|
INTERVIEW WITH SMILEZ
May 25, 2007
How did the name Smilez come to take place?
Well it was a name given to me by one of my close friends.
We understand that your 3rd solo cd, Dedication, is soon to be released. Why did this cd take longer
to release than your other 2?
Dedication is the cd that means alot to me, the reason for that name, was because of my closest freinds
passed away in December from cancer, and so Dedication was something helped me get thru the loss. It first started out just
being dedicated to him but as I kept working on it, I decided to dedicate it to everything single persont that helped me along
the way. But honestly I can say that it's dedicated mainly to Enrique Torres.
Your new cd that you're working on right now, Upcoming, includes several songs, "Chicanos on the rise",
"I don't know", "Southern Love", "I can't get over you". "Lyrical Mind". "Two sides of a love story", "Take the pain away".
However, you took a very different approach than most people in your writing. Could you describe your approach,
and why you've chosen it?
Well I kind of wanted to make this next album more of a different style, which include love, hardcore,
and life. And working with MC Locs and Low Key, I think we can make this work.
Your latest cd, Upcoming, not only includes your voice and style, but also the voices and styles of
two of the newest rappers in East Texas. Why did you decide to join up with them?
Well honestly I was looking for a rap crew and in a way they were too, so we did what we had to do and
we became the crew.
Your music is hard to categorize as a rapper and writer. You do hardcore songs, love songs, life songs
and sometime instrumentals. Then you've also done your first cd, "Please Forgive Me", which was considered more of a love
rap album. You cover a lot of musical ground, how would you describe what you do, in as few words as possible?
Honestly what I do, is what I do. What I do is let people know what happens to either me or someone I know,
my work is real.
Can you name some musicians whose work is similar to what you're doing?
I try to stand out from all the other musicians in the industry but sometime that isn't the case. NB Ridaz
has that same love style that I have. But my other work is as original as it gets.
You're 17 years old. Why, at this point in your life do you demand a lifestyle of a rapper and writer?
I grew up with music. Music is a big part of my life, honestly I can say music is my entire life. And starting
at this age is the best thing I can do, cause I want to do what I love, and rapping and writing is my thing. It just shows
people that I'm not only skilled but also dedicated to make in the the music industry.
Most people are not that aware of the current state of the musical scene that you're a part of. Can
you give us a brief description of this musical world as it really is today?
My word in this, no desrepect to all the other rappers, but most are only in for the the money and fame.
They are not in it for the love but for what they get out of it. I'm not trying to lower other rappers nor to make myself
look better then them, but I can honesly say that I'm one of those few rappers that still does this for the love and not mainly
about the money, I'm one of those few that still says it how it is.
Do you have any concerts coming up? And if so, can you give us the details?
At this time I don't have anything booked. I just now started the crew not too long ago. Yes, I did have
a show in July, but I ended up cancelling because I figured it would be better to work on the crew album rather than doing
to show.
How can people learn more about you? Do you have a website?
End of 2007 interview
-
How did you break into performing music for a living? I've had a passion for music ever since I
was little. And I always knew I'd end up doing something that involved music.
-
Was that a usual way to start? Yea, music's been my outlet ever since I can remember.
-
What experiences prepared you for a career as a musician? I'd listen to music 24/7 and I'd always
try to freestyle and write it down.
-
How many different bands have you been in? I've been in only one rap crew but I got out of it cause
I wanted to keep being solo.
-
What do you do in a day's work? I just sit and write what God gives me, and give it a beat. It
ain't as hard as it seems if you got an ear for music.
-
What do you like most about your work? I have the ability to touch people's hearts and allow them
to see the right way with my music.
-
What advice would you offer someone who's considering a career as a musician? If you go for it,
you got it. Don't ever let people tell you, you're dreaming too big, and never give up.
-
What was the hardest aspect of working in this field during your first few years? Getting myself
heard.
-
How long did it take you to get established? I gotta say about a year and a half.
-
What's your proudest achievements? I got a few but my proudest is being able to touch people's
hearts with my music.
-
What was your fisrt paying show? Tyler house show, I performed an hour and got paid $50.
-
Is your musical background still the same? No, months ago it was hip-hop artist, now it's hip-hop
christian artist.
-
How did you break into writing songs? Since I was little, I've had a passion for music and writing,
I started writing poems then later on I expanded them.
-
When did you finally feel established? After I got done with my first album.
-
Do you have any technical background? I've dj'ed and self-recorded and produced my own albums.
-
How did you deal with the daily rejection at auditions? It was hard at first but now I see it as
something to improve on.
-
How are you working without an agent? I'm working really good as a freelancer.
-
What do you like most about being a DJ? I'm able to combine different types of music and just bring
it to the people and to just see ther reaction.
-
Have you ever missed the microphone? Oh yea, many times. I had the opprotunity to open for Queen
Latifa but I turned it down for personal reasons, but yea, theres been alot of missed shows.
January 7, 2008
-
How long have you been rapping? About 3 or 4 years now.
-
What one thing or person influenced you to want to rap more than anything or anyone else? Well
at first it was one of my close friends that passed away a year ago and now he still is but it's also God.
-
No doubt, so who's your favorite rapper? I don't know, I guess myself.
-
Are you currently signed? If so, with who? No not really
-
Give us the run down on your latest project. It's my first christian rap album and it's called
"Member of Heaven".
-
What's the feeling you get when you're performing on stage? No doubt I get butterflies in my stomache,
what artist doesn't but once I step on that stage it's like I get this rush. It's just amazing, it's something I can't explain.
-
Do you recall your first onstage performance? If so, how was it? It was bad but then good at the
same time, I had only one speaker and I was using a beat cd, I had forgotten half of what I was going to perform but in all
people still liked what I was able to rap.
-
Would you rather be considered by your fans as a rapper or a true artist? Why? A true artist. Because
that's what I am. Anybody can be a rapper, artists are born, God allowed me to be an artists, so that's what I want to be
known as.
-
What's your biggest objective for 2008? My first christian rap album called "Member of Heaven".
-
Thanks for the interview, finale question, anything else you want to say to those who read this? Thanks
for droppin by and taking the time to check me out.
|
