I Couldn’t believe he actually spoke to me. As we stood outside,
he asked about me and my homies music and said he admired
us being young with such a pa**ion and drive. That we reminded him of himself. The talk only lasted a few minutes before he
got in a Escalade (which was hot at the time) and rode off with 3
other guys. That’s when I knew I was on to something.
I also met Redman randomly at a gas station in Decatur. No
security. No entourage. He was with one other guy buying cigars,
which was epic because of him being known for smoking weed
and the movie “How High”. He took pics with a few customers and
even stood outside the store for a second and talked to people.
That was real.
What is your favorite song and why?
OutKast. - “Liberation”.
The Aquemini album was the perfect album. The most
innovative rap album I’ve ever heard. Concepts,
experimentation, and incredible lyricism while staying true
to a southern hip hop sound.
The song “Liberation” features Outkast, Erykah Badu,
Cee-Lo, and Dungeon Family poet Big Rube, who
delivered a thought provoking spoken word piece about
feeling liberated, or “free”, mentally, physically and
spiritually. Erykah, Cee-Lo, and OutKast are in my top 10
favorite black musicians, so to hear them collaborate was
amazing to me. The 7+ minute cla**ic piano driven song
feels like a enlightening therapy session that helped me
through plenty rough days.
You’re not just a music artist, but you’re also a
visual artist as well, can you tell us more about that
side of you?
As a child, I was drawing before I was writing alphabets.
Since the age of 3 or 4. My mom kept some of my
drawings that date back to 1989.
Because I started drawing at a young age, It caused me
to hold a pen like I was left-handed.
I’ve literally won every art/design contest that I entered
throughout grade school. Made all the holiday
decorations for my cla**, almost every year. Gained a
reputation around the 5 schools I went to from K-11
between ATL and NY (dropped out in 11th grade).
Straight A’s in art, but nearly failing everything else from
lack of interest.
I was sent to military school after dropping out. The school
set me up to go to the only college I was interested in, The
Art Institute of Atlanta for Graphic Design. I
graduated from there in 2009 after switching my major to
audio production.
Similar to my college career, my artistic focus went from
visual arts (graphic, painting, sketching) to song writing.
I’m creative enough to do any type of art, but music is my
channel as of right now. I also engineer music, set up live
show audio, and do field sound for film/and TV
productions.
I’ve done a lot of ghost-design for party and show flyers
in Atlanta, especially over the past year. I don’t always ask
for credit on small jobs because I’ll be owed a favor, which
is sometimes better than money.
Currently in the process of licensing a creative firm/brand
specializing in graphic design, photography, and custom
apparel and jewelry. I decided not to release the name of
it because my copyrights are still pending.
What is a quote/phrase you go by?
Hate to be cliche, but “Carpe Diem” is the most
important quote/ phrase in my life. The older you get,
the faster years go by. Especially in a fast paced, “young
mans sport” like rap. If I’m not doing something towards
my dream EVERYDAY, I feel inadequate and basic.