ELIJAH HUNT

Shaping His Future with His Words

We caught up with super talented Hip Hop Artist, Elijah Hunt.

When did you first get into music? Please explain.

I first got into music when I was really little. My dad has an album store collection of vinyl. I grew up on all the blues, classic rock and jazz greats. At any given time you could hear, Janis, dizzy or Otis at my house. Me personally. I got my first taste of music in school choir (4th grade). Then in 5th grade played trumpet until 10th grade. Started writing poetry at the age of 12 and it kinda just went into the direction of Hip Hop.

Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? Please explain.

The first time I heard Treach from Naughty by Nature and I had to be a Hip Hop artist. I was 4 when I heard Big Daddy Kane, 6 when I heard Rakim the first time but it was Treach at the age of 8 with Ghetto Bastard and OPP, that made me want to rap so bad.

How has your music evolved since you first began performing/writing music?

When I first started writing music, I was just concerned with writing flashy cars, clothes, drugs, money, sex… You know, the cliché rap subjects. But as my skills grew and I grew, i started wanting complex rhyme schemes that had meaning or extreme word play.

I’m sure you have shared the stage with a lot of talented artists/celebrities along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us?

Lol. So check this out… Back in 2012, we opened for Yuck Mouth from the Luniz. The openers killed it. Club was packed. Then yuck mouth came on and vocalized he had a problem with the local DJ which happened to be my crews DJ, bla bla bla, bad start to the show. They played 2 hits from operation stack kola, then the third song came on, which was, I got 5 on it. All of a sudden a fight breaks out in the crowd. And before you know it the whole crowd is fighting. Throwing tables, mother fuckers getting knocked out left and right, lol holy shit. It was wild.

If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to stay in this tough business? Is it joy, anger, desire, passion or pride and why?

As far as what keeps me going in this game? Its just apart of me. I have to do it. It won’t let me quit. It’s who I am. With out it I couldn’t even be me... you know?

Which ingredient do you think makes you special and unique as a performing artist in an industry overflowing with new faces and ideas?

What makes me special? Man I freestyle. I love to flow, its just that ol Cypher feeling I’m always after. Also when I do a set I am 100% live, my crew is my adlibs. I am their adlibs. I gotta know the whole song, not just my verse.

What has been your biggest challenge as a hip hop artist? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?

My biggest challenge as a hiphop artist? Its definitely crossing genres. Im hip hop. I have trouble crossing into r&b or trap. Trap became so popular. I just recently starting writing in that cadence. Im not a fan but its whats popular.

A common phrase in the industry is, “you must suffer for your art.” Do you agree with this statement? If so, how have you suffered for your art?

So, this one is a funny one. Hip Hop often times is a form of blues. My dad always used to tell me “you gotta suffer if you want to sing the blues”. My music often reflects my feelings on a subject. Shit, sometimes it’s the only way I can get things off my chest. Also, there is a sacrifice you gotta make. This shit ain’t free. I’ve paid for my tickets before and had to hustle them to make money back. Studio time. Merch. Videos.. all that cost money. Gotta have money to make money. Not always the preferred way to live.

How do you feel the internet has impacted the music business?

Well, at first the internet made music free. The start of the downfall of the CD. Once social media hit, there was a huge surge of internet rappers. Kinda saturated the market. Made clown rappers like 69 famous or whatever those weird guys that rap off their phone and sound like wrestlers famous. That shits wack. But.... I like the fact I can now make money on Spotify for plays. That’s fucking RAD!

If you could change anything about the music industry, what would it be?

If I could change anything about the music industry??? Make being smart cool again. Stop pushing sex and drug use to our kids. Now... I know what you’re saying....”but cloudy... you grew up on violent music, too!” Well you’re right. But, I grew up on drug dealer music. I grew up on struggle music, making a better way music. Brenda had a baby, not Brenda learned how to twerk. But shit..... I digress. I was a 2 live crew fan....

What are the 5 albums that have helped make you the person you are today? And why?

5 albums that changed my life are...

1. Big Daddy Kane, cold chillin... it was the first time i heard rap in my life. I couldn’t step away after it. But really it was naughty by natures self title that made me want to rap.

2. Fleetwood Mac, Rumors. It probably is the most emotional album I have ever heard. It can make you feel all the emotions that life offers.

3. Atmosphere, God Loves Ugly. That album is special to me. It holds such a set of basic rules to life. I identify with it out of any other album in the world.

4. Sublime, 40oz. to Freedom. Its a album that forever captures my youth. From the wild times to the struggles of drug addiction and love. Its just a great album from start to end. Bradley’s voice is one of a kind.

5. Bob Marley, Lively Up Yourself. This album was always there for me when I was sad or alone. Even the songs about struggle made you want to stand up and fight. It always made me feel confident and at ease.

What is your baseball walk out onto the field song? My baseball walk out to the field song?

Lol. Jokingly, John Fogerty, centerfield lol, but in real life it would be Nas, all I need is one mic.

Tell us about your current project. Are you working on new music? An EP or Album?

I am working on my first solo album. I’ve done 4 different group albums, 1 with slaughterhouse roots, 1 with ground broken entertainment and 2 with Society 5280. The album I’m working on now, like I said, it is my first solo album entitled Hue Mann. 100% produced by my homie Jason Cave over at Beat Hogs. This album dives deep into the human psyche, politics and what its like to live in the modern Era. Yeah, I’ve got a few turn up tracks but you can mostly expect to hear complex rhyme schemes and subject that covers mental illness, the state of the media, love and politics. Its a deep one.

What’s next for you? Please explain.

What’s next for me? More merchandise, shows, and videos. I’d also like to break into writing children’s educational stories. I tell these elaborate bedtime stories to my son. He keeps telling me to write one for him. I’m going to. Then, I’m going to publish it. Something easy for 2nd graders to read, but adventurous and intelligent for an adult to enjoy.

How can fans-to-be gain access to your music?

You can find our/my music all over the place. I’m going to drop a ton of links. Please enjoy all of it.

Sound cloud. Beat hogs/ cloud9 https://soundcloud.com/beat-hogs/dear-who-everby-ol-cloudy-prod-by-beat-hogs?ref=clipboard

ReverbNation. Olcloudy Have you heard this yet? “Beat Hog (produced By Beat Hogs)” by yours truly. http://www.reverbnation.com/open_graph/ song/31008592

SoundCloud. Ol Cloudy Cloud9 https://soundcloud.com/ol-cloudy-cloud9/ gods-most-beautiful-creation?ref=clipboard

And last but not least: Fancytrackz.com Just hit the menu button and click on Society 5280.

So many outlets!