Q&A With Rising Mississippi Based Hip Hop Artist Montshodaw
Yo Montshodaw!! We are blessed to be able to get exposed to your great Hip Hop music!! One of our main
contributors BOOM really loved your new album and reviewed it, giving it 8/10!! WOW Much respect on
pushing that album! Please tell us a bit about yourself? Where are you from? And how long have you been making Hip Hop!
Yo, peace UHHB. Big up to BOOM for certain! I appreciate the work yall do. Ok, well… first off, I’m from
Jackson, Mississippi. Although I produce, write, and create other kinds of music, to some of which you
will experience on my current album and definitely more in the future, Hip-Hop is my primary mode
artistic expression. Including a few substantial breaks in between creating music I have been making
hip-hop for almost two decades.
We noticed that you combine the southern Mississippi flavor with new cutting edges sound really well according
to BOOM!!!!!….LOL Please describe your original style in the simplest way possible!
I would describe my style as an edgy eclecticism with a quasi-griot conscientious flare.
Tell us about the underground Hip Hop scene out there Mississippi? Is it growing or is it stagnant! What is you take on this…
The Underground Hip-Hop scene in Mississippi is definitely growing. There is a myriad of exceptional
emcees both male and female, here. I think it is especially dynamic in Jackson, the capital city of
Mississippi. There are also a number of venues and organizers in Jackson that continually promote
underground Hip-Hop. Not only that, there is usually a few things going on every week regarding
underground Hip- Hop, which is good.
Let’s face it; social media since 2015 has grown tremendously, especially IG!!! Tell us how is your IG grind
looking, and how have you been able to keep up with the high demand on social media?
It’s definitely a task to stay on top of the trending demands. Although it’s a slow building process for
my person I’m seeing continued growth. I wear many hats regarding family, business, community, etc.
to which I’m sure you can relate. It’s a challenge to balance everything but I do post what I can and
what I think is relevant to help contribute to building a better world, musically or otherwise.
Please breakdown the creative process of your album “The Realms… Realm 1: I’ma Rise.”?
First, I have to make mention that ‘The Realms… Realm 1: I’ma Rise” is the first installment of a larger
project which includes several future albums. The overall project is generally entitled “The Realms.”
Ok… Back to the question, the creative process for “Realm 1: I’ma Rise” did not come to me in a
straight path. It came together in some unforeseen ways, I’d say. Some of the songs came to my
person in dreams. I would get bits and pieces of a song while dreaming then I would jump up to hurry
and record what I heard from the dream on my phone and later build from there. Other ideas for songs
came from meditations albeit melodies or ideas to bring to life. However, the most usual method of
creating “Realm 1: I’ma Rise” involved me producing the beat and then taking the beat on a drive or a
walk around the yard. While on that walk or drive I would listen to the music over and over again until
the right words (lyrics or hook) came to me. After recording the songs I would let them sit for a month
or so come back to listen to see with fresh ears and with others to see if the song has same feel I
originally thought it had or to determine where improvements could be made. This may sound
backward but once I had the body of the album complete I made the closing song and then the intro
song.
So I generally make the music, listen until the words for the song appear, write the lyrics, revise the
lyrics if need be, record the song, wait awhile and listen to the song later with others, contemplate,
make the judgment to make adjustment or not.
How often do you guys perform live?? Any indie DIY tours in the works?
I’ve had a couple live performances recently… However, I also just had an addition to the family, which
has slowed the performance / tour side of things way down to nil, at the moment. However, I plan to
pick it up in the near future.
How do you feel about the whole XAN & LEAN trend these kids nowadays are on!!!..LOL??? Be honest, do you use some of that stuff??..LOL
How to deal with stressors in life is an important skill that is not being passed down to the younger
generation. I would say this is primarily due to a lack of knowledge and know how on those responsible
for passing down such knowledge. In ancient wisdom societies the people where inducted into an
initiation system or so-called “rights of passage” process to teach them how to tap into, generate, and
maintain that peaceful state or no-stress state of being that is being searched for when kids or
whomever are popping XAN and drinking LEAN. Thankfully these systems and part of the skill
development from these systems are not totally lost to ancient times. If you Google “alleviate stress” a
number links will pop up that share the importance of proper breathing, meditation, exercise, diet, etc.
in equipping us with the tools to overcome stress and anxiety.
In terms of my person using any of it… Naah… I’m good wit it… It’s not something I do. I think we are
better off with being able to reach our goals and higher potentials without the use of any debilitating
substances (pharmaceutical or otherwise). If we can get to freedom from dependence on such external
things to be able to cope (with life) that will be one step closer to the much needed healing we all need.
What you got cooking next? Anything special for Summer 2018!!??
So next year I plan to drop “Realm 2” of The Realms series. Before the summer is out I also plan to
release a song I produced for a female songstress along with an accompanying video. So be on the
look out for those two projects.
Our most popular question, what is your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”?
Underground Hip Hop is the music that precipitates potential mainstream trends. Commercial music
often takes its queues from underground Hip Hop. Underground Hip Hop is an art that does not
compromise its creative expression however different it may be, to conform to commercialism. It can
be gritty, soft, energetic, etc. It’s your voice, my voice, and our voice. It details where you, me, or we
are at a particular moment in life and those places where we are can be infinite.
Where can fans find your music? Drop all links!!
You can find my music at the following links:
https://montshodawmusic.com/the-realms-realm-1/ (hear album and purchase)
https://montshodawmusic.com/product/montshodaw-the-realms-realm-1-ima-rise-album/ (purchase)
Any Shout Outs??
No doubt… I would like to give a big shout out, appreciation, and thankfulness to God for the talent and
enabling my person with the willingness to persevere.
Also, much respect to all that help with the project; The featured vocalists, FlyMsCali (Tiffiany Haywood), that
appeared on “Black Rose” and all my family and friends that helped with the video shoots. Thanks for all
those that offered feedback that lead to rewrites and other creative consideration to contemplate.
I would also like to give a big up for certain to UndergroundHipHopBlog.com…
To the reading audience be sure to follow and connect with me via social media at: @montshodaw
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montshodaw/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/montshodaw/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montshodaw/
