs weight exercises and Excessive Depth Interval Coaching cardio as nicely. He notably enjoys utilizing a VersaClimber, despite the fact that he doesn’t assume it’s a in style machine with different gymgoers.
Ekoh stated, “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 unbiased artist, that means that he doesn’t work with a file label or administration. He described his rise to stardom as a “gradual construct,” however he ascended constantly and now has many followers on social media and at his concert events.
“It has been one fan at a time, one track at a time, one present at a time,” he proclaimed. “When it bought to some extent that it was sustainable and not using a job, that was one other massive step for me.”
That components is one he follows to this present day, 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 fitting method 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 stay at numerous stops when he goes again on the highway in 2025. He shall be performing over 20 dates in a number of cities all through the nation, and in the event you plan to see him, be able to rock out and convey 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 now have a extremely good time. We go onerous,” he said. “As for the Vans, that simply sort of grew to become our factor.
Though he shall be on the highway, that won’t be an excuse for him to skip coaching. He nonetheless finds a solution 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 1000’s of followers and provides them a memorable present.
“I soar rope whereas rapping a verse earlier than I am going onstage,” he defined. “Train just isn’t solely vital for me mentally, but additionally profession smart. I would like to have the ability to management my respiration when I’m rapping, and it helps me try this.”
Ekoh’s future is vivid, however he hopes that his journey so far could make a constructive affect on another person. His highway could not have been as clean as different rising stars in his business, however the mixture of restoration, health, and pursuing his ardour was price each step. He’s additionally proud that his story exhibits that no matter the place one begins, they will get the place they need to go along with the fitting work ethic and keenness.
“That’s fairly cool.”
Ekoh’s Versa Climber HIIT Exercise
When you occur to have entry to a Versa Climber or comparable cardio machine, you possibly can strive 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.
“This can kick your ass,” he says fairly confidently.
Heat-up for 1 minute
90 seconds on, 30 seconds off
Repeat 7-8 instances.
Cool-down for one minute.
*When you don’t have entry to a VersaClimber, you need to use a step mill or elliptical with the very best incline setting.