E.I. The King

Stephen Testa, aka E.i. the King, is an emerging hip-hop artist from Tampa Bay, FL. His explosive entrance into the industry began with very destructive beginnings. Despite his athletic excellence in his younger years, E.i. detoured into the faux glamour of the street lifestyle, which led him to a life of crime and drug abuse. In his early teenage years, he already had multiple arrests under his belt and spent time in Juvenile Detention Facilities. At the age of 18, E.i. was sent to prison for the first time. By the age of 23, E.i. was already serving his third prison sentence. From ages 18 to 31, he only spent 14 months total in society as a free man. Yet, in his story of destruction, there is also a message of redemption: E.i. found God’s purpose. From the darkest valley, his vision of artistry emerged. When E.i. was released from prison in October 2021, he returned to the streets, but with a different intent - to spread the message of hope and faith.

Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.

Events featuring E.I. The King

Mar 20, 2022
12:15am — 12:35am
Presented by
The WRLDFMS Showcase
About
From:
Tampa, FL
Subgenre:
Hip-Hop / Rap