Exclusive | TyShawn Dion is One of the Best Lyricists in Massachusetts
By: Omar Cook
This week's "Who's Hot?" Artist of the week is a dope lyricist from the East Coast, TyShawn Dion! TyShawn hails from Worcester, Massachusetts which is not too far outside of Boston. This hot new artist spent the last 4 years at the University of Connecticut where he was also a student athlete playing football for his first two and a half years there but certain events forced him to walk away. TyShawn Dion brings a fierce delivery that is second to none in today’s hip hop landscape and is definitely an artist that you should keep your eye on for the future! Take it from us, he’s next up.
TyShawn Dion - Look Alive (Gawdly Mix)
We talked with TyShawn Dion in an exclusive interview, check it out below!
QUESTION: How long have you been making music and how did you get started?
TyShawn Dion: I’ve been doing music forever to be honest, since I was a youngin. But I remember writing my first rap when I was like 7 and I’m 22 now so 15 years. Felt like a old head saying that haha but I’ve been taking it dead serious for a few years now. I always say that seeing lil Bow Wow got me started because I wanted to be the youngest doing it, but I feel like it was just in my blood. My older cousins used to try to rap and I would always jump in the cyphers and wash them
QUESTION: Musically, who has been your biggest influence in helping you along your journey and who are your favorite musicians?
TyShawn Dion: My uncle really influenced me a lot along the way early on and helped me understand that I had a gift but to be honest, it’s mostly been my bros and I trying to figure this whole thing out through trial and error. If you’re talking musical influences I’d have to say it was my favorites growing up like B.I.G, Hov of course, Ye even though he been off of it lately, Kendrick, Cole, Drake, Lauryn Hill and hella others but I feel like you can hear them in my work the most.
TyShawn Dion Freestyle
QUESTION: What artists would you like to collaborate with and why?
TyShawn Dion: Before I die I have to work with Jay, Kendrick, Cole, Drake, Adele, Trav, and Future. Like if I was to get on tomorrow those are the firsts on my list. Every single one of them make music that really pushes me to elevate my craft and showing that I could MORE than hang with them on a record would just really show that I really do this.
QUESTION: What do you feel is your best song ever released and why?
TyShawn Dion: As of now, I’d have to say “Humble Pie” just because it’s my most transparent song that’s been released as of now. It gives you lyrics, melodies, story-telling, a relatable story line, it’s catchy and has hella replay value. That’s my baby but I’m so passed that song. I wrote that like 3 years ago and held it in the vault for a while. NEW AND IMPROVED VERSION SOON
QUESTION: How do you generate new ideas for your music?
TyShawn Dion: All of my music comes from real experiences that I’ve dealt with, or something that an individual close to me has dealt with so I really rely on life itself to push me. Sometimes it’s annoying because if I’m not feeling it, I’m not really excited about it but luckily I’m a really creative writer so I can spin things that I see as boring into something enjoyable.
QUESTION: What motivates you and how do you define success?
TyShawn Dion: Just remembering all of the trash that my family and I dealt with growing up and never wanting to ever go back to that makes me want to grind. I’m trying to provide better opportunities for them, my friends, and my future family and I know I can really do that with music. I feel like success has a financial component for sure, but that doesn’t mean a damn thing if you’re the ONLY one of your people that are up. Gotta be sure to uplift those that you care about collectively and help develop them holistically
QUESTION: How do you describe your music to people?
TyShawn Dion: My music is a whole vibe. I’m real versatile so it’s hard to put me in a box but I focus on painting vivid pictures for people that are listening. I’d say that you definitely have to listen because I have a lot of lines that go over people's’ head, but you aren’t going to listen to my music and feel like you’re being talked at. I mix bops with words that mean something.
QUESTION: Do you believe there is a formula to being a successful artist?
TyShawn Dion: I feel like in order to be successful as an artist today, you have to be a have and be a damn personality as well. There are so many fire ass artists that don’t get real recognition because they’re basically an egg on social media. Supporters want to feel like they know you, like they can connect with you on a personal level in addition to being able to enjoy your music.
QUESTION: Who is your greatest inspiration?
TyShawn Dion: My momma, my momma, my momma. I’m a momma’s boy for sure; not on some attached to the booby, “as mommy say, I do” type of time but I just have so much respect for her. She sacrificed so much for us, and raised 3 kids all by herself at 25 after my dad got killed. That’s my queen.
TyShawn Dion - Duppy Freestyle
QUESTION: In your opinion who is the most influential and successful artist in your genre today and why?
TyShawn Dion: If anyone says anything other than Drake they’re lying. His reach is unprecedented at this point. Mans is doing 3 straight sold out shows in the same city, touching a billion streams regularly, and he really just has the Midas touch. If Drake hops on your song as an up and comer, it’s his song now and that’s okay because he just helped jump start your career and get you a plaque. I wouldn’t say “rapper” but I’d say he’s the greatest rap STAR of all-time.
QUESTION: Which emotion more than any other, currently dominates your music? Joy, sadness, anger or passion etc. , and why?
TyShawn Dion: Lately, it’s definitely been a combination of passion, reminiscence, and hunger. I think that I’m just so focused right now that I can’t help but show it in my music and a lot of that focus is coming from me reflecting on what got me to this point.
QUESTION: What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?
TyShawn Dion: Aside from sleep? I’ve lost friends over this… The dream played a big part in me walking away from football, and I’ve even had to sacrifice certain aspects of relationships for this. It’s been said so many times but this really is way deeper than music for me.
QUESTION: What aspect of the music making process excites you most, and what aspect discourages you the most?
TyShawn Dion: Um. I think the most exciting part is getting to share it with my supporters at shows and concerts because as a performer, you get to really hone in on giving that experience that’s going to stick with them every time they hear a song again. A close 1b. has to be when I hear a beat and I really just start writing something, and when I run it back to myself I geek out before I keep writing.
The most discouraging used to be figuring out how to package it, deciding which way I want to deliver it etc. I’m a perfectionist which really annoys me sometimes but I’m really starting to learn to just love the whole process. I’m still learning how to record things and manipulate sounds etc because rapping acapella and putting something on wax are two completely different things; but I know everything comes in time.
QUESTION: Where do you see yourself and your music in 10 years?
TyShawn Dion: No gas, I see myself toward the forefront of this all. On the largest stage possible. I know that even doing this interview I’m only like 70% bought in because I’m still focusing on other things but there are weeks where I’m at a full blown 100%. It’s coming.
QUESTION: What advice would you give to other up and coming artists or people looking to break into the music industry?
TyShawn Dion: Be a student of the game. Not just the trends or what wave is hot because all of that fades. When you’re a student of the game, and you know your history or can pull from different genres… if you’ve educated yourself on the BUSINESS side of things as well as focusing on the quality of your music, I think things will work themselves out. The idea of being an “overnight success” has to leave too. I have bros really in the industry, multi-million dollar deals, that got denied left and right for YEARS before it popped; so don’t be afraid to be rejected, invent, and reinvent yourself. I’m doing the same damn thing.
QUESTION: Is there anything else you would like people to know about you or your music?
TyShawn Dion: I took some time to focus on rebranding for a while but I’m prepping to drop a few singles very VERY soon (like within the upcoming weeks). Also, I’m almost done drafting and outlining my debut project “Gawds Don’t Die” so stay glued for that. I really love interacting with my supporters so follow me on IG: @diongawdly and find me on twitter @TyShawnDion ! Music is just part of it. I act, I design, I model, hell I might start doing comedy who knows. Stay real to yourself, make sure you go check out “Humble Pie” and all of my other tracks currently out and stay tuned because a majority of those can’t scrape the boot bottoms of what I have coming to y’all next.
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