"'Work smarter, not harder' Sometimes artists feel they need to do more to get more, sometimes its do less,but do the right things, the smarter things. This music industry is like a big chess game, its all about strategies, placement and positioning yourself for success." - Sic Osyrus.

With the industry in a state of emergency there's not a lot of rappers coming out and living what they rap about. With cases like Akon and 50 Cent perhaps fabricating or manipulating the truth for more record sales, some artists still keep that integrity that makes them successful and more appealing to the common folks and to the people that can relate to their music through their own struggles.

One thing to say about Philly is that they stay pushing some "real" music. You know if someone is birthed out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, you're not going to hear any bubblegum pop music. You know it's going to be that gutter street sound which Beanie Sigel attempt to go "from the streets to the fame." Don't be mad at The Roots for bringing that dark feel to their music on their last album either. Illadelph stays consistent with their product and Sic Osyrus is no different.

Growing up in a single mother household with nine siblings, and moving around from state to state can affect any child. All of our experiences and lessons learned throughout our youth, is what molds us to what we are today. For most artists, embellishing the truth is the name of the game, but Sic has proved through humble effort that he is worthy of DXnext.

What Sic Reps: "I rep music that provokes an emotion, I want to move people with my music. I've been through a lot. None kids in my family, one mother, no father. [I[ jumped from Philly, to South Carolina to New York to jail and back to New York, so every life experience, every struggle, every breath I breathe is real and it effects how I paint my lyrics into a vivid and descriptive audio experience. I always say that if my skin could speak, the lyrics would be tattooed all over my body. I truly live what I speak, but I let my music translate that to the rest of the world."

On Tap: New mixtape album Sic-O-Nomics 2 [click to listen] hosted by Remy Ma's deejay, Bedtyme357 (also "Underground DJ of The Year" nominee) features with Skyzoo, Sha Stimuli [click to read] and The League, and production by Drawzilla (Remy Ma, Chrisette Michele, Capone) Raf Moses, Oz and CokChop Productions, shooting full length video for "S on my Chest." Will be dropping Sic-O-Nomics 2.5 in June, hosted by DJ Superstar Jay. Also in studio with Amadeus (50 Cent, Jim Jones, Talib Kweli) and the legendary Buckwild (Jay-Z, Black Rob, O.C.), so keep your ears open. I am also performing in front of 20,000 at Greekfest in New York this year.

You Might Have Heard Me On: "A few mixtapes (over 50 in last six months), Audio posted on all major sites (35,000 spins and building), college or mixshow radio. I'm hard to miss."

Seven Degrees of Separation: "The one thing I never try to do is try to separate myself. I just do me. However my passion for making music, as well as my strong team and our vision of my project has all bases covered, alot of artists don't have what I do in terms of a support system and a reason to succeed."

Where Can You Find Me: "Somewhere between New York and Philly on the daily, tearing a stage down, or murdering the booth. I try to stay with fresh materials for my deejay family, the sites, just staying creative and using my life experiences as my direction."

If It Wasn't For Rap I'd Be: "Sad to say but probably locked up or laid out. I took a 14 month vacation, when I came home. I had to stay focused and this rap shit is my therapy. My music is described as 'pain music' because that’s an emotion you cannot fake, so what's realer than that?"

Opinion on Current State of Hip-Hop: "There is nothing to look forward anymore. Where are the classic albums, the lyrics, the inspiration? I'm not mad at anyone for their hustle or what their style may be, but I'm not gonna follow some trend to get on. I'm gonna ride out as me, Sic Osyrus, because at the end of the day, no one can be better at being me, than me, so how how could you expect me to be like someone else?"

Influences: "Musically, definitely KRS-One [click to read], Redman, but most of all I have to say my cousin UN who, after passing, gave me the strength to follow my ambitions and kept me focused on what I really needed to do to become who I really want to be."

Last Call: "I just want people to understand my motives and really embrace my music for what it is. Check my progress [click to view] and know that Inasirkl Music Group is a fucking problem this year! Google the name!"