Conversations with Matthew Hrpcha

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Hrpcha.

Hi Matthew, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is 7EVEN3TIMES, and I’m an independent artist from Lorain, Ohio. My story is really about evolution—learning how to turn pain, setbacks, and life experiences into something with purpose.

Music has been part of my life for a long time, but my journey hasn’t been a straight path. I’ve made mistakes, lost people close to me, experienced setbacks, and spent three years incarcerated. Those experiences forced me to look at myself differently and decide what kind of man I wanted to become when I came home.

Since returning home, I’ve approached music and life with a completely different mindset. I started rebuilding from the ground up, releasing music consistently, performing throughout Ohio, appearing on radio, earning media coverage, and putting myself in rooms I once could only imagine being in. Along the way, I’ve received recognition and opportunities from people and organizations within the industry, but some of the moments I’m most proud of have come from being able to use my progress to create opportunities for other people.

That growth led me to create The 7th Sense, an event I’m bringing to my hometown of Lorain to give seven artists an opportunity to take a meaningful step forward in their careers. For me, that represents where I am today. I’m no longer thinking only about how far I can go as an artist; I’m thinking about what I can build, who I can help, and what I can leave behind.

That is what 7EVEN3TIMES represents to me now: evolution in real time. I’m still writing my story, but everything I’ve been through has given me a clearer sense of purpose and a greater appreciation for where I’m going.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve dealt with loss, incarceration, financial struggles, broken relationships, bad decisions, and moments where I had to completely rebuild my life. Spending three years incarcerated was one of the biggest turning points for me because it gave me a lot of time to think about the decisions I had made, the people I had lost, and what I wanted my life to look like moving forward.

Coming home brought a different set of challenges. I had to adjust to everyday life again while rebuilding financially, maintaining relationships, finding stability, and pursuing music at the same time. There have been moments where I’ve had to work regular jobs or find other ways to make ends meet while still investing whatever time, money, and energy I could into my career. Being an independent artist means there isn’t always a team or major company there to solve problems for you. A lot of times, you have to figure it out yourself.

I’ve also had to learn that some of the biggest obstacles aren’t external, they’re internal. Learning discipline, patience, accountability, and how to let go of old habits and ways of thinking has probably been the hardest part of my evolution.

I don’t look at those struggles as reasons to feel sorry for myself. They gave me perspective. Every setback forced me to learn something, and now I try to turn those lessons into purpose. I can’t change where I’ve been, but I can control what I build from it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a hip-hop artist from Lorain, Ohio, performing under the name 7EVEN3TIMES. My music doesn’t stay in one lane. I can make street records based on things I’ve actually lived, but I can also make emotional records about pain, relationships, loss, growth, and desire. I want people to hear different sides of me while still knowing there’s a real story behind everything I create.

What sets me apart is that I’m building something bigger than individual songs. My entire direction is centered around evolution. I believe artists should be able to grow without being trapped by who they used to be. My experiences influence the music, but they don’t define where the story has to end. I try to turn what I’ve lived through into something other people can understand, feel, and hopefully learn from.

Since returning home, I’ve been able to build momentum independently through consistent releases, live performances across Ohio, radio appearances, media coverage, industry opportunities, and recognition from established names in music. One moment that meant a lot to me was having Juicy J repost my entry for his “Ain’t No Way” open verse challenge. I’ve also earned two single distribution opportunities through Versatyle Entertainment in partnership with Virgin Music Group, which showed me that the work I was putting in was beginning to reach beyond my immediate environment.

But what I’m most proud of is taking those experiences and creating opportunities for other artists. I created The 7th Sense in my hometown of Lorain, where seven artists will have the opportunity to earn single distribution deals through Virgin Music Group. Instead of feeling like I have to leave my city behind to succeed, I want to bring opportunities back with me.

Ultimately, I want my career to represent more than music. I want people to be able to watch the progression in real time, from mistakes and setbacks to discipline, leadership, ownership, and purpose. That evolution is what separates 7EVEN3TIMES from who I was before, and I’m still only at the beginning.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’ve had moments that some people would probably call good luck and others they would call bad luck, but I’ve learned not to look at life that way. I believe everything I’ve experienced has played a role in getting me to where I am today.

There have been opportunities that came unexpectedly. I’ve met the right people at the right time, had my music reach people I never expected it to reach, and walked into rooms without knowing what would come from them. But I also believe an opportunity only matters if you’re prepared when it arrives. You can get lucky enough to have a door open, but you still have to be ready to walk through it and do something with the opportunity.

The same goes for what people might call bad luck. Some of the hardest things I’ve experienced felt like setbacks when they were happening, but looking back, many of them forced me to change. Even incarceration became a period where I had to really evaluate myself and the direction of my life.

So I don’t depend on luck. I focus on preparation, consistency, relationships, and putting myself in positions where opportunities can happen. I can’t control every situation that comes my way, but I can control what I do with it. To me, that’s where evolution happens.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/7even3times
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/7even3times
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17pMw2Lfsr
• Twitter: https://x.com/7even3times
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@7even3times
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/CDAPVlBmn2G40iEBK8
• Other: https://youtube.com/@7even3timesvevo