Q&A With Rising North Virginia Based Hip Hop Artist Vaze Haze
WOW! What a fresh ass album you have to showcase to all of us underground heads! Vaze Haze, it’s really refreshing to know you’re a dope up and comer in the game today holding the indie/underground Hip Hop torch nice and high! For the music junkies who don’t know who you are, let them know? Where are you from? How did you become a Hip Hop artist?
I’m from Northern Virginia and I’ve been attracted to hip-hop ever since a young age. I’ve been free-styling since the age of 5 and always made music for fun and didn’t decide to take it seriously til after I graduated in May this year.
Where does your artist name Vaze Haze derive from?
Vaze Haze, the Vaze part felt like something spoke to me to say that. It’s just a name I came up with. not really from a place or origin, just something I knew nobody else has. I used to go by hazing because I needed a psn name plus everyone always thinks I’m high so it works. I’m usually the most sober ironically.
Please give us a brief background story on the creative process behind your new album “Just Bad at Being Human”! Also, whats the idea behind the your album artwork cover?
The creative process behind Just Bad at Being Human was one based on experience. I took situations I was going through and how I felt about myself and the people around me. Don’t get me wrong, some of the songs were mainly made to show off lyricism and just to have fun but the bulk was like a therapy session for my soul and mind. Listening to it, I reflect back on how much I was going through at the time.
The artwork started from a sketch. I was maintaining 3 jobs at the time plus going to school so sketching is a way for me to get out some expression if I haven’t had the time too. The blank background in contrast to the color in the middle looked so beautiful to me. I fell in love with the color of splats on the right and I love drawing demons, skulls and chaos so that was to the left. Everyone has their demons so those are cool. I put 555 on everything I do, it comes from my rap group and family. Stands for a lot of ambition and creativity.
We noticed you have a great tone, style and originality behind this album. How do you manage to stay creatively dope and maintain pushing dope material? As you know the majority of rappers can’t stay consistent on an album.
Maintaining creativity is really a simple thing. Just walking outside inspiration is there. The internet alone connects us to so many inspiring people who help us see things we didn’t notice before. My creative process mainly stems from my surroundings. If I like something it will transfer to music. If not that, a script or drawing. As far as consistency goes, you really just have to not give up on a style and really make something yours and run with it from how you see things, because half the time someone will relate.
Being an indie artist, how do you feel about having the power in your hands, not having to rely on a label or company to push your music?
Being an indie artist sounds cool. Like I have so much control, but to be honest I don’t know the other side of what having a label, Promoter, a manager and company is like so I can’t really speak from this side of the grass on it.
How does social media play a role in the brand Vaze Haze? How are fans / supporters helping your movement?
Social media plays a huge part of who I am. If its filming skits, and shows I need social media. If it’s displaying clothing or art I need social Media. Music? I need social media. Facebook and Instagram is where I find a majority of my supporters and friends. People I’m close too, who give me criticism, buy the stuff I make, subscribe to my channel and hit me up just to say they like a song, a skit/video, or item they bought. It all Keeps me focused on the difference I can make in someone’s life seeing the joy I can bring others by creating something.
With this being an underground hip hop site, we always ask this important question. What is your definition of “underground hip hop”?
My definition of underground hip hop is anything not too big or corporate. It also feels like the term underground has been replaced by the word Indie. If I have sponsors or a manager I can still make an Indie budget film. But if I have a whole label or franchise I can make a blockbuster movie. A lot of rappers claimed the underground to be dead. But SoundCloud and your local artist are literally the struggling underground that separates the mainstream. The underground still lives on datpiff, spinrilla,and blogs. local legends and celebrities still come from these platforms. It mainly depends on popularity and how much money you can throw around that really decides how big you are and what separates you.
Where can people find your music? Drop all the vital links.
People can find my music here.
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/vaze_haze
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/vaze-haze/1078792268
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5271XMTkzD4Q7IFxzI0JUi?si=X0TSdE9mTPSgSgRqoh3F4A
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYdw0haNJpoe3AC44rrt9Yw/featured
Tidal: https://listen.tidal.com/artist/8578881
Spinrilla: https://spinrilla.com/vaze_haze
Lastly, and shout out? (friends, family, management, etc)
I want to shout out everyone who helped me with this project. People who are family to me blood or not.. Aaron Kimmel, Typhoon Bridges, Trell Blazin’, Rubii, Cy Muzik, Shar bakari, Salem High, Rishad Price aka H, My Uncle Brandon, Kamiyada+, Andre Hunter, Wizard Kelly, Ilishea pearson, Everyone in Clxxd, and Everyone apart of the 555!! Lastly My Friends and family who support me and probably read this article, thank you!!
