HIP HOP BREATH magazine n17 (Reks cover)

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#HHBAllDay .Support the movement.

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Edito Le nouveau numéro de HHB, le numéro 17, est parmi nous ! Comme d’habitude, les interviews sont en versions originales. Découvrez l’interview exclusive du vétéran Reks, ainsi que du nouvel artiste de la HHB Family Damebo Baby, puis direction Brooklyn avec Trav B Ryan. Vous pourrez également découvrir les interviews du prodige SkyBlew, de Vocaliz et du lyriciste Wordsworth. Réalisées par LADYSU. N’hésitez pas à partager, commenter !

@LadySuMusic @HipHopBreath

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Sommaire Damebo Baby … P.6 Trav B Ryan … P.10 SkyBlew … P.15 Wordsworth … P.24 Vocaliz … P.28 Reks … P.34 …

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Damebo Baby Interview Hello Damebo. For those who might be a little unfamiliar with the name, tell us a little about yourself.

Who are you, where are you from and when did you start out in hip hop?

It’s Damebo baby!! Im an Independent artist who grew up all around the BayArea in northern California. Music for me actually started at Grass Valley elementary school in Oakland, California. I was taught how to play the tenor and alto saxophone. It wasn't untill 6th grade where a good friend of mine Chris Robnett kind of helped me get the music bug started. As we sat in his room that day we were listening to some old mobb deep tracks while he played the game. All of a sudden the topic of a freestyle came up . I looked at everything i could see in the room, and thought of everything i knew and felt. After that day music has never stopped living in my heart and mind.

From the days you started, which artists would you say you learned the most from, those who influenced you the most in developing your own style?

I grew up loving michael jackson, Brian mcknight, 2pac, too short and all the videos i wasnt allowed to watch on all the music stations.

Artist like lil boosie, Big krit, james blake, 2pac, mj, and Gwen stefani from the no doubt crew help me develop my own style. First few mixtapes i dropped not available online can show whatever i was going through, the streets were heavily involved lol. With tracks like "if i robbed you" . Now my music reflects my creativity and me being able to reach out to different audiences id like to think.

Your project “Foreign Exchange” is on the way. Can you tell us about?

Working with Dj LSM, and a couple producers who are not from the u.s at all is what gave me the idea for

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the project. I’m a firm believer in teamwork and unity. I recently have been added to the Hip Hop Breath team by the homie from France LADYSU. This is my way of showing my love and appreciation back to all the fans who have been supporting me across seas and home in the states. As a independent artist my budget doesn’t allow me to randomly show up in France or Germany to attend a show and rock out for my fans who support me.

One day i will be out there! I Promise! Expect alot of exciting tracks with collabs from a lot of close people i rock with.

ways of entertaining through his music.

What are your inspirations and motivations for this project, and in general?

My son is my biggest inspiration and motivation. Life has been crazy and rough, but no one will hand you success. You gotta go get it. I want my son to know his dad went hard in everything he did. Being able to show my love and appreciation back to those who support me here and across the sea is a big motivating factor.

You gonna be the next: Im going to be the voice for the people. Not only do i want to create music that will make you feel good, but music that also can guide, teach, and lead. So many artists today do so little in giving back to those who got them started. The fans!

You sound like: Damebo baby has his own unique sound and unique

You’d like to work with: James Blake, Big Krit, Brian Mc knight, Calvin Harris, DJ Snake, DJ LSM, DJ Mustard, the list could go on. I would also love to work with inspiring artists and anyone with a passion for music.

You goal in hip hop is: Is to be able to reach all types of audience. I don’t want to be known as just a hiphop artist , I just want to be known as a artist who creates music.

Just how a painter creates portraits.

Anything else you would like to say to our readers in France/ Europe/ Worldwide?

Readers hello!! Thank you for all your time and support. Make sure you stay tuned in with Dj LSM and ya boy Damebo Baby!! AS we continue our journey on the 8

"Foreign Exchange".. Check me out on twitter/ instagram @damebobaby. facebook.com/damebobaby.. fans stay in touch with me. Thank you!

LADYSU

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Trav B Ryan Interview

Hello Trav B Ryan. For those who might be a little unfamiliar with the name, tell us a little about yourself.

Who are you ?

I am a rapper and songwriter from Brooklyn, NY. One of the best cities in the world, man. I started doing music about 13 years ago and I never looked back since.

From the days you started, which artists would you say you learned the most from, those who influenced you the most in developing your own style?

Mainstream wise I would say Eminem and Jay-Z were huge influences on my sound and my approach to music but on a more personal level my older sister was the one that really made me get into rapping. She used to rap and battle against her friends in school and when I saw that and saw the reaction she got for her punchlines, I was like "I want that" in my head so that was the lighter to my fireworks basically in a sense.

You realized “Run The Knight (If Batman was a rapper)”, Your project “Comixtape vol. 1” is on the way. Can you tell us about? Why this title?

Run The Knight is my first single off of my ComixTape EP and its about putting yourself in the shoes of Batman and seeing the world through his eyes. Growing up and even now Comic books were a huge part of my life and I always wanted to be a super hero in a sense. Now finally I get to do it through the magic of music. With Run The Knight, I got a chance to explore the super hero side to Batman and the human side to him which people tend to overlook even though the human side is what makes him so great. The ComixTape Vol. 1 EP is pretty much straight forward. Its a mixtape about comic books. It mixes my two favorite things in there which is hip hop and comics and turns it into a beautiful project that takes you on a superpowered emotional roller coaster. I was lucky enough to work with the talented producer King George III and a few other sound innovators on this 10

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project that really know how to capture the emotions of each character I rap about.

Where did you get this interest for comic books?

My older brother, before he moved out to live with his father left me a stack of comic books when he left. I remember it was mixed with Spiderman, Punisher, W.I.L.D Cats, Mortal Kombat and some Dark Horse Comics. Once I started reading one, I was drawn in and had to keep going. Ever since then I was hooked. It expanded my creativity in a huge way. Started going to the comic book store and buying my own with my allowance along with a bag of sour powers for the walk home. It was a huge part of my childhood and my big brother definitely planted that seed.

If Trav was a super heros, who would it be?

I would be an original hero. Not one that is already out. Maybe Subway Man since I ride the train alot. A dude with the power of a train in his punches and travels like a ghost through the tunnels at high speeds.

Someone mysterious in the shadows type. I think mysterious heroes are the coolest.

You sound like: I sound like a mixture of Eminem and J.Cole. I have alot of Eminem's cadence and

J.Cole's wit so I'm a Frankenstein of those two.

You’d like to work with: Theres alot of people I would love to work with.

Eminem, Ty Dolla Sign, Travis Scott, Jeremih, NeYo, Andre 3000, I mean the list goes on forever.

Your goal in hip hop is: My goal in hip hop is actually two goals.

Become a household name, and also merge the comic book culture with the hip hop culture. Alot of people think the comic culture is too nerdy to be associated with hip hop culture which banks on the idea of being the cool kid in the lunch room, but I want to bridge that gap and show everybody that you can do both and still be cool.

You gonna be the next: I don't want to be the next anyone to be honest.

I want to be the best me I can be and change the world by bringing my creativity and my unique ideas to minds that were never expose to such freedoms before.

Anything else you would like to say to our readers in France / Europe / Worldwide?

I just want to say that I thank you guys for taking the time out to interview me. Hip Hop BREATH is showing that they are really on top of the next wave and upcoming names in hip hop and thats what its 12

all about. Also, shout out to my Fans and Family for keeping me focus and keeping me on my A game at all times. Thank you for believing in me.

LADYSU

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SkyBlew Interview Hello SkyBlew. For those who might be a little unfamiliar with the name, tell us a little about yourself. Who are you?

Ok! Well for those who may not know me, my name is SkyBlew.

I am from Auburn, Alabama by the way of Chapel Hill, North Carolina. And...... I Don't Rap, I Paint The Sky,Blew!!! Lol. Most say i'm a cool dude so I guess I am. I've been given the title of "Coolest Nerd You Ever Heard", so i'm cool with that lol. Also, i'm a DREAMER. A ColorfulDreamer to be exact.

My thoughts are vibrant, and I stand out from most. I started music around the age of 14. I used to write poetry in class, which I didn't really want to do, but my teacher used to always try to get me to write because she said, I was very talented. I also used to write stories which people like my Grandma (RIP)

used to say were very colorful and vivid. I always had a love for music. I grew up in foster care so things like music, video games, cartoons and books, were my escape from reality. I would get lost in each song I listened to... I guess I always knew I was meant to make music, but it took me a while to accept it. I would write rhymes here and there and freestyle at lunch (cliche I know) but it's something I did. lol. My friends used to say I was really good and asked me to do it everyday, then I would spit the rhymes I wrote and well, the rest is history lol. But over time, I eventually got serious about it when life came down on me and also when my Grandma died. I made my mind up, music is what I wanted to do, BUT I wanted to make a difference 15

with the music I make, not just waste it or sound like everyone else.

From the days you started, which artists would you say you learned the most from, those who influenced you the most in developing your own style?

The artists that influenced me the most you ask? Well, it's a pretty diverse group because I love a variety of music types.

Some of my influences are: Common, 2Pac (RIP), A Tribe Called Quest (RIP Phife), Nujabes (RIP), Lupe Fiasco, Arrested Development, Scapegoat Wax, Blue Scholars, New Radicals, Jamiroquai, Common Market, Amy Winehouse, Marvin Gaye, Mega Ran, Michael Jackson, Sugar Ray, Sublime, J. Cole, Anita Baker, Nappy Roots. Yea see, pretty diverse lol. But each inspired me in different ways when developing my style.

Some of the artists I named taught me how to: write intricate music, use emotion,

tone and melody, rhyme schemes and patterns, production, style etc. Most people say my music is creative and unique. That's because I took time in molding my style and creating something from scratch. I didn't want to just copy any of these artist styles, I just studied them and what I liked about them, then tried to create something new, which would make people like my music as much as I like these particular artist. You know?

Your project “SkyBlew The Cowardly Boy� is on the way.

Can you tell us about? A date?

Why this title?

SkyBlew The Cowardly Boy....

That's going to be some of my best work to date and nothing sounds like it. It's coming out at a great time as well because it will stand out for sure and also the message. I don't want to give too much away about the album, because it's something I want people to actually sit down and listen to for 16

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themselves... Each person will walk away with their own interpretation of the album. I'll give a short analysis tho... It's about a scared, young boy, who happened to be the bravest of all. He just didn't know it. So this is his journey in becoming the brave young man, that he is destined to be. There's a variety of concepts and topics in the album, that will definitely make you think about. The title is a play on "Courage The Cowardly Dog". Each song is based on an episode, but with a whole new spin/take on the story. That's all I can say about the album for now lol. I only have 3 collaborations on there, mainly singers and one guest emcee appearance, which is by Median. He has been one of my favorite underground emcees for the longest so it was an honor to have him being part of this album. The producers are super talented guys you have heard me work with previously and a few new faces as well, so stay tuned! ;)

Were there any particular inspirations for you in making this project, and in a wider sense, what else acts as your biggest motivational factors?

Firstly, i'll speak on what's my biggest motivational factors.

Which happens to be: 1. God (self explanatory.) 2. My Grandma (she always supported me and was a great woman. When she died, I made my mind up to use my voice to inspire because that's what she would of wanted.) 3. Life (Everything I been through, life and the experiences we go through, inspires me to Paint The Sky.) & Far as the inspirations behind this project? Well any other time, I would of went into details on this subject, but like I said in the previous question, I don't want to give too much away about the album. All I can say, is the scared little boy is someone I know..... Wait, i'll actually give you something else too, PAY ATTENTION: 2 sheep.

16 sheep..

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8 sheep...

9 sheep....

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Forget everything and run?

Forget everything and run..... Is what was suggested of the little purple boy.

Ponder on the meaning.... Race for your life. His UNmodern Life, that is. As the puppeteer's strings tried to connect to the scarred little boy's shoulders, but couldn't. The scared little purple boy wouldn't allow it.

"Not like anyone else, different you are? From here, you're not from, earth, not from, yes?"

The puppeteer asked. The scared little boy, pulled the ends of his hat, over his eyes.......

Autumn began to serenade the scared little boy. She chanted an ambiguous lullaby.... "Swim, swim my prince... What awaits, is your crown.... Hold your breath, swim, swim.. The

serpent wants you to drown"....

"DON'T!!!" roared an unseen voice from beyond the clouds.

What is the difference between living and dreaming? How do you find home, in the middle of nowhere? If someone gave you clues over the years, like it's been right in front of your face, but all you needed to do was THINK... Would you do it?

Would you backtrack, to put together the facts?.... Do you believe what the scared little boy has been saying? Hide till daybreak, pull the covers over your head, sleep in another room or fight the D*****?

What would you do?

You sound like: I sound like SkyBlew.

You’d like to work with: There's a few people i'd like to work with, unfortunately, half of them passed away. Such as: Nujabes, 2Pac, Michael Jackson, Amy WInehouse, Marvin Gaye.

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like to work with as well. Such as: Common, Q-Tip, Lauryn Hill, Lupe Fiasco, Uyama Hiroto, Jamiroquai, Gregg Alexander, Sade, Marty James, Sabzi, Exile, Leon Bridges, Jasmine Sullivan. Maaaan I could make some CLASSICS with them! Whether, it's collaborations, or writing for or with them.

needed. Also, I want to be able to show people that you can be YOURSELF. You don't have to follow the norm or blend in with the masses. Individuality is something I live by and I want to bring that to Hip Hop. Maybe that will inspire some upcoming artists as well. Introduce Hip Hop to something BRAND NEW, titled - Painting The Sky,Blew!!!

Your goal in hip hop is: My goal is to bring something different and unique to the table. Show the world that GOOD MUSIC still exists. In an era where everyone is copying what the next man is doing and making mindless crap they call music, someone has to stand for something. I want to be the person you listen to when you're going through something and feel like all hope is lost.

When you feel like that, you can play my music and it bring forth a change of heart. It some CRAAAAZY times we're living in right now, so my positive message of LOVE and PEACE, is

You gonna be the next: I could answer that, but I rather let the world see for themselves.........

Anything else you would like to say to our readers in France / Europe / Worldwide?

Thank you for reaching out about the interview, I really appreciate it sincerely! & Thank you to the readers as well and the supporters in general for holding me down! I hope to travel the WORLD and meet you all in person one day!

Hopefully France/Europe will be seeing me soon, Painting The Sky,Blew live and direct! Also, I just want to tell anybody 21

reading this, to SPREAD LOVE! That's what we need more than anything right now. Come together because divided, we're easier to control but UNIFIED, there's nothing we can't overcome. So tell someone you LOVE them, you never know who needs to hear it....... Peace & Love! -Paint The Sky,Blew!!!

LADYSU

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WORDSWORTH Interview Hello Wordsworth. For those who might be a little unfamiliar with the name, tell us a little about yourself. Who are you, where are you from and when did you start out in hip hop?

Most know me from The Lyricist Lounge albums and MTV show from early 2000s. Also I was in a group Punch and Words, I’m a member of a rap group eMC with Masta Ace and Stricklin.

I’m from Brooklyn, New York and I started in Hip-Hop the day I was born.

From the days you started, which artists would you say you learned the most from, those who influenced you the most in developing your own style?

I would say I’ve been influenced

by Kool G Rap’s wordplay. KRSOne’s clear narrative style and the storytelling. Busta Rhymes

multiple flows, Redman’s wordplay. I’m a mixture of so many artists. My mind is a toolshed of styles that I can delve into depending on the track.

Your project “BLAME IT ON THE MUSIC” drops September 23rd.

Can you tell us about?

Blame it on the Music is an EP produced by Jsoul and dropping on Hipnott records. The title came from one of the tracks that discusses societies issues and no matter what causes poverty in the inner-city, HipHop becomes part of the reason. They blame things on the music’s messages but the music is actually the remedy. It allows artists to shed light and earn income to help the poor and provide opportunities.

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How long did it take you to make the project? What was the most challenging aspects in terms of putting the concepts and then recording?

The project took a few months.

The concepts just develop with the music. If I heard something I felt I could provide a visual to it, I wrote it.

Were there any particular inspirations for you in making this project, and in a wider sense, what else acts as your biggest motivational factors?

Jsoul inspired me to do this project. I was able to hear the diversity from his songs on Hipnott’s website and I was interested in joining forces.

Do you have a favorite track from the project? If so, which one and why?

My favorite track may be Blame it on the Music because the sound is universal appeal. Right now if you turned the news on and just let the song play it would reflect what’s going on.

Satellite is another favorite because it’s the essence of what

I do, combining information from bragging to social issues.

Also I like Moving In, you can really understand it if your girlfriend moves in or vice versa.

You were alone all good and now you have to switch up everything.

Are you working on another project, a new collaboration?

Yes, right now I’m on Netflix in a show Peabody and Sherman episode 2 with Prince Paul.

Also I have another collaboration album with Sam Brown. If you haven’t, go pick up my album New Beginning from last year produced by Donel Smokes.

I'm also working on an album with a Hip-Hop collective group called TheIdea. The members are Range Da Messenga, Jacqueline Constance, Robot Scott, and Pearl Gates.

I’m staying busy but right now Pre-orders are available for Blame it on Music and watch out for Satellite video.

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What has been your best experience to date in the rap game?

My best experience has been touring with Masta Ace, Stricklin, Powermalu, Steve Da Angry Merch Guy, and Pearl Gates.

There has been much criticism on the latest XXL Freshman ...

Even though hip hop not end with that .. but what do you think of the current rap?

I listen to it but yall should check out my Steve Woodz, Tre, Steady Rock, Coolkid Cannon, Pearl Gates that’s a few of the people I’ve been checking out.

Anything else you would like to say to our readers in France / Europe / Worldwide?

France has always been a great supporter and I thank them for still supporting. Make sure yall go Wordsworthbklyn on Instagram. Wordsworth_emc on Twitter. And Jsoulmusic on Instagram and Jsoul or Hipnott Bandcamp to get the EP. Anything goes wrong just Blame it on the Music!!

LADYSU

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VOCALIZ Interview

Hello Vocaliz! For those who might be a little unfamiliar with the name, tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Vocaliz, I’m a Hip Hop artist born and raised in Cameroon (Central Africa) and based in Brooklyn NY. I’ve been making music for 12 years about on and off. I got into music through my older brother who was and still is a Hip Hop head.

He introduce all the early 90s and up classics to me and put me in close contact with the culture from there. He always had all the new albums as soon as they were out, the French ones as well From Wu-Tang to Oxmo Puccino, From Nas to Arsenik and gradually I tried to write my own rhymes until I totally dove into it and been doing it ever

since even though sometimes life gets in the way and make me slow down.

From the days you started, which artists would you say you learned the most from, those who influenced you the most in developing your own style?

Nas and Q-Tip were the biggest influences where I first started rapping from me listening to them growing. But with time, life experience, growth as artist and being exposed to a lot more things being an adult I gravitate more towards sounds than artists. If I had to name few major influences I would mention the Fugees, Outkast, A Tribe Called Quest, Capleton, All the Marleys, The Roots, Common, Just to name a few.

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Your project “The Pursuit Of Excellence” is on the way. Can you tell us about?

“The Pursuit of Excellence” is the album I’m currently working. It will be a full solo project with productions handled by different producers from Lex Primost (Senegal) to Tone Jones (Atlanta) to Kace the Producer (Chicago) and many more. Those are all producers I discovered online and been getting beats from for some time now. I consider this one my first real album even though I have released projects in the past as this one will is a reflect of where I am musically and the direction I will be taking which I think is not very typical.

I called it "The Pursuit of Excellence" because it represents my shot at being the best I can be musically and tap into my potential to bring brightest parts of my artistic abilities out.

What are your inspirations and motivations for this project, and in general?

LIFE. Just trying to live my life to the fullest and do it my way. I feel like today especially with the technology and the social media we are turning more and more into robots and followers. I wanna lead not follow and music is that thing that really serves as a reminder on a daily basis that it’s okay to be different, to be who you are even if everybody doesn’t get it.

You sound like: Something unknown but familiar at the same time, something close but still distant, something you’ve never heard before BUT that you seem to know and want to get to know. Something strange that creates a good reaction out of you. Something that takes you back to a place you’ve never been but that feels like home. I sound like ME. You’d like to work with: I’d love to work with people who'll push me to get out of my comfort zone, I think that’s the best way to grow. Off the top I 30

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think of producers like Pharell, Kanye or Stephen Marley who are known for pushing the boundaries of the art and outdo what they did in the past or vocal artist like Andre 3000, Capleton or Mos Def. Your goal in hip hop is: Inspire people to get over their fear of being judged or looked at wrong cause at the end of the day pleasing other is nobody’s job since they will always say and do what they want anyway no matter how much you try. Why not live your life your way and let them talk as they will always do.

Anything else you would like to say to our readers in France / Europe / Worldwide?

I want them to keep an open ear. Music is so much more than what we currently know, there's a lot of ground to uncover and as artists that's what we keep trying. Expand the limits of the culture and we need their support and Love to keep going.

Without fans there's no movement and without music people won't easily come together as one. I love them and I hope to get their support.

LADYSU

You gonna be the next: Actually I’m gonna be the first African, born and raised in Africa to make it big in the Music Industry in America.

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September 9th

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REKS Interview

Hello Reks. First of all, how are you?

I am doing great thank you and thanks for taking time to speak with me.

taken to complete a piece of work. The hardest thing was not leaking more material. I wanted people to hear the music desperately.

Your project "The Greatest X" out september 9, on Brick Records. It’s your 10th LP which is a double disc with 37 tracks. You hit up a bunch of top notch producers such as Statik, Black Milk, Buckwild, Alchemist, Large Pro‌ And artists such as Termanology, RA The Rugged Man, Planet Asia and others...

How long did it take you to make the project? What was the most challenging aspects in terms of putting the concepts and then recording?

It's actually a 35 track double disc that took me almost 3 years to complete. If you look at my output over the past decade it the longest I have

Were there any particular inspirations for you in making this project, and in a wider sense, what else acts as your biggest motivational factors?

I am always in competition with myself. Trying to outdo myself lyrically. I am my biggest challenge.

My family, environment the sociology make up of our world all play a key part in my music.

Do you have a favorite track from the project? If so, which one and why?

No favirile at the moment. I enjoy it all as one experience. I am interested to hear others views on the best songs.

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Are you working on another project, a new collaboration?

I am always working. I have a native tongue like collective known as Beantown Bullies around 30 producers, rappers, singers, artists, videographers etcetera from Massachusetts.

We have a documentary and a full collaborative compilation coming soon.

From the days you started out rapping, which artists would you say you learned the most from, those who influenced you the most in developing your own style?

Stevie Wonder, Krs One, Nas, Curtiss Mayfield, Ice Cube. That list is endless.

what do you think of the current rap?

Currently rap has numerous amazing artists and numerous more garbage material. You just have to dig and support the quality and tune out the nonsensical bullshit.

Anything else you would like to say to our readers in France / Europe / Worldwide?

Connect with me on rekshiphop.com and beanto wnbulliesmusic.com. thanks again!

LADYSU

What has been your best experience to date in the rap game?

Traveling the globe has been the most fulfilling experience.

Also working with my idols and peers I admire There has been much criticism on the latest XXL Freshman ...

Even though (thankfully) hip hop not end with that .. but

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En mode

H-Town

Radio show & tape

Comin soon 37

Thank you to support Hip Hop Breath.

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