#20-Zach Sanchez (iLL ZakieL)

In this episode of the CHATA Podcast, Host Chuy Herrera sits down with Zach Sanchez, also known as ILL Zakiel. We sit down for an honest and inspiring conversation about culture, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of passion. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and raised between Reno, Carlin, and Mexico, Zach shares his journey navigating identity, immigration, and small-town life as a first-generation Mexican-American. From experiencing culture shock to growing up in a mining country, he reflects on the challenges that shaped his work ethic and creative voice. Zach opens up about being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, his struggles in school, and how sports, art, and music became his outlets. He takes us back to the early days of making beats on Acid Pro in a college bedroom, delivering pizzas by day and chasing his dream by night. Inspired by legends like Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, and Eminem especially during the era of 8 Mile. Zach describes how those influences fueled his ambition to find his own sound and tell his own story. The episode also dives into basketball nostalgia, from dreaming of being Michael Jordan to watching the rise of Kobe Bryant, and how that same competitive drive translated into his music career. So sit down grab a drink and a snack while we sit down to CHATA! More Info on iLL ZakieL https://www.illzakiel.com/