Hey there TheCasinoLife! Welcome to BuzzMusic! “Game On” is a category transforming! Tell us how you came to produce this track! ‘Game On’ was inspired by my hunger for success. I saw an opportunity with the company UnitedMasters to create a song for the NBA 2K20 soundtrack & I thought why not? You know hip hop is a competitive sport just like basketball is & once I heard the beat, it just came to me. I wrote that song at like 3am & went to the studio the next day to record it.
Your latest release “Thomas Sheppard Flow” is definitively lively, with such an eclectic, yet modern take on production. How did you intend to connect with your listeners with this particular track?! Honestly that record was intended to be the intro to my last project ‘For Better Or Worse’. I wanted to be as aggressive as possible with my punchlines but at the same time give the listeners something to make them think about their future & motivate them to excel at anything they choose to pursue in life. If anyone is familiar with the movie ‘Above The Rim’, they’ll know the name Thomas Sheppard was the name of the main character who ultimately overcame his own inner demons & reclaimed his place as a street-ball legend. You've had such a strong love and passion for music at such a young age! How do you think you and your music have grown since you first started writing, versus now? Experience is key. When I was younger I’d just write about what I heard every other rapper talking about. Half the time I didn’t even know what I was talking about but as I got older & began to mature I realize there’s power in being yourself. I tend to write from a place of pain & in all honesty, sometimes I wish I didn’t. But the beauty of it all is that you’ll never know who’s listening. I can say something that may help the next kid cope with their struggles or even inspire them to become a leader.
Tell us more about the meaning of the lyrics within "As I Am”! No one is perfect but if someone is trying to make a change & the effort is visible, don’t judge that person for their background or their circumstance. Who knows what the future holds. Simply put, love me now & take me as I am or leave me be & witness my greatness from the sideline.
What would you say is the most useful piece of criticism you’ve received thus far within your career? Do you typically take criticism to your advantage? Don’t hold back. Sometimes I get discouraged & feel like some things are too hard for me to speak on but in reality, it has become the most reliable source of therapy that I could find. I tend to bottle up my emotions so being able to vent publicly & be adorned for it is an amazing feeling. I’m always open to criticism. Sometimes I don’t understand it but at the end of the day opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.
It was a treat being able to showcase some of your new music on BuzzMusic! We can’t wait to see what else you have in store for us as listeners! What’s the next goal for you artistically within the music world?
I just want continue to strive for greatness. I’m a father now & more than anything in this world, I just want my daughter to grow up one day & realize that there’s no glass ceiling to her success. Sky’s the limit & though many people are doing what you’re doing or they may be into what you’re into, just remember they can never be you.