In The Spotlight: Hip Hop/Pop Artist Drew Parks

Another great spotlight for you all today! If you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, poet, dancer, etc., and are interested in a featured on The Spotlight, visit our Features/Submissions page for more information!

Today, we have hip hop/pop artist Drew Parks! Drew, originally from Detroit, is also a producer and songwriter, and has gotten major love from top networks and magazines like MTV, ESPN’s First Take, Billboard, Respect Magazine and VIBE. He started getting into hip hop around eight or nine years old, and became obsessed. “As a kid, I listened to a lot of Bob Marley, Sergio Mendes, and anything and everything that was on the radio,” Drew said. “I’d spend all day rapping along with songs and memorizing lyrics.”At just 10, Drew recorded his first song, and by 12 or 13 had started making his own beats using some recording software his parents had bought for him. “By 14 I had released a self-produced album, and started making music with kids I went to middle school and eventually high school with,” he said. “I’ve continued doing music ever since.”

Being from Detroit, which has so much musical history, Drew has been inspired by artists like Royce Da 5’9, Eminem, Kanye West, Big Sean, D12, Black Milk and other Detroit rap artists, especially Royce and Eminem. “There was a time where I would literally mimic their flow patterns because of how inspired I was by them,” Drew revealed. “I’d say more than anything, they have influenced me, not so much in my content, because my music is certainly different, but in having a respect for flow and technical rap ability.” Plus, with Detroit bringing us techno and the hits from Motown, the city

The artist had extreme passion and clearly showed impeccable talent for music at such a young age, and knew that it was something that he wanted to. However, it was his senior year of high school where he realized that he wanted to seriously pursue this dream. “I was playing varsity basketball, and my senior year I decided to not even try out for the team,” Drew admitted. “I wanted to fully dedicate myself to making music. I’d say that’s when it became serious.”

Drew recently dropped his EP, Away We Go, which is a great project that’s upbeat and fun to listen to, but also shows us who Drew is and what he brings to the table as an artist. “I wanted to experiment more with dance music, and house music vibes, and incorporate them with my love for hip-hop,” he said of the EP. I think it’s the perfect introduction to who I am as an artist and where my sound will be going in the future.”

One of the standout tracks on the project is Drew’s latest single, “We Love Them,” a hot, energetic collab between  him and Fatman Scoop! Drew was inspired by dance music from artists like Diplo and Skrillex, and made the beat to catch listeners’ ears from the very start of the track.  However, after recording, Drew felt like something was missing. “I called my manager and we brainstormed a bit, and he reminded me that he used to work with Fatman Scoop back in the day,” he said of the collaboration. “Scoop flew in to Detroit and added the finishing touches on the track!” Drew hopes to record a video for the track soon, but for now, listen to the official audio below!

Currently, Drew is focused on pushing the single, as well as performing and working on more beats and a new project. “My next project will probably be even more dance-music oriented,” he laughed. “[It] will probably be the opposite of an easy-listening album. We’ll see!” As far as what sets him apart from the pack, Drew believes it’s his creativity and unique sound that makes him stand out. “I produce pretty much all of my songs myself, so everything is very unique to me. I draw my influences from a variety of different cultures and genres, and I think the result is something enjoyable and different,” he said.

In the future, Drew hopes to be traveling around the world to perform and create music, hoping to draw from different cultural influences. “For example, I want to make an album in Greece (which is my heritage), but also in Brazil, in Jamaica, in Spain, in South Africa, and other countries across the globe,” Drew said, which is a really cool idea! “I’d like to continue to produce, and possibly get into acting or something. I want to try everything, maybe even score a movie. But for right now, I’m focused on making the best music and art possible.”

Be sure to get Away We Go on iTunes, Google Play, and other digital outlets now. You can check out more from Drew on his social media links below!

Website: https://drewparks.com/
Tumblr: http://drewparks.tumblr.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/drewparks
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/drewparks
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drewparksmusic
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drewparks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drewparksofficial/

In The Spotlight: Hip Hop Artist J. Smith

Time for another spotlight! If you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, dancer, etc., please visit our Features/Submissions page for more info on how to be featured on The Spotlight! 

Our latest spotlight artist has been one of my favorite up and coming artists for a very long time! His name is J. Smith, hailing from the Euclid/Cleveland area in Ohio. Attending the same high school as Kid Cudi protégé King Chip, who was a few years ahead of him, J. Smith said he got his start from a “fluke situation” when he was asked to be in a rap group by a fellow rapper by the name of Pyro. Smith said he went home, found a microphone, downloaded the Adobe Audition program and hasn’t looked back since!

When asked about some of his inspirations, Smith said,

“Everything inspires me. Before I use to not put my feelings, emotions on a record.  Even when I would try I wouldn’t fully commit.  I’m very private honestly; I like being the lowkey guy.  I had a fear of opening myself up on a song and just being completely honest about life and the experiences I been through.  But listening to rappers like Drake, J.Cole, Future, Chance The Rapper, and so many more, I began to understand why I felt their music so much and it was because they were telling at least some of my story or something I could fully relate to in their records. “

Admitting that he has the most respect for Drake, Smith revealed that he was impressed by Drake’s honesty on all his records. The artist also mentioned that 2 Chainz is one of his inspirations because he feels like over the last few years 2 Chainz’s lyrical abilities have gone unnoticed. He also mentioned other artists such as Kanye West, Audio Push and Lil’ Durk as artists that he looks up to.

Back in 2013, J. Smith moved from his home of Cleveland to Phoenix, Arizona to attend law school. When asked if this move has had any impact on his music, he said despite the lackluster amount of talent that he’s noticed how different hip-hop culture overall is out West compared to the Midwest. He The move had an impact on his life in general because around 2013, 2014, he couldn’t write a song to save his life. Smith was ready to stop making music and focus on his career as a lawyer, until one day something just clicked. Ever since he’s been in a zone, and now he thinks every time he writes, it’s something special.  Smith also admitted his new surroundings out West have allowed him to learn a lot about himself.

With J. Smith’s new project, Flowers For My Pain (released on June 27), he hopes to really show other artists and listeners of his music how unique he really is. Throughout this time of developing the project, the artist admits that he was dealing with personal problems, such as his mother’s drug issues and going to jail. He delves into this and more on “Mama’s Drugs” on the EP.  As an only child, Smith admits “it’s just a blessing I’m in this position,” and that, overall, he is trying to be like Dale Earnhardt and “find his own lane” by just being himself on tracks. Check out the mixtape in full below!

So what’s next for J. Smith? The artist plans to go back to studying to take the Arizona bar exam as well as focus on pushing his new mixtape. Besides that, he wants to take his Elevated Livin’ collective (which includes hip hop artist Sav) to the next level and continuing to inspire and motivate others!

Follow J. Smith On Twitter: @PressRecord_ 
Follow Him On Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jsmithelevatedlivin/

In The Spotlight: Hip Hop Artist King Tay

Another spotlight to start the week, and more on the way!

Today we have upcoming hip hop artist, King Tay! Hailing from Philadelphia, the artist stated that he always had a passion for music and writing. “I’ve been writing poetry and doing amateur writing since elementary school,” Tay said. “Not to say that I was good at it, but I started playing around with writing and rhyming around then.” Though he at first preferred to stick to ghost writing, he was pushed by different producers and music figures to pursue rapping. “I decided that I was going to take my career seriously [and] started going to the studio, recording tracks, Tay said. “In 2014 I performed for the first time, [and] haven’t looked [back] since.”

Being from Philly, he admitted that his city plays a huge role in his story and music. “We are labeled as the City of Brotherly Love yet there isn’t much love shown here,” King Tay admitted. “The things talked about in my lyrics have been inspired by the things I have seen, heard, currently going through, and feel.” Also inspired by artists like Tupac, DMX, 50 Cent, Eminem, Nas, Beanie Sigel, James Brown, and Michael Jackson, he listens to a variety of genres which sparks great inspiration in his own music.

One of King Tay’s most recent tracks, “Coolin,’” is an example. The track, which was recorded, mixed and mastered at Marsten House Recording Studios, was also written and produced by Tay himself. “[It’s] a representation of myself and my laid back attitude,” he stated. Check out the video for the track below!

Currently, the artist is putting the finishing touches on his EP, More Than Dreams, which is set to be released this summer. “I’m aiming for June but it could be a little later,” Tay said. “I do not want to rush this project.”

In terms of what sets him apart from other artists out now, King Tay believes it’s his creativity and versatility that separates him from the pack. “My train of thought, my way of thinking ,is just different,” he said. In the future, the artist has hopes of being well off financially, but also in a position where he is able to assist other artists and entrepreneurs on the come up. He plans to develop a few business ideas, create his own record label, and give back to his community!

You can check out more from King Tay on YouTube and SoundCloud, as well as follow him on Twitter and Instagram!

In The Spotlight: Hip Hop Artist Tony Benefit

Another spotlight for the week, and more on the way! As always, if you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, writer, dancer, etc., and would like a feature on The Spotlight, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more information!

Today, we have hip hop artist Tony Benefit! Hailing from Chicago, Tony began freestyling around the age of 14. He was found one day rapping on the corner by Carlos Polk, a member of legendary Chicago underground group, Eratick Statik. Carlos brought Tony to the group’s shows and studio sessions, where Tony started at the bottom, throwing water and t-shirts to the crowd. Eventually though, the artist was able to spit his own rhymes at the shows. “Once the crowd was receptive to what I was doing, it just kind of built from there,” Tony said. “I became a bigger part of the show, and, once I went on the road with them, I started building my own following.”

The rapper admitted that his hometown plays a huge role in his sound. “Chicago, I always say, is a melting pot of talent where you can line up 10 rapper and no two of them sound the same,” Tony stated. The city itself, he noted, is made up of diverse and creative music and art scenes that is inspirational. “It gave me a well-rounded sound where I can blend in with the underground, but also [I] know how to transition and write radio material,” the artist added. In addition to his city, Tony is inspired by hip hop artists like Nas, Busta Rhymes, Planet Asia, Sean Price, and more, but also Ozzy Osbourne, Ryan Leslie, and Chris Martin of Coldplay. “I’m really into the artistry,” Tony said of his influences. “I consider myself a songwriter first, and an MC second.”

With Tony being raised in and inspired by the 90s golden era of hip hop, we spoke briefly his opinion of the state of hip hop today. “I don’t feel like it’s as powerful as it was when I was coming of age. I feel like the messages were stronger back then,” he admitted. “There’s always been good and bad [but] there was a good balance. Now, it’s like 90% bad and you got to search for the good.” However, he feels like the artists that he may not necessarily listen to are necessary to still have fun music in the genre, balancing out the more serious lyricists. “I think the two biggest differences between then and now is, back then, you couldn’t just say anything on record. Somebody had to vouch for it. Somebody was going to do their research and dig up some history. Now everybody just gets a pass,” Tony said. “Two, there was a lot more pressure to be original back then. Now, you can sound like whoever just came before you.”

In terms of what he brings to the table that makes him stand out, Tony believes that he is a complete MC. “I have the voice, the cadence, the delivery, the timing, the concepts.” the artist confidently said. “You have to have all of that. You can’t have a good voice with bad lyrics. You can’t have a catchy song with no message.” The artist also added that he brings great songwriting to the game, something that is rare in hip hop. “My songs are really conceptual. They’re more like movies or plays,” Tony said.

Having built a good following through his music and performances, Tony was recently signed to a record deal to LuJon Records/IMG Recordings after working closely with PR company Lions Vision. “That was the missing ingredient,” he disclosed. “I had done so much on my own, and had taken it pretty much as far as I could go. When they came into the picture, publications started jumping off. It just kind of came about like that.” The company sent over some of Tony’s material that was unmixed, and liked what they heard. Once the label heard a mastered mix of his work, they officially made the decision to sign, and now Tony’s building an even bigger buzz!

Most recently, the artist released his track, “Lite It Up.” The beat, which was produced by Atlanta’s Jay Nasty, caught Tony’s ear on SoundClick. “I heard the chorus and the concept was kind of already there,” he said. “All I had to do was kind of fill in the blanks and just create the full picture.” It features vocals from R&B singer Cory Jones and a guitar solo from Phil Absurd. Check out the official video for the track below!

Currently, Tony is finalizing his full-length mixtape, City Boyz Presents: Order out of Chaos, which goes back to our conversation about the state of the music industry today. “I feel like it’s chaotic. Everybody’s sounding the same. There’s no guidance.” he said. “I feel like I’m making it okay to not only be original and be yourself, but [that] you can still be talented and dope, and sell records.” He’s literally creating order out of chaos with his music!

In addition to the tape, he’s working on new music videos as well as other music features and collaborations. Also, as an actor, he has an upcoming role in a project that is a play off of Ghostbusters, which will begin filming in April. He also has a few other acting projects, including a role in a new webseries called Kingdom Come, as well as a new upcoming NBC sitcom called Love is a Four Letter Word with Rockmond Dunbar and Cynthia McWilliams.

In the future, Tony wants to be considered one of the best hip hop songwriters of all time. “That’s my number one goal. I’m not concerned about money or accolades or anything like that,” he said. “I just want people to be like ‘That dude was a great songwriter. He made it happen.’” He gave a wise piece of advice to upcoming artists who want to make names for themselves in the music world. “I would tell them to do THEIR music. Do not follow the sound of the moment. That’s the best advice that I could give.”

You can check out more from Tony on his official website as well as Reverb Nation and YouTube. You can also connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! 

In The Spotlight: Producer and Rapper J. Rhodes

Time for another artist spotlight! As always, if you or your client is interested in being featured on The Spotlight, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more information!

Today we have producer and rapper J. Rhodes from the Oak Cliff neighborhood in Dallas, TX. The artist fell in love with music thanks to his dad and “Uncle Bone’ (that one crazy uncle everyone has as he told me). He said they would play different types of music from Johnny Taylor to Sam Cooke.  He loved it all and it just stuck with him.
With inspirations that include OutKast, Jay-Z, Timbaland, The Neptunes and Kanye West, J. Rhodes says that the thing that separates him from every other rapper and producer is the fact that he focuses on creating his own brand of music and telling his story. “You have no choice to be different if you just focus on truly being who you are and letting that reflect in the music,” he said.

J. Rhodes recently was involved in the recent “Carter High” movie about the 1988 Carter High School Football team in Dallas, TX, The film stars Vivica A. Fox, Charles S. Dutton, David Banner and Pooch Hall. Rhodes scored some of the scenes in the movie and has some songs on the soundtrack. He also attended and graduated from the school during the year the movie takes place!

http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1&isUI=1
We also talked about his new book that he just released, These Beats Ain’t Free, which provides advice for producers working to make music their full-time job. (SN: Thanks to J. Rhodes for personally dropping off a copy to me!) “Producers these days have all of the talent, but lack the proper information and inspiration,” he said of his inspiration to write the book. “[I] wanted to help drive them to knowing that they can really do this as a living.”When asked about some of his greatest accomplishments, he said along with the release of his book, it would be having won Billboard and Dove awards from working with Christian rapper Lecrae!

Currently, J.Rhodes is working on a new album (no release date set yet). With him having past production work with artists such as Rhymefest, The Game, Talib Kweli, and Slim Thug, we here at The Spotlight are eagerly waiting to see what he has in store for us.

To find out more from J. Rhodes, check out his official website and SoundCloud. You can also follow him on Twitter and Instagram! 

In The Spotlight: Hip Hop Artist L-Dro

Another one! *DJ Khaled voice* As always, if you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, producer, etc., and are interested in a feature, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more information! 

The next artist we’re spotlighting hails from my hometown of Akron, Oh! Hip hop artist L-Dro was inspired by and grew up listening to artists such as Pac, Biggie, Nas, Jay-Z, Scarface, Jadakiss and AZ. These artists, who, in his opinion, were out when rap music was at its most competitive and authentic, influenced him to try out the music he most identified with growing up.

When asked what makes him different from other artists, L-Dro states that it would be a combination of his drive, versatility, beat selection, lyrical content, and determination. He also feels like he goes harder than anybody when it comes to rapping. His new single, “The Life We Live,” off of his upcoming Higher Education EP, features two of rap’s lyrical veterans in Jadakiss and Beanie Sigel and has garnered Dro a lot of attention on various blogs, mixtapes & and radio shows. He said the track came to be from a collaboration between him, his manager and Aganee Jenkins, who produced the track. He said they reached out to both rappers, who were ready and willing to lend some lyrical firepower to Dro’s track. He said the addition of them made the track really feel like hip hop to him. He also has a new track called “Win Or Lose” off of DJ Kay Slay‘s new album. The track also features New York City upstarts Dave East, Vado, and Fred The Godson. This track, which was created after an invite to be on Kay Slay’s radio show, is currently getting a lot of airplay on radio.

Dro is currently preparing his new EP, which is set to include features from Jadakiss, Beanie Sigel and Victoria Monet, as well as production from The Olympicks and Tommy Brown. He’s also working on a new mixtape hosted by DJ Kay Slay and another album.

When asked about what singles he would suggest potential new fans to check out, L-Dro said “Immaculate” and “Angels Cry” off his latest mixtape, “In Us We Trust“, which was hosted by DJ Drama. He suggested people check out the project in its entirety as well as the previous mixtape DrOHIO, which was hosted by Def Jam VP of A&R and producer DJ Don Cannon. Before the interview was over, I asked L-Dro about what has been his favorite moment of his career so far, and he stated that it would be his trip to SXSW in Austin, TX. “[I] had a great time networking with so many different artists and DJs from all over, and performing in front of big crowds.” the artist said. “It was an amazing experience.”

You can check out more of L-Dro’s music on Soundcloud, LiveMixtapes and Datpiff. You can also follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

In The Spotlight: Hip-Hop Artist Young Holley

Another spotlight today, with more on the way! As always, if you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, producer, etc., and are interested in a feature, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more information!

Hailing from the West Side of Detroit, we have rapper Young Holley! He got his start in music after his brother-in- law showed him the movie Krush Groove (Hey Uncle Rush!) when he was a kid. The most memorable scene for him was when LL Cool J rushed into an audition when the auditions were already over. They were trying to kick him out but he was so good when he rapped for them that they signed him on the spot. This had such a great impact on Holley as a child that it became one of his favorite movies and birthed his love of rap. 


Young Holley said the difference between him and other rappers is that his ability to create real music that will hold the attention of listeners. “I’m not afraid to be myself in my music or speak on very personal situations,” the rapper said. “Music is therapy for me and it’s the only thing I am passionate about.” Young Holly also noted that he was inspired by his doubters and anyone overcoming obstacles and chasing their dreams. This type of passion and inspiration helped create his new single, “Grind For It.“ He stated that everyone has “to work for what you want. That’s the only way you’ll get it. Nothing was ever given to me.”

Currently, the rapper is working on an untitled project, which features “Grind For It” as the first single. The track is available for purchase now on iTunes. In the meantime, fans and new listeners should check out his latest mixtape GRIP!  

We ended our interview by asking Holley about any potential work with frequent collaborator, friend and fellow rapper Cash McKenzie. As of now, they are both focused on their individual projects, but he hopes to have some new collaborations with the rapper  in the future. 

Top 3 Albums of 2015
1. King Los – God, Money, War
2. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
3. Big Sean – Dark Sky Paradise
**Even though it was released in 2014, J. Cole‘s 2014 Forest Hills Drive is Holley’s favorite album overall right now.**

You can check out more music from Young Holley on YouTube and Soundcloud. You can also follow him on Twitter, Instagram and on Snapchat (YoungHolley)!

In The Spotlight: Hip Hop Artist Sav

Another spotlight today, with more on the way! As always, if you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, producer, etc., and are interested in a feature, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more information!

Today, we have hip hop artist Sav! Taking time out of his busy schedule recording his new EP Walk With Me hosted by the well known DJ, Mr. Peter Parker, Sav provided us with a very insightful interview about his start in music, his new projects, and some of his favorite albums in 2015 so far. 

Representing for the city of Cleveland by the way of one of its suburbs, Warrensville, Sav got his start in music when he was about 11 or 12. When he would hear Bone Thugs-N-Harmony on the radio, the rapper would record their songs off the radio onto cassette tapes. As he learned about different artists from different areas,  he was further inspired to try and write his own raps.

Sav admitted that most of his inspiration comes from the city of Cleveland. “Right now, to be blunt about it, the city is a war zone. Young kids are killing and dying everyday,” the artist stated. “I want to show them that there is way more to life then that. I want to show them that getting rich and providing for your family is cool, not going to jail.” Music also serves an inspiration, as he considers himself to be a fan before he’s an artist. When he hears a dope song, bar or beat, it makes him want to go in the studio to create some dope music as well.

With his upcoming EP, Walk With Me, the rapper invites listeners to walk with him as he takes them down a path that gives a look into his life, his city and his generation. The project is also solely produced by a producer by the name of Snook and only has two features on it, fellow Cleveland artists Bei Sims and Jonre. 

In terms of what sets him apart, Sav believes it’s his vulnerability in music that makes him unique. “I am not afraid to say anything about whats going on
in my life or how i feel about certain situations,” he admitted. “I will let you know if I’m hurt, mad, [or] sad, and I think a lot of artists are not wiling to share as much personal stuff as I do in my music.” In the future, Sav plans to release new merchandise and music from his Elevated Livin’group, including his own big singles and features with the group.

Keep up to date with Sav on his official website and SoundCloud. You can also connect with him on Twitter and Instagram! 

Bonus:

Sav’s Top 3 albums of 2015

1. Kendrick Lamar– To Pimp a Butterfly

2. Big Sean – Dark Sky Paradise

3. Wale – The Album About Nothing

Which 2 artists would you love to see do a collaborative album from and why?

“Kendrick and Cole been teasing us for years now and that’s the one project I would still love to listen to. I know that project will be FULL of substance and that’s the kind of music I like. Plus , those are two of the best rappers in the game when it comes to lyrics.”

In The Spotlight: Lua Proc

Another spotlight, with more on the way! As always, if you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, producer, etc., and are interested in a feature, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more information! 

Today, we have hip hop artist Lua Proc! Raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Lua Proc is one of the city’s buzzing artists. Though he started off working on his own music as an artist, he became the head of a record label after his friend who served as CEO was incarcerated. “I put myself on the back burner, and started pushing our top artist at that time,” the rapper said. After going his own separate way from that label, Lua Proc began his own label,  High End Society Records, committing to invest in himself and his work. After receiving music from Pittsburgh producer Stevie B, he recording his song “Stunt Hard.” “That helped me gain the confidence [I needed] and start making hit after hit, which got my buzz going across the city and and surrounding areas,” he said.

Lua’Proc’s sound is inspired by his hometown of Pittsburgh and his real life experiences. “I’ve been through a lot from the struggle to the “ballin’” to fake friends crossing me. I’ve been through it all!” he stated. In addition to his own life, the artist draws inspiration from artists like Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, among others, as well as local artists like 2 GZZ and Tuffy Tuff.

His latest track, “Work,” features Kevin Gates. “We shot the video as well, which will be dropping soon,” Lua Proc said.

Currently, Lua Proc is working on his debut album, Fish Tailing. “Fish Tailing is going to be all about my life, both good and bad,” the artist stated. “It’s going to have a little balling, struggling, love, hate, street, club and radio records on it.” Wit the record, he hopes that listeners get to know and understand him better.

Right now, Lua’Proc is focusing on his upcoming project, as well as performances across the country. In terms of what separates him from other artists, he believes his experiences which impact his lyrics and messages are what make him unique. He strives to be the best artist, businessman and CEO he can be. “I plan on putting Pittsburgh on the map from my stand point,” Lua’Proc said. “I’m planning to become the industry’s next powerhouse!”

You can check out more from this artist on his official website, and hear more of his music on SoundCloud and Reverb Nation. You can also follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

In The Spotlight: Hip Hop Artist Troy Patterson, Jr

A spotlight to start the week! Definitely have more that will be posted this week and next, so be on the lookout! As always, if you are or represent an upcoming artist, designer, writer, etc., that would like to be featured on The Spotlight, please visit our Features/Submissions page for more information.

Today, we have hip hop artist Troy Patterson, Jr. During his four-year stint in the U.S. Navy, Troy began experiment with making beats, eventually leaving the military to study and develop his craft. However, his beats weren’t getting much recognition at first, and he eventually ended up writing and rapping a song of his own just to prove that his production skills were up to par. “I had a guy master it for me, and he was like, ‘Man, you might need to look at rapping, because I’ve been playing it for people and they really like it,'” Troy stated. From there, Troy began to focus on rapping, and honing his skills.

Raised by a single mom, who also served as a preacher, Troy credits his faith in God as his reasoning for continuing to pursue his dream. “I truly do believe God is on my side, and I think my faith is the foundation of the music,” the artist admitted. “I don’t even think I would’ve tried it if my faith wasn’t so high.” Also being raised in Georgia, for the most part, gives his music that Southern, soulful kind of feel. “You mix that with [being] raised in the church, and a love for hip hop, and you’ve got basically my sound,” Troy said. Inspired by neo-soul artists like D’Angelo, he often uses soulful hooks on his songs. Inspired also by other hip hop artists like Big Krit, Yo Gotti, and Nipsey Hussle, specifically by their hustle as independent artists, Troy strives to remain independent and own his own masters of his music.

Under his old name, Troy Preach, the artist dropped a mixtape named Human Being Musiq back in 2012, which was his “experimental project,” where he wanted to prove to others and himself that he could really do this. Currently, he’s working on a new project called God Heard Me, which is set to be dropped later this summer. In terms of what listeners can expect to hear, Troy admitted that there is definitely growth between his first project and this upcoming one, as well as a variety of topics. “It’s more personal, I try to really explain my life and my story to the best of my ability, because I know it’s relatable.” he said.  “[There will be] way better production, and [it will be] a more cohesive project.”

Interestingly, Troy currently balances his music with his job as a barber, something that he said has impacted his life and material. “Conversations that happen in the barbershop can be life changing,” he admitted. “I learned a lot about life, and I’m affected by that. It gives me a lot of inspiration.” The artist believes this aspect of his life actually makes him more versatile, and allows him to touch the people as he works behind his chair. “I think people just want to have somebody they can relate to, and somebody that ain’t afraid to be a human being,” Troy said. “The whole Hollywood aspect of the music world  is very real. I’m not on that.”

In addition to working on his new project, Troy is collaborating with Chris Noxx of the Grammy award-winning production team Tha Piecemakerz on producing new music for artists, as well. After his project drops, Troy also plans to drop four to five songs every month to keep the buzz going about his music. He’s even working on creating his own label. This artist is definitely on the grind!

As an artist, Troy simply wants to create great music, and not necessarily be in the spotlight. “I don’t see myself compromising for fame and all of that. I, more so, just want people to kind of enjoy the music” he said. The rapper doesn’t care about being “the best rapper ever” or stepping on other people to get ahead. He’s focused on uplifting people with his work. “I’m not trying to look like a star, or be a star per se,” Troy continued. “I’m just trying to use the gift God gave me, because I don’t want it to go to waste.” In the future, Troy would like to own his own barbershop with an in-house studio, and own a label. He would also love to continue to make music, and also find new talent at showcases that he can help build them from the ground up. This artist definitely has big ambitions, but also the talent, creativity, drive, and faith to make it happen!

You can check out more from Troy on SoundCloud and YouTube. You can also connect with him on Twitter!