When did you start taking Hip Hop Seriously?
Its been three years since I really started taking Music seriously and making it my full time Job, but you know its not really a job cause its not work but as a career I decided that that’s what I was going to do full time.
What was it like going from a Small Blue Collar town in Ohio to a large city like New York and what does it take to stay true to your roots?
It was really an easy transition because going to school and playing college basketball in New York made it easy to adapt to the New York City lifestyle and meet people. A lot of people just go and don’t know anyone there which makes it a lot harder and for me it still somewhat hard but school helped those communication boundaries and meeting certain people. So it was a pretty easy transition for me and staying true to the home town has always been in me, no matter where I am. What made me the man that I am, and what helped build me into the man I am was Massillon, Ohio so I always make sure I bring that with me and respect it and represent it in a graceful way.
What’s your impression of Hip Hop and artists blowing up in the Midwest versus the coasts?
I think the Midwest has been bringing out great music since forever, you got anywhere from Common, to Kanye, to Three Six, to Twister, to Bone Thugs the list goes on and then you got the newer generation like myself, the Cool Kids, Kid Cudi, Big Sean, you know, there are a lot of people representing the Midwest. We’ve always done it our way and we’ve always brought the Midwest culture into the music and I feel everyone’s done a good job doing it.
Where do you see Hip-Hop going in 5 years and where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hip Hop is just growing everyday and it’s a beautiful transition where its going. I don’t know exactly where its going, but I’m excited to see where it goes. I know a lot has changed within the last year with music and the sound of it, so I’m really just excited. As far as myself, I’m just creating music, doing shows, continuing to put out classic records, and put out the best music possible.
How did you originally link up with Mishka on your latest project Lincoln Way Nights?
They were friends of mine, you know, me being in New York City working at Alife, just being around the streetwear culture, I got to meet everyone and become friends with them and they respected what I did, I respect what they do and they decided to help me on Lincoln Way Nights, it was that Trunk Music and it was a blessing for them to help and for them to push it. We had a great in-store show and release at the store, the t-shirts sold out the same day, it was just a good thing, and I think it helped out both of us. They have a different audience than I have and it was able to bring those two groups together and it worked out well.
What are your three favorite Mishka pieces of all time?
The Keep Watch Logo, I love their jeans or I should really say I love their Chinos (Scout Work Pants) they’re amazing they do a great job with that, they do a great a job with their woven’s and cut-and-sew pieces and of course the hats, they’re known for their setting the bar with their fitteds.
What’s your impression of the relationship between Hip-Hop and Streetwear culture in the Midwest?
I think streetwear has really grown and bubbled in the Midwest. The Midwest was more known for a cleaner fresh look like polos and stuff but a lot of people in the Midwest are starting to adapt to more of its own streetwear life and style. You got a lot of people doing a lot things that they always wanted to do but has opened up with streetwear and skateboarding and things like that, its just all of a culture and it goes together and Hip-hop has helped embrace all those things and tie these things together.
Where do you see yourself in fashion in 5 years?
I’m bout to be the Ralph Lauren of Hip-Hop, in 5 years I’m taking over.
