Interview: UllNevaNo (2011)

Hip Hop is probably the most dynamic form of music right now.  Albums and mixtapes get dropped almost on a daily basis.  New artists are emerging and then fading away as quickly as they came.  This leads me to bring you HHD’s latest artist spotlight on, Baltimore’s native son, UllNevaNo, so you don’t forget the name.  I caught wind of his latest single, Hand Movements, and was instantly impressed.  So just like I got put onto the man, so I put you on. This artist is not to be slept on and will not just be another flash in the pan.  So enjoy the interview and then check his music.

Interview

HHD: How did you first make the move from a listener of music, to actually making music and emceeing?

UllNevaNo: I tell everybody that I’m a huge fan of music first, growing up in middle school and through out high school I was just surrounded by emcees on a daily constantly rhyming cafeteria ciphers, so eventually I got involved in the culture and started to take my craft more serious after my first year in college, but I will always be a fan first.

HHD: I was watching an interview where you talked about being on the Grind Time Battle circuit for a while.  How has the helped you move forward in music?  Has it hindered your progress in any way?

UllNevaNo: Word. I actually distant myself from the battle circuit. I don’t have tha same hunger and desire I had for it 5 years ago. It did sorta give me that extra cushion with my career, when individuals spot my projects online and they do there research they end up stumbling across some of my battles I’ve done in the past.  I just stopped battling cause I didn’t want that title of “battle emcee” the sterotype of battle emcees can’t create dope music. I think a lot of emcees are getting into the battle circuit now just to gain a couple thousand views etc, Soul Khan said it best that youtube is a dope tool for battles but you have to make sure your on point every time cause soon as you fall on your face and choke its a wrap lol, cause viewers over analyze everything. Being on grindtime did help me and gave me a taste of how the music industry is and unprofessional individuals can be.

HHD: You also talk about being on your grind when you are an up and coming emcee.  A lot of people talk about grinding but what does that mean to you?  What are you doing out there to set yourself apart?

UllNevaNo: The phrase “I’m on my grind” is very cliche (hey that rhymed lol) but what that means to me honestly is constantly working and definitely building relationships with people and staying active. I always say to myself whenever I catch myself having down time, if I’m not working at my regular 9-5, I know some of the upcoming cats is working and writing right now I should be doing the same. It never stops, people say my strong points are that I’m very consistent, so comments like that make me work even harder. Once that break comes you have to work twice as hard with working on music, touring, getting your merch up etc.  What sets me apart from others are my projects and presenting music to the masses that I try to feed them and be creative and clever as much as possible.

HHD: There are a lot of sacrifices that artists are making to push their careers forward.  What concessions do you feel you have made in order to pursue your music? <

UllNevaNo: I’ve heard people telling me “oh this music is just a pipe dream, why are you wasting your time”.  Even family members have said some below the belt comments but they really don’t understand the grind and the dedication. Nothing happens over night. Everything is a process and it takes time. Some sacrifices that I think all artists are known for doing are coming out of pocket for studio time, merch, a publicist in order to keep the cycle running, some of us have moved to larger cities just to make the proper moves to better themselves, late nights recording and writing on Friday nights and weekends where the alternative could’ve been going out and having a social life.

HHD: For those of us across the country and unfamiliar, talk about what the hip hop scene is like in Baltimore.  There are a lot of artists bubbling in the DMV but I hear very few claiming Baltimore.  Is it a dynamic scene?

UllNevaNo: The scene here in Baltimore is very diverse and battling is really heavy out here so that’s a very quick tool to receive recognition. When I first moved here there were many hip hop open mics but due to the economy some venues have been shut down but it was a very acceptable environment. The talents that are really buzzing in this city are Sean Toure, Rome Cee, Kane Mayfield, Black Sunn and 810. Those individuals have been making noise in Baltimore, as well as on the blog tip.

HHD: Tell folks about the projects you have already released. How did you link up with Logic Marsalis for the Instant Messengers project?  How do you feel it was received? <

UllNevaNo: Maaaannnn!! The list goes on i released a project with producer Da God Knowledge in 2008 entitled “Y=MC+P” under the group The Equation(producer/emcee duo). That following year I dropped the “Color Purple” mixtape rhyming over Evidence of Dilated Peoples instrumentals. That same year I’m in a collective called Action Figures(J-Berd, Minus Nine, Da God Knowledge, Scott Free, and 1.Ton) we released “Fresh out the Box”. In 2010 I released the “Color Brown” which was mixed by Dj Harvey Dent, the 2nd project of my color series of mixtapes where I’m getting busy over Kev Brown Beats.

Me and Logic we linked up through my friend/producer Da God Knowledge just basically being a fan of eachothers music sending beats, verses back and forth online until we both one day decided to just drop a whole ep. The response from “Instant Messengers” surprised a lot of people, a lot of people wasn’t expecting the project. It just dropped out of the blue.  cats are still checking it out now you can go to instantmessengers.bandcamp.com to download for free.  This project is just to hold people off until our full length project titled “Protocol”

HHD: What do you have on tap for the masses in the near and distant future in terms of musical releases?

UllNevaNo: At the moment I’m wrapping up the “Color Brown Part 2” this time rhyming over Mello Music Producer Apollo Brown Beats, next month I’m recording a whole project in 24 hours, with Baltimore Producer Eight Sense called “Not Enough Hours in a Day” dabbling with a couple blogs to potentially sponsor the project, working on a valentines day ep slated to drop on vday 2012 so yeah man…just working trying to stay busy.

HHD:  I try not to ask the same questions of everyone but one question I do like to ask everyone I spotlight on HHD is how are you going to define success as an artist?

UllNevaNo: Wow that’s a good question lol, but honestly knowing and figuring out what lane your in is the beginning stage now just executing it and being successful and just learning everyday. I hope my career takes me on a road where I can bond and learn new facts about music in the future.

HHD: Aside from your own music, what is the last hip hop album you played?

UllNevaNo: The last 3 albums I’ve been listening to is Exile’s “4 Track Mind,” Phonte’s “Charity Starts at Home” and Chuuwee’s mixtape “Be Cool“

HHD: Obviously there are a lot of obstacles to somebody in the indie hip hop scene to making it.  Things are constantly changing in how artists get their music heard.  As an artist, what do you expect or what would you like to see from fans and your potential audience?

UllNevaNo: Your right the music game has changed drastically due to the internet but hey what can you do right!! But what I expect from potential fans is to always stay supporting that’s the main purpose of keeping a artist career moving whether its downloading an album or purchasing it, stay supporting that’s all I really expect. I’d rather for them to download it then to not hear at all that’s just the way I look at it.

HHD: Any other thoughts?

UllNevaNo: Check out the website www.ullnevanohiphop.com follow me on twitter @ullnevanohiphop and check me out at www.undersoundmusic.net