Exclusive | Rapper Princeton Marcellis Talks His Upcoming Mixtape 'By Any Means'

“My goal is not to be celebrity, but a servant. Most celebrities want the limelight and try to hide their failures and shortcomings, but I think a servant wants the limelight only so they can point it back to the One who truly deserves it, and that’s God.”

— Princeton Marcellis

By: Omar Cook

This week's "Who's Hot?" Artist of the week is Dallas rapper, Princeton Marcellis! This artist has a goal to inspire his listeners and help them improve their lives by telling stories of his own struggles and success. Princeton Marcellis has a dope flow mixed with real messages in his songs and is definitely an artist that needs to be in your playlist. He began to pursue music seriously while attending the University of North Texas and attending open mic nights. His persistence and talent eventually landed him in opportunity to be a hype man for artists such as Lecrae and Tedashii.

Princeton Marcellis - Promise (Official Music Video)

We talked with Princeton Marcellis in an exclusive interview, check it out below!

How long have you been making music and how did you get started?

Princeton Marcellis: I’ve been rapping since I was about 5 or 6 years old. I remember my parents buying my older brother a Casio piano that had a couple of Beethoven presets on it such as the 5th Symphony. One day I took our karaoke machine which allowed me to record on a cassette tape, and I took the mic and put it to the piano speaker so it could record the music from the piano. I began freestyling haha. Grant it, I wasn’t good at all yet, but it also came to me naturally to do that. My parents, especially my dad, always had music playing throughout our home and in the car and I know it heavily influenced me to fall in love with hip hop.

From there, I continued to make music that I would pass out to some of the homies at school. At 16, I gave my life to Christ, which not only awakened my life purpose but also gave my music more purpose. However, at the time I was also really focused and passionate about basketball, and wanted to hoop at a Division I school to make it to the NBA. Needless to say, that didn’t work out. Because of that, I started taking music more seriously at the University of North Texas. Open mic shows eventually turned into free shows, and free shows eventually turned into paid shows. I dropped a mixtape on Datpiff and Noisetrade called Excuse The Explicitness which spread way more than I imagined it would when creating the project. Before I know it, I’m a hype man for Lecrae and Tedashii of Reach Records performing in front of thousands almost every show. This helped me to develop my stage presence more, and get used to being in front of so many people. Now I’m focused only on my own brand and finishing my project entitled, By Any Means.

Musically, who has been your biggest influence in helping you along your journey and who are your favorite musicians?

Princeton Marcellis: My biggest influence has to first start with my family. My mom and dad. I have so much love and respect for them to be able to teach and provide for my brother and I, even with our financial circumstances. Now that I’m older, I truly appreciate the hard work and foundation they gave me, along with the musical influences they bestowed on me.

In regards to artists that are my biggest influence, I would have to say 2Pac, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Notorious BIG, Kanye West, Jay Z, and Eminem. They’ve helped me in my own life and personal troubles, as well as challenged my pen game and craft. These are rappers that I’ve studied the most over the years in order to develop my own voice.

What artists would you like to collaborate with and why?

Princeton Marcellis: There’s so many I would love to collaborate with! Any Dreamville or TDE artist would be dope. I would love to collaborate with Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye, Chance the Rapper, and many others. I like doing collaborations that would make sense message wise and brand wise, and I think I align most with these type of artists.

What do you feel is your best song/project ever released and why?

Princeton Marcellis: My best songs I have out right now are my latest singles “You Can Make It” and “Thank God Ballad”, as well as my song “Heart To Serve”. I think these songs really gave me a great direction with what I want to do with my music now, and they have given me the biggest buzz. The music video to “Heart To Serve” was predominantly shot in Guatemala and won 6 Telly Awards. This was a theme song for a Non-Profit Organization, and I was able to perform this song in Johannesburg, South Africa, Rome, and Hong Kong. Each one of these shows had more than 10,000 people in attendance!

What projects can we look forward to in the near future?

Princeton Marcellis: Right now I’m working on a mixtape called By Any Means, and soon after that I will begin working on my debut album. I’m very excited about that. 

Princeton Marcellis - You Can Make It (Official Audio)

How do you generate new ideas for your music? 

Princeon Marcellis: First and foremost my story and my life experiences, as well as others’. God is my biggest inspiration, and just living life because my music is about real life, real pain, and real hope. Other than that, I’m always checking out new music to spur on creativity. 

What motivates you and how do you define success?

Princeton Marcellis: God, family, and friends. Things that truly matter is what motivates me. Most people think that chasing money, power, women, and things will make them successful. Most people die and realize that their success ladder was leaning on the wrong wall the whole time. Success is not what I do compared to what other people do, it's how much I do compared to what God created me to do.

How do you describe your music to people and what separates you from other artists in your genre?

Princeon Marcellis: I describe my music as being lyrical and about real life, yet inspirational and motivational. What separates me from other artists is my story and voice.

Do you believe there is a formula to being a successful artist?

Princeton Marcellis: I don’t believe there is a formula for being a successful artist, because I don’t believe success is overnight. You have to be willing to do the things other people are not willing to do, and do it consistently. So there’t not an exact formula, but there are competencies that a successful artist possesses. A huge thing every successful artist has never done is quit.

Who is your greatest inspiration?

Princeton Marcellis: God is my greatest inspiration. The fact that he would come and save His people from what we deserve is mind blowing, because of unfathomable amount of love it takes. This is what pushes me to love people so much, because of God’s love for me.

In your opinion who is the most influential and successful artist in your genre today and why?

Princeton Marcellis: In opinion, I would say J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Kanye West. I think they possess everything a great rapper should have: storytelling, lyrics, punchlines, metaphors, similes, and imagery over solid production. I actually made a song called Make Cole Proud, in which I rapped over the same beat of Let Nas Down. Nas also has a version called Made Nas Proud. I put them all together on youtube as one video, you should peep it.

Which emotion more than any other, currently dominates your music? Joy, sadness, anger or passion etc. , and why?

Princeton Marcellis: I think sadness and passion dominates my music right now, only because that’s the season of life I’m in. Don’t get me wrong, my energy is always joyous and positive, but when I think about a lot of the things I’ve been through these past couple of years, it would be hard to say that sadness doesn’t come over me. However, the sadness leads me to keep pushing, instead of throwing in the towel. In this game of life I gotta get around the board as many times as I can. Life is something that I look at and cry at sometimes, I laugh at sometimes, etc. You try to come up and get pulled back 5 steps and then you come back up and get pulled back 18 steps. But really there’s a good balance of emotions on this upcoming project.

What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?

Princeton Marcellis: So many. From working jobs that I really don’t want to work, to not being able to travel as much like some of my friends do, to not buying shoes or clothes that I want, etc. Because I need that money to create and for the craft. I’ve sacrificed so much time and money to keep growing in this, that I know most people wouldn’t do. 

What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?

Princeton Marcellis: I think the whole thing excites me, from writing the lyrics to mixing and mastering and hearing the finished product. If there’s any aspect that discourages me, it’s all of the business side of music. Sometimes I wish that side didn’t exist haha.

Where do you see yourself and your music in 10 years?

Princeton Marcellis: I’ve always hated this question, because I don’t know if I’ll be here tomorrow. So if God allows me to live another 10 years, I see myself as one of the greats because of how many lives I’ve impacted and helped.

What advice would you give to other up and coming artists or people looking to break into the music industry?

Princeton Marcellis: Find your voice, take the craft seriously, and don’t quit.

Is there anything else you would like people to know about you or your music?

Princeton Marcellis: I’m always grateful for every listener and follower on social media, and always appreciative when someone shares my music with their network of people who hasn’t heard of me. My goal is not to be celebrity, but a servant. Most celebrities want the limelight and try to hide their failures and shortcomings, but I think a servant wants the limelight only so they can point it back to the One who truly deserves it, and that’s God. Therefore, I don’t mind exposing my own faults throughout my story, because I believe my story will hopefully help someone else.

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Exclusive | Some Guy Named Lee Talks His Upcoming Project 'My Happy Place'

By: Omar Cook

This week's "Who's Hot?" Artist of the week is East Coast rapper “Some Guy Named Lee”! Lee is originally from Buffalo, New York but currently calls Atlanta home. Lee spent a few semesters in College at Niagara University and hasn’t had much time for much outside of music since pursuing it full time. This rapper doesn’t have a long catalogue of music, but just about every track he has dropped is flames. This is an artist who sounds like he’s been in the game for a minute but is really just getting started. Lee has a dope flow mixed with some laid back beats and is definitely an artist you need to watch out for.

Some Guy Named Lee - Grind (Official Audio)

We talked with Some Guy Named Lee in an exclusive interview, check it out below!

QUESTION: How long have you been making music and how did you get started?

Some Guy Named Lee: I want to say I’ve been doing music since 9, my mother got me a radio that had a built in microphone and me and my brother use to record on that.

QUESTION: Musically, who has been your biggest influence in helping you along your journey and who are your favorite musicians?

Some Guy Named Lee: iClub has been my biggest influences along my journey. Dez Billups at Human Re-Sources and DeMiya Williams at RCA Sony Music have been more than helpful as well. 

QUESTION: What artists would you like to collaborate with and why? 

Some Guy Named Lee: Kendrick, Cole, Jay-Z, Drake, Chance, Jaden Smith, I have a Big list. I can go on and on lol. I think sonically we would make dope records and push each other lyrically. 

Some Guy Named Lee - Playing Around

QUESTION: What do you feel is your best song/project ever released and why?

Some Guy Named Lee: Grind is my biggest record to date but it’s hard to say what is my best song, it changes per mood. Right now I would say my verse for Riff Blanco’s Sky is the limit is my favorite though. 

QUESTION: What projects can we look forward to in the near future?

Some Guy Named Lee: I will be releasing “My Happy Place” 1st quarter of the year.  

QUESTION: How do you generate new ideas for your music?

Some Guy Named Lee: I like to have in depth conversations with friends, family and even strangers, and take from those moments and experiences to create.   

QUESTION: What motivates you and how do you define success?

Some Guy Named Lee: My kids, the culture, not having financial freedom and Buffalo motivates me. Success to me is generational wealth.

QUESTION: How do you describe your music to people?

Some Guy Named Lee: I don’t. (Marsha Ambrosius told me to just create and let the people describe my music). It’s art so it will be interpreted differently by each listener. 

QUESTION: Do you believe there is a formula to being a successful artist?

Some Guy Named Lee: Absolutely, but it’s different for each individual. No right or wrong way but you have to have a plan and follow through.   

QUESTION: Who is your greatest inspiration?

Some Guy Named Lee: I am my greatest inspiration. I owe it to myself to be success, I’ve put too much time, energy and effort in my craft to quit.

QUESTION: In your opinion who is the most influential and successful artist in your genre today and why?

Some Guy Named Lee: Jay-Z. He’s made it possible to do anything, and it started with rap. 

QUESTION: Which emotion more than any other, currently dominates your music? Joy, sadness, anger or passion etc. , and why?

Some Guy Named Lee: Happiness, because when I’m happy I don’t have negativity or stress preventing me from creating music. I'm not one of those artists who makes better music when they're sad or depressed.

QUESTION: What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?

Some Guy Named Lee: Relationships, time with my kids, and sleep lol.

QUESTION: What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most? 

Some Guy Named Lee: Everything about creating excites me from recording to coming up with melodies but I love writing the most. Nothing discourages me, I make Lemonade!!

QUESTION: Where do you see yourself and your music in 10 years?

Some Guy Named Lee: Financially free, still touring with Multiple Grammy’s. Still rocking with the people I came in with.

QUESTION: What advice would you give to other up and coming artists or people looking to break into the music industry? 

Some Guy Named Lee: There’s people who think Jay-Z is garbage and he's the GOAT so don’t let negative comments break you. Know Thyself. 

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