Artist Snapshot: OG DENZO (@denzo2x)

image from @denzo2x redesigned by @rareflavr

The following text and content is compiled from responses of a @RareFlavr X @denzo2x interview:

Recently we had the opportunity to connect with @denzo2x NorthSide (NorthPole) of Chicago Native to discuss up and coming opportunities within the music industry and business as a music entrepreneur. He mentioned to us he has been in the music game for about two years now and is looking to take a serious step further as he releases his next projects. He has always been a fan of music growing up and the power it has to influence other people. To Denzo, it is all about gaining enough influence to create a positive impact. It helps his mentality to remain sharp, because you have to think on a higher scale to create. For him it is all about where you can take a listener mentally. He loves music where the song describes real life events that are taking place. He also explained how enjoys where music is currently, because different sounds are accepted more than ever.

A piece of the creative process-

In the beginning he would receive beats and break them down individually with his voice. Afterwards, he writes about half of the song and finishes the other half in the studio.

“It’s crazy because sometimes I write in parts whether that be writing uh hook of a song, then the bridge following a verse etc. sometimes my mind be all over the place so I just getta feeling for each part of the beat and capitalize off of it. “ -D.LaFlair

“I try to back myself into a corner before sessions to see what I can really come up with because my camp likes to keep it professional as far as time management so I know I have to come into studios prepared to a high degree.” - OG DENZO

@denzo2x Twin Blicky’s

@denzo2x Studio

songs & projects

“One of the toughest singles I will be releasing is called “Lights On Me” I really feel like it’s going to be my best song visually and promotional wise I’m releasing it November 10th officially. I feel like it’s the perfect follow up song behind the couple visuals and releases I do have out and I plan on taking all of my supporters through the entire process of creating it up to the video. It was originally produced by Mic Will @_ogmicwill on IG and engineered by Banks @banksthegenius on IG. I’m extremely appreciative of these release date.” - OGDENZO

FAST FORWARD NOVEMBER 10TH : LIGHTS ON ME VIDEO !!! OUT NOW!!!

Studio Session @denzo2x

He started performing by himself several months ago. His first performance was in Atlanta at Club Knockout Bar & Lounge and since then he began picking up serious speed. He said he loves doing shows because gets to meet people face to face and have them see the real him. His last three shows have went well and will be releasing a show recap video pertaining each song he promotes heavily. He has been on the radio once and had three songs played live through “NorthSide Plugged” . He has a couple radio station interviews coming up and will be in rotation. The EP is currently untitled but will have six tracks that all compliment each other and will be uploaded closer to winter/ December time, but is excited to put a stamp on the game and represent the city.

Live Performance @denzo2x

@denzo2x Chicago Bulls

Favorite Chicago Team

“My favorite team is The Bulls - not big on sports teams right now cause i feel the organizations aren’t making all of the right decisions but when Derrick Rose was at large I was the most excited about Chicago. Spent most of my youth playing basketball Fell in love with it an early age and never looked back I put a lot of work in tot the game and In return it shaped my character. “- OG DENZO

@denzo2x on twitter

We are glad to have brought you this artist snapshot feating Denzo, the creative process, influence, and life brought to his music. Please comment, like, share this post, as well as follow his social media to be on the lookout for upcoming music/video releases over next couple of months including “Lights on Me”. Thank you for following @rareflavr. Bring life to your music and music to life. Music evolves when the sounds are rare. #rareflavr

98.3 FM WGHC @denzo2x

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Strength. NEW video by @billykauck @richftp.eng "Iffy"

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Artist Snapshot: TOMMY NUTTER (@itstommynutter)

Artist Snapshot: Tommy Nutter (@itstommynutter)

Thank you for doing the Artist Snapshot with us.

We want to create a unique post about yourself and learn about your creative process, products you use, and skills you have learned to position yourself as an artist, teacher and entrepreneur.

(DISCUSSION W/ TOMMY NUTTER)

 CREATIVE PROCESS

I'm always thinking of new sounds and concept for music. Even when I'm deep in conversation with people I often have a beat going in the back of my mind. This means I'm easily motivated, but the hard part is having the time to let that motivation do its thing. 

I'm one of those people who doesn't read instruction booklets, and who would rather sit there for hours figuring out something on my own than watching a tutorial, so a lot of the skills I've developed have been problems that I've come to know how to fix not by learning from others but through trial, error, and inspiration. 

That being said, once I figure something out, I tend to stick with it for a while to fully explore its capabilities. 

I tend to think more clearly about music and concepts when I'm driving. I don't listen to much music in the car but in a way I'm constantly listening to the music in my head making changes and trying out new sounds, then when I get back to the studio its either all forgotten, or I'm in the mood to bang it out on the MPC.  

My studio setup right now is a custom built PC with more Hard drives than I could ever want and a high end skylake processor. I run the Komplete Audio KA6 interface with my MPC and turntable, and a M-audio Code 61. One of the most important things to me is good reference monitors. I use the Maudio BX8 which I've come to know inside out over the past couple years. I also have a small cube speaker, multiple earbuds, a 2.1 Logitech speaker sub system, and my car parked just outside so checking the mix on multiple sources is never a problem. I also have my guitars and my guild starfire bass, as well as drumsticks, a coffee can shaker, a Kick drum and other little bits of percussion. 

I see people drawing in midi notes all the time on the Internet but I could never do that, I need hardware for sure. 

photo property of @itstommynutter

photo property of @itstommynutter

this Image branded/property by : @itstommynutter

VERSATILITY

If my most recent piece of work isn't my best then I feel like I'm either going backwards or I'm not putting in enough effort.  I don't have a set thing I like to work on most, as I'm inspired by so many different things.  However I want to acknowledge that for me this can be a bad thing. I find it hard to niche down in one certain area so I feel like my progress in making sales or appealing to certain markets is definitely hampered by this.  In some ways its a good thing that I can be so versatile but in terms of business its quite hard to know who to target. I think I get the most satisfaction out of mixing someone's song and completely blowing them away with the mix, more than I do making a beat and then mixing it and hearing the finished result. 

ALWAYS LEARNING  

I feel like I'm always learning, I feel like I've got so far yet to go, and the weird thing is, with mixing, you can be satisfied with your mix at any point in your career, and have no idea what could make that mix better, but someone like pensado or Greg wells would be able to hear things you don't even have any idea of. That's what excites me, if I'm happy with where I'm at now, just imagine how happy with myself ill be in ten years.

image property of @itstommynutter

keep LEARNING

This is the methodology I want to bring to my viewers or followers, to be happy with where you're at, and to keep learning so that enjoyment grows over time. I think having an understanding of the concept behind how things work, rather than specific instructions on how to configure specific plugins etc only serves to make you learn faster and develop a better knowledge of sound engineering . See Example Tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0EDJW48q-E

I upload a beat every week to youtube and facebook, and it has buy links to my beatstars store itstommynutter.beatstars.com.  Link Here  https://itstommynutter.beatstars.com/  I've sold a few online, but I'm the worst at business and marketing and feel I'm still in the early stages of trying to learn how to make money on the web from leasing beats. I also try to upload either a cooking video or some type of tutorial or vlog. 

As for mixing and mastering I get a lot of work from freelance websites such as fiverr Link Here https://www.fiverr.com/itstommynutter/mix-and-master-your-song-or-instrumental?arrived_from_manage_gigs=true&display_share=true  and I work with local artists who come to record at my home studio. If people need mixing and mastering, looking for crisp vocals and luscious reverbs, hard hitting kicks and deep full bass, they should visit itstommynutter.com Link Here https://itstommynutter.com/  and listen to the portfolio. I have all my prices listed and do special discounts for Albums or Demos.

I also try to write a blog post every now and again and make them a little bit different than your usual music blog. I try to be quite philosophical about the whole thing. Link Here https://itstommynutter.com/blog-2  

"I consider myself a creative person, on a journey with music by my side, trying to enjoy and learn as much about music as possible whilst fitting in real life problems like needing money to live. My journey leads me to meet people, and its so great to meet and talk to people who are similarly engrossed in this whole music thing, so if I can be of any assistance or help then I guess I'm an educator, but if left to my own devices I'm most definitely a producer, but that doesn't necessarily mean quantity over quality." 

I've been making beats for 4 years now, and learning to mix and master properly for about 3 and a half years, although I've been songwriting and playing guitar since being a young teenager. In my late teens I was also in a few Pop Punk Bands  and acoustic projects. 

MIXING AND MASTERING

If people want their song mixed or mastered its important for me to get the price conversation out of the way first. If I get a client who starts his story telling me he's had car troubles this month so cant afford to spend more than $25 to get his song mixed, then I plainly lay out what he's got to expect for his $25. More often than not, this guys songs are all about getting money and popping bottles.

Once were past that stage and hopefully I know the client takes their music career seriously, i like to get some of examples of the sounds they like, the artists they aspire to, and any inspirations or expectations they have about their vocal and the sound of the instrumental or drums. 

IMAGE BRANDING BY TOMMY NUTTER @ITSTOMMYNUTTER

M&M PROCESS

I usually do one mix after that and send the client a quickly mastered mp3 to gauge how they feel about it and if they have any further instruction. Sometimes they're completely happy, other times they just ask for small changes.

After that we repeat the process until they're happy, and I leave the mix for a few days before checking and mastering (if I'm doing the mastering too). At that point ill also make bus compression decisions depending on if the mix is getting sent on to a separate mastering engineer or not.

When the job is done, usually the client and I will continue to speak about their upcoming projects, what their plans are, and who they're working with at the moment, and usually I end up getting a little repeat business further down the road.

I do enjoy learning about my clients and I get to hear a lot of new styles of music and get to gauge what sounds people are into as well. Its very interesting to me and also helps out a lot with the music production side of things. 

music

I've always been a fan of pop punk, which led me to unplugged sessions where id see amazing artists doing live raw performances of songs I already knew.  I saw how songs could be changed and given different senses of intimacy and reality and just fell in love with acoustic singer songwriter type stuff.  I  love the new childish gambino album, it reminds me of pink floyd and the doors, but I still enjoy listening to korn every now and again. 

There's also mainstream songs and Pop songs that I love, so I don't think I have a specific genre I listen to.  As for hip hop, I will say that I've never been a lyrics kinda person, I tend to listen to the music way more than the lyrics, but even if the tune is bangin, I still cant stand certain tones of voice and find them unenjoyable to listen to. 

Image property of @itstommynutter

WALK-IN SONG 

I think it'd have to be superman by goldfinger. The brass in that makes me so happy and giddy, its just a bangin song for a real good happy time. All my friends would be there high fivin me, everyone would be smilin and eatin hot dogs and pizza. ye that'd be awesome. 

MENTORS 

I think elon musk is on the right track to better humanity, and I think neil degrasse tyson is doing his thing to keep us smart, I have people who I really  respect, but I think my main thing I look up to is my own plans. Every now and then I get a notepad, I draw a little stick figure in the middle, and lots of lines comin from it, and I write down what I want or what I want to achieve in the following months. It helps me focus and I get to decide my own future.

APPRECIATION

When working with an artist I'm looking for how devoted they are, and if they are in it for the passion of the music, or they just want the lifestyle. That usually defines how much work they wanna put in, but people are weird creatures, it takes me a while to figure them out. 

DAY IN THE LIFE

A typical day means waking up at 9am, drinking two coffees and watching youtube for an hour before I can function properly, then I start working on mixing for clients, taking breaks in between to do my correspondence or work on my website. Usually whatever project I'm working on takes however long it takes, and then I eat. Sometimes I forget. Then at about 9pm I'm usually in the mood to make a some beats or work on some beats that need finishing, and I get to bed at around 2am, although the big reference monitors have to go off at about 10.30 as I live in an apartment. 

PERFECT DAY

My perfect day would be spent mixing for major artists, still within my own home studio, but knowing that Im getting paid for my time means that id be able to put my everything into that mix, and at the end if I blow them away with the mix then I feel like I've accomplished greatness and I feel validated for the hours I've spent learning and grafting, and feel thankful that the time spent has made someone else so happy.

Image property of Tommy Nutter @itstommynutter

where may  we link up and follow your content?

TOMMY NUTTER OUTLETS

Buy/Lease Beats Instantly:               https://itstommynutter.beatstars.com/

Mixing and Mastering:                    https://itstommynutter.com/

Subscribe Here:                          https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChBzUxb8kzrNURO9ebC9xjg

Email:                                   info@itstommynutter.com for exclusive enquiry & questions

Twitter:                                 https://twitter.com/itstommynutter

Facebook:                                https://www.facebook.com/itstommynutter

Instagram:                               http://instagram.com/itstommynutter

Soundcloud:                              http://soundcloud.com/itstommynutter

thank you for following us @RAREFLAVR

WWW.RAREFLAVR.COM

image property of tommy nutter at @itstommynutter

image property of Tommy Nutter @itstommynutter

image property of @itstommynutter

image property of @itstommynutter

Artist Snapshot: LARCIN (@_LARCIN_)

INSTAGRAM @RAREFLAVR . photo @_larcin_

From Poland to the U.S.A. @_Larcin_ is a hip-hop artist that has a unique personality and story. Larcin was originally born in Poland and came to the USA when he was 8 years old and moved three times before finally settling in in Park Ridge IL with his family. He has been associated with music his entire life. He began playing piano at 10 years old and sang in his Church Choir until he was 16 years old. During his teenage years he also picked up guitar. 

@_Larcin_ on Instagram

He started writing rhymes when he was 16-17 years old and At 17, he was arrested for possession of weed and was sent to Cook County.   The administration at Cook forgot to input his bail, So he had to stay in jail for 4 days. Although he has had some challenges along the way, there is still music to be made and we took some time to learn about his motivation and upcoming projects. 

In the beginning, Larcin wrote raps on his phone until one of his friends @SAPA INCA took him to the studio.  About 6 months ago he started to think of rap names. That is where LARCIN was created. Before that, his first rap name was herb-- all of his close friends called him HERB from ages 12 and at 19 changed it to MARCIN The dream and at 22 LARCIN.

More Recently, the projects he's working on is an ep called, "Life Aint What it Seems"EP that is coming out in mid February with Features from brewski, sapa inc and blunt gutta.

 

Larcin was raised by polish parents who are very against drugs and very religoius but very musical.  His influence comes from first ever rap D12 my band and 50 cent in the club then fell in love with hiphop and rap. He has been expanding his musical ear ever since but lover of 90s and 2000s rap the most. 

He mentioned he listens to alot of Jim Rohn who is a motivational speaker and who has a lot of inspiration in his life. and gets a lot of inspiration looking for and listening to people and see how their lives everyone has traveled a different journey and it's cool to see where they came from.

"i try to be original but i love different kinds of music not just rap i listen to a little bit of everything except country" -larcin

What do you look for in music what do you appreciate the most that most people take for granted?

"I look to make something that can catch people's ear something that can get stuck in people's heads so they come back and listen to it again and have that tune in their head all day long! I try to appreciate the little things and be happy with what i have now because i know that so many people in the world have it so much worse than me. My favorite quote,"its better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one, then to have an opportunity and not be prepared"- Whitney Young

 

"Behind Larcin is just a kid that's trying to leave a mark in the world and help as many people as I can to get where they want to get in life."- Larcin

What to expect next coming weeks

The "Life ain't what it seems ep" with features from brewski and sapa inca and blunt gutta and a couple of singles dropped after the ep.

Thank you for following, purchasing, living and sharing @Rareflavr

Artist Snapshot: TRAKKSOUNDS (@trakksounds)

Image Property of Trakksounds. Redesigned by @Rareflavr

Garrett Brown, TRAKKSOUNDS (@Trakksounds) is a Music Producer and Recording Engineer from the City of Houston, TX. We discovered his music while networking on Instagram and we are able to share with some information on his current projects, influences, and advice for young producers. You can see that Garrett has built himself up in the game and we are grateful to feature this Artist Snapshot today featuring Trakksounds.

www.trakksounds.com

Out Right Now is his Collaborative Project called, "The Other Side". This project features artists who have over 57 Million views on  YouTube. Some of the more well-known he has worked with include:  T2 Ghetto Hippie, Kirko Bangz, Devin the Dude, and Dizzy Wright.  

click image to visit "The Other Side"

----------------------------------TRACKSOUNDSS shared some of his interest in music, influences, and advice for young producers starting out in the game---------------------------------------------------------------------

Image property of Trakksounds (Trakksounds.com)

What was the music scene like for you growing up in Texas? What got you influenced into music? Any Specific band, movie, etc? 

"The Music Scene for us is very diverse. We have a strong Rock, Soul, and Hip-Hop influence so I grew up on things like UGK and ZZ Top which is a crazy combo lol. My dad played guitar, harmonica, and sang so I always had music all around me. My favorite artist is Jay-Z and favorite producer is Timbaland so watching those two made my inspiration go through the roof. All my friends were getting into rapping or different things so I just kinda naturally slid into making beats. " - Trakksounds

Image property of @Trakksounds Instagram

OH LORD (REMIX)- TRAKKSOUNDS FT. GT GARZA, KILLA KYLEON, AND DOEMAN

instagram links

IG @trakksounds

IG @itzgarza

IG @doemanxdyna

IG @killakyleon

We noticed you've worked with some big named rappers and singers. What was that transition looking like starting from making beats in High School to featuring artists like 2 Chainz and Scarface?

"Man it kinda just started happening because i was so persistent on the internet. I was hitting people every day like let me send beats, let me send beats, let me send beats lol. Eventually the 2 Chainz placement happened and I just kept at it. Every little placement opened the doors for my big placements and I worked with a lot of up and comers before my first big track so I was just staying patient because I could feel it coming"

- Trakksounds

That's sick persistence was the key. Is your studio set up in Houston? Do you do a home studio or somewhere you rent out or someone you know own a studio? Or mostly remote traveling w/ your studio? 

"I have a home studio and a like office studio called IMIX Studios that I bring clients to and did a lot of my biggest tracks there in Houston." - Trakksounds

Nice what is your favorite Kit to use? Drums trumpets, organs, 808's etc and why? Also, what types of equipment is essential for a successful session?"  

"My favorite kits are probably my own that I make from random sounds lol. I have all types of random equipment in sessions from keyboards, guitars, talkboxes, percussion, etc. But gotta have a keyboard only mainly and I can make it happen. I can even use my laptop keyboard and make some tracks."

- Trakksounds

On Trakksound's YouTube Channel, he not only showcases tracks he has made but also a glimpse into the actual creative process. If you are interested in learning about that creative process check out his YouTube Channel Here. As well as a quick "The Other Side Documentary" 

What would you say is some important advice for aspiring producers and young artists? What has been a key to your success? 

"I would be ready to do a lot of unpaid or way below what  you think is your value because at this point you have to build your name as a producer as much as an artist and brand yourself. " - Trakksounds

Image Property of : http://www.musicproductioncamp.com/what-we-do

Not only does Trakksounds produce music, but he teaches music as well. He provides hands-on training for producers of all skillsets.  

Last year he offered online training as well as in-person training to teach producer fundamentals. This includes techniques inside AND outside the studio including: Production, Songwriting, Networking, How to get paid, and more.

Click here to visit Trakksound's Music Production Workshop to discover the skills you need to be on top of your game!

Image Property of Trakksounds.com/Shop Click Image to visit Shop!!!!

As you can see persistence has been one of the major factors of Trakksound's success and progression as well as his ability to teach music. If you follow Trakksounds on Instagram you can see he even landed song placements on TV. Most recently a track he produced called "Drug$" by himself, HeartBeat'z group called "Funk In the Trunk" , Sydney Jane ,  and was placed by Dynamic Producer  on TNT's show Claws.  Follow @trakksounds on Twitter to Find out more information and make sure you share the article!

Image Property of Trakksounds (trakksounds.com)

Thank you for viewing this Artist Snapshot! Let us know what you think below and if you would like us to review your music or share your content futher please send us a message.Check out our shop at rareflavrshop.com. Also, thank you for all of the comments, likes, and shares thus far! Enjoy #rareflavr #dftm

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LYRICAL TRACK!!!!!!

Artist Snapshot: SUBSTANCE ABUSE (@subzandesotre)

Via @rareflavr on Instagram

One thing we seek at rareflavr is  talent with a well driven purpose. Purpose that is driven by creativity, realness, persistency, artistry, and dedication. Luckily, we have the opportunity today to feature an original rap group that fits these characteristics. They have been in the rap/hiphop game since the late 90's and are grateful to deliver an Artist Snapshot to give you taste of their music and journey. From Los  Angeles, CA  if you have not already heard, we introduce to you rap duo Substance Abuse.

emcee Subz (left) & Eso Tre (right)

Substance Abuse is a rap duo consisting of emcees Subz and Eso Tre, who grew up together in Los Angeles, CA . They found their love for hiphop early in life releasing their first EP in 1998 titled, Brand New Crime and from there it all took off (substanceabusehiphop.com-- bio).

They gain traction b/c of their unique styles and staying true to their purpose and sound. That sound is lyrical and purposeful conscious rap. Today in our state of hiphop that can be considered more of background music.  Hence the title their most recent EP, Background Music: The Redux

Originally, they released an EP titled, Background Music, but revisited the idea of the EP and wanted to give a new perspective of a few of the original tracks on the 1st album by dropping Background Music: The Redux -- (link to apple music)

“Background Music” refers to the state of hip hop today, explains Eso “where the music seems deracinated of the personality and edge that it once had.”  It also refers to how our music is construed by the masses, people who generally seem to favor the popular over the obscure.  Real hip-hop has been forced to play the “background” to club and dance music that seems devoid of any message or staying power." 

The new Substance Abuse album "Background Music" featuring Tash, KRS-One, Sadat X, MC Eiht, Percee P, Myka Nyne, and Max Julien now available: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/background-music/id962430454 www.substanceabusehiphop.com

"IT AIN'T ABOUT THE LOOT YOU GOT, BUT ABOUT JUST HOW YOU GOT IT" - Eso Tre- Substance abuse- "Slow Ya Roll" 

Over time, Substance Abuse has collaborated with some reputable names in the game including: Saafir, Kool Keith, Motion Man, Kutmasta Kurt,Rasco, Thes-One, and MF Doom.  They have a track titled “Rear View” which features legendary hip-hop artist KRS-One  and this track has been remixed as Rear View: The Chase Remix and has been featured on DJ Premier's radio shows titled, DJ Premier's Live from HeadQCourterz radio show and other platforms.

"Rear View" sheds light on what hiphop truly is and that we are, "never going back" (KRS-One "Rear View") but enjoying the time it was and how great that is. 

Greatly, have they collaborated with KRS-One,  and they have also collaborated w/ another legend MF DOOM  in 2006 on an track called "Profitless Thoughts". which has received much attention on the release of their album released titled, Overproof which is perfect for bumping in the whip.  This track was featured on outlets including: YRB, URB, Scratch Magazine,and 944. 

The game needs more people w/ a purpose and dedication. The music that is glorified does not necessarily always have the real glory that exists. The question we all need to ask is why? What makes us like music? If you are sick of the main stream media and music that is put out. Do yourself a favor and check out the most recent Project dropped by Substance Abuse: Background Music on Apple Music or substanceabusehiphop.com for some real hip hop!

click image to visit Substanceabusehiphop.com!!!

//We also had opportunity to gain some hiphop knowledge From Eso Tre...///

We noticed you dropped your first EP in 1998 as a duo.What is a key to your consistency/persistence performing & recording in a rap group? 

Eso Tre: I think we always had a music first attitude. We had no idea where we would go in the industry, we just knew we wanted to be dope. When we first started putting out music even having a 12" out was a huge accomplishment. But you have to aim higher than that, and once you put out something, you want to have more exposure. Subz and I wanted to blow up, but we were always humble and put our music and our friendship before the business aspect of it. I think that has been the key to our longevity.

What impacts you the most when it comes to music?  

Eso Tre: Hearing a beat idea that's dope. Whenever I'm in a creative lull and I hear a hype sample that one of the homies found I suddenly feel revived and enthusiastic about hip hop again. It was like that back in the day working with producers NO and Medicine, and now with our homies Waes One and our high school buddies Da Stig and Philm, who have become an indispensable part of our creative process.

Who or what is your biggest mentor? How do they help you along the way  ?

Eso Tre: Kutmasta Kurt has always been a go to type of cat for advice and a big brother to us in the industry.  He taught us a lot of stuff, how to deal with distributors and PR people and people who ran the business part of the game.  He is calm and level headed about stuff, and I think that rubbed off on us a lot.

What are your three pieces of life advice you would give to anyone-- or in particular aspiring artists?

 Eso Tre: The game is weird right now.  Twitter beefs, dumb stuff trending, people jocking anyone with a name.  Who's following who on Instagram.  My advice to anyone trying to make it is try not to get distracted or discouraged by all this social media and internet stuff.  You definitely have to use it to get your music out there, but don't think if people are more of an internet sensation than you that they're better.  Second, speaking of the internet, don't think just having a Soundcloud account makes you dope.  You actually have to practice to be a dope rapper, it's not just the ability to have people hear your music.  Finally, don't be daunted by rejection.  Half these reputable sites don't know sh*t from Shinola when it comes to dope music, and their snootiness hides their insecurity and inability to really be able to tell what's good.

What Can listeners expect when checking out your Album Background Music?  

Eso Tre: Background Music: The Redux is just a little holdover EP we put out until we drop our next effort.  We remixed some of our favorite joints off the OG version of Background Music we put out a few years back.  The Redux was a companion piece to the original album, kind of a "Part 2" if you will.  We love jazz, and on the EP we really tried to bring out that influence.

What do you have planned as a group for the future?  

Eso Tre: A new album, maybe a documentary about us on some "Searching for Sugarman" vibe.  

Anything else we should know that haven't gone over / not on website?  

Eso Tre: We got some new joints and a new album in the works, with songs and lyrics that address the perilous times we're in.  There has never been a stronger need for conscious hip hop than now, and there seems to be a dearth of it.  People are angry, and they rightly don't believe that politicians represent their interests, or at the very least, empathize with them.  That's why we need emcees with a strong message.

WORKS CITED:

WWW.SUBSTANCEABUSEHIPHOP.COM

INTERVIEW W/ ESO TRE & RAREFLAVR.COM

REVISITED BLOG ARTICLE

Artist Snapshot: SWITCH (@SWITCHSB_)

via @rareflavr on instagram

" I TOLD EVERYONE MY PLAN AND THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND"  RAPPER 'SWITCH' SNAPPIN ON THE MIC!

  Luke Thornton Also known as 'Switch is a dope rapper who drops BARS. We had the opportunity to interview Switch and get familiar w/ the music he's put out and the current project he dropped this week on 4/10/2017. Switch is an island emcee from Vancouver Island, British Colombia in Canada. He has been rapping since he was about 12 years old and has been using rap & Hiphop as a canvas for art ever since. "He has performed with numerous artists including Mob Depp, SNAK the Ripper, Bender of Flight Distance, Merkules, MadChild, SonReal, EvilEbenezer, the Outlawz, R.A. the RuggedMan, AlphaOmega, MOKA Only and TOUCH. To date, he has performed at 107 events" (Facebook.com/SwitchMusic1992)

We had the opportunity to listen to tracks by Switch & Morgan Murray on bandcamp and also thru some 42 tracks dropped on Switch's Soundcloud. Freshley, switch has gravitated to the sounds of dark boom-bap type beats as well as hiphop beats. These are mostly beats produced  by Phil Script out of Houston, TX as well as Yeshintae out of California. 

Switch

More recently he has had problems w/ Drug addiction going in and out of rehab from drug use. Even though he has been thru tough times with the addiction disease, he has used this struggle to be expressed in his music. Addiction sweeps the world in our youth and it it can be tough to overcome- HIs next LP, Substance Abuse Dropped April 10th, 2017 includes his battle w/ drug addiction and the depth it goes into understanding human beings and our race itself .

SUBSTANCE ABUSE --- APRIL 10TH,2017

SUBSTANCE ABUSE COVER ART VIA instagram @SWITCHSB_

Back Cover of Switch's Album, Substance Abuse

SUBSTANCE ABUSE COVER ART VIA instagram @SWITCHSB_

Tracklist of SUBSTANCE ABUSE

1. THE CHASE

2. LONG TIME COMIN FT. THE WISE GUY

3. NEAR THE END

4. HEAR ME OUT

5. KUSH

6. GO ON LIKE THIS

7. SKULLS

8. SUICiDE NOTE FT. IDLHANDS

9. SCRIPTURE

10. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH

11. CAN'T SLEEP

12. NOTHING TO DO

13. FIGHT WHAT IM FEELING

14. LOST

Also noted on the cover art All beats mixing and mastering by Yeshinitae

And all songs recorded by JELLYNOTE at D-BLOCK STUDIOS

THIS ALBUM DROPPED APRIL 10TH, 2017 AND IS AVAILABLE on SOUNDCLOUD AS WELL AS MUSIC VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE.. BELOW.

Rareflavr asked, " Switch what can we expect from Substance Abuse? "

"Truth. I really wanted to speak on some shit that is often glorified I wanted to put it out in a different light, cuz wasn't shit glorious about it na mean. It's an everyday struggle, addiction is a disease and it kills millions, im blessed to be here, i still gotta work at it but i'm lucky i'm still breathing and this album some of it was written before treatment in treatment and after so it's a pretty crazy project I'm happy with it and I know anyone who's ever suffered like I have or anyone who knows someone who struggles with addiction will relate, it's the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth" (RareFlavr/Switch Interview)

Check out some samples & dope visuals off of the album including the tracks: "Skulls", "Near the End" , and "Kush" (Videos below) 

SWITCH-SKULLS PROD. BY YESHINTAE

SWITCH- NEAR THE END PROD. BY YESHINTAE

SWITCH-KUSH PROD. BY YESHINTAE

There is substance in the music and you can tell Switch has developed as an artist and producing more quality music.  Substance Abuse is about all the drugs he has had to deal w/ and all of the problems / upsides/ downsides of living that lifestyle. We can all learn as human beings everyday and dealing w/ one another &  what we've heard from Switch is realness making him a dope MC. If you are reading this and have the opportunity..Please share this ArtistSnapShot & visit The social media pages of Switch. Listen, Like, Share, Follow, and comment on the content he has released especially the release on April 10th, 2017 with Substance Abuse. 

RAREFLAVR

follow switch on instagram @switchsb_

FOLLOW SWITCH ON BANDCAMP

Find Switch on Facebook.com/switchmusic1992

works cited

https://www.facebook.com/pg/SwitchMusic1992/about/?ref=page_internal

http://instagram.com/switchsb_

http://soundcloud.com/switchmusic1992

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6RsKekZ1v_MbGIZx0kyx3Q

Artist Snapshot: PURPLE DIALECT (@PDIALECT)

Hello, World! Click Play and Read On

Purple Dialect- 'Leaves' (click image to listen) Image:Luke Novel

@Purple_Dialect (IG) is an artist from the Philadelphia, PA suburbs in the process of creating dope content. We had an opportunity to find out more about his current projects. Purple Dialect is an artist in collaboration with Us Natives Records (About Us Natives) which is a group, label, family, beat culture, and future backpack group. The group Consists of Ill Clinton and John E. Cab. Also, Luke Novel has played a big part in his creativity who has supplied him with creative artwork. Currently, Purple Dialect has a shop, beat tapes, as well as a rap tape Titled, 'Leaves'  available on band camp.

'Leaves' Image: Luke Novel

The meaning behind the name Purple Dialect is a play on "purple prose" which is when authors uses elaborative words without necessarily having to.- He felt that that was the case when rapping, freestyling and coming up with lyrics/tracks/recording. Purple Dialect started making raps early around age 13 and started by playing base guitar, and making punk rock music with his friends.  Some of the main influences growing up were De La Soul & The Beastie Boys. Also, A Tribe Called Quest and  were the main influences to motivate in making hip-hop music. On his Instagram you can see that he does freestyles and uses machines and microphones to do live recordings. He mentioned he is most comfortable using the Roland SP404sx and MASCHINE.

image (purple dialect)

Purple Dialect via instagram.com/rareflavr

Click for All Information on Purple Dialect & 'Leaves' Available on BandCamp (click image)

As far as collaborations PD is open to collaborations online with underground artists and others which share his vision.  Ultimately, he mentioned he would love to collaborate with MF DOOM if possible. We asked, "Is there anything in particular that creates inspiration for your music?" Purpled Dialect Replied, " I just love hip-hop. It's tied up with comic books and film in my mind. It's like a jumbled mess but it turns into this aesthetic that feels dope to me at least. It's Therapy. Can't feel too bad if you just made a beat that sounds dope." 

Click To Buy Purple Dialect music on GooglePlay

Click To listen to Purple Dialect on Spotify

Click to listen to Purple Dialect on iTunes

Click to purchase 'Leaves' on Amazon

click image to watch video

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  Apr 4, 2020, 12:35 PM
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  Apr 4, 2020, 11:52 AM
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Artist Snapshot: CLUTCHBOY KUMA (@CLUTCHBOYKUMA)

Being reliable is a skill and @Clutchboykuma has delivered. Combining worlds in music is a challenge and we found Clutchboy Kuma does just that. #RareFlavr had a chance to interview Kuma to learn about his influences, creative process, and goals for the future in collaborations.

   Akuma known as "clutchboy" and Kuma grew up in Nigeria West Africa and now lives in Maryland and Newark, Delaware. He moved to the east coast and was given the name "Clutchboy" Kuma for his reliability and clutch-ness. Throughout high school he started making music and enjoyed listening to a variety of artists including: Lil' Wayne, Drake, Led Zeppelin, Travis Scott, Kanye West, Sisqo, Aaliyah, and anything Timbaland had a credit on. #RareFlavr noticed a tone to his music  , which seems very cinematic, mood induced, and creative.  

Please Press Play in Browser, Listen, and Continue Article Below

Kuma's interest in movies a big are a big influencer on his creative process; Ranging from the likings of Movie soundtracks including Transformers and Gladiator. His favorite movies include The Godfather, The Matrix, Oldboy, and Inception; a diverse catalog hence the title of his instrumental album, Mood Swings . Kuma mentioned, "Mood swings reflects my new transition in sound design. I want my music to be able to change and reflect the moods of the listeners as well as the producer." 

 The melodies and harmonies of his music stems from his African roots, but as far as the artwork and connection the history and culture of Baltimore plays a big part. The process of writing lyrics starts from observation and gaining intelligence reading. On the structure of songs, he takes a big credit in Orchestral Movie Soundtracks. Currently he uses some of his favorite programs/equip. to produce including:  FL studio, Cubase, Abelton, Akai Mini Keyboards, and Moog Analog Synthesizers. Overall,  he mentioned the importance of being consistent, adaptive, and open to new ideas are what will help him always connect with the people who listen to his music. 

 Currently he has several projects open to collaborate on. Kuma is looking for artists open to new creative ideas without a genre. Artists that can bring consistency,lyricism, talent and the "90s bounce" combined with sounds of the future. . Overall, his goal is to change the way we interpret music.

Get in Contact with  @ClutchboyKuma today on Instagram, Twitter, and Soundcloud 

"Detach from the Masses"- RareFlavr

Click Image to Follow @clutchboykuma on Soundcloud

instagram.com/clutchboykuma

twitter.com/clutchboykuma

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Artist Snapshot: BOBBY BODEGA (@BOBBY.BODEGA)

Live From Morris Heights Website- Click Image to Visit

Bobby Bodega (@bobby.bodega) artist and musician born x raised in the Bronx, New York recently caught our attention as a voice and musician in the music industry that will not go unnoticed. Born and raised in the Bronx New York, Bobby has been molded by the people of his neighborhood hence the title of his branded website ( www.LiveFromMorrisHeights.com ). We asked him some questions to learn about himself as an artist, "Any Particular point in time you decided to take music more seriously? "  Bodega responded, "I kinda just fell into it, I didn't have music growing up other than listening to my pops playing Bob Marley on Saturday mornings. I started to use it as an outlet when I got older and took the opportunity to focus on doing something bigger than myself.. It's amazing the power of music has and how it allows you to connect with people you probably would have never met before". Bob comes up with song ideas mostly while in transit, but produces most all of his music organically in direct collaboration with his producers in the studio including the production group called Audio Never Dies.  He has two professionally released projects on his website: one 'Character's Welcome' and two 'Live From Morris Heights'. Most of the products used in the production process he mentioned are Abelton, Super 55 Microphone,  Yamaha Monitors Hs5's, and uses Dr. Dre Beat Headphones for personal use. Some upcoming clothing brands he mentioned also are Sherman Preston and Terry Winston. The success of his music has encouraged Live performance opportunities not only at SOBS and Mercury Lounge, but also has opened for PUSHA-T at a notable show at St. John's University. The overall goal for @bobby.bodega is to make good music people can relate to and put his city on the map and fall into people's Top 5 conversation. Also, his major goal is to build up and get a show at the Madison Square Garden and sell out a show. This artist has a unique soulful sound combined with deep lyrics. We highly encourage you to visit his website, browse, as well as listen to both projects he has released! Make sure you drop some comments and shares, and please provide comments below for feedback on the movement. 

"Detach from the Masses"

-RareFlavr

FOLLOW @BOBBY_BODEGA ON TWITTER!!!!!!

OR CLICK IMAGE TO FOLLOW @BOBBY.BODEGA !

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