April 5, 2012
This Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Annex, Blue Vinyl Radio presents The Cypher: a hip-hop performance featuring R.J. and Technique, ATM (Anthony Mathieu ’12), Similie (Kadahj Bennett ’12), and Zeyi (Zarrette Rogers).
Q: What can Hamilton students expect on Saturday night from The Cypher?
ATM: The audience can expect an energetic, diverse set that will feature music from all three of my albums/mixtapes. With professional lighting and sound coming in for the show, it should be an exciting event.
Q: Who are your musical influences and/or favorite artists?
ATM: Action Bronson, Childish Gambino and D-Why.
R.J.: Flying Lotus, Kendrick Lamar, Blu, Odd Future and Lil B.
Technique: Tupac, Biggie, Marvin Gaye, The Roots, Phonte, Kanye West, Common, Eve and J. Cole.
Q: How did you initially get started with Hip-Hop?
ATM: I started writing raps and freestyle battling in the 7th grade. I was influenced by the growing interest that I had in hip-hop at the time.
RJ: I was forced into rapping by my older cousin who was living with me at the time. He used to make me freestyle with him and I was terrible at it. But whenever I was alone I would practice until I got comfortable enough to rap with the other locals.
Technique: My love for hip-hop started with spoken word and battle raps. After doing my first hip-hop record, I decided to focus primarily on developing that craft.
Zeyi: It all started when a friend challenged me to a rhyme writing contest.
Q: If you had to describe your music in three or four words, what would they be?
ATM: Perspective lyricism.
RJ: Honest, fearless and captivating.
Technique: Unique, fearless and very open.
Q: What are your songs about? Do they cover specific themes?
ATM: My songs range from a variety of themes and topics that include relationships, partying, being the best MC I can possibly be and failure. The possibilities are endless.
R.J.&Technique: Our songs are based on experiences and situations that we have been in throughout the years. A few of our songs are based on imagination. Our music encompasses many themes such as, but not limited to, life’s obstacles, self- love and party anthems.
Zeyi: My songs are about where I’m going, where I’m at and where I’m coming from.
Q: What do you think makes you and your music unique from other artists?
ATM: My music is unique because it encompasses a perspective not commonly heard in mainstream hip-hop. Not everyone can relate to the “baller” ideal and being able to provide music that strays from that and other norms is what drives me to keep making original music.
R.J.: Going back to question four, the fearlessness in covering different topics is what makes our music unique. And not only being fearless regarding concepts, musically fearless as well. Creatively, a lot of artists have this box that they feel comfortable in and they refuse to leave that box. So they never evolve and in a lot of cases that can make the music boring and predictable. We try to avoid that as much as possible.
Technique: Our music is genuine and honest. We never hold back our thoughts or wonder how they will be perceived.