Former All-Big Bend basketball star Jared Mabry has taken a creative turn in his most recent years. He has put down the ball and picked up the pen and pad. Donning the name TaReef KnockOut, he sees no boundaries with his music. Consumers have claimed his work to be meticulous, passionate and versatile. Crafting his own unique sound, Mabry has been compared to Wiz Khalifa and Lupe Fiasco. The term TaReef stems from the Arabic language, meaning “rare and uncommon.” KnockOut generated from friends who were impressed by how fast he could “knockout” records. Together the name TaReef KnockOut or TKO was formed. A native of Florida, Mabry works toward becoming a wrecking force within the music industry. “What I’m trying to bring back to my hometown is the type of artist they’ve never seen or heard before. Tallahassee has a great influence on my work.” Two things that separate TKO from other rappers are his drive and dedication. “Music is my truest passion. I want people to feel that energy and appreciate the hard work. Knowing that I can have a positive impact on one or more people’s lives will be the ultimate satisfaction and beauty of my art. The appreciation is worth more to me than the fame.” Musically TKO wants to establish himself as “one of the premiere all-around hip-hop emcees” of his generation. He also wants to create a label and own a clothing distribution line. Some of the artist he wishes to work with in the future are Nipsey Hussle, Lupe Fiasco and Jhene Aiko. TaReef KnockOut strives to leave a positive legacy for future generations and beyond. You can get in contact with him on Twitter @TaReefKnockOut or on Facebook at facebook.com/TaReef.KnockOut TaReef KnockOut Bio written by Terence Jordan