Q&A With Rising Hip Hop Artist Intellect
Hey Intellect, we would like to thank you for your contribution to underground Hip Hop and keeping the culture alive! Your new album “Out Of Left Field” is impressive!!! Please tell us what exact area code you represent? How long have you been making music? How did you come up with your emcee name?
I’m from the 850, that’s Pensacola,FL and I’ve been making music for over 9 years now. Originally my stage name was set to be Mike D, since I love the Beastie Boys but my friend was like nah that’s going to throw folks off and reference you to the Beastie Boys, so there was a period were I didn’t know. Then one day we were playing a game and my friend was kind of annoyed by my extensive vocabulary skills and thus “Intellect” was born.
Growing up I have always loved music, what kid didn’t right. Music has always been apart of my life from being in the church to poetry slams, but honing in on being a hip hop artist came when I listening to Rakim. Once I heard him spit, I was done. I knew this was the road for me. I want to story tell just as good as him if not better. The main factors that got me into underground hip hop were the truths and the controversies behind what the rapper was saying. These guys knew that they weren’t going to be popularized by what they were saying because there was a bit of a taboo of speaking their truth but I loved that. So in my music you will always hear me speak about my youth experiences, racial discrimination, my life as a veteran and world events that we are faced with everyday. People may not want me to be too honest but I always will be because I always speak that honesty in my music.
How important is it for your to stay ORIGINAL? How would you describe your style?
“It’s funny you would say that, so originality is what hip hop used to be and through the years we kind of switched that part off since sometimes it doesn’t get us the deal. We want the money and the fame but there is a cloud of unoriginality keeping them from going on for over 30 years. When people play my records, they can’t compare it to anything because I use real instruments no auto tune, no mumble rap, real authentic, creative music. My rap style is considered is lyrically poetic. Kind of like if Nas and Common spoke in one dialect. ”
Tell us about the creative process for your new album “Out Of Left Field”!
Well the entire album was written almost entirely on an airplane as I was traveling to multiple places for the government. The recording process was fantastic. I have a great team. My go to spot for recording these hits is at the Sweet Spot Studio in Annandale, VA.
In 2019, who will be on your personal music rotation playlist!? Any new artists you are listening to?
I love all facets of Hip Hop music honestly but Oddisee is dope, still a big fan of Nas, Rakim, Timbaland. Any new projects and videos you are working on? Planning on a tour anytime soon? Yes, so I will be performing for a private event on March 2nd in Hollywood,CA then at CrimeCon in New Orleans, it’s an amazing event go get your tickets at https://www.crimecon.com , I will be performing live. I am premiering on NBC’s newest drama The Enemy Within with Morris Chestnut and Jennifer Carpenter on February 25th. I am beyond blessed for being selected as the technical consultant on the show. I have a brand new EP coming soon. There is a documentary about my rise in the hip hop world being generated. I do plan to perform at a few music festivals in the near future so I would just keep an eye out on my social media pages.
Your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”?
Artists that are not signed to any label whom still continue to journey to voice their stories to inspire hope and creativity where there is none.
Drop all your music and social media links!
http://instagram.com/intellectmusic1
https://twitter.com/intellectmusic1
https://soundcloud.com/intellectmusic1
https://www.reverbnation.com/intellectmusic1
Any shout outs!?
Shout out to my two amazing producers Maddfrequency and Nico at the Sweet Spot Studios in Annandale, DJ CFC.
