Born and raised in the inner city of Detroit, Charles Wilson III, known professionally as BLKBOK, has been immersed in music since a young age. Recognized as a piano prodigy by the age of eight, he won statewide accolades and excelled in college-level competitions. Choosing a path that reflected his deep connection to the piano and rap roots, he adopted the name BLKBOK, a nod to one of the greatest pianists and composers of all time, and an embodiment of the diverse influences that have shaped his artistic identity—from pop and hip-hop culture to groundbreaking, New-Classical expressions.