When I was in my first year of university, I met a man who would ultimately shape the course of my life.
As then-program director at 94.9 CHRW, Adulis Mokanan was responsible for training would-be volunteers on how to get involved at the campus radio station. As host and founder of The Come Up Show, however, Mokanan — better known as Chedo — had established himself as one of the leading Canadian voices in hip-hop journalism — interviewing the likes of J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar.
I had resolved myself during my second semester to get involved with 94.9 CHRW and get some hands-on experience before the rest of my broadcast journalism classmates. In walked Chedo to my training session, and it was like a sign from above.
I started shadowing him during his Saturday evening radio shows, and it wasn’t long after that I started writing and doing interviews of my own for The Come Up Show — meeting and picking the brains of countless of my favourite musicians.
As many artists as I’ve spoken to, though, I’ve got a long way to catch up with Chedo. Having interviewed over 500 artists in his decade in the music industry, during which The Come Up Show has been recognized by CBC Music as one of the ’10 Canadian music blogs you need to be reading,’ he’s learned one lesson:
“Everyone has their own path. Somebody can tell you everything that they know, but you’ve still gotta figure it out for yourself.”
Listen to my conversation with him here.
