Q&A With San Antonio, TX Based New Hip Hop Artist James Embrace
We are extremely excited to have featured your debut album “Noddin”, being a Hip Hop artist we never heard of, we are extremely honored to have promoted your music through UGHHBLOG! Please tell us who is James Embrace? Where are you from? Give us some background on your artist name?
James Embrace is someone who embraces the present for what it is.
I’m from San Antonio, Texas, but I moved around when I was younger because my dad was in the military.
The name came from discussions I used to have with an old friend. We used to smoke Newports and talk about embracing life for what it was at whatever point in time you were experiencing.
What was the earliest hip hop memory you can recall?
The earliest real memories that I have are hanging out with an older friend when i was in 8th/9th grade. He introduced me to the greats like Nas and The Notorious BIG. I was really into east coast hip hop at the time as well as into a lot of battle rap type stuff.
How did you initially get into writing and recording music?
My junior year of high school, me and a friend decided to fuck around on Fruity Loops 6 and Audacity and make about 4 or 5 songs. Looking back they were so juvenile, but hey, we had to get started somewhere, right?
Who’re some artists that inspire you?
I dont really follow too much into the music scene these days, but back in the day Biggie, Nas, old Eminem and the like were really big influences on me. As I progressed artists like Rick Ross and the MMG group were big influences on me as well as the trap scene in general. it’s ironic because I used to abhor trap music, but then it became something I grew to love.
When people listen to the songs, what do you want them to take away from it?
When people hear the songs on my album I want them to feel the sense of apathy i felt when I was going through my toughest times. I want them to feel the depression and anxiety i felt and understand my feelings of needing drugs to cope with everything I was going through.
You recently dropped “Noddin” across all streaming platforms! Please give us some background on that project!? Could you tell me the inspiration behind the project and artwork?
I was just inspired by all my experiences with depression, anxiety, and drug abuse/addiction. The artwork was actually a real life picture of me passed out on pills inside of a car. I looked like a corpse, and it haunts me to this day.
Are you working on any new music?
Right now I’m trying to get back into the groove of making music, but often the mentally illness gets in the way of things. It’s pretty much a mental block that I face most of the time, but I’m trying desperately to get back into the swing of things.
What else can we expect from you in 2020?
Hopefully another album, but if not then at least a few singles. Again, it’s been hard lately to stay consistent with my music making process while dealing with my mental illnesses.
Our most important question, what is your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”
My definition would be the music that comes from the hearts of all the artists struggling to make a name for themselves. Artists who, just like me, are looking for a platform to share their music and ideas with. Music from the everyday, common man, just trying to portray their own life struggles and feelings about the world in which they live in.
Where can fans find you? Drop all your links!
Www.soundcloud.com/jamesembrace
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5vSVGfRGnzQNKCIth8xVLK
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChHrpuOL1CeXjl_kIiH7CHA
Lastly, is there any advice you have for anyone trying to set their foot in as recording artists?
I would say Google any questions you have, and try submitting your music wherever you can. There are new fans to be found everywhere. There are always more people who haven’t heard your music than people who have.
