For Collin Stedman, better known as “Pertinence,”— it all began in a high school auditorium. What started as being an MC in high school formed the blueprint for where he is today. Though the young artist chose a career in music, it seems more likely that music ultimately chose him. Pertinence provides wisdom to the likes of Lauryn Hill’s “Interlude No. 5,” discussing topics of the value of intentional repetition and what it means to protect your inner and outer man. It is easy to become high-strung on forming a social status or income as a small artist, but for Pertinence, it’s all about being grounded in his approach to music and what it means to be represented authentically.