"Written in Braille" by Devon Hobbs
Imagine your heart is racing; the power of the tunes bumping through the speakers is shaking the floor. The echo of hundreds of people in the audience is setting your nerves on fire and the only thing in between you and them is a velvet curtain. As you find the will and faith to step out into the bright lights, you take a deep breath one last time. This is the life of a performer, an artist, a musician, in this case; Braille Rhymstone.
Julian Ruttlen, 23; also known as “Braille Rhymstone”, is an aspiring multi-genre musician on the rise to make it as an up and coming artist. Ruttlen is originally from Buffalo, New York but currently resides in Fort Mill, South Carolina.
While Ruttlen’s primary genre is rap music, it was not his original area of expertise. Ruttlen initially focused more on poetry and singing and did not begin rapping until 2006, when he started recording music.
Ruttlen’s motivation came from a few different places. Ruttlen said his celebrity motivations were Kanye West and his album “The College Dropout”, as well as being influenced by the work of Hip Hop recording artist Joe Budden. Ruttlen said he was raised in a musically inclined family where everyone would sing, his brother sings and raps in Sacramento and his sister sings in Atlanta.
“Being around them [Ruttlen’s siblings] gave me a love for music and everything that creates it. My passion was always writing though.” Ruttlen said.
Ruttlen said he considered his poetry to be a gateway into the world of rap when he was told that he wrote like a rapper; it was then when he began reciting his poetry as if they were rap lyrics. “I was a great poet, but good poetry doesn’t necessarily transform into a good rap verse.” Ruttlen said. While the responses from witnesses were good, Ruttlen said he needed to push himself further. “People loved it but in my opinion it was never good enough. However, I liked it enough to keep messing with it.” Ruttlen said.
In his spare time, Ruttlen said that he would practice his skills by jumping into freestyle rap sessions with peers and as well as singing at local hookah bars. With time, Ruttlen developed his skills, studied his craft and in 2009 he met an entrepreneur by the name of Miles Proctor who was the leader of a group called “DLD” and together they made Ruttlen’s first song “Game Time”.
Striving to be a successful musician requires a great deal of dedication and persistence, regardless of the obstacles in life. In December of 2011, Ruttlen was recruited by the National Guard as a combat medic and was scheduled to leave for training in 2012. Ruttlen said that this made him work even harder with his music and utilize the time he had. In January 2012, the day before leaving for training, Ruttlen released his mix-tape “The Product of Dedication Vol. 1”.
Ruttlen said he never even considered putting music on hold during his time on duty and found his free time filled with writing in the barracks before bed and participating in freestyle sessions with the friends he made.
“You can’t suppress a love for music, it’s with you in everything you do.” explained Ruttlen.
Later in 2012, after returning home from military training, Ruttlen was recruited by the Charlotte, North Carolina rap group, Phazer Gang. It was then when Ruttlen experienced most of his on-stage performances. Ruttlen said he tries not to think too much about being on stage and just looks for positive energy to keep him prepared. “As long as I know my verses and my cues I try not to stress being on stage.” He added.
It was being in Phazer Gang that made Ruttlen stand out. He said he felt it was necessary to transcend and develop an identity. This is when he decided to use the alias “Braille Rhymstone”. Ruttlen explained that “Rhymstone” came about through a freestyle rap he recited a few years prior, and that “Braille” was considered from a more meaningful and metaphorical perspective. “In order to read Braille, to understand it, you have to physically touch it. You have to feel it. I use the same concept with my music” explained Ruttlen.
Ruttlen believed as an aspiring artist he would be judged regardless but said people should attempt to understand who he is. “I want people to take time and try to feel the music I put out; to get their hands on it and learn me.” Ruttlen said.
Phazer Gang promoter, Ariel Swan said that Ruttlen’s work ethic is very strong, so strong in fact that the others that work with him feed off of his energy and look to better their own material. Swan also said that she noticed stronger effort put forth by Ruttlen around the time his daughter was born. “Julian honestly lives and breathes music, he is a team player and motivates people through his words.” said Swan.
Ruttlen said that as he became more focused, more opportunities opened up for him; including the “BE on TV” Cypher. Earlier this year, BET hosted the event in several states, including North Carolina. Ruttlen came in first place for his state earning himself a spot in the national completion this summer, in which he will face the winners of the other states.
With all of the success he has experienced thus far, Ruttlen said that anything is possible. Ruttlen said if someone wants to make it as an artist it important to develop persistence and patience. “Don’t give up if it is what you want. Make music that defines you because your music is your life.” Ruttlen said.
When aspiring to make it into the music industry, Ruttlen said you have to decide who it is you want to be and what you want to offer people. Ruttlen said he believed certain elements of music have gotten lost in translation over the years.
Ruttlen said that he did not believe that music has altered as much as most people think. “We’ve always had gang rappers, party rappers and motivational rappers. People have always made the music they felt they should.” Ruttlen explained. Ruttlen said that the major change in this generation of music is more symbolic than anything. “The only thing that has changed is what represents us. R&B is only seen as sex music now and rap is seen as drugs, money and everything superficial. In our generation you have to really search to find artists with any depth in their music.” Ruttlen added.
When it comes to the effect that music had on his life, Ruttlen said it was monumental. “I wasn’t very goal oriented before music. I have been in some pretty dark situations. If it wasn’t for music there is no telling what type of man I would have been” Ruttlen added.
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