By Katelyn Pothakul
“There’s a little grit in Binghamton that’s lost on people not from the Southern Tier and upstate New York,” said Montano, who grew up on Long Island prior to settling in Florida.
Montano studied psychology and sociology at Binghamton, and was captivated by the real-world discourse between the two disciplines.
While he had experimented with submitting rhymes in lieu of essays during high school, he had the opportunity to further integrate his lifelong passion for music into the structure of academia at Binghamton. Montano was able to view music from a more analytic lens in a research paper assigned by sociology professor Joshua Price, exploring the social and political implications of genres from opera to reggaeton.
Through similar educational experiences and encouragement from friends and faculty alike, Montano was motivated to continue pursuing music as a passion project. He had originally used the creative process of making music to help navigate mental health and life challenges throughout his adolescence into early adulthood.
“From being a part of student groups like Explorchestra and the Binghamton Crosbys to research labs and even the courses themselves, it takes a lot to dedicate yourself to a cause for a later reward,” Montano said. “I am really grateful for the challenges I faced seeking balance between my studies, hobbies and recreation. The tenacity I gained from being around those students and staff members has carried me throughout my corporate sales career, as well as in my music endeavors.”
Montano, whose father was a DJ in the Bronx during the emergence of hip-hop, is inspired by artists such as Eminem, Lupe Fiasco and Nas. His biggest influence is his cousin, known as d13., who inspired him to begin writing rhymes. However, Montano also learned about technical meters and arpeggios early on from classic rock groups such as Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden. His sound is devoted to “high-sensitivity to the craft as a MC” and introspective topics expressed through high-vocabulary wordplay.
Despite selling out events and touring across the country, Montano did not always consider pursuing music full-time. He often found himself bouncing between jobs from healthcare to management upon graduating from Binghamton, including a five-week stint as a paralegal. Now working in the staffing industry at Tampa-based InTegrum, Montano intends to unite the corporate and entertainment worlds by founding his own company InPsychlopedia LLC to continue coordinating live events.
“Winning Album of the Year in 2021 for Mansion Music, a collaboration album with close friend and colleague Albert J, is my proudest accolade to date,” said Montano, who completed the project with the help of audio engineer Douglas Leto (also known as goodview).
Montano credits his professional success to working with artists like Cambatta, who generously showed him the ropes at the beginning of his music career. He prioritizes enjoying himself and engaging with the community rather than striving to “make it” in the industry.
“Learn the business implications of recording and performing to make your life easier, but remember it’s a dirty game so be prepared to encounter challenges and have a mentor available to bounce ideas off of and learn vicariously,” Montano said. “Don’t be afraid to take risks and make mistakes, expect fallout and pick yourself up when it doesn’t work out the way you expected. But most importantly, have fun!”