Exclusive | Rapper Slim XxX Discusses Her Upcoming Debut EP & Her Single "Frontline"
Louisiana artist, Slim XxX talks creating music to inspire and encourage her fans, her motivation, musical influences, and her upcoming debut EP in an exclusive interview! Check it out here!
“I’m passionate about making quality music that people can connect with.”
By: Omar Cook
This week's "Who's Hot?" Artist of the week is Lousiana rapper, Slim XxX! I’m a Independent HipHop artist from Louisiana. In a day and age where female rappers are taking their throne, Slim XXX is emerging as a top tier talent. Slim XxX recently released her debut single just 7 months and is already making waves with some hot single releases leading up to her upcoming debut EP. This artist mixes a dope raw rap lyrics with smooth vocals on each track. Slim XxX has a sound that Hip Hop definitely needs to hear, an under the radar talent that won’t remain underground for too much longer!
Lemon Pepper Freestyle - Slim XxX
We talked with Slim XxX in an exclusive interview, check it out below!
How long have you been making music and how did you get started?
Slim XxX: I started writing poetry in my early years of middle school. That soon evolved into my passion for songwriting. I started professionally releasing music in 2019.
Musically, who has been your biggest influence in helping you along your journey and who are your favorite musicians?
Slim XxX: That question is such a hard one because I simply don’t have favorites. I listened to a lot of R&B growing up. Lauryn Hill, Whitney Houston, The Temptations, an array of jazz musicians including Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald. I later grew a fascination for raw hiphop like Tupac, Jadakiss, Wu-tang Clan and N.W.A. Growing up in the south, good music is always close by or just around the corner. I don’t think I’d be the same artist today if I didn’t have so many great influences early on.
What artists would you like to collaborate with and why?
Slim XxX: I feel like I’d enjoy collaborating with 6lack, lil Wayne or Buddy. They all are insanely talented lyricist. I think we would make great music.
What do you feel is your best song/project ever released and why?
Slim XxX: My debuted single “Frontline “ is one of my favorite releases. During the writing process I remember thinking “Am I really going to put this out?“ I overcame a lot of self doubt and fear. The feeling was amazing.
Slim XxX - Self Doubt [Official Music Video] [4k]
What projects can we look forward to in the near future?
Slim XxX: I am currently working on my Debut EP. I had a amazing time writing and recording this project and I’m beyond excited to share it with all my listeners.
How do you generate new ideas for your music?
Slim XxX: I start by playing the instrumental I’m working with and the song concept comes to me usually within seconds. If it doesn’t, I sit with it for a while, sometimes days and reflect on the memories that the music reminds me of.
What motivates you and how do you define success?
Slim XxX: The motivation for me is when I finish a song I’m proud of . It’s like a artist painting a portrait of themselves and finally stepping back to see their reflection. I’m in constant competition with myself and try to do better each time. Success for me is doing what I love. It’s hard for me to define Success in any other manner. Surrounding myself with people I love, doing what I love just seems so absolute.
How do you describe your music to people and what separates you from other artists in your genre?
Slim XxX: I create music based on personal experiences and emotions. My style is very different from most female rap artists in the game right now.
Do you believe there is a formula to being a successful artist?
Slim XxX: Yes, Consistency and passion. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a successful artist that didn’t have one of the two.
Slim XxX - Lite Rain [Official Music Video]
Who is your greatest inspiration?
Slim XxX: My faith in God has inspired me believe in myself and this makes way for any other inspiration in my life.
In your opinion who is the most influential and successful artist in your genre today and why?
Slim XxX: Kanye - Although I wished his music never changed, all great things evolve. I also think Beyoncé has a great influence on the image of black women in entertainment and women themselves.
Which emotion more than any other, currently dominates your music? Joy, sadness, anger or passion etc. , and why?
Slim XxX: My music embodies motivation more then anything. I aim to encourage my fans and shine a light in places too dark to see.
Slim XxX - Front Line [Official Audio]
What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?
Slim XxX: A lot of my time goes into creating music. I talk a lot about the Sacrifices I’ve made In my Ep, Song titled “Too Strong”. Being dedicated sometimes means spending hours writing or in the studio creating and recording .
What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?
Slim XxX: I love songwriting and creating melodies. Although Hearing them come to life in the studio is very comparable.
Where do you see yourself and your music in 10 years?
Slim XxX: I’d love to see my Albums reach around the world and influence female writers after me to be creative and passionate artist.
What advice would you give to other up and coming artists or people looking to break into the music industry?
Slim XxX: Stay motivated and do the work. Remember Nothing comes easy and believing in yourself is like a superpower.
Is there anything else you would like people to know about you or your music?
Slim XxX: Thank you for listening to my music, I appreciate all my supporters. Stay tuned for more music.
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Exclusive | Jeh $inatra Discusses His Latest Album 'B.LA.C.K.'
New York rapper, Jeh $inatra, is the head of independent record label, Broken Hearts Music Group! We talked with Jeh $inatra in an exclusive interview about his latest album, B.LA.C.K., and more!
By: Omar Cook
This week's "Who's Hot?" Artist of the week is Jeh $inatra, an up and coming lyricist from the East Coast! $inatra hails from Syracuse, New York and graduated college in 2010 with a degree in Business Administration. At 32 years old, this artist is married with a 10 year old daughter and owns an independent record label by the name Broken Hearts Music Group. His label curently features 4 rappers including himself and their in-house producer. $inatra is passionate about all the arts, and as a creative he likes to show off his creativity in many different forms. His most recent album B.LA.C.K. can be found on all major streaming platforms (apple music, spotify, tidal) with a new album that is planned to be dropped in March.
We talked with Jeh $inatra in an exclusive interview, check it out below!
Question: How long have you been making music and how did you get started?
Jeh $inatra: 10 years. I got started through my brother who had been rapping since he was 15 himself back in New York. One day he wanted me to rap on a track with him, took me to the studio, I laid down my verse and the rest is history from that point. Haven’t stopped writing/rapping since.
Question: Musically, who has been your biggest influence in helping you along your journey and who are your favorite musicians?
Jeh $inatra: My biggest influence has been my best friend Tavares. A lot of times when people didn’t quite get the vision or the direction we were going with the music, he never lost sight of it all. He stayed true to what we were doing and what we stood for out of everyone else. Also my wife Candace as well. Huge influence and motivator. Favorite musicians would have to be Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley, Miles Davis, Jay-Z, Nas, Rakim, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Kendrick Lamar, J.Cole...the list goes on and on for me.
Question: What artists would you like to collaborate with and why?
Jeh $inatra: Nas, Pharrell Williams, Adele, a dope R&B singer by the name of Ari Lennox (she has a really dope vibe and sound), H.E.R., Frank Ocean. Why I would like to collaborate with these artists is mostly to pick their brain and the inner workings of their minds. Being around creative minds like these you almost in sense can’t help but want to soak up as much knowledge as possible while given the opportunity. Nas has always been one of my favorite emcees of all time, Pharrell Williams has always been one of my musical idols, and as far as rest of the artists I just love their music.
Question: What do you feel is your best song/project ever released and why?
Jeh $inatra: So far my pick for best song would have to be off of my current album “B.LA.C.K” entitled “ACT III. GLORY”. To me that’s my best song because I was able to channel a more emotional, vulnerable side of myself I never really tap into musically, not to mention recording that record was the only time I spoke on my daughter as much as I did. For an entire song it was me rapping to her my love for her and why I do the things I do for her.
Question: What projects can we look forward to in the near future?
Jeh $inatra: Projects to look forward to in the near future from myself, I’am currently releasing a few singles with other artists leading up to my next major project which is slated to release next year March. I currently have a record set to release 11.14.18 with another artist from the Florida area we’ve been promoting. This is part of the series of singles I’ll be releasing over the next few months. My label also has in the works a compilation album featuring my artists TZO, Liron Dayo, $wayze, Eric King with production by our in-house producer D.A.GonBang.
Question: How do you generate new ideas for your music?
Jeh $inatra: From life experiences mostly. I always find ways to tie in my life into my music as much as possible. I find it to be more organic and truthful, versus just writing from an angle I haven’t really explored. I try to keep as much truth in my music as I can.
Question: What motivates you and how do you define success?
Jeh $inatra: What motivates me would be my Family first and foremost. My daughter, my wife, my mother/father and so forth. My true friends, the artists on my label, other indie artists and just creatives in general, and the sheer love and passion I have for music as a whole. I define success by personal growth and personal goals achieved all the while being able to help others achieve their goals. Success isn’t limited to personal accomplishments, the most successful people in life are those who extend a helping hand to others.
Question: How do you describe your music to people?
Jeh $inatra: “Grown-man rap” lol. Mature rap. In the truest form hip-hop. Not necessarily “backpack rap” or “conscious rap”, but just real rap with real lyrics, real stories, and real life relatable content. Nothing fabricated.
Question: Do you believe there is a formula to being a successful artist?
Jeh $inatra: Yes and No. We’ve all witnessed up and coming artist come from nothing with no formula and blow up to be huge stars, however there are artists like myself who stick to the traditional path and follow that “formula” of hard work, grinding for a long time, not necessarily looking to make the next viral hit. Nothing wrong with that at all, but not every artist is inclined to doing that. Me personal I believe in quality over quantity when it comes to my music and the music our label releases. So to answer I believe there is a formula, I just don’t think it works for every artist.
Question: Who is your greatest inspiration?
Jeh $inatra: My daughter. I’m always striving to create a better life for her.
Jeh $inatra featuring TZO - “ACT X/ FOE”
Question: In your opinion who is the most influential and successful artist in your genre today and why?
Jeh $inatra: Jay-Z, Diddy, Dr. Dre, and there’s a few others. Why because they are the epitome of coming from nothing, working extremely hard, staying dedicated to their craft/vision, and accomplishing honors in the hip-hop industry that rappers only dream about accomplishing.
Question: Which emotion more than any other, currently dominates your music? Joy, sadness, anger or passion etc. , and why?
Jeh $inatra: Passion. I have an undying passion to succeed and help the ones around me succeed.
Question: What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?
Jeh $inatra: Time. Time has been the biggest sacrifice I’ve had to make while chasing this dream. Time spent with family members and loved ones alike. That’s something you never get used to, you can only make the adjustments needed to make it work but you never fully get used to losing out on that time. Sleep lol. Lots of that.
Question: What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?
Jeh $inatra: What excites me the most is working with other creative minds, being able to make something from nothing and give birth to an idea in the physical form. I love writing music a lot. When people say it’s therapeutic it truly is. What discourages me about the music making process is the greed associated with working with those same artists. A lot of artists won’t have your best interest at heart even though you’re working closely with these individuals. There’s not too much I don’t like about the process or being involved with creating period.
Question: Where do you see yourself and your music in 10 years?
Jeh $inatra: Where do I see myself in 10 years, successfully running this label with more acts/talent, joint ventures with sports agencies, owning multiple lucrative businesses outside the world of hip-hop, in addition to partnering up with some non-profit organizations and really helping the community. I see myself helping to give back to those who need assistance in any way, shape, or form. To be the most well rounded CEO, that’s my end goal.
Question: What advice would you give to other up and coming artists or people looking to break into the music industry?
Jeh $inatra: Stay true to your art, your craft, stay true to yourself, and your team and the ones around you. The ones who really support your dreams. Never switch up on them. Don’t be afraid to work with other artists. This business is all about relationships and building those, the more you’re receptive to with working with others the more opportunities come your way. Always Be Open Minded to Creating.