24hourhiphop.com got a chance to interview recording artist Real Talk. Real Talkj tells us about his life growing up along with his musical influences. He also tells us about when he began making music and, also talks to us about past, current , and future projects. Lastly, we get to check out his latest mixtape and music video. Check out the interview below and let us know what you think about our Next In Line!

 

24HHH: Introduce yourself to everyone that doesn’t already know who you are?

Real Talk: My name is Zack Zorn, aka Real Talk, and I'm a Richmond based Hip-Hop artist. Music is the only thing (outside of God and Family) that I have ever truly loved and it is with that appreciation for the art of Hip-Hop that I dedicate myself to every track. 

 
 
24HHH: How did you come up with your Artist name? Tell us about it.

Real Talk: My freshman year of college, my boy Carter and I worked on some songs together, and after he heard my first verse he said "That's some Real Talk man." It's a common saying, but it just kind of stuck. 

 

24HHH: Who were you raised by? Tell us your family situation. Got any brothers, sisters, or any siblings? Tell us about your childhood, and how it impacted your music?

Real Talk: My parents were divorced when I was two and my mom had custody of me. I have 7 siblings, 4 on my dads side, and 3 on my moms side. Some people would call them "half-siblings", but they are my brothers and sisters regardless of if only one or none of our parents are the same (I have an adopted brother on my Dad's side). Almost all of them have multiple kids, and I've been an uncle since before I could speak.

That being said, my family life really had no affect on my music. The friends that I made, and the people I was around growing up in my neighborhood and school introduced me to Rap, and the Hip-Hop culture, and it has been apart of me ever since.

 

Check out Real Talk – Here It Come (Official Video)

 
 
24HHH: What age did you start making music?
 
Real Talk: I started writing poetry/lyrics in the 6th grade, and started making music in the 10th grade. I always wrote raps for myself, but I was in bands in high school. I was a bass player/singer in some very unorganized bands early on, and didn't really come to  identify myself as a hip-hop artist until the end of my senior year of high school.

 

 
24HHH: What inspired you to pursue making music?
Real Talk: Music itself, and what it has meant to me throughout my life is what inspired me to pursue making music of my own. Music has always been the driving force in my life and there was really never another option. Nothing outside of a career in music could make me happy. I have never looked for fame or fortune, my goal is to entertain everyone who takes the time to listen to a track, or come to a show.  If someone were to ever tell me that they chose one of my songs as "their song" or a song that I wrote helped someone get through a rough time/situation, then this would all have been worth it.

24HHH: What artists/producers do you work with? Or rubbed shoulders with?

 

 

Real Talk: I have worked with a myriad of producers and artists (just not necessarily ones you would have heard of haha).  My current producer, who is doing my entire album, is T.L. Brown of Beyond Creativity. Artists I've worked with include Lukas Widhalm (Early Departure), Ryan Kent (Gritter), and again T.L. Brown.

I love working with different artists and producers, especially ones that aren't solely Rap or Hip-Hop producers. Lyrically and musically I am inspired by several different genres, so I like different genres and concepts to come through in my songs.

 

 

Check out Real Talk – Countdown To Greatness (Mixtape)

 
 
 
24HHH: What else you got coming out? New Album? or Mixtape/EP?
 

 

 

Real Talk: My 2nd full length Mixtape "Countdown to Greatness" just dropped on datpiff last week. It's the prequel to my album "Testimony of a Masquerade" coming out in September. That will be available on iTunes and my website. www.realtalkrva.com
 

24HHH: Tell us about your newest single "Music", how did you come up with that, share us the story?

Real Talk: I just released a new video for my single "Music". The beat is a sample of the Daft Punk song "One More Time". So for the video I also sampled scenes from the original video for the Daft Punk song, as well as scenes of me in the studio, and scenes from some of the pop culture references within the song. 

 

The song itself is an allegory about my outlook on music, and how i use it to empower myself.
I'm also in the process of filming my next story video for my song "Lights Out" off of my Mixtape "Listen With Your Eyes Closed", so be on the look out for that as well!

Check out Real Talk – Music (Official Video)

 
24HHH: Any new travel plans, what you got going on?
 
Real Talk: Only if you consider 2 hours for a show travel. On April 13th I will be playing at Pure Lounge in Washington DC.

Tickets available on my website!

24HHH: What is the biggest thing to happen in your career?

 

Real Talk: This past January, my song "Good Life" was featured in the David Cross film "Hits" at the Sundance Film Festival. That was truly a blessing. Nothing feels better than to hear your song in a film and see your name in the credits. AmazingCheck out Real Talk – Listen With You Eyes Closed (Mixtape)

 

 
24HHH:  Where can people find you? 
 
Real Talk: 

My website: www.realtalkrva.com

Twitter: @realtalkrva

Like me Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realtalkrva1

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PLArecordings

 
 
24HHH: Where do you see yourself going in 2014 and how do you plan to separate yourself from the other artist out today to get the recognition you feel you deserve?
 

Real Talk: I will continue my climb to the top in 2014. Whether or not I reach it within the year, or if this is a year filled with leaps forward, there is nothing to stop me from staying on my grind and continuing to perform My music. My lyrics, and stage presence set me apart from most performers in both the mainstream and underground, and that is only going to continue in and beyond 2014. 

24HHH: Any last words or shout outs?

Real Talk: Shout out and absolute gratitude to all of you who read this, especially if you take the time to watch any of my videos or download my mixtapes. I truly hope to entertain you.