stray-bullet

Myspace Artist Hometown: New Carrollton, MD
Residing: Philadelphia, PA
Member since: April 05
Hot Joint on myspace: Treat You Right
Myspace Page:
Dream Collabo: Nas, Jay Z, Stevie Wonder
Fave Movie: State Property
Best Album from 2006: Nas – Hip-Hop is Dead
Most anticipated album for 2007: Papoose – Nacirema Dream
Most Influential Person in Hip-Hop: Russell Simmons
At a mere 18 years of age, this Hip-Hop hopeful definitely, if age is a factor for success, has time on his side. Understanding the importance of development, N-Tense is taking steps to ensure that he doesn’t sell himself and his fans short. By getting as much insight into the music industry as possible, to ensure longevity, he is confidently flying the flag for Maryland.
HHDX: How hard is it for a rapper coming out of Maryland right now?
N-Tense: It is kind of hard because even though we have a lot of talent down there, everyone is sleeping on the area. It is hard to make moves. I mean I just moved up to Philly to get closer to New York and I am just doing it from here but I am still representing Maryland, but it is pretty much like impossible. There is a lot of talent out there but a lot of people are really getting slept on.
HHDX: Why do you think that is?
N-Tense: I am not really sure. I mean there was B Rich from Baltimore and we have a couple of dudes that got signed but they are not making any major moves for the whole area. Nobody really respects what we are doing, so it is hard. People that have come out of Maryland, they normally come out of Baltimore. People don’t even know about my area like that and soon hopefully they will know about everything we are doing. We don’t really mess with Baltimore too much, although me personally I work with a lot of people from Baltimore, but as far as my neighborhood goes, TV County and DC area goes, we move as a unit.
HHDX: Why did you move to Philly, as granted it is infamous on the music scene and it is dripping with talent, it is a hard hustle there as well, what do you think is going to help you in Philly?
N-Tense: The whole point of me moving up here is the fact that I have a couple of connections up here that are involved with the music scene. I thought if I was up here then they could help me more in terms of developing me as an artist.
HHDX: As an unsigned artist, is networking important, is it a case of who you know now in the music industry?
N-Tense: I hate to say it but the whole industry is based off of who you know. If you know certain people you can get what you need or who you need to get at. It is going off of skills as well but ultimately you do need to know someone in the industry to get inside.
HHDX: Does it bother you personally?
N-Tense: Yeah, it bothers me as really I didn’t have any connections. I was just going off the strength of what I love to do. The fact that no one was listening or taking to me was like crazy to me. If people didn’t want to listen because you had no manager it's like what is the point in doing the music anymore?
HHDX: So talent should rise above everything else?
N-Tense: Definitely, as to me personally, talent is the number one thing, but it depends on what you are trying to do. If you are trying to be independent which is a better route to go, you should just stick to what you are doing. But in the industry it is like 90% of it is image and 10% of it is talent. It is hard to know what to do when they have the money, but I'm just trying to figure it out.
HHDX: How long have you been rapping?
N-Tense: I used to write poetry but I got into the whole rapping thing in about 2002, so I have been doing it about 4 years.
HHDX: Are you choosing to be a rapper because it is your passion or are you doing it because it is a career?
N-Tense: This is my passion. I play instruments, you know saxophone, clarinet, piano and I just want to get into music. I started doing some production and I thought about managing a couple of artists so I would say it is a bit of both. I just want to make a career out of something I love doing.
HHDX: You mentioned previously about moving as a unit, is that important?
N-Tense: Yeah it is, we just actually did a Maryland version of the One Blood Remix where 20 guys jumped on and spit 8 bars. We move kind of like how Atlanta moves. Dudes down there, they all work together to get to where they are trying to go and that is how we would probably do it.
HHDX: You have featured on a few mixtapes; do you see this as a way of getting attention?
N-Tense: Actually, not really. Right now I feel that the mixtape market is over saturated and I know dudes who are not really into trying to get a deal but they are putting out mixtapes. So I feel like everyone has a mixtape and unless it is something that makes you really stand out from the crowd as everyone is talking about the same thing and doing the same thing, I am trying to move away from the mixtape game and will work on more album material.
HHDX: You understand that artist development is crucial if you are going to get to the next level in the industry. What are you hoping to achieve through moving to Philly, beyond the networking?
N-Tense: I am trying to become a better artist, learning everything as a whole. I am hoping to be able to work in any aspect of the game.
HHDX: How important has Myspace been to you?
N-Tense: Well, to be honest, that is what got me my buzz. Without that a lot of people wouldn’t know about me who weren’t from Maryland or people who I knew. People come through and show love and it is a huge thing for artists who are just getting started.
HHDX: In terms of label interest?
N-Tense: Right now we are talking to some people, but to be honest I don’t mind taking the indie route until I am properly developed.
HHDX: Talking about development you understand that you may not be ready to sign a deal now then?
N-Tense: Well... yeah... I mean I am not going to come out and say ‘I got a buzz now I am the hottest thing out,’ I can’t come out like that as I don’t have the experience. I need someone to teach me the game, someone to show me how to utilize my skills to the maximum and reach my potential.
HHDX: What is the future?
N-Tense: I have a CD coming out called Now or Never and that should be coming out in June or July and I am just working on stuff for the radio. I am working on song writing now and starting to get some placements, on some R&B projects and I am working on the production thing. You know I am just trying to make it all bubble.


source-hiphopdx

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gemma

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