KNOWN FOR HIS SKILLS ON THE COURT, MARQUIS DANIELS IS NOW WORKING TO BE KNOWN FOR HIS SKILLS ON THE MIC. WHEN HE RHYMES HE GOES BY THE NAME Q6 AND HAS WORKED WITH TRINA AND GUCCI MANE.
INVESTING IN HIS OWN COMPANY, Q6 ENTERTAINMENT, HE’S WORKING WITH A GROUP CALLED 1090 BLOKK BOYZ WHICH IS TAKING ALL HIS FOCUS WHILE RECOVERING FROM A RECENT SPINAL CORD INJURY. THEHIPHOPDIVA SPOKE WITH HIM TO FIND OUT HOW HIS RECOVERY IS GOING AND WHAT HIS PLANS ARE FOR Q6.
HHD: You were a guard with the Boston Celtics, but recently you were injured. Can you give us an update on where you’re at as far as recovery?
MD: I just had my surgery on the 30th of March and I’m in the recovery process right now. Everything was successful. I’m just rehabbing and trying to get back right.
HHD: Are you going back to Boston when you’re finished?
MD: I’m a free agent traded to the Sacramento Kings, so I’m gonna be back on the market trying to see where I can go next.
HHD: Outside of your NBA career you have another passion that a lot of people may not know about…you’re pursuing music. When did you begin to rap?
MD: I’ve been rapping since high school.
HHD: Is it something that you’ve just begun to pursue or have you always done it on the side?
MD: It’s something I’ve always been doing on the side. I never put anything out because of the whole basketball player trying to rap situation, you have to deal with all that stuff. I’ve just always did it and kept it to myself. Now I’m at the point of why don’t I just put it out?
HHD: We’ve heard some athletes rap before and it was kind of corny and people didn’t really take them serious. Do you want to be taken seriously as an artist or do you just want people to hear your music? What is it you’re trying to accomplish?
MD: Actually, both. A lot of people don’t know I rap so I came up with the name Q6 so people won’t be like Marquis; oh that’s the basketball player. They’ll hear the music and be like who is Q6 and then they’ll see the face and they can put it together. But, not say he can rap or not rap because he’s a basketball player.
HHD: When I first listened to your music I didn’t know what to expect. I was surprised that the type of rap you do is street rap. Where are you pulling these lyrics from?
MD: Most people that rap they rap about things that they encounter or things that they see. My whole style of rap is based off of stuff that I go through or things that I see on a daily basis or that I have been a part of.
HHD: Shaquille asked you to do a mixtape at one point. What ever happened with that?
MD: We were thinking about doing something but unfortunately with timing I ended up getting hurt and getting traded. We just didn’t really find the right time to get to it. Hopefully we can still find the time to get to it.
HHD: Is there any significance behind the name Q6?
MD: Six is my basketball number when I first came in and my nickname is Quis with a Q, my mom gave me that nickname. I just put together Q6 and been running with it ever since then.
HHD: Does the NBA know you rap?
MD: I’m probably sure they do now.
HHD: What do they think about it?
MD: To be honest I really don’t know what they think. It’s hard to say because it’s a really fine line with how they want to present all their players. No matter what you have to find other ways to express yourself and still be a professional. I still have to play basketball; I’m a basketball player first.
HHD: Who are some of your favorite hip hop artists?
MD: I grew up in Florida listening to a lot of Trick Daddy and 2 Live Crew…UGK, The Hot Boyz…I listen to a lot of Ross, Lil Wayne, I just like a lot of down South people.
HHD: What are your future plans for your music?
MD: I have a label, Q6 Entertainment. I have a group right now out of Orlando called the 1090 Blokk Boyz. I have an artist getting ready to put out a mixtape called Dee Boi, it’s going to be called “Purple Heart”. I’m definitely investing in it and trying to do the right things about it. I’m new to it so just like anybody new you have to learn the ropes before you start playing the game. I’m not trying to go in there and act like I know everything. I’m trying to work my music and get my guys known.
HHD: The 1090 Blokk Boyz are those guys you grew up with?
MD: Actually, we didn’t grow up together. It’s just a group of guys that I saw had talent and was like I’d rather see ya’ll in the studio doing something positive than being on the streets getting in trouble.
HHD: What’s up next for Q6 the artist?
MD: I have a project coming out some time next year called Red Alert. I write a lot when I have down time, like after games or when we’re flying…but I’m waiting until we put out Dee Boi’s mixtape and 1090 Blokk Boyz.
TO HEAR MUSIC FROM Q6 AND THE 1090 BLOKK BOYZ VISIT WWW.1090BLOKKBOYZ.COM
FOLLOW MARQUIS DANIELS ON TWITTER @MARQUIS_DANIELS
Follow me on twitter @THEHIPHOPDIVA
Q6 is a great artist. Very humble. Can’t wait to see him in the music industry do his thing!