Not everyone wants to be an artist. Some just love music. Thats the case for this young woman we are bringing awareness to today. Olivia Tobias loves music so she dedicates her life to it. Her passion is deep. We got a chance to get to know more about Olivia. Check out the full Q&A below:
Explain who you are for those who don’t know
My name is Olivia Tobias. I own an online apparel store with new lines that come every few months. My line that’s out right now is based around my favorite rapper, Playboi Carti, because his sound inspires me.
What made you want to get involved in music?
I have always loved music. It makes me feel more at peace even though the only music I listen to is hip hop.
What exactly do you do?
I own an online apparel store called Tobs Apparel with new lines coming soon! I also promote music on my instagram and Snapchat for people who are not good at finding new music they like.
What are your motivations?
Working on my store is something I love to do and have a passion for. I also am motivated to meet new people because new people can help you learn a lot about yourself.
What are your influences?
My three biggest influencers are Playboi Carti, Unotheactivist and Yung Bans
What are you currently working on?
Right now I’m looking to spread the word on my apparel line while also spreading the word of good music by promoting.
Anything else you would like to say?
Its not all about the lyrics, it’s about the sound.
DMV artist Brooklyn chopped it up with us and let us know more about the person behind the music. Check it out below:
Explain who you are for those who may not know
Yo! I’m Brooklyn up and coming, artist from the DMV.
Where you from?
I was raised in Virginia, DMV ALL DAY BABY! But I was born in California, moved out to the east when I was a kid.
How did you get your start in music?
One of my really good friends brought me over to her cousin’s spot who produces to kick it. He heard me freestyle and thought I should start making my own sound. I always wanted to record but never had the courage. We really vibed together when we worked and been together ever since. Appreciate you Carlos (@beatsbycarlos)!
How long have you been making it?
The first project I didwas maybe three years ago, it was called “The Outline”, the following year I released the second one which was “The Outline 2” and my last project was “The Rough Draft.” Last three years I’ve been working on some songs, this last year I’ve been taking creating my own sound more serious.
Who are your influences?
Wow where to begin, my influences stem from every genre. Hip-hop: Lauren Hill, Queen Latifah, Nas, Fabolous, Big Pun, Big L, Biggie, J Cole, The Roots, Outkast damn this list would take up this whole page. But others outside of hip-hop: Celia Cruz, Mary J.Blige, Miles Davis, Amy Winehouse, Bobby Caldwell. I’m influenced by many different artists, I love music so I find something in everything.
What motivates you?
First, God! Second, my mother, I adore that women. Third, has always been helping others out. I hope by making music I’m able to do that. How many artist that have helped me out when I was going through it and they don’t even know. I want to do that for others.
What are you currently working on?
I’m working on my new project“Notes From The Underground.” I’m dropping a video for that in August, STAY TUNED! Working with a couple other artists around the way, on their projects, doing shows, every day growing.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
If God allows, working on more music projects, touring, expanding on the “Brooklyn” brand. Goals outside of music: do a series for travel and food. I really looked up to Anthony Bourdain, I want to keep that legacy alive.
What is your opinion on the current hip-hop scene?
Man I love hip-hop, it’s evolving, always is. Every music has a time in place, I use to diss the trap shit but honestly some of it’s lit. But the game is waiting for something different, a dope kid like me, give you that 90’s feel, give you some flavor. I’ma 90’s baby, so I’m heavily influenced but old-school hip-hop.
Anything else you would like to say?
Man, I hope yall fuck with the sound, have fun with it. Check out my latest project “Azucar,” available on Apple Music, Spotify, Youtube, all the sources. I really wanted to do a project for mi jente, my people. Remind us of our value, our strength, our roots.
We got a chance to chop it up with Detroit artist Crazy Boy Thugger. Check out our full Q&A with him below:
Where you from?
Im from Detroit Michigan but I been everywhere currently resides in California chasing my dreams.
How did you get your start in music?
I started as a teenager. I think I was in Atlanta visiting my family and one day I wrote a rhyme I must’ve been around 12. My older cousin had me listening to rap music like everyday we would chill and listen to music. We would get high and do freestyle cyphers. When I started it wasn’t something I was taking seriously until I started getting good at it. Every day in class I would write and I would let my older cousin hear it and he would be like you need to be a rapper.
How long have you been making it?
I been doing this for a while I started hustling every day. In Detroit at northland mall we had a studio you could go to and record music. I had already pressed out an album in high school and everyone liked it. So I made a mixtape at northland mall and sold it over in my cousins neighborhood on 6mile and Myers at the gas station.I would sell my album and my mixtape at the mall too.They had gave me a job to sell my music at the studio there so i started hustling there. I was getting recognition and people would stop by the booth and say what’s up. People would tell me I was dope and I should be signed.
Who are your influences?
2pac Eminem Jay Z Biggie 50 cent Dmx Jeezy that’s my top 7. I fuck with Wayne heavy too.
What motivates you?
Haters and money motivate me. I don’t let people stop my ambition and hustle. Long as I’m getting money and making music I’m good.
What are you currently working on?
Well I gotta couple projects on the way. I’m working on my next mixtape dropping soon. And I got a group we got some shit in the works too. Be looking out for my next mixtape tho it’s gon be crazy.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Honestly I just wanna be on top of my game. I already tell people I’m famous. I just wanna be a millionaire.
What is your opinion on the current hiphop scene?
Idk man I’m not feeling everything that’s out right now. I feel like they need to switch careers or something. Not all of it but most of it is garbage in my opinion. I feel like it’s a bunch of wack rappers on hot beats mumbling and saying the same shit over and over again. I can’t really listen to them I only fuck with the real rap. Lyrics and swagger gangster shit not this corn ball bullshit they been blowing up on social media.
Anything else you would like to say?
I’m coming to change the game. I’m gonna Change the way people embrace hip hop. I’m gonna share my life and beliefs and the things I did in the streets to the people that fuck with me. Don’t nobody do it better than me because I’m the best rapper on the universe in this day and age.
S.O.S is a group of two brothers who are focusing on their HipHop careers. These Alabama artists are on their way up. We got a chance to get to know more about them in an exclusive Q&A interview. Get to know more below:
Explain who you are for those who may not know ?
S.O.S aka Straight Out The Streets, we got a few different meaning for the abbreviation but that’s the one we mainly use and tell people.
Where you from?
Huntsville AL.. the north side to be exact
How did you get your start in music?
(Dee) I started off just freestyling and ended up liking it and people told me to go for it so I gave it a shot.
(Jay) I always been into it, I started off playing around with it at first then ended up falling in love with it
Who are your influences?
(Dee)I’ve been making music since late 2016 so going on 2 years now. My biggest influences in the rap game is boosie, young Jeezy, and yo gotti and can’t forget the legends biggie Tupac and jay-z.
(Jay) I been making music since I was 14 15 years old but I’ve been taking it serious now for about a year or so.. My biggest influences were Tupac and Biggie but I grew up on a lot of T.I , Young Jeezy, Lil Boosie, Webbie, Doe B, The Game, 50cent and Gucci Mane of course
What motivates you?
(Jay) A bag is what motivate me. What I’ve been through and all the obstacles I’ve had to overcome is what motivates me.. Seeing others, especially my loved ones winning is what motivates me, it all adds fuel to my fire and make me wanna succeed and make a difference. My family come from nothing so for us to have anything means everything!
(Dee)my daughter and family motivates to wanna make it in the industry .I wanna give my family a better life and live stress free and enjoy the American Dream.
What are you currently working on?
(Jay) We just recently dropped our joint project now I’m working on my Solo project titled “FNL” or Flashy Nigga Lifestyle. The title speaks for itself.
(Dee)I am working on getting more videos done to some of my singles and songs from our previous tape straight out the streets.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
(Jay) I honestly dont know, I can’t predict the future but at the pace we going and the moves we making hopefully in the next 5 years this music thing takes us far. Hopefully I can be on the freshman XXL, who knows.
(Dee)in 5years I see myself doing good in the music industry and hopefully signed or making independent in the game.At least a million strong off music.
What is your opinion on the current hiphop scene?
(Jay) if you ask me the correct music scene right now is all fabricated. A lot of artist are portraying to be something or someone they aren’t. Then you got all this so called “beef” and most of it revolves around social media it’s all fake and for publicity to me. That’s why i stay to myself and in my own lane I jus want them M’s
(Dee) the hip hop scene now seen easier to make it now with all different technology and ways to get your music out there on the scene it seem fun to me I’m ready for it.
Anything else you would like to say?
(Jay) yea go search & download our mixtape on Spinrilla hosted by “ DJ 730xxx” or type in “Straight Out The Street” & be on the look out for my next project once again “FNL” and our music will be on spotify and iTunes real soon we going through the motions with that as of right now.
(Dee)Yes go download that straight out the streets tape on Spinrilla and also check out our music on SoundCloud.
EXCLUSIVE: A lot of times in this game, you get played by people. Sometimes its done intentionally, other times, its not. Merci feels like he was disrespected by HuslteGodKayo, an affiliate of Bezz Believe. We got the chance to chop it up with Merci and talk with him about the situation. Read more below:
Explain who you are for those who may not know
I’ve been making music since I was 3 so none of this is new to me, but it’s new to everyone that hears about Me, I’ve been in the music scene for the last year now. I grew up in Boca Raton, Florida in 1994, that’s the OG year. I’m really trying to make an impact on this industry and leave my stamp on it and live through it when I’m gone. I work with every3k (he’s worked with artist from lil pump, smoke purp to riff raff, he made the beat to steph curry McFlurry and if you ever hear “Ay that was dope E” on a beat, thats him)
Talk to us about the situation with you and HustleGodKayo?
It’s funny honestly, it started out by just reaching out over IG. I like bezz believes Music so I figured I talk to his manager and see if he had any good advice. Long story short we exchange contact info and I did business with one of his affiliates Elvis Cooper. Since then he hits me up asking me to send him music, and I’m more then happy to support his cause and further my career in this industry. Unfortunately after hitting me up and telling me he’s got me, no worries and all the bullshit he never played my songs. Then he turns around and speaks negatively about me on air, (my name is Brandon, stage name Merci) and of course doesn’t shed light on the truth, which is why I felt that he needed to get exposed because if he’s trying to play me, I’m not the only one.
How did this happen!?
Being an independent and growing artist it’s easy to sell hopes and dreams to us. We all want the same thing and it’s obvious, you have to trust people, even when they turn out to be the wrong people. At the end of the day true colors show and it won’t stop me from pursuing a career in music and taking different avenues to get heard, but I 100% will never work with Kayo or anyone associated with his name.
He told you he would review you?
Yea, multiple times, that’s why I’m like dude needs to stop, cause it’s not the first time he hit me up asking me to send it in. If it was the first time it’s understandable that my song won’t get played, but the fact that it was a personal invite from his personal phone meant to me that he’d take me more serious and do what he said he’d do. In reality no ones watching his show so he tries to keep people hanging by a thread to watch the show with hopes of hearing a review on their song. You can even see him waste time on horrible songs because he will not get to your song to review it. Period.
Why do you think he didnt?
Honestly I don’t know. Maybe he’s threatened. I’m not the type of person who craves attention I have 1700 followers on insta after a year, I’m more focused on my music. I think he’s listened to my music and feels a certain way about it and is trying to hide it. On the show they even said “ we wanted to get to it bad” yet still didn’t review it, so they acknowledge me which is weird that a claim to be an unbiased review and truth telling review would be so shady. But then again why would he even ask me to send it, maybe he just needed the views.
Did you feel it was more disrespect than anything!?
100% if anyone asks you do something multiple times and flakes on you, how would you feel?
Do you have anything you would like to say to clear the air about it?
I just want people to know the truth and when working or speaking with Kayo just know he’s plotting against for his own personal interest with no benefit to you.
What made you want to speak out about the situation?
The truth should be known, nobody knows he was talking about me except for me. And I just want to shed light , cause Yea I’m from Boca and there’s a reputation that kids here are soft, which is true sometimes. He might think he can mess with me but believe me I’m not the person to get beef with. I’m very resourceful, if you been around anyone that’s been around you’ll hear shit, not that I’m proud of it but I got a name and people know not to get on my bad side.
How are you planning to move forward from this?
I’m cool about it. Wash my hands clean, done deal. It’s over. Im gonna keep making music and do what I do best.
Anything else you would like to say
Yea, don’t work with Kayo unless your bezz Believe
Follow @ohlookitsmerci on IG for more music and news
ThomasBoi Ken is a new artist to us but he is not new to the game. With his latest release “Trust Issues” – Ken is focused more than ever. We got the chance to sit down and talk to Ken and get to know more about him. Read more below:
Explain who you are for those who may not know
I am ThomasBoi Ken.
Where are you from?
I am from Ypsilanti MI.
How long have you been doing music?
Ive always wrote music as a kid and all of the things that ive been through I decided to speak my pain through my music and share my talent with the world and invest in myself. ve been writing for most of my life and ive been recording for 2 years now.
Who is your biggest influence?
My mother is my biggest influence . Shes taught me the definition of grind and watching her handle everything on her own as a single mother it always pushed me to never settle and work harder. Music wise rapper Lil Snupe was one of my favorite rappers before he passed I felt like he was speaking everything I was going through and that’s really when I decided to take music more serious and pursue it.
What motivates you?
My son Jayden is my everything and is all the motivation I need to accomplish anything I want to pursue.
What are you working on?
I just released a single called Trust Issues and working on new material with my management collaborating with new artists.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself doing what I’m doing now and that’s trying to better myself everyday and trying to be the best person I can be but I see myself being big in five years.
What is your opinion on the current state of HipHop?
I feel like hip hop today is more creative then people give credit for. Music is a lot more catchy now then it was in past years.
B$keme is a new artist from Cali thats bringing a whole new flavor to the game. He started making music young and he’s been in love with the passion ever since. We got a chance to chop it up with him and get to know the man behind the music. Get to know more about him below:
Explain who you are for those who may not know
B$keme I was born in Brazil but i ve been living in San Diego, Ca for about 4 years
How did you get into music?
I started rapping since I was a kid listening to Lil wayne and 50 cent, hip hop was always my passion, I would be in my room for days just listening to music. I made my first single this year, that is called “My Life” so I’m new in the business
Who are your influences?
My influences are Lil Wayne, Kodak Black, Drake and Kanye West
What motivates you?
I’ve been to a lot of depression and anxiety since the past years and making music really motivates me, I just love making hip hop and music it’s my life. When I was really depressed i just would be listening to hip hop and searching for the lyrics that would help me a lot to get going with my life and not giving up
What are you working on?
I’m currently Working in my first and new Mixtape thats is called Black Sheep. I will be dropping soon
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself 5 years from here in a good position in music, influencing the culture and making hip hop thats what I love to do
What is your opinion on todays current HipHop scene?
I think the current scene in hip hop is really different from the 1990’s but I dont think thats a bad thing, Hip Hop is the new generation and this new artist are doing their work in their way, and its working because hip hop views has grown up a lot this past years. I just think the new generation in hip hop is different but its not a bad one!
Steve Prophet is a new artist from Long Island who has been doing music since a youngin. He is now focused on making it more than a passion, but a career. He has many goals and motivations and is focusing on perfecting his craft. We got a chance to chop it up with Steve and get to know the man behind the music. Get to know more about him below
Explain who you are for those who may not know
Steve Prophet – Rapper/Singer
Where are you from?
Long Island, New York
How did you get your start in music?
I orginally started making music after being put onto hip-hop by my older cousin. I listened to hundreds of hip -hop albums in a matter of 2 years before I started to make my own music. I started making music my freshman year of high school, about 5 years ago.
Who are your influences?
My biggest influences are Jay Z, Cam’ron, Eminem, Andre 3k, J. Cole
What motivates you?
Motivated by the current state of hip hop
What are you working on?
Working on these weekly releases on Soundcloud and a cohesive project to follow up.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully leveled up
What is your opinion on the current HipHop scene?
Hip Hop is dope right now there are a lot of new sounds but I feel like there is not enough respect being put on the pioneers of hip hop. I try to combine both sounds in my music and I think it’s noticeable
Eli is an artist from New Jersey with a lot of grind behind him. Focused on his career, we expect to hear a lot more from him in the future. We found Eli via Instagram and thought he had a lot of potential. We got the chance to chop it up with him and get to know a little more about the man behind the music. Check it out below:
Where you from?
Asbury Park New Jersey
How did you get your start in music?
I started off singing in church when I was little
How long have you been making it?
I been making music since I was 16
Who are your influences?
Chris Brown & Tupac
What motivates you?
My grandma motivates me she always believed in me telling me not to give up when it was times I felt like quitting she kept me strong
What are you currently working on?
My EP called Sacrifices
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself in the music industry rich & successful
What is your opinion on the current hiphop scene?
I feel like hip hop today is dope it’s just a new generation and older people will say hip hop is dead but that’s cap
Anything else you would like to say?
For everyone that’s out there chasing your dream keep doing it and never give up don’t listen to the negativity that people bring. Around you and distance yourself from the ones that’s fake all they doing is hating on you and will try to bring you down the best way they can
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