Born in Ghana and brought to America at just three years old, Smovve Pok, also known as S.P., has called Columbia, Maryland home for most of his life. His story with music started long before he ever considered himself an artist. Growing up in the Guilford Gardens neighborhood, Smovve was surrounded by sports, friends, music, and a community that helped shape who he would become.
As a child, the basketball court and football field were some of his main hangout spots. He and his friends played almost every day, spending most of their time right in the neighborhood. After school, McDonald’s was another common meeting place where everyone would gather, while other days were spent at a friend’s house or riding around in the car.
Even at a young age, Smovve stood out. He was involved in chorus and always enjoyed performing, whether he was singing or simply making people laugh. He describes himself as someone who always wanted to be the best at whatever he did. He was well liked, naturally took on a leadership role, and says he always felt different from those around him.
Music eventually became more than something he enjoyed listening to. Around the age of 18, Smovve started making music himself. At first, it was simply freestyle sessions and playing around with his friends. He never imagined that he would actually become a rapper. But one of his friends kept telling people that Smovve was an artist, and eventually he started taking the idea more seriously.
His love for music had been building for years. During middle school, 2Pac’s versatility caught his attention and showed him how much an artist could do with their voice and creativity. Then came Lil Wayne, who pushed him to look at songwriting from a different perspective. In high school, Smovve would print out Lil Wayne’s lyrics because he wanted to study exactly what he was saying and understand the flows that made him stand out.
Those influences helped shape his approach, but Smovve has never wanted to put himself in one box. He sees himself as an artist who can rap, sing, tell stories, make records for the ladies, speak on the streets, create inspirational music, or deliver a diss record when necessary. He describes his style as coming from the same cloth as artists like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Drake, while believing his voice and versatility give him his own identity.
Over the years, he has recorded at several studios, including Studio Compound, Hit Factory, New Cut Recordings, and TNT Studios. Each environment has played a part in his growth, but the foundation has always remained the same: creating music that represents who he is.
His latest release, “Tottally Focused 5 Deluxe,” continues that journey. And he’s already looking ahead. Smovve is currently working on “Tottally Focused 6,” which he hopes to have finished before the end of the year, with a possible release around late September or early November.
Through everything, faith has remained an important part of Smovve’s story. When asked who he wanted to thank for helping him along the way, his first answer was God. He believes the opportunities, people, and moments that have shaped his career were placed in his path for a reason. Those experiences have helped him grow not only as an artist, but as a person.
That connection to faith is something he carries into his music as well. He says listeners will hear him speak about God throughout his songs because he recognizes how much he has been blessed and how far he has come.
From a kid growing up in Guilford Gardens, playing basketball and football with his friends, to an artist finding his voice through freestyle sessions, studying Lil Wayne’s lyrics, and developing his own sound, Smovve Pok’s journey has always been about becoming more focused and pushing himself further.
Now, with Tottally Focused 5 Deluxe out and Tottally Focused 6 on the way, S.P. is continuing to build his story one record at a time.
