Hip-hop is a genre best known for its strong rhythmic beats and rapped vocals dripping with wordplay. Over the course of its 50-year history, so many elements have evolved and changed, but Midwest emcee (I)deal is on a mission to keep the roots of hip-hop alive in his music.
Following the success of his single “The Crown” featuring Benny the Butcher and recent release of his ode to the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, “Watchu Say?!” fans are finally getting the solo project they have been waiting for. “Scatterbrained” will be (I)deal’s first album and he has referred to this project as his magnum opus stating, “everything from the lyrics to the features to Pooney’s production speaks to this particular moment in space and time.”
Urban Magazine got a chance to catch up with (I)deal ahead of his most recent European tour, to learn a little more about him, discuss falling in love with hip-hop, what it means to be a rapper from the Midwest, and more:
I like the new single. It’s everything that I grew up loving about hip-hop. It made me nostalgic and curious. When was the moment that you knew you were in love with hip-hop?
It was a little bittersweet, actually. I discovered 2pac a little after his death. My cousin had an All Eyez on Me CD that he didn’t vibe with, but he knew I would like it. From then it was like yeah, this is what I’m going to do with my life. I went through the whole “Pac isn’t really dead” thing. Then I discovered his poetry. “A Rose That Grew From Concrete” inspired me to start writing poetry as well, but I never lost sight of the hard-coupled rhymes that led me to start rapping.
Interesting enough, that’s very similar to my story, only it was shortly after Biggie died. Even as a journalist from Brooklyn, his career and music have been very influential. When you think of being inspired by artists from the Midwest, who are the names that come to mind?
The legends like Twista and Bone Thugs, for sure. Then you have Lupe. And of course, Chance who is like a hip-hop ambassador for the Midwest. They were all influential in my accepting that I didn’t have to act like I was from somewhere else to make it in hip-hop. Honestly, the Midwest is more than just hip-hop, it’s music. We had Motown, and the list of artists from the Midwest is just too long to name everyone.
I read that you were in a band. Can you tell me about that? What kind of music do you all make?
Yea, I’m a member of the band Midwest Hype. I’ve been touring with them since I was like 18. I like to say that we are genre fluid, because we can do anything, but we specialize in hip-hop, jazz, funk and reggae.
What is your favorite part of making music?
The writing process. I know it sounds crazy, but I love words. I have to write something every day. Like if I couldn’t write, I would malfunction. [laughter] I’m serious. If it wasn’t for music I’d have probably been a journalist.
With over 500 shows under your belt, I would have sworn you were going to say performing.
I do love performing. I love writing more. The experiences are just different. When I perform, I get to give people the music the way I intended. The way it feels in the moment. As an artist, when I record I’ll like what I did and then six months or so later there is usually something that bugs me. Minor things that no one but me typically notices. Performing live gives me a chance to fix those mistakes. That’s one of the things touring for so long taught me.
When I’m performing live, the beat and the hook have to be catchy enough to hook the audience and make them dance. It also should make them want to download or stream the song later. That’s when I can really leave an imprint. They get home and it registers that the music was lyrical as well.
Speaking of all the things that make a hip-hop dope, who are the artists in your top 5?
My top 5?! Ok, this is in no particular order: Nas, Jay-Z, Eminem, Mos Def, Black Thought. With Lupe and Q-Tip, as my honorable mentions. I think we’re all a little partial to the music of our time. I grew up on them, and I enjoy seeing how artists like Jay-Z and Nas have aged gracefully in this industry.
It’s very clear that you have been influenced by the artists you grew up on and the ones you’ve been fortunate enough to work with. What do you hope someone else might take from your career?
That you can come from anywhere, hustle your ass off and get out of it. I want to give hope to kids.
What’s something interesting that people may not know about you that definitely impacts your music?
I brought my parents a house from selling weed legally. I grow weed for cancer patients. My business partner and I are opening our dispensary to the public in September. My business partner is also my producer. He was actually in a Snoop video with our product. We’re opening our dispensary to the public in September.
Honestly, I think the best thing I can do for humanity is to keep growing the best weed I can and making the best music I can. The two have always gone hand in hand for me.
I know you have a flight to catch, and I thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me. Last question, when can fans expect the album?
Oh, the album is coming on June 2nd. It was produced entirely by my man, Pooney. I’m so excited. I’ll be going live to promote the album.
Priya Williams
