Fave collaboration (you and someone else) – Teedra Moses, Andre 3000 and 9th Wonder
Most anticipated album of 2007 - Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool
Most influential person in Hip-Hop - Nas, Jay- and 2pac
Fave movie – Malcolm X and The Wood
Repping for Chicago as DX Next artist this week is Add 2. Praised by Chicago’s hometown heroes including Naledge and famed DJ Mike Love as well as songstresses Teedra Moses and Marsha Ambrosias of Floetry, Add 2 has plenty to offer Hip-Hop enthusiasts. Bringing a breath of reality to a stagnant genre is what this lyricist is all about.
HHDX: What encouraged you to start rapping?
Add 2: When I was younger the first group that made me want to rap Kris Kross, no lie; because up until that point I never seen someone who was around my age rap and do it well. Then I heard Jay-Z, Nas, Pharcyde, Tribe and they made me want to write as ill as they could. So I started writing here and there but once I got in Jr. high school my best friend Jeremy kept pushing me to freestyle and rap every chance we could and I started getting a good response and a lot of good feedback every time so I decided to take it serious and see how far I can get with it.
HHDX: How hard is it today for unsigned artists?
Add 2: I think it depends on what type of situation you’re shooting for cause right now it’s probably the best situation it’s ever been to go independent but if you’re looking to get a deal through sending out demos and by chasing the labels you might be going the hard way. Yeah, its hard sometimes getting placement or getting DJs to spin your record or getting people to hit you back and become a priority on everybody’s list, but it also shows you who and what’s real in the industry. Most unsigned artist, and every person around them, believes that if you’re not signed you’re not on, which isn’t necessarily true and even if you got a deal that doesn’t mean you wont get shelved. I know as an independent artist the most annoying question that you constantly get asked "Why aren’t you signed yet?" but I don’t trip anymore, I’m glad that they ask because it lets me know what I’m doing I still good. Labels nowadays know that they can easily find a rapper and if they wanted to manufacture one they could easily do so just like they may do a pop artist. The easiest way to get signed for an unsigned artist is to make the music you love and get the people behind you and let the label come to you, plus they’ll have to get you what you deserve.
HHDX: What are the obstacles you face?
Add 2:Coming from Chicago, it’s like this crab in a bucket mentality. We don’t really help our own out as much as we can. So I’m constantly trying to find a way to overcome that as well as introduce to every possible audience. As a new artist you have to make people listen and give them a reason to stay so I’ve been finding ways to keep them listening to me as opposed to a mainstream artist they hear and see everyday.
HHDX: With the advancement of digital media, has this helped you in attracting a wider fan base?
Add 2:Yes, the Internet and streaming radio shows have helped me a lot. I’ve been able to reach people from everywhere. A couple people from Spain hit me up and said even though they can’t speak English very well they love and enjoy my music. And since I try to return every email as much as I can, it allows me to stay in touch with my fans and talk to them on regular conversation so that they see that I’m no different from them and that I sincerely do appreciate anyone who listens to my music.
HHDX: What do you believe sets you apart from the thousands of artists out there?
Add 2:The simply fact that I’m me, my stories aren’t going to be like the next man cause I have different experiences. I feel like I seen both sides, I’m from the hood but at the same time I managed to get out of it and go to college. I will talk about anything, whether it be stories of broken homes or how ill the flow is, my own vulnerability or thinking about cheating in a relationship just because I believe there’s so many sides to me and every other person so they will be able to relate to any subject matter as long as its presented in a dope way. I’ve been told I’m not too mainstream but yet not too underground. I’m at a nice middle ground I guess. So I use that to my advantage and capitalize off the fact that I’m no different from the next man.
HHDX: What do you aspire to bring to Hip-Hop?
Add 2:I would like to be a breath of fresh air, no disrespect but I want to be able to be bring the love and concern back. Hip Hop needs people who aren’t just concerned about the money but more so the culture as well. I know we’re not the best role models but I think once we’re in these positions we need to use them to uplift the communities and kinda spin things from the way its going. I want to bring the essence of writing back cause for a while no one made me wanna pick up my pen and write. I want to give emcees that feeling.
HHDX: Coming out of Chicago, where radio play is literally a myth, how do you garner exposure?
Add 2:That’s hilarious, because I never knew people outside of Chicago thought like that too. It’s sad but that’s the reality of it. There are some DJs who try to put Chicago music on the air but you don’t have too many and it’s not their fault, sometimes it’s the program directors. In order for me to get exposure I just try to perform as much as possible and think bigger than Chicago because personally I want a buzz everywhere. Actually, I’ve been embraced a lot quicker by DJs outside of Chicago than some DJs in it. But overall I just send out music to anyone who is willing to listen and go from there.
HHDX: Do you believe a co-sign helps you today?
Add 2:I can’t front it does. I’ve seen how people in higher places have received me without one and then with (a co-sign) and its amazing. It make sense only because I know that this is not a industry looking for talent, it’s an industry looking to make money and if you have someone who they know is successful saying that you’ll be successful, they’ll be more susceptible to mess with you. So to all emcee’s out there, have a co-sign not to speak for you but to speak to them because sometimes it’s hard to get to some of these close minded industry heads.
HHDX: What is your situation in regards to labels?
Add 2:I’ve had some decent independent looks tossed my way but nothing that would have been the right move at this point and time. Right now we’re going the independent way with our company Rascals Music Group R.M.G which consists of me, Bullet, Slot-A, Vanysh and Jermel. We’re all talented people with good business sense so we figured why not create a job for ourselves as well as put out the music we love and possibly have something we can pass down to our kids.
