About the Artist
Born and bred in the small bare-knuckle town of Mt. Holly, NJ, just outside of Philadelphia, his messages are subtle but no less profound. In his hilariously lascivious video "Disgusting," one of the most popular videos on BET’s Uncut, he plays the role of a sexual deviant on the prowl. And while the girls in the video proclaim his antics "disgusting," he continues on his journey seemingly unfazed by their taunts. But there’s a deeper context to the raunchy escapades. "It’s a funny, yet a sad song to me," he says. "We can’t all be the guy who always gets the girl because it’s not like that in real life. Some guys have to buy the girl; hit strip clubs; get their porn collection tight. So I use humor in here to cope with what society says is wrong ‘cause like a lot of people out there, I’m not so sure it’s really all that disgusting. [laugh]" With "Get Little," featuring Nas’s former protégé Nature, Bestruck offers further insights into his multifaceted world. The chorus was created by 4-Ize, who is known for his word-bending verse on Ludacris’s "Mouthing Off" from Back for the First Time. "Get little" is Chi-Town slang for get lost. But here, Bestruck uses it to speak about being on the other side of the law, staying out of jail and protecting the integrity that goes along with a life of crime. "You should know the safest place for a snake / is rocking cement sneaks in the basement of the lake," he raps. "May you sleep where the water runs deep / with your concrete feet." "I’ve done things that were considered illegal, but I don’t know if I truly consider it wrong," he says. "But there are things that are legal that I do consider wrong. I want people to think about those things and question them." But it’s his Simon and Garfunkel nod, "Hello Darkness," where he unveils his innermost thoughts. Bestruck matches Norwegian rap legend Tommy Tee’s mesmerizing track with captivating snapshots of his life story. The cold look into the darkness of one man’s thorny past and unsettling present is in the vein of Eminem’s classic "Stan" with its thoughtful songwriting and riveting message. And while the experiences are specific to Bestruck, by the track’s end, one can’t help drawing on one’s own repressed memories and going into one’s own dark space for introspection. "It’s about fear," Bestruck says. "It’s all the things you don’t talk about because it’s too personal and the only person who truly understands these dark feelings is yourself. And you only find that friend in yourself in the darkness." Ultimately Bestruck transforms his pain into power for those who feel his artistry. "Any struggle anybody is going through—their body image, a hopeless future or dealing with their past—it’s all going to relate," he says. "It’s not always a pretty picture but I try to put those dots out there so the listener can connect them. And no matter who you are, what shape or form you’re in, you hurt, you struggle, and you wanna make a difference like everybody else." And that’s something we all can feel.
Product Description
Erik Parker, Vibe Magazine - Rappers rap, singers sing, but a true artist would rather be felt than heard. The Mighty Bestruck aka Brian Forte, manages to do both. At 6’4" and over 300 pounds, he’s heavy in more ways than one. And similar to other massive MCs like the Notorious B.I.G., Bone Crusher, and Big Pun, his stature affects much of his life, his outlook, and his music. "Being my size has its advantages," he says. "People don’t want to fuck with you, and as an MC that’s cool. But it also has its drawbacks, like buying two seats on planes, finding fly clothes that fit, and trying to get healthy and stay alive. That’s all part of my personal struggle so it’s naturally a part of my music."
