Saturday, July 27, 2013

XOTHEHITMAKER SIT'S DOWN WITH N.A.B.



XO THE HITMAKER

N.A.B.: How did the name XO the Hitmaker come to be yours?

XO: When I first started making music, I only made songs for woman. Whether it was songs on relationships, heartbreaks, or feel good music, I always tackled the female audience. I still do now but I’m more open to other types of music. Hitmaker part is a self-confident statement! I always strive to leave the studio with a HIT!



N.A.B.: How long have you been doing music? What genre do you fit in with?

XO: I've been writing ever since I was 14. Started recording at 16 & doing it professionally around 17-18. I'm now 20, so I would say only 2 years cause I feel those other years I did it, it was just a hobby. I'm very diverse with my music, I can make a hip hop record today and a jazz collaboration tomorrow. I’m very open minded. If it’s hot, I'll put my stamp on it. But if I would have to choose one genre, I would say hip hop.

N.A.B.: You recently performed in Miami at the Elegant Hoodness Musical Program hosted by A.D. the General. Elaborate on how you became involved and the all-around turnout.

XO: I've had contact with A.D. through twitter for a couple years now & always wanted to see what the program was about. Just never had the right material to do so. Started being involved more since the Philly show that was done a couple weeks back. Miami was a great turn out! Got to meet some cool down to earth artists like myself and just all around good people.

N.A.B.: Do you have a single, mix tape and or album out presently? If so, give us details in regards.

XO: My single out entitled "Turn't Up" is up right now on YouTube, Soundcloud, Etc. The record features Fred Nice and was produced by Lexi Banks. The mix tape, my first mix tape I'm working on right now is half way complete. Taking my time with this because it’s my first project. Don't have a for sure date on it but it will be out very soon. & will be up on all mix tape distributors online as well as hard copies if ordered FREE!

N.A.B.: What are you presently working on? Let the readers and your fans know what can be expected of you by the end of this year?

XO: Right now I'm working on my first mix tape, first project ever. "Prince of Dreams" coming soon. By the end of this year you all should expect success. I'm striving for greatness from this day on. & I'll settle for nothing less.

N.A.B.: You just celebrated your first father’s day. How did that fee? Is there anything you would like to express that we haven’t yet?

XO: Thank you, it was an amazing feeling! There’s nothing like it. I'm blessed to have my little boy. He's the reason why I push myself to do better! No looking back, no rewinds, no setbacks. My son deserves everything & more.

N.A.B.: Is there anything we haven't touched basis on that you would like to do so?

XO: New single coming soon!!

N.A.B.: Where can we stay updated in all that you do? Social networks, websites, etc.

XO: Everything XO The Hitmaker Twitter: @XOTheHitmaker Instagram: @XOTheHitmaker FaceBook: XO The Hitmaker YouTube.com/XOTheHitmaker Soundcloud.com/XOTheHitmaker


INTERVIEWED BY: SPECIALGIFT N.A.B.

COURTESY OF ELEGANT HOODNESS MUSICAL PROGRAM 2013’

SKIP OF WE LOOSE NOMINATED FOR EMERGING PRODUCER OF THE YEAR #MAIMI

                                                                             


                                                    "Skip of WELOOSE"



E.H.M.P.:
Congratulations on you recent win at The Elegant Hoodness Miami. How was you 1st experience at The Elegant Hoodness and would you recommend this event to other's?
SKIP: Thanks AD, it was great. I met a lot of cool people, I would recommend it to anyone trying to set foot in the game. It was a good networking opportunity.

E.H.M.P.: Talk to me about the name Skip of WELOOSE?

SKIP: Yea sure, my name is Skip. It's just my name, its not some special character like most people have, from my name to my music its all genuine, no smoke and mirrors. Now, with my name being Skip, its very common so to prevent confusion, I added that WELOOSE on the end of it. You say the whole thing just like "A tribe called quest," I'm "Skip of WELOOSE."

E.H.M.P.: How long have you and your partner been working together?
SKIP: Me and Luck of WELOOSE have been friends since high school at Miami Carol City High. We just started writing rhymes and from there spread into production, video editing, graphics, and web design. I would say the last 5 years have been the most productive, but we've been paying dues in this for a lot longer than that.

E.H.M.P.: Which do you prefer if any, Being and artists or a producer?
SKIP: That's always a hard question to answer. I love doing both for different reasons. I started out as an artist, I love to write, and making words rhyme while telling a story is like a puzzle game to me that never gets old. I started making beats out of need. I started on FL studio 2.7, I think they are up to version 11 now. Making beats gives me the ability to move and inspire people just by the rhythm of a bass line or the bang of a drum pattern, there's no better feeling.


E.H.M.P.: Where can we listen to and or download your music>
SKIP: You should check out my new mixtape Smoke Break 3, and the easiest place to start is my website www.skipofweloose.com. From there you can check out all my mixtapes, music videos, production and media. There's also link there for my social networking pages. You can also just Google 'Skip of WELOOSE'

E.H.M.P.: Any last word and or shout outs?
SKIP: Yes, I want to shout out Elegant Hoodness, AD the General, all the winners of this years musical program, and just everybody grinding in this industry that respects the crafts, pays their dues, and understands this is a marathon, not a sprint. I want to shoutout Miami, NY, LA, TX, my fans across the country and around the world. Peace

Written by A.D THE GENERAL courtesy of the ELEGANTHOODNESSMUSICALPROGRAM 2013

ELEGANT HOODNESS CATCHES UP WITH MR V.I.P. HIMSELF SAIAH





 SAIAH

E.H.M.P.:  Welcome to the Elegant Hoodness Family. Who put you on to the
 Program?

SAIAH: DJ Ace of Spades put me on to Elegant Hoodness. He's always helping independent artists like me in their careers and that's rare in this industry sometimes because people tend to get so focused on their own agendas. It's definitely a blessing because they are good, down to
earth people.

E.H.M.P.: You are originally from down south and recently moved to Queens?
Tell me why the transition and if it has been working in your favor?

SAIAH: I knew if I wanted to take my career as an artist and a producer/engineer to the next level this was the place to be. I'm into other performance arts too so I also have done some acting. Since I moved here it feels like everything has been going in the right direction. I keep meeting people that not only are good to know on a business level, but we connect on a personal level too and that builds real relationships, which is important to me.

E.H.M.P.: You are truly into lyrics. How important is lyrics in hip hop?

SAIAH: I feel like it's one of the most, if not the most important thing for emcees. With hip hop a bulk of the talent is in the writing or lyrics that you have, whether it's in a song or free-styling. Delivery matters a lot too but it's not like in other genres where the vocal performance is really the biggest thing that an artist is judged on.

E.H.M.P.: Where can we listen to and or down load your music?

SAIAH: The first place is www.saiahmusic.com. That's my official website but you can also find me on Itunes, Rhapsody, Spotify and most of the major music distributors by searching my name. I made it easy for my fans and extended family on the social networking sites by making it so all you have to do is add "/saiahmusic" to the end of the link. Facebook, Twitter, Reverbnation, Instagram all have it the same way.

E.H.M.P.: Who are some of your inspirations?

SAIAH: I get inspiration from so many artists. As far as hip hop it's Common, Nas, Mos Def, Biggie, Jay-Z, Pac, The Fugees, and Eminem that I listened to most growing up but I also like a lot of the artists doing it today. I'm very eclectic though so I drew a lot from music outside of
hip hop too. Stevie Wonder, Aerosmith, Marvin Gaye... The list goes on.

E.H.M.P.:  If the world could remember with one word what would it be?

SAIAH: Innovative

E.H.M.P.: Thank you and or shout outs?

SAIAH: Shout out and many thanks to AD The General, DJ Ace of Spades,
The BURN U Movement, Juzz Roc the Mic, The Air it Out Girls, and of course everybody that has supported my career at any time and on any level. If I'm leaving anybody it out it definitely doesn't mean that I'm not thinking about you. I appreciate you all, especially fans of my
music.

Written by A.D. The General
Courtesy of The Elegant Hoodness Musical Program 2013

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

GET TO KNOW TROUBLED E/EVAN SAVANT


 EVAN TROUBLED E/EVAN SAVANT

N.A.B.: Open up this interview by telling us who Evan Troubled E/Evan Savant is. What do you contribute to the world?

E SAVANT:  At this very moment in my life, I am trying to be a positive source for society. Being 27 years old, I have learned a great deal from the mistakes I have made throughout my life. If there is a way I can inspire, motivate, or uplift the youth, I try my best to do it. As you see, I still keep the Troubled E in my name even though I don’t see myself as the confused young man I used to be. With seeing myself as a strong influence on children, I need to let them know that I went through battles and struggles to become an uplifted and productive individual. I firmly believe that this will keep them motivated when everything is not going their way. So I am taking the word troubled, which normally has a negative connotation and transforming it into hope for the children. Having just finished my master’s degree in special education, I have a unique background of schooling. As of now, I work with learning disabled children as well as ones who just need that extra push to succeed. About 3 years ago, I told someone how many different subjects I tutored and their mother said, “He must be a savant or something.” From that day on forward, I decided to call myself E the Savant as well. At that time in my life, I was discouraged and fed up with the route that hip hop was taking, but I still loved making music. It felt as if, I needed to grab new inspiration from somewhere else. I had just stopped working with an independent record label and I was performing at shows where the venues headed the same exact gimmicks every time. Instead of being negative, I chose to take a completely different route. I feel god put me in the presence of children, so I could find some new inspiration and be useful again.

N.A.B.: When did you start writing children songs? Elaborate some on your latest work.

E SAVANT: About 2 years ago, one of my sister’s friends told me that she was organizing an event for children. I told her that I would write a song that was dedicated to the event. This was the 1st song I wrote that mainly targeted children. As I did my performance for the children, I had never seen such an amazing reaction from any crowd I had performed in front of. They were so grateful and they seemed so focused on my every move. When I decided to freestyle over “Black and Yellow”, they went insane. They made me freestyle over Wiz Khalifa’s smash hit, about 5 times. On top of the amazing feeling they gave me, it felt really great to know that I was providing them with a positive and realistic message that they could benefit from throughout their lives. After this experience, I was psyched about writing motivational and educational music for children. I decided to write 6 songs and put together some awesome music for kids. The next song I wrote was about reading and I felt that the record would have a significant effect on the children, if I put my lyrics in a story format. I titled this song “Pick up a Book”, and it was followed by 4 more huge songs, which make up my album “Read, Write, and Solve!’ This is my latest work as of now, but I have written several other songs that I will release shortly down the road.

N.A.B.: What are you presently working on?

E SAVANT: You probably think that I am no longer making music for other age groups, but surprisingly I am in the process of making a mix tape with an R&B artist named, E Ceasar. It will be an 8 track disc entitled “All Grown Up”. We are planning to form a dynamic duo and make some everlasting music. I am also about to release a new single I wrote called “Let Love Guide the Way.” In addition to this, I have been performing at children’s parties, camps, and schools. I just recently performed at a pre-school, which was very interesting because it was the youngest audience I had ever displayed my skills in front of.  Besides all of these endeavors, I am writing songs behind the scenes for a couple of artists.

N.A.B.: What is your overall focus within your career?

E SAVANT: My overall focus is definitely writing because I really enjoy putting songs together and taking words and putting them into a real life story.  When it comes to writing, I love when an artist comes to me and tells me the idea they have or an experience they want to speak about, and they want me to write the lyrics to capture the story. It gives me great joy when I see someone performing the lyrics I have written and delivering them perfectly. I am also extremely focused on the educational and motivational music I make for children. I feel that there are many avenues that are untouched when it comes to this market. I would also like to start getting involved in writing jingles for advertising agencies. I have already written several jingles, but I need to find out more about how it works.


N.A.B.: Tell us what do you have planned to accomplish by the end of this year?

E SAVANT: By the end of the year, I want E the Savant to have a stronger presence and be a more established brand. I plan to link up with E Ceasar and make some great music. I feel we can be a one of a kind duo and we have put together a 3 year plan for our goals. At the end of this year, we should be generating monthly income from our music and we will definitely be performing at many venues. I will be doing many more parties, school functions, and events in my area as well.

N.A.B.: What do you know about the Elegant Hoodness Musical Program via A.D. the General and your affiliation?

E SAVANT: I know that the Elegant Hoodness Musical Program is a great way to learn about the music industry and become a much better artist at the same time. I have had the pleasure of speaking to A.D. The General and she’s an incredible person. I can tell that her heart is in the right place and she really wants to help upcoming artists accomplish their goals and be successful in the music industry. I completely see eye to eye with her how hip hop is transforming. I have also spoken to Special Gift and she is right there with A.D. The General with making it happen for artists who are not receiving the recognition that they deserve for their timeless art. I totally respect their movement and I plan to continue working with the Elegant Hoodness Musical Program in the future.

N.A.B.: Is there anything we haven’t covered that you would like to do so now?

E SAVANT: No, I think I have said more than enough, (laughs).

N.A.B.: How can we stay updated in all that you do? Any social networks, website(s), etc.?

E SAVANT: You can email me at troublede@gmail.com or mr.evante@gmail.com. You can search for me on YouTube by typing in Troubled E or E The Savant. You can send me a message on Facebook, my link is www.facebook.com/evan.troublede or just give me a call at (561) 706- 3783. Thank you again for your support and valued time, Elegant Hoodness


INTERVIEWED BY: SPECIALGIFT N.A.B.

COURTESY OF ELEGANT HOODNESS MUSICAL PROGRAM 2013'