Q&A With Nashville’s Rising Hip Hop Artist Ra Noise
Hey Ra Noise, we would like to thank you for your contribution to underground Hip Hop and keeping the culture alive! I really enjoyed your new “DoDo” EP! Please tell us what exact area code you represent? How long have you been making music?
615 is where I was raised and where I reside. I started playing my first instrument when I was 9 and got into jazz improv. within the first two years. That later turned into making beats, I was signed to a record label for beats when I was 18 and had started freestyling/writing rhymes a couple of years before that.
What influenced you to become a Hip Hop artist? What were the main factors that got you into, quote on quote, “Underground Hip Hop”?
I was raised in a soul, funk, golden age hip hop household. All of my first albums were great hip hop albums and I was a graf. kid, so it was just always a part of my culture. I started rapping because I was at a party and these older cats came in with a guitar and freestyled all night. They were hard and I was hip hop as fuck. It was a no brainer. I had to get a taste.
How important is it for your to stay ORIGINAL? How would you describe your style?
Yo, its mad important but at the same time you can’t create mental limitations for what music you are willing to make in my opinion. It’s about projecting emotion and energy. It’s about catharsis. I want you to feel what I’m saying. If I had to describe my style, I would say that its cinematic, diverse, and chaotic.
Tell us about the creative process for your new EP “Dodo”! Any interesting features on it?
DoDo is a compilation of bangers from 2017. I wanted to release the old joints to kind of cleanse my palate going into a new year. The dopest feature is the production on “sock it to me” Genesis was part of the production team for Tinashe’s “2 on.” Other than that, There is only one vocal feature on the same song: by my young nigga Modern Marvel.
In 2018, who will be on your personal music rotation playlist!? Any new artists you are listening to?
Allot of folks on my list. Keeping my ears to the street for a new sound.
Any new projects and videos you are working on? Planning on a tour anytime soon?
Yeah, I’m doing a video for “smell it from my car” and “A need.” I’m going to do those earlier in the year while I’m dropping clothes and working on my projects for later on in the year. I have 2 or 3 more projects planned for 2018. I don’t want to spoil what they are going to be about, but its gonna be some shit. I’m doing these projects for the people and myself.
Your TOP 5 DEAD or ALIVE??!!
Old Dirty Bastard
MF Doom
Method Man
Andre 3000
Del the funky homosapien
No particular order. I reserve all rights to change my mind tomorrow.
Your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”?
Underground hip hop is not pop. It’s not for the radio or for money. It’s for the culture and its about expressing yourself. Infamy over fame.
Drop all your music and social media links!
https://www.instagram.com/rano
https://www.facebook.com/ranoi
https://soundcloud.com/ranoise
Any shout outs!?
Shout out to Jon. Walker Supreme, Trigga G. Mr. I’m Gone, Modern Marvel, PM Beats, and OG Kush Corey on everything.
