Torae
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24: What made you want to get into music? Torae: I never really made a conscious effort
to get into the music industry. I never told myself I’m going to be a rapper
or anything like that. It became more a second nature almost and before I knew
it I was in it. Then later on I did make a decision to pursue this as a profession
and take it seriously.
24: Describe your style of music and what
you feel you bring to the table as an artist?
Torae: I would say its vintage Hip Hop and
aggressive at the same time, I like to call it “Back To The Future”
because when you hear my content and the concepts of my songs they might remind
you of some Classic or Old School Hip Hop but lyrically, I’m a few years
ahead of artist.
24: What type of beats do you like to
write to?
Torae: My man Clark Kent, shout out to him
always told me pick beats that you would not rhyme to he said it will always
help you express and further yourself more along with challenging yourself at
the same time. Sometimes when it comes to choosing beats, I’ll pick 2
joints I love and 3 joints that I feel will challenge me. As far as personal
preference I like soul and also some up-tempo beats along with hard street joints
and something I would not normally pick.
24: How do you approach making a song,
do you start with the hook or the verses?
Torae: Usually I write the first verse then
I write the hook, the beat dictates what the verse is going to say then the
hook dictates what the verse is going to say.
24: How did you link up with the legendary
Preemo?
Torae: Preemo and I had a couple of mutual
friends in Hip Hop and word got back to me as well as Skyzoo that he wanted
to work with us. He wanted to work with both of us separately but because of
his busy schedule at the time he said would it be cool if I just did a record
with both of you guy’s featured on it. So it basically just came off of
mutual respect for each other’s work.
24: I recently read your Bio on your myspace
page and realize you have been grinding for a minute. Where do you get your
work ethic?
Torae: Just my love and passion for the music,
it drives me. Everyday I turn on the radio or T.V. and I hear someone who does
not have as much talent as I do or my people that’s the fuel that keeps
my fire going.
24: What artist signed or unsigned inspires
you and pushes you to make the best music possible?
Torae: It’s sad to say but not too much
in Hip Hop inspires me these days, so I get a lot of inspiration from listening
to Miles Davis, Stevie Wonder or Ray Charles and seeing how they over came so
many obstacles while still going to the studio and make those hits. For example
Marvin Gaye how he made songs 20 years ago that feel like it was written for
the shit I’m going through today so my inspiration is from people who
make timeless music.
24: Everyday there seems to be a new artist
coming out. How do you separate yourself from the others?
Torae: Coming from the hood we all have similar
stories so with that being said I feel like when I bring more to the table content
wise, subject matter, alternating my flow and delivery because you can go down
any block and find 20 rappers so what is going to separate everyone is who can
paint the best picture or tell the best story and invoking emotion to your music.
24: What Major label right now do you
feel you would fit best and why?
Torae: I think probably SCR (Steve Rifkin Label
former CEO of Loud Records). I feel like Steve gets my type of music and I like
the type he has introduced to the industry like Wu-Tang, Big Pun, Mobb Deep,
Dead Prez, and more recently David Banner & Akon. Especially after Akon
first album did not do too well and the label didn’t just give up on the
album they kept working it and putting out more single until it eventually went
platinum. Plus, if I was going to go to a major label which I’m not stressing
for it would be over there.
24: What’s next in line for Torae?
Torae: Always music first and foremost. I just
recently got picked to be the host for the new Beat Society Tour. It starts
this summer and we starting out in Canada. I actually use to act. I did a bunch
of videos, New York Undercover, so I’m reading a bunch of scripts and
starting to get back into that, but music will always be the #1 then every thing
else falls after that.
24: How can some one get in contact with
you?
Torae: Shout’s out to Myspace. I hope
nothing ever happens to that people can reach me through there at WWW.MYSPACE.COM/YOUNGVET.
24: Any last comments before we get out
of here?
Torae: Shout out’s to everyone on myspace
and please if I have not got back to you, understand that when I go to my computer
I normally have at least 5,6 pages of unread messages so I try to get back to
everyone in a timely fashion. Shout outs to Preemo for changing my life, thank
you to Fat Beats for the new situation that’s dropping, Rawkus for the
new situation over. Shout to Skyzoo, Attic & The Coalescence and last but
not least everyone who loves Hip Hop.
Interview by: Jay Carter
