About meeeee....
Well, lets see... I was born in 1978 and raised in a small town in North Carolina. My pops told me he figured I'd love music because as a baby I used to pull myself up to the record player and "scratch up poor Marvin". I've always been into all forms if music, my first purchase was "Dr. Feelgood" on 45. Weird selection for a black kid from the south, I know. I was a fan of lots of different artists like Michael Jackson, Doobie Brothers, Motley Crue, Prince, and others. Either way, hip hop drilled its way into my life through two acts: Kid n Play and MC Hammer.
Im gonna keep it real, I was young as hell. My moms was not gonna buy me no shit with cursing. I had to sneak and listen to Black Sheep, NWA, and Kool G Rap & DJ Polo. I started writing rhymes a little at 13, but when I heard a female emcee named N-Tyce it inspired me to be serious.
You see, N-Tyce was from MY state. Not New York. Not Cali. North Carolina. Annnd she had a then relative newcomer on the hook with this hoarse, smoky voice by the name of Method Man. The song was "Hush Hush Tip", a simple song.... a dope song. I didnt give two shits what she said then, it was the point of her saying it from NC. You see, in 94, hip hop was just a NY, Cali, and virginal Atl (thanks to Kast and Kris Kross). Through the 90s, my musical tastes grew and ranged from Rakim Allah to DJ Magic Mike to Getto Boys to Death Row, all while crafting my emcee skills in battles.
Then comes 2000. The year I was introduced to Jay Dee. Not literally, just his music. I had already heard some of his work by listening to Pharcyde, Tribe, D'Angelo, and Janet, but to hear Fantastic Vol. 2 wa a game changer for me. I wanted to produce. He also showed that there was more to hip hop production than "Funky Drummer" and Melvin Bliss, lol.
Wow, didnt mean to bore who ever reads this....lol. Sooooo I will quit with the documentary and list what music is in my car. (for the record, my radio plays flashdrives, so Ill just list SOME artists)
J Dilla, Slum Village, Michael Jackson, Dia Frampton, Wu Tang Clan, Miz Korona, vhvl, dead prez, Outkast, Scarface, Dwele, 10 cc, Adele, Bone Thugs, Kanye West, Jeezy, T.I., Ski Beatz, LL Cool J, Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q Ab Soul, Jay Rock, Jansport J, Emphatic, Obie Trice, Common, Graveyard Shift, Illa J, Guilty Simpson, Planet Asia, Strong Arm Steady, Bon Iver, Action Bronson, Redman, Remy Shand, Grafh, Stalley, Rick Ross, Waajeed, Prince, Allen Iverson aka Jewels, Ron G, PMD, Royal Entry, Ki of NC, Shortcirles, Random aka Mega Ran, Cast Troy, Little Brother, Smoke DZA, Ras Kass, Curren$y, Hugo, Jay Electronica, Devil's Rejects ost, Lynard Skynard, Phil Collins
Feel free to check out MY music at http://casttroy.bandcamp.com and listen/download my contributions to hip hop. If there are any artists on this list that you are unfamilliar with, Google em.....
Peace