How long have you been writing?

Seriously writing rhymes?

Yes.

Since the end of August, 2013. So about 6 months

Interesting; what inspired you to get serious about writing?

Good question. Well, I got really into music in 2012, and after the honeymoon period of my journey, I felt like there was a void in the lyrics. I wanted something that didn't exist, so I had to create it

So that "void" would be something not purely unique? Something that you have actually seen before or know has been done before?

Quite the opposite. I had to fill the void because there was nothing there. That's what a void is.

True. So in a broad sense, what do you feel like you were lacking in your artistry before?

Like, before I got serious?

Yes.

A general direction. It was all ramblings, I was just toying around. Then after I had been sitting on this thought for awhile, I wrote Solutions, and things finally started to click.

So with that in mind, when you go into writing a piece nowadays, what would you say your ultimate goal is to achieve?
Well, to say something that will cover everything i write, that would be to say the most and get the most out of the least. To provide something that the reader can read and be intrigued by and generate thought.

That's interesting, as going through some of your work within the past 2 month period, I've seen how much you try to say in one bar. Very intricate from the perspective of the audience; how would you describe your writing style?

It's all very conceptual. From a technical standpoint, I use a lot, a LOT, of metaphors. But I like to play off of expressions and stuff as well, because those are also ways to pack stuff into a bar. I'd say it's all very conscious. and meticulously so...

There was a 15 minute intermission for food before the interview continued.So do you plan on moving on from writing poetry into recording your writing vocally?

That's a step that I'd definitely like to take, yes.

You do have a fair amount of writing already out for the public to see; any plans on a solo vocal project?

Yes there are. I've already decided on a title: The Night's Watch. That's inspired by the series Game of Thrones, where the Watch literally defends the realm from the monsters of night. I'd like to consider this to be that on a more metaphorical level.

That's pretty legit to be honest; since you have yet to (at a minimum, publish) much of any vocal work, do you have a sound you'd like to aim for with this project? It sounds like it's to be somewhat dark.

Well I've got some of the beats already made by some friends on Rap Genius, shout out to D'shon, Nimpeo, and MFVoltron. I'd say that the sound is going to change a good bit from track to track, but will definitely all fit together through my mentality.

Interesting; so will there be a generally recognizable "sound" to your project as a whole then, or will each track's difference provide a diverse experience?

What do you mean by sound in your question?

Sound as in, what kind of vibe or tone will it set?

Well, musically, I'd say it will be pretty diverse. But lyrically, it'll all be bound together in a way that makes sense.
I see, I see. So perusing through your discography, I came across this group, "Vibrant Shadows", and you actually showed me 2 of their works. How did this group come to be?

Well me and D'shon first met through the now-ended Fantasy Rap game, and I eventually editored him. I, having gone through his annotations, noticed his own work. After doing some of my own stuff, I invited him to do a guest spot, and we worked out a concept together for this song that we called "Vibrant Shadows." I met pajuxy when I was doing work on Uptown XO. I had been looking for a producer for "Sheep," and D'shon recommended I reach out to Nimpeo. D'shon and me were close, and after doing "King Me At The End," we all had some connections with each other. So one day, pajuxy reached out to me and D'shon, and we sort of joined together our partners.


Okay. So are there any plans for Vibrant Shadows to release any work as well?

Not at the moment, no.

For your project, do you have a time-frame where you see it could potentially be released?

2014, before the next school year.

So summer 2014?

Maybe summer, maybe Spring. That depends on how things go.

Who is the White Hart, and what role has she played in your life?

The White Hart... definitely a recurring theme in my writings. The White Hart was really the first person that ever understood who I am as a person. The White Hart has probably been the single most important person in my life outside of my family. The role that she played in my life...She definitely opened my mind up to the possibility of enjoyable human interaction. She made me comfortable to share my darkest thoughts. She was someone who I could be 100% myself with. But the reason that I was able to do that is not so nice. I've found that the only people I can ever really connect with are self-depreciating, to say the least. And because of this, the two of us had a bit of a separation when she felt that she was being cruel to me. That drifting away left me feeling emptiness and emotionless. And that was winter of 2012-2013. So my more personal writings have been heavily influenced by my experiences with The White Hart. A feeling of desperateness, a sort of clingy tone. "The Shawshank Redemption" was entirely inspired by The White Hart and that person from "Perception is Everything". That song probably best speaks on how their pain affected me, even though I'm not the "Red" character in it. When I would write thinking about The White Hart, I used to wonder how they would react if I showed my lyrics to them. Their words were "keep writing. A lot of people don't have a gift as incredible as yours."

Powerful. Aside from the White Hart, who would you also include in your list of literary and/or musical influences.

Lupe Fiasco is definitely a big one. Jay Electronica as well. I'd throw in Ab-Soul, too. George RR Martin and JRR Tolkien definitely played roles as well.

So what are you writing for?
It's definitely not for any monetary compensation or anything. I'm not trying to put it down for my fam or my hometown, either. The best questions are those that you can't easily answer ahaha. Am I writing for myself? I'd say that I could say yes to that. but that that doesn't tell the whole tale. I'd definitely say that writing has helped me mentally, but that I hope that I'll be able to change some people's lives with this stuff. My goal in life was to be someone's savior in a mental sense, not a physical one. And in the middle of writing The Night's Watch, I guess I did so. Perception is Everything, verse 2, is inspired by that experience, the rebound from the White Hart and finally finding a connection with somebody again. That experience was phenomenal; it showed me that life could be thrilling and deep again, and that there were more people out there. I guess I'm writing to push a sort of movement/message: to better understand the world and use that to connect with people... on the highest level possible. I wanted to save someone, and I want to be close to someone. My writings are supposed to support being conscious and promote understanding, so that you can have that same dark connection, but without any gimmicks.Watch out for Detroit Leprechaun in 2014.