Untapped Hip Hop Winter 2021 Issue COVER ART BY ART BANK 5
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PUBLISHER ISSUU.COM ART DIRECTOR David “DWIL” Williams COPY WRITERS TRISTAN “TANJINT WIGGY” ACKER ADVERTISERS UNTAPPED HIP HOP EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS INTEREST
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CONTRIBUTORS SHIVANISH FOXTA BIANCA ADRIANA ART BANK 5 TINO RELZ TRISTAN “TANJINT WIGGY” ACKER INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING CONTACT US
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Letter From The Editor Shout out to all the DOPE Artist that submitted work to this issue of Untapped Hip Hop Magazine, and shout out to you for taking the time to enjoy this issue of Untapped Hip Hop Magazine featuring their work. Peace! -D.Wil
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UNTAPPED HIP HOP WINTER 2021 ISSUE C O N T E N T S
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F F S E E H A A I T T V U A R N E S D H A R T I S T
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Shivansh Beats Instagram: @shivansh_beats YouTube: Shivansh Beats Twitter: @shivanshzzz
I STARTED WITH A LAPTOP AND A DREAM AND THAT’S ALL I HAD. 6 Winter 2021
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My name is Shivansh, I am from a city of INDIA called “Rishikesh”, I am a hip hop music producer.
The first time I sold a beat I decided that this is the path I wanted to walk on and the reason why that first sale really matters is because before that I never knew how I am doing in I’ve been practicing my craft from more than a this thing. I always used to post my beats on year and this year I started posting it in social Instagram and YouTube but what you expect media. from comments and opinion there? “Dope” “fire emoji” and all that bots comments. It I’ve been a hip hop listener my whole life but was really hard for me to get a single honest lyrics is not the only thing I used to focus on opinion from someone because I didn’t while listening to tracks, I used to focus on the knew anyone, no producers, no musicians or drums patterns, the melody of the beat but rappers. I started this all alone and had no didn’t knew how I can do the same. one to help me or to tell me if I am doing it Back then the only thing I knew was how to right or not but the day someone text me and count bars in a beat and this got me started. asked for my beat prices it was the moment After that I started exploring, learning and where I feel that someone really liked my beat practicing my craft more and more and then and that moment I decided to walk on this one day I produced my first beat! path.
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People are busy on 9-5 and majority of people here don’t care about what I do but thanks to social media because I get to connect with lots of artists through it and that’s how I did it and now I have a few artists from my city connected with me. I am happy with the fact that they are people who accept what I do, Not the majority of them because they don’t understand or listen to hip hop music. To me those people matters who understands and respect this hip hop because they know what I am doing and they respect it and this is what matters to me.
passionate about what I am doing. My laptop audio drivers gets damaged after a few months and I kind of gave up about producing at that time and went like a week without doing anything but the thing is when you really love something you can’t stop thinking about it and that’s what happened to me. I keep thinking about it and then I couldn’t help myself and decided to keep doing it. I was a guy with a dream and now I am a hip hop producer who knows what is he doing.
To all the artists, let me tell you a truth. No cares about your dreams or how many hours you spending to make something happen. If you’re I started with a laptop and a dream and that’s not making money from it then its useless for all I had. I’m self taught and everything I learned them so don’t listen to anybody telling you to I learned it by my own. I Never had no one to quit but your soul to make tell me if I am doing it right or not. Watching things happen! tutorials on YouTube and reading PDF about music productions helped me a lot in this. When I started I had no equipments, no knowledge about what a note is, no nothing. I was just
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foxsta 10 Winter 2021
Instagram: @foxsta Website: www.stalifenation.com Facebook: @ayoFox Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/foxsta/940969839 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4qhVS0aOZ0q7qtn9JwpRXH
STAY ORIGINAL, STAY CONSISTENT, BELIEVE AND STRIVE FOR OWNERSHIP CREATE YOUR OWN LANE AND YOU CAN AVOID TRAFFIC - FOXSTA
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I’m FOXSTA, from Los Angeles, California. I am A Hip Hop Artist & Entrepreneur I have been writing and recording since i was 19 Ive always had strong relationship with music, but the day my bro Rics Rumble brought me to the studio i fell in love you the process of creating music and i never left Ive always been a creative. I recorded my first verse just messing around prolly in 6th grade. but i didn’t take it serious at the time. When i started to create music when i was older, I built my studio, got my crew together and we started to do shows. The responses from those show and the love of being in the studio all day every day creating music let me know this was my path. Yes. I have been lucky enough to have a support system as far as my Family and Friends, Even the ones that may not be into the type of music i make have always motivated me in a forward motion Man, i knew i wasn’t willing to sacrifice my moral or values to get ahead in this music industry. Having that mindset comes with many of obstacles. I don’t have any rich family, so everything that I’ve accomplished over the year in this music game has been self funded, which come with sacrifices as well I have experienced so much since i first started making music, Good and Bad. 9 time out 10 when i write music i write from my actual experiences and everyday we get on this earth comes with either Lessons or Blessings and each one of those that i experience evolved me as Person which evolved me as an Artist. My perspective has gotten bigger. My vocabulary has definitely increased and i have learned how to get my message across in more ways than on while I’m writing. @UNTAPPED HIP HOP 13
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That point when you feel like giving up, is when you NEED! to keep going! That is the deciding factor of whether you will make it or not. But in order to keep going, you need to have a strong vision. STAY FOCUSED ON THAT VISION and let it be your light in dark times. Always express GRATITUDE to those you work with and be ADAPTABLE. - Bianca Adriana INSTAGRAM: @BIAADRIANA FACEBOOK: @BIANCAADRIANAHB TWITTER: @BEEADRIANA @UNTAPPED HIP HOP 15
My name is Bianca Adriana, I’m a SoCal native having been born and raised in the Inland Empire. I’m a singer, songwriter, producer, and music business consultant.
hometown but following music is never easy. Luckily, a lot of people I grew up with still follow and support me.
The fight in balancing a “safe” career and money-making job and giving my projects I’ve been singing since I could talk! I learned the proper energy it deserves. It comes down how to read by constantly doing karaoke. to sacrifice and self-discipline in order to get I’ve been songwriting since I was a teenager. what you truly desire. I also feel at some level I became interested in producing as an adult a challenge is learning to say forget industry after I wanted to bring my songwriting to the standards and keep being genuine. Being tan next level. Finally, in 2017 I graduated from and ethnically ambiguous, I’ve always felt like Musicians Institute in Hollywood for Vocal I’ve never had “the look” Hollywood was going Performance and Music Business. for. I was almost signed to Atlantic when I was a teenager and while I wanted to sing American Music has always moved through me. I grew Pop music, they asked me to sing in Spanish and up watching Selena (Quintanilla), the only it just wasn’t where my heart was at the time. I’ve person on TV who looked like me at the time. She had such a mesmerizing force that I wanted had to overcome a lot set backs like that. to harness. Her charisma and passion were From very first drawing to sitting here answering contagious. I knew I wanted to be a singer. these questions today how have you evolved as an artist? The path hasn’t been a straight line that’s for sure! Sometimes I didn’t even know if I was on the same path but I always found myself coming back and refocusing on the same destination. I’ve always wanted to work in music and I’ve been chasing this dream since I can remember. Life has taken me through so many detours but I always remain so passionate about helping people through music. My mom has always been my biggest inspiration. She was a singer in home country of Indonesia and has always supported me. My father always wanted me to be more realistic. A lot of amazing people have come from my 16 Winter 2021
I think the biggest way I’ve evolved is in my spirit. I used to use music to dwell in my pain but now I learned how to use it to heal, even if it’s a sad song. Even if I’m rapping about past trauma or the poor state of society, its purpose is not to heal rather than feel bad for myself. I’ve also learned how to take professional critiques a lot better! It’s difficult when artists are so sensitive but if you’re working with the right people, the integrity of the project always comes first.
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Knowledge Of Self
Podcast Watch it on Untapped Hip Hop TV live episodes on Twitch Monthly! Catch the video on our YouTube Channel Untapped Hip Hop TV Tocay!
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Art bank 5 Hello, I am a creator of thoughts and imagination and my super power is art. I am am from North Carolina, Greensboro to be exact. I work for a school system in the maintenance department.
put more time into it. Then I started to grow and still am. You never stop learning with Art. 8 Stay at it and don’t give up. Compare yourself to your last drawing not anyone else.
I would say may parents started me on my Art journey by asking me to draw something they saw in my older sisters high school flyer so I did. Well I would say my biggest challenge was believing in to myself, that my Art was good enough to me and finding my own style but that comes over time as you grow with your Art. My Art started to evolve when I started to take it more seriously and
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Tino Relz My name is Tino Relz. Born in the Dino raised in Moval I’m an IE baby. I rap, do a little producing, photograph, along with videography as well, logo designer, Artist above all My main.
some catchy songs he doesn’t mind all too much these days because he knows I’m not a quitter unless i know when something isn’t for me. & I be knowing.
Forms of art consist of music & photography, I’ve been doing music for a decade now & photographing about 8 years With music it was just always there, my mom was a dance teacher when my brother & I were young & we always went to classes with her. Learning dance moves & hearing different songs i started picking up on ideal music videos & even songs of my own & when i was a teenager i figured writing poetry could help get my foot in that door to actually spit bars. Photography came later at the end of my senior year, took a photo 101 class i never thought I’d be good at & when i graduated looking for work was tough when you don’t have experience anywhere. I got a $100 camera from my grandma & was traveling around Moreno Valley & Riverside to photograph people. That’s how it started as my side hustle.
One of my biggest things with music was & still is being better than my last song or project, i would be as consistent as possible if it means being able to do better than i jus did I’m always on to the next wave after i finally finish a song or project I’m very eager to say the least. I have blocks every now & then but they don’t last long & i never stop creating until i feel something has the most potential. Photographing challenges I’ve had was not having the right equipment at first, but with that i presented you jus have to know how to use what you have & make it look good. That mindset drove me to gathering more equipment for myself to be the photographer I’ve wanted to be in my city.
I’ve gotten wiser & a lot more patient which took so much time to master, but i feel very leveled & content with myself & how i proceed working with my crafts. I’ve given tips & coached people Music has always been my first love, whether it’s that has me feeling like I’m slowly turning into dancing or rapping or music videos i just love “the big homie” you know? But one thing I’ll music. I grew up break dancing so I kinda always always be is a student to the music game as well knew I’d be musically gifted/driven. Photography as the photography game. kinda fell in my lap & it made me love having the ability to stop time & create memories for people, Do Not Over Think It! Whatever you love to do it & that in itself sounds incredible to me wholeheartedly give it 100% every time & if you Growing up my mom always supported me with can’t i always say give it a solid “B” like 80-85% my creativity, she trusted the visions i was having so at least you can say you started or even tried. about how i wanted to approach my sounds Some people don’t even make it that far. Trust & still does, my pops picked up on it a little in your visions when you have them, write them later wanting me to do something different. But down, manifest them. when he found out i could actually make money photographing & I’m pretty good with creating.
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JAY KASAI HAS DISCIPLINE: A Moment In Time Profile From T.D Acker
and talents of Nabeyin and the aforementioned OhGosh Leotus. Each member of OE is a murderous MC that bring different kinds of fireworks to the table. They could just be machine-gunning the world with hot songs, projects and content all the time. But the squad in general and Kasai in particular has got more vision than that. He knew years ago the Kasai Tapes would be a step to another step. He’s had this
project God’s Work “60-70%” ready for years. Years, he says. I can tell it’s important for him to drop it. But it’s not just about “Jay Kasai is either the most low-key straightforward dude ever exhibiting the weaponry. or the most straightforward low-key dude ever” is the thought I’ve been trying to put words to since this one brisk fall evening “I don’t need to put out a project to show I can rap. That’s for in November of 2019 when he and I grabbed some orange rappers. I don’t rap for rappers.” My face must have asked the chicken and other assorted apps at Yang’s Noodle House off next question. Kendall in my hometown of San Bernardino. “I rap for listeners.” Initially we met up at Serious Cartoons before deciding to eat and here we are having some tofu in sweet chili sauce. “The “What are you waiting for as far as those verse slots for ‘God’s BPM of course…everything has to be down to a science…” Work’?” Planning can feel empowering. The server brings out our second order of wontons and water He talks about studio work and production with more ease than refills. “Thank you!” most rappers. “ I like that record…” he thinks out loud as I ask him his thoughts on whatever new rapper Twitter just brought to “Fans”. my attention that week, “Not for me though.”’ The Kasai Tape trilogy is to build up audience so he can hit the “I’m a very control-oriented person with my art. I go to Leo world with the God’s Work. almost knowing the chord progression I want, the bassline I want, the epicness, the structuring, everything.” “Leo” is OhGosh So how proceeds the plan? Leotus, a star producer in hip-hop on an international basis that a lot of people probably don’t even realize is right here in Cali’s “Well things came up…” Inland Empire. Kasai does though. Not a lot gets past him. This isn’t an accident. The potstickers come out. Kasai has been restraining himself, “I gotta put a little work in here, test the waters. Oh yeah, that’s “I’ve been mixing as long as I’ve been rapping”, we order some fresh.” more wontons. “I kept hearing everyone talk about this rock singer, Mac De “I did “Half-Gone” for Stone x Sober, anything by Speech…” Marco” Tall dudes eat a lot but he’s actually not going as nuts as my He explains that around the same time he was hearing De stoner-ass with the peanut sauce and the fried foods. He almost Marco, he realized he too wanted to have upbeat melodic looks like two tennis players stacked on top of one another. sunny music for driving to the beach and stuff like that. Next thing you know… Kasai has more restraint than most. This whole story he’s telling me is one of restraint: his latest project release Kasai Tape 3 in “OhGosh is asking…when are we gonna make some beats?” particular alludes to a fall he took in Forest Falls that could have killed or seriously injured him. The light religious overtones and KASAI DEFIES themes of flight and downfall are inspired if not verbatim by this moment in life for him. He restrains himself Expectations can be a bitch. from a straightforward expositional narrative within the Kasai Tapes about it though. “So I’m ready to drop this new sound and people are like He and his homies Over Everything have access to the studios
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‘when’s Kasai Tape 3 coming?’ ‘I’m ready to cry!’ ‘I’m ready for some sadboi music!’ and it’s like ‘No…’ and I realize, people are expecting part 3 to this trilogy and I’m about to give them this whole new thing…’ So he restrained himself, hunkered down in the lab, called the homies and completed what is for now, a trilogy of note in my estimation. “I want my projects to sound like a solo project from a dude who knows dope artists.”
the Kasai Tapes as we prepare to head into a new decade, the God era, for this bargawd. But first, he warns, stay tuned for something sunny and strange simultaneously from his alter ego Black De Marco, whatever the hell that means. He won’t let me say much more than that about it, but he has my attention. I’m earning that I’m not the only one.
The first two Kasai Tapes are more generous with the Tru Speech verses than this one; this one has less guest rappers in general. KT3’s big posse cut “Not Alone” is a strange onefeaturing a bunch of hard barsmen talking about their sadness, their sense of solitude and what they find socially in each other. I don’t know what’s weirder, that or the fact that the Daylyt collab, “Pray for Me” is also this thoughtful neo-soul jawn as opposed to something with more battle-y feel. Shows what the hell I know because both records are great. Even the as-of-yet untitled beach music trip project from Kasai’s “Black DeMarco” persona has more curveballs built into it. What Kasai tells me what he has in mind for this I wonder who is ready? I wonder if I am even ready. All that discipline ain’t for nothing. Something I’ve ranted about a lot in the last decade is that the entertainment paradigm is about cinema, not audio now, even in the music world. Today’s elite rap artists like Kendrick as the best example aren’t making great collections of songs as often as they’re making high production value audiobooks/audio-movies. I love that California’s Inland Empire has cats that are making music for the sake of making music. Something to admire about Kasai and the OE collective is that they balance all of this: they are well aware of how important story and image and personas are to their work but they’re still making music that functions as music at a high level. Kasai holds some specifics of story and persona close to the vest but we, the audience for his work, only even know because he lets slip just enough personal details and ideas for us to notice. We finished our appetizers and parted that night; it’s clear to me that Kasai’s restraint has turned into sharp hunger that he is working diligently to sate. Last time I looked up at the phone, Kasai’s crew was in another state, working to expand their reach, as they should. Listeners would be wise to study up on
Tanjint Wiggy or Tristan Douglas is a San Bernardino based writer, MC, public servant and union rep. He makes nerdy, stony indie music with his crew MetaHuman Productions and other friends in the I.E. and beyond. Catch him at westcoastavengers.com and most other social media.
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“I rap for listeners.” - Jay Kasai
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“Maintaining your own individuality is one’s greatest achievement and defining your own path despite the opposition you may face in the world or at home” -VECtore
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