YG & DJ Mustard | In the Purgatory Between Moderate Success and Stardom [Interview 2013]

Interview was originally written for True-Magazine.com’s 71st print issue.

BEGIN INTERVIEW:
Driving north on the 101 through the city of Angels late on a misty winter night, on my way to YGʼs studio near the Hollywood Hills, the city almost feels heavenly. Mesmerized by skyscrapers to the west, partly hidden by ethereal clouds, and the fact that thereʼs no traffic northbound on the 101, I find myself getting comfortable. When, all of a sudden, a mass of illuminated tail lights immediately bring me down to earth, stuck between a drive I was enjoying and my destination – YGʼs modest, yet far above average, home which is nestled between blue collared Thai Town and the extremely wealthy in the foothills just below the iconic Hollywood sign.

Boogie | The Reach [2015 Mixtape Review]

Click the album cover to stream Boogie’s “The Reach” at Hot New Hip Hop

An artist’s ability to clearly communicate a story, as well as to connect his specific story to others’ stories, allows him to transcend contexts and genres and almost ensures longevity.

Boogie‘s unique tone and diction combined with production that accentuates and doesn’t compete with the lyrical content on The Reach, pulls the listener in, confronting him/her with the complex content and themes therein.

Oddisee | The Good Fight (2015 Album)

In a word, impeccable. Oddisee is an oddity among the thousands of hip hop artists who are fumbling around with old formulas and trying to replicate those their friends idolize. As much of the genre is meandering through mediocrity, Oddisee is truly blazing a unique trail.

Nicholas Hunt | The Echelon [Video]

SAC has been eagerly awaiting the re-emersion of Nicholas Hunt (formerly EQ). This young emcee is among the upper Echelon in hip hop right now, and exaggeratedly so when placed alongside others his age. This is, in his words, “a… regenensis”.

Phora | Before Its Over Pt. 2 [Video]

SAC has been a fan of this young up-and-comer, Phora, for years now (read more HERE), and I just can’t say enough about how he has taken his life experience and used it as a platform to give a generation of kids a voice. While his music is very specifically his, it is also telling the story of countless millennials trying to find hope beyond a broken system handed to them by the previous generation, be it the music industry or the economy. He isn’t simply complaining, he is carving a path to success, which then provides his peers and those looking up to him with a blueprint that can be used to build their futures.