8thW1

“I think they are the only three things that move people at the end of the day; Love, Money and Music.”   With his debut album titled just that, 8thw1 has reached the potential he never thought he’d be capable of reaching.  Establishing a place within this cut-throat culture we know as hip hop, it hasn’t been easy. His mantra however, is LMM…as his right-hand guide through all that’s necessary and essential within creating a new image in hip hop, 8th however does believe in having your cake…and eating it too.

Though his desire was to have his words skewed in this feature so publicity would come his way…he does remain honest with his music. It’s been a process, more than finding producers and writing lyrics; rather maintaining his self-image and self-identity was more important. “At the time, I was finding myself and beginning that journey of who I really was. I was shedding all the excess bullshit I had brought with me and as I began to strip everything down I got to see what the factors truly were; love, money and music.   Hell! You gotta have money; we live in a capitalist country. With music, that’s the passion, that’s what I do; everyone likes music. But love is the foundation.”

Perhaps love is what’s missing in the game right now; the love for your lyrics, your image, your influence and your approach. Would it change the image of hip hop’s music identity? Not sure, though 8th isn’t opposed to be that “different cat” people WILL talk about.  He calls it the trinity; love, money and music…his existence and motivation.  The struggle seems to always be the same for artists…serious about their ish and ready to hit the ground promoting it. But, how many stay in that fierce, fight-em mode, especially when it’s internal? “The entire album is me calling out a lot of issues that I have had coming face to face as a man. There is a difference between being an adult and being a man or woman.  I kind of fell in love at the time and the way I handled that situation was as if it happened over night. I was diggin’ the person but didn’t feel like I was ready to get involved with all of that. With that arousal of self, all these other things came clear to me. I’m not really living up to my fullest potential! The love you get from your family and friends is different from finding someone in the world.  The kind that makes you say; “damn, this one’s right!” I wasn’t ready to deal with that because I had to come to terms with myself. I’m a lot further away from where I was when I recorded that album. You’re never ready until something happens and that’s when you know you’re ready. I definitely think I’m a lot further along and I feel a lot more confident than I used to be.”

Progression is how an emcee should define his growth as an artist. Often wondering what it would be like to have the world at the palm of his hands, 8th doesn’t get phased. Even if someone handed him a million dollars to solve all his issues and cultivate the plan he desires, it still wouldn’t take away from his craft. Hip hop and the art of using his gift as an emcee is more about establishing LMM as a brand or for better words, a movement. “Right now at this moment, my goal is to establish this brand. Make it a company that will last through the ages. It has to start with me, so I’m pushing the album and finding some opened doors to create opportunities. Right now I’m exploring different music/sounds so when the next one comes out, it’ll open more doors. I’m doing more things than just hip hop. I want to be the coolest muthaf***er in music; I’m a dope MC and I’m proud and humble to say that. I just want to be the coolest dude in music and do everything…ya know?”

It’s easier said than done. And you read it here first! This feature will remain as the platform for 8th’s challenge to the culture. Music lovers of all sorts are ready for something new and our keen sense of what’s next makes our anticipation thrive when artists come forth in the name of being different. We hear you! “I followed the blueprint of what every hip hop album should follow; dope beats, dope rhymes…boom! It’s such a simple formula; I don’t know what people are doing now. I know the end result is to move the crowd. A dope rhyme isn’t just thinking of every difficult thing to say, instead something that everyone can understand and it’s complicated in itself. The beat sets you up to get comfortable for the message. If a wack beat comes on, then you’ll be stuck on the beat, saying its trash and you miss what the artist is saying. The hook is just the frosting and the beats and the lines are the cake. If we continue to get this bullshit, then all we get is the frosting and once you eat through that…there’s nothing left. The game should be about people who just want to get skillfully better and stick to the foundation and want to get better in themselves, so the culture can get better.