How would you briefly describe Fame to a first time listener?
I would describe myself as being a fly, outgoing jokester. Who is confident & of course “Coy” lol

When did you first start singing?
I first started singing when I was 9yrs old, my grandfather Mickey Zayas was a famous doo-wop singer, my mom sang in church & my cousin Unique was a signed artist. Music has been a part of my entire life.

When did you first start rapping?
I first started rapping when I was 12yrs old. Growing up in Brooklyn Hip-Hop had been imbedded in me so I have always loved Hip-Hop

When did you record your first Rap track?
I recorded my first rap track when I was 13yrs old in friends closet. We had taped the mic to some shoeboxes & used old Sony headphones to record…  “Not Coy”

When did you record your first R&B track?
I recorded my first R&B track when I was 14yrs old. I had saved up some money & recorded in a studio

Who did you listen to growing up & who if anyone, has influenced your music throughout the years?
Growing up I listened to a variety of artists who have all influenced my music.
The main people in Hip-Hop are Jay-z, Biggie, Fabulous, Lil Wayne & Kanye West
The main people in R&B are R-Kelly, Usher, Boys 2 Men & Drew Hill
Current bands that have influenced my music are both the Gym Class Heros and Fall Out Boys
But I can’t forget about Bon Jovi & Steven Tyler in Aerosmith.  What I really liked about them was their Rockstar Artistry & Persona.

Who do you listen to now?
I think of myself as a student of music so I now listen too & study everyone.

Who are 3 artists you would love to work with?
1) Jay-Z because most of what I have learned in regards to hip-hop comes from Jay-Z. I look at him as an idol
2) Lil Wayne because I like his “I don’t give a f*ck” mentality. I like how he expresses exactly how he feels at that moment.
3) Travie McCoy because I like how he puts it together his own his style & sound. His feel & his swag is all his own.

What were you thinking about when The Hybrid Season Mixtape was developed?
When I recorded The Hybrid Season Mixtape I was going through a transition in life. I felt that in order for me to accomplish my goal of being able to compete, as singer/rapper I needed to prove it through this Mixtape. I wanted to show & prove I was on another level.

What do you think your listeners will get out of your music?
I want my listeners to get to know me through my music. I pull from personal situations. I want people to relate to what I am singing/rapping about more than just the style of the music. It’s not just about what is hot at the moment, it’s about people genuinely liking who I am. I want my listeners to grow & evolve with me.

If you were going to spend a week on a deserted island, what one thing would you bring?
Definitely My Phone!

What are your 3 favorite gadgets that you possess?
1) Mac Laptop
2) iPod
3) George Forman Grill

How important is developing an online community or fan base?
Developing an online community is very important because you can reach people all over the world that you may not have access to other wise

You have fans on Facebook, twitter, MySpace, how do you keep up with all the fans demands in terms of wanting to feel involved with whatever you do?
I always try to listen & be as responsive to my fans as possible.  They are the ones that buy the records so it is important to interact with them and keep them involved & updated.

How would you briefly describe Fame to a first time listener?
I would describe myself as being a fly, outgoing jokester. Who is confident & of course “Coy” lol

When did you first start singing?
I first started singing when I was 9yrs old, my grandfather Mickey Zayas was a famous doo-wop singer, my mom sang in church & my cousin Unique was a signed artist. Music has been a part of my entire life.

When did you first start rapping?
I first started rapping when I was 12yrs old. Growing up in Brooklyn Hip-Hop had been imbedded in me so I have always loved Hip-Hop

When did you record your first Rap track?
I recorded my first rap track when I was 13yrs old in friends closet. We had taped the mic to some shoeboxes & used old Sony headphones to record…  “Not Coy”

When did you record your first R&B track?
I recorded my first R&B track when I was 14yrs old. I had saved up some money & recorded in a studio

Who did you listen to growing up & who if anyone, has influenced your music throughout the years?
Growing up I listened to a variety of artists who have all influenced my music.
The main people in Hip-Hop are Jay-z, Biggie, Fabulous, Lil Wayne & Kanye West
The main people in R&B are R-Kelly, Usher, Boys 2 Men & Drew Hill
Current bands that have influenced my music are both the Gym Class Heros and Fall Out Boys
But I can’t forget about Bon Jovi & Steven Tyler in Aerosmith.  What I really liked about them was their Rockstar Artistry & Persona.

Who do you listen to now?
I think of myself as a student of music so I now listen too & study everyone.

Who are 3 artists you would love to work with?
1) Jay-Z because most of what I have learned in regards to hip-hop comes from Jay-Z. I look at him as an idol
2) Lil Wayne because I like his “I don’t give a f*ck” mentality. I like how he expresses exactly how he feels at that moment.
3) Travie McCoy because I like how he puts it together his own his style & sound. His feel & his swag is all his own.

What were you thinking about when The Hybrid Season Mixtape was developed?
When I recorded The Hybrid Season Mixtape I was going through a transition in life. I felt that in order for me to accomplish my goal of being able to compete, as singer/rapper I needed to prove it through this Mixtape. I wanted to show & prove I was on another level.

What do you think your listeners will get out of your music?
I want my listeners to get to know me through my music. I pull from personal situations. I want people to relate to what I am singing/rapping about more than just the style of the music. It’s not just about what is hot at the moment, it’s about people genuinely liking who I am. I want my listeners to grow & evolve with me.

If you were going to spend a week on a deserted island, what one thing would you bring?
Definitely My Phone!

What are your 3 favorite gadgets that you possess?
1) Mac Laptop
2) iPod
3) George Forman Grill

How important is developing an online community or fan base?
Developing an online community is very important because you can reach people all over the world that you may not have access to other wise

You have fans on Facebook, twitter, MySpace, how do you keep up with all the fans demands in terms of wanting to feel involved with whatever you do?
I always try to listen & be as responsive to my fans as possible.  They are the ones that buy the records so it is important to interact with them and keep them involved & updated.