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So Willie Withers, tell us a little about yourself, where your from?
Well my rap name's Willie Withers cause my gov't name is too hard to pronounce haha. I'm from Nigeria, although I lived 8 years there. I've moved around quite a bit; from West Africa to South America and then parts of North America and Asia. As of right now though, I call Florida home. I've lived here five years.
When did you first become interested in music? When did you start rapping? What prompted you to make a career out of rap?
I was always interested in music. I loved Micheal Jackson. I used to sing, quite well if I remember correctly. I used to love to sing "She's Out Of My Life" even though I didn't really know what they truly meant. But puberty wrecked all of that haha, and for some time I didn't care for music. But it was always around. My father loves music.
I started rapping...I used to rap people's lyrics when I lived in Argentina. This was in 2007 I believe. The kids there didn't know much about HipHop so they were always in awe when I would memorize these lyrics. So funny now when I think about it but it was Mims' This Is Why I'm Hot that I would always recite.
I got serious about it when I was 14,15. That's when I started writing my own raps. Once I started that, I knew this would be a big part of what I wanted to do with my life. I never played around with rapping. I always wrote, and I loved music so it was a perfect combination.
When it comes to your lyrics, what inspires you?
My life, my experiences and what I have been fortunate (or sometimes) unfortunate to witness. The world is a beautiful but at the same time very harsh place. And it is usually-sad to say- turmoil whether emotional or otherwise, that prompts me to write lyrics. Otherwise, I write to get sharper. Like "The Golden Manifesto", those were two separate verses each written for the sake of practice. But they worked so well together...here we are.
What do you consider your biggest accomplishment?
In music, my biggest accomplishment I think, has been the album/project that I'm gearing to release later this year. the album that houses "The Golden Manifesto" and this other record I'm premiering with you. I don't really bring this up but I record, mix and master my songs. I direct the videos and then I edit them. I make the artwork... I damn near do everything but hold the camera. It's been a labor of love and I look forward to sharing it all with everyone.
What do you look for in beats you’re selecting?
Haha I never really thought about this before. I look for...it has to be special TO ME. I don't care to rap on beats that sound like other people's stuff. I might sound like a hater, but I don't care to rap on trendy, popular rap beats. You know the ones that are really popular right now. I don't have to spell it out. Lol. I already listen to that type of music sometimes, I don't need to make it too.
What’s one artist you would want to work with and why ?
Umm. I don't know actually. Jeremih most likely. I think he's an amazing songwriter. Lana Del Rey! Chrisette Michelle has a wonderful voice. Producers is a different story. I would LOVE to work with Just Blaze, Timbaland, Pharrell...all the guys that I can't pay for their studio time haha.
Where exactly do you see yourself at 5 years down the road ?
In 5 years from now, I'll be 27. I see myself having fans of my work, I see myself being able to put out music that has distribution and all the other little things that I don't have the abilities to do just yet. I see myself going on tour. All in God's hands, I pray it comes true.
What are your thoughts on how things are going in the music
industry right now?
This question made me smile. I think a lot of people got fat, a lot of people got lazy. Artists have always gotten the short end of the stick in the music industry. I mean...certain VERY notable musicians of old didn't make a dime in comparison to the millions in revenue their music generated. Crazy when you think about it. I think now there is an opportunity to somewhat balance the scales, or rather, make it a bit more even. Unfortunately, I think most artists will always get cheated, but there'll be less of that happening from this point moving forward.
Any new projects coming out soon ? & what can we expect from this projects?
Ocean Walk Blvd. is the name of my album and what I have planned to come out sometime in this 4th quarter of the year. It's been done, so no worries there. But I just want as many people as possible to hear the songs I drop and watch the videos I drop before I drop the album. It's not 17 tracks, it's short, but it's...good. Really good. Of course I'm biased, but hopefully, The Golden Manifesto and this song "Feel Like The Devil Really Want You Dead?" will begin to make my case.
Ocean Walk Blvd. is about my life and my mindset in 2014, from August to December. I went through a few things that I think people might find relatable or at least some solace in.
Thank you for the interview dopeFUTURE and I hope you enjoy the music! God bless.
Check out new song from Willie Withers
Check out new song from Willie Withers
