With hip hop and rap going through a renaissance of sorts, it's amazing to step into the underground and see what's burning.
Rappers have a varied set of opinions lobbed at them nowadays. There are people who don't care and just turn on the radio. There are people who still see all rappers as dangerous thugs. There are people who see rappers as the most important artists of our age.
Since it's not the 90's anymore, no one really cares about the first group and that's what's best. Racist, faux televangelists whose greatest accomplishments are a Bingo tournament and a failed YouTube channel are a dime a dozen and function kind of like wasps: don't pay any attention to them and hopefully they'll die out slowly and painfully by winter.
The second group however, contains very powerful factions who are far more troubling. The members of this hip elite put an unnecessary pressure on rappers and producers to be envelope pushers. They want everything they hear to be constantly pushing the boundaries of "what hip hop can be". While this may have led to the discovery of cloud rap and Future and the like, it pushes a dogmatic approach to hip hop which -- despite its intentions to open doors and create new ideas -- may doom it to the same, pretentious trajectory fine art, film and literature have experienced.
They're also yuppie twerps with a loft in Brooklyn a hedge fund paid for and no respect for the hustle.
Luckily, rappers are resilient types who really don't give a shit about what some Pitchfork-addicted cock rocket thinks. Most rappers don't care about the subcategory of rap/hiphop their music fits and they shouldn't. That's something which matters to people who don't matter.
Rappers are about the music. Period. Not what the music does or means or "can be". They're gonna make it any way because they have to. I sat down (for a texted interview) with a hot, new Queens-by-way-of-Virginia rapper, Allweyz1oo, who embodies this very honest vision of hip hop. This kid spits about his life, family and day to day. Where it goes from there doesn't matter to him because hip hop doesn't sleep.
This interview has not been edited. If you want to understand the mind of a young, raw rapper it's crucial to see how one speaks and thinks in real time.
Dylan: Give us a glimpse into your life. Your raps tell a big story, but give us the narrative.
Dylan:Who are some of your influences/inspirations? How do you think they show up in your music?
Allweyz1oo:kendrick lamar and j.cole. two very great rappers i can relate to. the struggle. the pain. growing up in the hood with not alot. and nothing but a dream to make yourself better.i can actually listen to them and get a understanding of who they are.
Dylan: Your raps have three distinct vibes to them: hard af and about the money; introspective and in search of retribution for sin; positivity/inspiring people. What do you think about that?
Allweyz1oo: i like to be versatile with my music. no one wants to hear a rapper talk about the same thing over and over. i make songs depending on my mood and what im thinking about at the time. how the beat makes me feel and wat come to heart/mind when i hear it.
Dylan:Where do you think you fit into the game?
Allweyz1oo:in the game i fit in on motivational rap. i want people to hear my music and believe in themselves. that they too can chase and follow any and every dream that they have. i have my own style with me not tlkn about the same as everyone else. let alone not cursing in my music.
Dylan:What do you think about the Southern scene right now?
Allweyz1oo:the southern scence right now is horrible. everyone thinks u with 9 other guys throwin up signs and shit in ya neighborhood on camera is good music. theres no story behind their words. no delivery, no meaning. plus everyone relies on auto tune. tlkn about the same shit its annoying.
I have to respectfully disagree with you Allweyz. Migos is the revolution.
Dylan:What the underground? Does it exist? Do you see yourself fitting into that?
Allweyz1oo:i dont catergorize myself with the rest of the underground because most of it is corny and has no meaning and my music is far from that. my end game is to become my own boss, be one of the hottest well known and respected artist in the game by my consistency and ability and eagerness to help and network with other people. even if i stop rapping.
Dylan: You have a company called BMM (Brothers Making Moves) which you've been repping all over your Instagram. Tell us about BMM.
Allweyz1oo:BMM is a brand my brother and i created (mainly me lol) to help promote and network with people other than just the name of allweyz1oo. i use BMM to do camera work for people. brand my own music.
Allweyz1oo:hopefully one day i dream to turn BMM into a major record label that also does other things than music.i wanna use BMM to give EVERYone to be apart of something. whether u rap, sing, do hair, are a fashion designer, movie director w.e. i want to give people jobs, give back to children in need. however far God allows my BMM brand to go im with it. even if i stop rapping. i still want to run BMM and give other kids/people a chance to showcase there talents and shine. i just wanna be a p.diddy lol.
Dylan: Anything we should be on the lookout for? And if people really want to get to know Allweyz1oo, where should they look?
Allweyz1oo:if u really wanna get to kno me just listen to the music. every track has a story/outline of myself. u just have to listen to the words.im currently just working on dropping music videos. because i feel as if hearing is one thing. but alot of people like to see with their eyes as well. helps them get a better understanding.
Allweyz1oo's new album E.H.F.A.R (Everything.Happens.For.A.Reason) is currently available to buy on and available for streaming on his SoundCloud. He's constantly doing shows in the NYC/Long Island for all you locals out there so check them out, they're wild.
The minimum wage is not a living wage.
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