Eli Lefty – Q&A Interview

Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? How long have you been making Hip Hop?

Uh. I was born in Norcross, GA. My pops played pro ball for the Falcons a long time ago, so that’s why we live in Metropolitan Atlanta. We would still be living in Florida if it wasn’t for the league. Been making music since 14.

What influences you in making Hip Hop?

A lot of things influence me when i make my music. Most of the time its other music. I listen to a lot of Indie bands and alternative rock music. It keeps my mind fresh on trying to stay different from all these other rappers and beat makers. Oh, but i definitely got to listen to the top-selling rap artists all the time. I keep them in my ear so i know what i’m shooting for.

Describe your music, and what separates you from other MCs?

My music isn’t truly definite yet. I still have molding to do but all i know is i don’t have a gift for rapping STUPID FAST and so i try to keep my lyrics real and relatable.

Who have you collaborated with? Who would you like to collab with in the near future?

Well since this is my first tape i dropped, I didn’t do too much collaborating. I kept it in the family: my boy’s Dom-V, Goodie, and Feen, and my homegirl K. Rome. And as of right now i’m enrolled at the Art Institute of Atlanta so i want to collar with a lot of the artists there.

Your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”?

Underground Hip Hop is an evolving state of culture. A culture based around music but not music that everybody is used to. A culture of neo-innovators.

Production wise, who are your influences? Who does your production? And who would you like to work with?

So I’m a huge fan of Travi$ Scott. His kicks are so hard. I tried to pull that out in my track 9 [ONANA]. The kicks are so hard but unique cause i added elements of metal rock double bass to keep it different. But yeah, the whole EP was made by yours truly. So i wanna work with Travi$, Kanye, Mike Will (his song for Tinashe was CRAZY), and I definitely gotta work with M∆rris.

Any current or future projects you are promoting?

So yeah right now I’m pushing 4PM 4AM and meeting folks. When i start on the next one? That’s all the time, but don’t know when it will drop.

Can you give us a brief description of the creative process of 4PM 4AM EP? Also/ tell us a little bit about the concept and idea behind your EP Cover Art.

4PM 4AM kinda revolves around my day. I’m a hard worker so i’m up late a lot so the idea is that my day starts at 4pm. The song SHADES is like me saying, “Damn its almost dark outside. It’s about too late to wear my Ray Bans.” You know? And then WAKE is like me getting back at the house in the morning, even though i say “Wake up every morning.” I’m really meaning i just got home n i need to count my dough before i go to sleep (at least in the context of the tape as a whole).

And the cover art was influenced by this picture i saw on IG. It was a similar silhouette of a guy in front of the Sun, but then i thought it would be cool to just crop it in a cool way so the black merges with the background.

Where can we find your Music?

You can find all my music on Soundcloud including my old freestyles and mixes. N on Facebook all of my pages are connected so find me there and like my page. One day Ima get me a website but for now just find me there. N follow me on IG and Twitter @eli_lefty

Any Shout Outs?

Yeah, ay #FREETHEKING, shouts to BLACKTEXH A.K.A. LameSapNiggas A.K.A. All Black Academy For Niggas From Southern Pines. N shouts to Oakland Raider #12 Duffle Bag-B n the rest of my brothers. Oh and shouts to The Woodstocks. N shouts to Underground Hip Hop!!