Talented artists take time to make it to the top; some even come out of the shadows to show the world what they’ve got. When it comes down to music, true artists broaden their mind and open themselves to any and all the music the world has to offer. If you could listen and study the lyrics that a genuine artist, no matter what genre, has to say and bring across, then inspiration becomes a deeper reasoning into your music.

One such artist keeps his mind open to all sorts of music and studies the reasoning behind those lyrics. I bring you another talented artist from the playground of artists in the South. He goes by the name of Vel and reigns from the heart of Miami. He’s worked with several production teams to incorporate the sound that he’s looking for to the exact niche. This unsigned hype keeps music in his heart and takes inspiration from his music from different angles of the spectrum. I formally introduce you to Vel, real name, no gimmicks.

24: First off, how is everything with you?

Vel: Blessed. Struggling and working, but loving every moment cause it’s going to pay off.

24: Let’s dive right into your history, where did all this begin for you?

Vel: It started for me when I was like in elementary school, I remember going to my grandma’s house and one of my cousins was like, ‘Yo can you rap cause that’s what we do around here and I was like yeah, but I really couldn’t so I had use some of Jay- Z lines and he was like, ‘Yo that shit was tight (laughs), but after that I started perfecting my own craft and style and been writing ever since.

24: While growing up as a child, who were your major music influences?

Vel: As a child I would say it was all Hip-Hop from 2Pac and Biggie of course. Even though I took Jay-Z lines, I  didn’t like him until later (laughs), but Outkast definitely. Trick Daddy and Nas, but now as I have grown, my mind is more open I listen to anything that sounds good to Pat Benetar to Bob Seger to Rick James and R. Kelly.

24: Now let’s get into your music; I have heard a lot of artists preach to me that when they sit down to actually write a song that the beat speaks to them in a sort of way that it tells them what to write or how the song must go, does the same go for you?

Vel: No, cause I’m going to say I’m more of a writer. For most of my songs I already had a concept in mind and already had the hook written and maybe some of the verses. When I hear the beat I kind of dictate the beat on how it’s going to sound and take control of it instead of it taking control of me, but not to knock anyone’s style cause whatever works for you, then do you.

24: As a matter of fact, where does the inspiration come from?

Vel: From life, from God, from the streets, from a lot of books that I’ve read. I take the good, the bad and the ugly and everything in between and bring it all out.

24: What producers have you worked with or plan to work with?

Vel: As far as beats, I’m real picky when it comes to my beats, like a women with shoes (laughs). I worked with Felony Beats, March Pedro, Proffesir, Eagle from Ear Knockas, Vakseen, his shit is tight. In the future, I would like to work with House of Bangers, they upcoming and they got fire and I would like to work with anyone who is hungry, unselfish and got heat.

24: As an independent artist, are the grind and the hustle a little more difficult?

Vel: Yes and no because since Hip-Hop has gotten so big and technology has improved so much, there’s a lot of ventures out there where your music can be heard and you can put it out there. Since Hip-Hop got so big and the technology has improve they’re a lot more people trying to get in and flooding the market it with bullshit that people are not trying to give it a listen. It’s a catch 22.

24: Not to put you on the spot, but with all the up and coming artists in the game, what would you say sets you apart from all of them?

Vel: I stay away from the clichés I’m not trying to portray that gangster dope boy image that everybody elseis portraying or look at me I’m flashy or I got a Bentley. When I don’t have a Bentley type style I talk about stuff people can relate to, you know, social aspects relationships self raising. My material is more enlightening and more uplifting that’s what separates me from the rest of these artists.

24: How would the fans go about contacting you?

Vel: My number is (754)423-7686, my e-mail bigvel77@yahoo.com, the myspace is myspace.com/bigveldazoe. Fans, labels, management team, I’m an independent unsigned artist if you can make anything happen holla at me.

24: Do you have any last words before we close this exclusive? Shout outs?

Vel: Just expect a lot from me because I’m going to bring a lot to the game expect to hear from me soon and check me out on myspace, hit me up on the yahoo, hit me up on my phone number, let’s make it happen.Imagine it, record labels, fans let me know what’s up tell me, what you like tell me what you don’t like just holla at me. Shout outs to God, 24hourhiphop.com and my man Zenn.

Photography by James P