There once was a rapper from Philadelphia who was here and proclaimed on the title of his debut extended play that he intended to stay. Munk wit da Funk shrunk the junk to chunk the trunk when he put together the exceeding I Been Here I’m Stayin in 1995. The EP was released independently through the locally-based and locally-named label Illadelph Records who undoubtedly overcame financial constraints for what was their flagship artist. Any low budget status is non-evident when listening to the EP’s six tracks; it becomes slightly more apparent when seeing the cover which depicts a stoic Munk overlooking a streetscape while the camera flash is fired.

The title track is the standout of I Been Here I’m Stayin with Munk describing the trials and tribulations that he has been through as an artist. It begins with the triumphant sounding horns that are to herald the arrival of someone new arriving on the scene with hope in abundance. The sample of a line by Guru from Gang Starr’s “The ? Remainz” gives the track its name is looped for the chorus before Munk starts: “It was worth the wait …” A wait for what though? Has Munk been held back? Has something impeded him? He answers: “… even though my shit was a year late.” Munk seemingly fires an opening shot at whoever or whatever kept him from debuting for a year but he actually considers it fortunate because it gave him “time to relax and get [his] head straight.”

Munk remarks on the amazement of seeing his own video on television; either the charmingly economical “I Blame My Neighborhood” or “Exersize” which both received music video treatments. He mentions the initial doubt from his mother over his childhood aspirations of becoming a rapper and the subsequent admiration from his local area when they see him making progress but he does apologise to his neighbours for “blasting that music.”

Munk comments on the environment of his local Philadelphia as well; the irony inherent in “the city of brotherly love” being rampant with crime and homelessness. He describes – albeit with relative nonchalance – witnessing someone losing their life “over material objects”. According to Munk, a typical conversation topic for him is finding out “who got killed last week and who’s a goner.” Even with those surroundings being like a “jungle”, “stars are born” and Munk uses the inspiration derived from being a father to his young child to develop dreams of making it out through his artistry. He pledges to marry his child’s mother, utters the beautiful line “I see the future as I teach like a tutor for my peers” and concludes by putting a number on his years in the rap game: “I been rappin’ for nine years.”

Munk wit da Funk had rapped for another three years when his second EP, Money, came out on Illadelph Records in 1998. It was to be his final release as a solo artist. He collaborated with his Illadelph labelmates in the group One Way for the 2000 album Civic Minded which was his last release at all.

Munk’s handle on Instagram is the apt “iwasallmostfamous”. The brief collection of accomplishments – a record contract, studio sessions, music video shoots, EP releases – would have been staggering for a young man who came from his background. That moment of shining light would not have been any longer than the flash that adorned him on the cover of his debut EP. Music is a documentation of who was here but not anyone in their physical presence can ever stay forever. What remains is what was created. Munk at least achieved his mission statement in that way.