Q&A With Houston, TX Based Hip Hop Artist Dyl the Killsmith
Congratulations on your latest Mixtape release “For The Cause”. We checked it out and
we really enjoyed the fresh new sound & perspective on new Hip Hop coming out of
Houston, Texas. What motivated you to create this style of music. And how did you come
up with your name Dyl The Killsmith?
Appreciate that. It was a huge undertaking for me personally. As much as I love, respect and admire the chopped and screwed sounds that originated here in Houston, the sounds my people and I are creating down here are about new feels. There’s a huge underground community down here and the amount of talent in Houston is mad motivating. Ever since Pimp and Bun brought country rap to the mainstream everybody want to sound like us. Now in 2020, we all have the same access to sounds, from East to West. Instrumentals are global. But the southern draw ain’t. That’s what motivates me to create. That and, for the record, the industry is upside down…but
that’s a different conversation.
Dyl the Killsmith unveiled itself to me after a while of contemplating. I never had any other names that stuck before Dyl the Kill. I originally thought it was too long. But check it, I want to express my authenticity as fully as I can in my art. So I naturally gravitated towards something that’s a play on my real name. Dyl is a pun for Deal, which has its own definition. And Killsmith is a play on blacksmithing, which is more subtle. Blacksmiths worked at the forge creating tools, weapons and armor for the lowest and highest of classes, for battle and defense. Killsmiths work in the lab creating sharp weapons for everyone to use in life, in the form of lyricism and
wordplay on groovy, relatable and funky sounds.
How is the underground Hip Hop scene out in Houston, Texas?
So on the real I can’t speak for the whole hip hop scene in Houston other than my own experience. It’s massive out here, with tiers of artists and talents from the bottom up. I built my network from open mic nights. Hookah bars and small bars will partner up with influential artists/event managers who bring together pockets of local talent to showcase their music. First open mic I did was FLOA (For The Love Of Artistry) by CoCo Sullivan, who is on Ease My Mind. I was so nervous, but I got nothing but love from everyone, and every open mic I’ve been to since brought good vibes and support. I am mindful to reciprocate that with my network I create. Communication is key, and the underground community has to support itself, so relationships are key, in the South or anywhere.
How are you dealing with this whole nationwide lockdown due to Covid-19 CoronaVirus? Has this affected your music career in any way?
Man, as far as my professional career in sales, work hasn’t skipped a beat. I’m thankful for that. But it’s cut short so much opportunity from doing shows, to photo shoots, videos and really just socializing in general. I’ve decided to keep living my life as of July. Everybody has their own thoughts and opinions on the matter, and no one seems to be able to agree on anything. All I know is bills don’t stop coming in the mail, gas for my car is about $2 a gallon to drive anywhere, and I want an extra 0 in my bank account this time next year, so I got work to do. But I advise anyone to do what you’re comfortable with. COVID hasn’t affected my music negatively, other than creating visuals like videos and photos. Most of my connections have been leery up until know. But I can say I released my first music video Blue Skies during COVID on 4/20. It’s inspired by the rough year 2020 has been, and I’m very satisfied with the overall quality of the video. Check it on Youtube!
Who are your biggest Hip Hop influences?
Let’s just say my first CD’s I ever owned as a child was OutKast’s Stankonia, Ludacris’ Word of Mouf and Kid Rock’s Devil Without A Cause. I was probably 9. Check this out. 4 th grade music class, where you learn to play the recorder…the first day of class we had to fill out an About Me paper, like your favorite color, instrument and favorite song. I put Big Pimpin’ by Jay-Z and UGK. That lady never looked at me the same again. And this is a lady that tried to tell kids to not scream the end of our school song (like it had been done for decades), even though it was an expression of spirit and enthusiasm. In my teenage years I got deep into Texas rap, chopped and screwed tracks and Southern hip hop as a whole. Most recently I’ve been influenced by Mac Millers, Cal Scruby, Earthgang, Kota the Friend, Miguel & Big Krit.
You recently dropped a new mixtape “For The Cause” across all streaming platforms!
Please give us some background on that project!? Could you tell me the inspiration behind the mixtape and artwork? Also, how did you manage to get all these other artists to collab with you on this mixtape For the Cause is the first volume of multiple volumes where I gather local Houston talent that I befriend and make some music babies with. This crew I have on here is a combination of Houston artists I’ve met since moving here from Port Arthur in ’17, as well as some homies from the 409, like MC KayoVee, Ottio, RAB & Ricatan. You know, I still don’t really know how I got all these artists together. I’m in sales by trade so maybe im just a persistent SOB? But on the
real, when I connect with people who are talented and hungry like I am, I will go the extra mile to see to it that I cultivate those relationships. I feel like each artist’s track I’m on is a culmination of that. Volume 2 coming soon! Where my H-town artists at!?
How does social media play a role in pushing Dyl The Killsmith music.
It’s everything. Social media is a brands medium to have an identity and for constant marketing opportunities. I have this philosophy I’ll share with you guys, some of you may already know this: people want to get to know you without you getting to know them. So by pushing my personality through content on IG and FB, I’m showing people who I am. Take me as I am. Ifyou don’t like me, kick rocks. I know the ones who will stay will be entertained and value the content and music I create. And I hope it motivated. Most everything I do is driven to motivate.
We have to ask, with all this social discourse and revolt, protesting and rioting, exposed police brutality toward blacks and BLM, how do you feel about this? We would love your perspective on the climate we are living in right now.
I’m a rabbit hole traveller and so I have tons to say about it all. My perspective is that no one can say or do anything right, right now. So rather than writing you a novel, follow me here….Truth is stranger than fiction. Remember your history, and remember history that is not yours. Recognize your likeness with others. Remove those in your life who you’re not reaching up towards. Understand all this is a spiritual war happening in one’s heart and mind. Understand the Matrix. Love your neighbor. Relax.
What are a few different moves you’re making for 2020 when it comes to your music
career?
Thanks for asking. I set a goal to achieve volume this year by releasing 30 tracks. I’m 12 in. I have a 7 song EP I’m working on right now that will be ready by winter. RAB and I are cooking up an EP to release in Fall, all produced by him. I’d like to do at least 5 more performances this year but we’ll see how the night life is for the rest of the year. Oh yeah and I’m releasing a single with RAB and our boy J.Breaux who is fresh on the scene. Dude has talent. The track is called OMG and asses will be shaking to it.
Our most popular question….What is your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”?
Underground hip hop is the hip hop scene that isn’t elevated by these big labels and the tycoons behind them. Underground hip hop is the indie hip hop. The stuff you don’t hear but rarely on the radio. It’s where the true MC giants live, the ones who refuse to sell out or sacrifice their talents for fame and exposure. Let me say this: 8/10 A list rappers in the past decade, and in the past 3 years specifically, are trash. Systems of control are in place to artificially elevated an artist to become trendsetters and their music is a secondary function of them, and it shows every single time another one jumps on the scene. But sometimes artists come around, like UGK for example,
who make waves and unique, high quality, catchy sounds that can’t be denied. True art is always recognized, and sometimes underground artists are able to poke their heads above ground to make some noise and maybe even buck the systems of control I spoke about earlier. Unfortunately they’re usually silenced or chopped down.
Where can our BLOG audience find your music and follow you on social media?
Search Dyl the Killsmith and you’ll find me on FB, IG, YT, Twitter, Spotify, Itunes, and damnnear everywhere else. I’m most active on my Instagram @dylthekillsmith so follow your boy there and enjoy some of my crazy self.
Any Shout Outs?
Shoutout to all my artists on this tape!!
Coco – Your voice is chilling and you’re such a hustler keep progressing
Smitty – Y’all check Smitty Spread Love YT channel he raps to his uber passengers! Positive individual
Rome – your lane is huge in Houston and the world cant hear you fast enough.
Ricatan – My bro since middle school who came outta left field with No answers. Got pipes!
RAB – Best freestyler I know and best producer I know, no cap
Ottio – Once you push your sounds public you’re gonna wish you had a long time ago bro! Mad vibes
Tristian – Next Kendrick you creative like crazy man hope we can make more bangers
PriceTag – You my San Antonio homie! Takes money to make money you got that on lock
MC KayoVee – Goes back w me to day 1 in music, and has been an inspiration the whole time
Balance – You an educated brother and we can talk Truth round the clock. Rare to find that in people
Chris Collins – I know you a rocker so we got some more new sounds to crank out brotha. Stay focused
Sketch – a most eclectic artist and the designer of the cover art. Can’t wait to put some of your
pieces on my wall in the studio
