By Chox-Mak
Hip-HopVibe.com Staff Writer
From personal experience, this is true, that Charlotte is a very strong hip hop breeding ground. The city has such rappers as Da Baby, who is one of the most-viral rappers, in the game. But, there is much more to the Queen City rap scene than him.
There is also E.Y.E. making moves, out here, and he is doing some really creative things. Fresh off the release of Legacy, E.Y.E. is focused on being here, for the long haul. The rising rapper is definitely making sure his presence is not only felt, but a force of nature.
E.Y.E. is working to make sure he’s more than just a sensation, but somebody who has staying power. Recently, E.Y.E. took time out to do an interview. Speaking for the latest HHV On The Rise edition, E.Y.E. discussed Legacy, his newest project.
Read the entire interview below:
You named your new project, Legacy. What type of legacy are you hoping to leave? The type of Legacy I hope to leave behind is one that inspires determination, perseverance, and humbleness. I want a young guy to look at my life and say man he came from a broken home, man he didn’t come from a lot of money, man he independently funded his own music career, man if he did that I can do it too. No mater your situation, better or worse, I would like to leave the Legacy of inspiration. I say in my song, titled “Legacy,” “this for my siblings got 10 or so”. That’s no exaggeration. If I fully count I may have left one or two off. But I say that to say, the Legacy is my younger siblings. The Legacy is my future children (God willing), the Legacy is establishing generational wealth to pass down, the Legacy is to make a better life for your family. It is all these things and WHATEVER you desire it to be.
Because of the current political landscape, how important is it to have rappers using their music as platforms? Music, as a platform, is critical in today’s political world. We see our black figures being torn down for kneeling during the National Anthem of a football game, we continuously see minorities (not just black) treated with injustice, we continue to be ignored in political offices. Music is one of the last freedom of speech movements we have today. And the influence that most rappers have over their fan base is at a record high in today’s time. The message for what a rapper believes, stands for, opinions, etc. should be in the music. That makes it that much more real.
Last year, a lot of rappers got offended, because Jay-Z called the “money phone” out. How do you feel about artists bragging, and showing their money off, on social media? Artists bragging and showing off their money on social media does nothing for me so I honestly have no opinion either way. I don’t personally see any benefit in doing so. How about you invest your money in avenues no one ever even sees. I’d rather be a unknown billionaire than a known thousand-aire. Jay Z spit knowledge and if you’re about something you didn’t take offense. It were the ones who are guilty for flashing cash while not having true assets that were offended. You can brag today but you never know where God will have you tomorrow. I don’t take part in it.
Can you tell us more about the 401c non-profit you started to promote music education in public schools? The 401c non-profit I stated is E.Y.E. Media Group. E.Y.E. also my artist name stands for (Educated, Young, Emancipated). I started the non-profit after seeing the decline for music education in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public School System. What the non-profit is doing is bringing music education back to children, outside of schools, at no cost. I use local artist to teach and demonstrate song, dance, instrument, and concept of music business. I am working to get a class through the Department of Education credited so that kids may get credit towards their curriculums in schools. When we’re not conducting classes we are doing events for independent music artist, fundraising for the holidays, or conducting back to school drives for kids. I try to keep the nonprofit involved around the community through various networking opportunities.
What are some hardships you have overcome, or are working to overcome? I’m not sure I can say I’ve overcome a lot. I mean I guess I have but you really don’t sit and think about it. This EP comes after the passing of my father. He fought a two-year battle with cancer. I won’t say he lost, but won because he’s now at peace. I think by far that was something surreal. I hadn’t dealt with immediate death so it was an eye opener for sure. But I’m a religious guy, I wouldn’t say Christian, but I believe in a God so I know our spirits pass on to the next phase. I talk about it throughout the EP, but I wouldn’t say I’ve overcome it, just another event in life I am able to talk about. We’re all works in progress.
Who, or what, would you consider to be your biggest inspiration? My biggest inspiration man would have to be my family. I think everything I’ve done is for them. I strive for a better situation, with the thought that yes, I came into the world with nothing, but I died with everything I could ask for. KNOWING THEY HAVE AN EXAMPLE IN ME TO LOOK UP TO FOR DIRECTION MOTIVATES ME MORE THAN ANYTHING.
How can the fans connect with you on social media? I can be reached on all social media outlets, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook under the user name BumRushAntic. My website is www.eyeonline.info that has links at the bottom of the page to all my social media accounts. You can listen to Legacy on all internet retailers Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, Pandora, etc etc by searching EYE LEGACY.
Follow Hip-HopVibe.com on Twitter @HipHopVibe1.
