Getting to Know: Tieran Cline

Tieran Cline

1)      You are from?

A: Lancaster, Ohio

2)      When and why and did you want to be a rapper?

A: I feel like part of me has always wanted to be a rapper ever since I was introduced to the music. I didn't start actually rapping my own stuff until about 2 years ago. My uncle is the main reason I fell in love with the music. I always looked up to him and he was always playing Wu-Tang and Mobb Deep when I was younger. I want to rap because I like the self-expression and I want people to feel like they can relate. I know rap changed my life because I felt like these people understood me and helped me, that's what I want to do to people through my music.

3)      What do you think about hip-hop and where it’s going?

A: If you would've asked me this 2 years ago what I would've said wouldn't have been pretty. This last year has actually looked promising. Granted there are still wack MC's out there but I feel like lately things are going up. Of course the rap that's going to be on the radio is gonna be stupid till the end of time, but the underground scene is holding it down.

4)      Who are your 3 favorite hip-hop artists?

A: My 3 favorite hip-hop artists would probably be Nas, Biggie, and J. Cole

5)      Who would you say are the best 3 artist out right now?

A: J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T, and Nas (as long as he's alive I'm gonna say he's the best artist out)

6)      Who inspires or inspired you?

A: I think my biggest inspirations are the people in the world struggling. Every time I hear a story about someone committing suicide or someone killing innocent people I feel like someone needs to speak for them and help them. That's exactly what I try to do. Even if it's a small issue I still feel for those people and wanna help them keep a positive attitude.

7)      Pick one word that describes your style?

A: I don't really wanna pick one word because one word can't define anyone. 

8)      What makes you unique?

A: I think what probably makes me unique would be the way I think. Everyone is unique in this sense but for me I think so deep about even the littlest things.

9)      Why did you pick the stage name you have, and what does it symbolize?

A: I chose for my stage name to be my real name because I want people to know I'm just an average person just like you. I'm not putting on any act. What you hear in my music is straight from MY heart and I feel like keeping my stage name as my real name will help people see that.

10)  If you had one thing to say to listeners, what would you say?

A: Be who you wanna be. Don't let your past define you and don't let the people around you define you. In the end, you're your own worst enemy so be the nicest enemy you have.

Tiran Cline is an underground rapper/beat maker from Lancaster, Ohio. His first mixtape was officially released in 2010 on Datpiff and is currently still available for free download. Besides working on a co-mixtape with fellow artist Raisi K., Cline is has also released several solo projects, his most recent being, “Fight,” produced by RedHookNoodles. Take a quick listen to Tieran Cline’s “I Need A Dollar Remix.”

To learn more about Tieran Cline please visit the links below:

·         http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tieran-Cline/122994544421221

·         Twitter @TieranCline

·         http://www.datpiff.com/Tieran-Cline-The-First-And-The-Worst-mixtape.173432.html

·         http://www.youtube.com/importshark

Getting to Know: I.S.A

I.S.A

1) You are from?

A: Harlem/ Bronx, NYC

2) When and why and did you want to be a rapper?

A: I wanted to be a rapper mainly cuz i got tired of singing lol, but it was around 13 or so. My first rap was about food to "Special Delivery", some stupid shit. The ultimate reason as to why I wanted to be a rapper was to expand my musical horizons vocally.

3) What do you think about hip-hop and where it’s going?

A: Hip Hop was dead a long time ago. Now were in what id like to call "faggot-POP-RAP". If any of u reading this still thinks that hip-hop is here and elevating, classify urself guilty of "faggotpoprapetry".

People don't seem to realize that bodies extend far beyond physical shells. Even though hip-hop has been out for a few decades, it's still considered a baby. And as with all bodies, bodies change. Right now, i would say hip-hop is a toddler that wines too much because it always wants something to play with (i.e. bitches, whips, money). However tho, with this understanding of bodies it is inevitable that hip-hop will become an adult someday.

4) Who are your 3 favorite hip-hop artists?

A: Tupac, DMX, Eminem

5) Who would you say are the best 3 artist out right now?

A: Sadly all these faggot ass rappers sound the same, so i would say Eminem, Jadakiss and Kanye West: Eminem for his flow, Jadakiss for his wisdom, and Kanye for his creativity.

6) Who inspires or inspired you?

A: My experiences inspire me. Usually people who hear other rappers tend to emulate who they are fans of. So obviously i listen to no one but my favorite rappers, instrumentals, my own stuff, and the "winds of life".

7) Pick one word that describes your style?

A: Individual

8) What makes you unique?

A: The fact that i don't listen to anyone or give into society's guidelines makes me unique. I only listen to my own advice because at the end of the day, its MY music. When someone tries to be cool, they are no longer themselves. They’re just a bunch of copycats of the stereotype as to "what is cool". That's the reason why everyone has the same beats with virtually the same bars and hooks! Always remember, to be yourself is to be TRULY cool. 

9) Why did you pick the stage name you have, and what does it symbolize?

A: The I.S.A stands for The Internationally Sick Artist (well the main one), and it symbolizes that in the "World of Music", I am "internationally capable", representing my versatility. Gimme a jazz beat, I’ll spazz. Gimme a bluegrass beat, ill spazz. Gimme a Japanese soundtrack, I’ll spazz. I always find a way to mesh well with any beat I put my effort into.

10) If you had one thing to say to listeners, what would you say?

A: Stop being dumb. Think for yourself for once. Don't listen to the radio. Don't emulate what the fag-rappers are saying in their songs. Investigate other realms of music before you criticize them. Hip-Hop is a way of life, so we must all understand how great of an impact it has on the world. Hip-Hop is the only thing that has influenced attitude, fashion, Hollywood, and being along with many other things. Use your heads my friends, it’s not too hard. I wish us the best, and may God bless us all.

            I.S.A is a Harlem native hip-hop artist. His most recent mixtape, “Year of the Banger,” was produced by Mike Kuz and hosted by DJ Relly Rell. The 20 track mixtape was released in 2010 and is currently available for free download at the below link:

http://www.zshare.net/info.html?58904686-2fcfc595eba83ab61902efac169ca4fd

Check out "Ayoo!" from “Year of the Banger,” as well as other tracks, on the official youtube page:

http://www.youtube.com/yearofthebanger

To learn more about I.S.A and his affiliates, please visit his facebook page at:

http://www.facebook.com/magisawateva

Getting to Know: Feel X

1)      You are from?

A:  Bronx, NYC

2)      When and why and did you want to be a rapper?

A: As a child I grew up around music, and art. In elementary I went to a school called "Talented and Gifted for Young Scholars," where they consistently had us involved in artistic work with various arts and crafts projects, music classes, and stage performances/drama pieces. In the second grade I had to do a project about an exotic bird and at the end of the assignment we were asked to do something creative about whatever bird we were assigned to do this research work on such as write a poem or draw a picture, etc. At this time, I happened to be around my uncle who is a DJ down in Florida named "Dj KERED," as well as my father who told me that I should write a rhyme about my bird. . . I wrote it to the beat from Busta Rhymes "Put your hands where my eyes can see". My teacher brought me around the school to a bunch of classes performing it for everyone. After that - I was hooked.

Then when I was 10 I met my "big brother" Joe Barz and here's another long story, but let’s just say at this point was when I decided that this was going to be my career choice. There have been so many developments over time, but I now stand 10 years later as a product of Hip Hop influence.

3)      What do you think about hip-hop and where it’s going?

A: I'm concerned with the level of social irresponsibility that has been connected to the Hip Hop culture, especially dealing with mainstream America. Artists have been puppet-ed to relay a hidden agenda that depreciates the value of life in our communities, and blatantly IT NEEDS TO END. Not in a preachy, or overbearing kind of way but there is a certain sense of social awakening that needs to be brought about through the Hip Hop culture.

4)      Who are your 3 favorite hip-hop artists?

A: This is an interesting question because I would say some of my biggest influences are not neccesarily hip hop artists - but those who have inspired my personality and approach at music would have to be "1- Tupac; 2- Nas; 3-Eminem."

5)      Who would you say are the best 3 artist out right now?

A: I would have to say no one mainstream. And even with the answers I present now, there are certain disagreements I have with their work, but it would have to be "1- Mickey Factz; 2- Joell Ortiz; and 3- Immortal Technique" 

6)      Who inspires or inspired you?

A: I grab inspiration from all around. If you follow my work you know I am highly inspired by a lot of cartoons and comics, especially "Wolverine" and the "X-Men". But I also have had a lot of good teachers in my life, from my grandfather "Nestor Rivera" to my artistic mentor in high school "Jive Poetic" to my spiritual advisor "Sister Mary Eileen" and even my business partners "Erik Forman" "Andrew Squeaksz Stephens". As well as the many I work with such as "Jim Hernandez" or "Dyron Holmes". Even my best friends "Vaughn LVG Ephraim" and "Tejon TJ Witter". Plus I listen to a million motivational speakers like "Jim Rohn" and "Zig Ziglar". So my work comes from many different places.

7)      Pick one word that describes your style?

A: Revolutionary

8)      What makes you unique?

A: I am anti the culture. If they hype it - I'm not it. While everyone is going right - I'm going left. I have LOVE for mankind. I just want to die and leave a legacy... Marble statues of me in Central Park, and my work in textbooks. I need to die a saint. If you are stupid you won't like my music. But it is a necessity for you to have the fullness of life that pop-culture is depriving you of.

9)      Why did you pick the stage name you have, and what does it symbolize?

A: Feel-X is a superhero... My secret identity. "Felix" is my father and I am my father's son. "X" is the missing variable that I solve for mathematically through all of my artistic work, and when I present it to you, you will "Feel" it.

10)  If you had one thing to say to listeners, what would you say?

A: LOVE. Completely. Self-sacrificially. LOVE says I LOVE you whether you deserve it, or not. Give service to mankind.

Feel X is a young artist and entrepreneur with the goal of revolutionizing the world. With interest in many different fields from fashioning to acting, Feel X is not only a hip-hop artist. Along with supporting friends and his partner Erik Forman, Feel X aims to better communities through positive influence. He has released several mixtapes, including “The Preface,” “Table of Contents,” “Weapon X,” and his latest mixtape, “About the Author.” All downloadable links can be found on Feel X’s personal blog, dalyricalmiracle.blogspot.com.

For more information about Feel X, please make sure to visit the following links:

allislovefeelx.tumblr.com
dalyricalmiracle.blogspot.com
thedominantundergroundbrand.com

twitter.com_/feel_x

myspace.com/dalyricalmiracle

imeem.com/dalyricalmiracle

Check out “Yesterday” by Feel X