24: Introduce yourself to everyone that doesn’t already know who you are and tell us where you’re from.

X: I am Xplicit from Miami. I’m a songwriter.

24: Before we get into your music, can you briefly describe how you got your name, how you came about getting into the music industry and who were some of the artists that inspired you?

X: My name is basically self-explanatory; I push the edge a lot in my music. So, it was only right to name myself Xplicit. I’ve always had passion for music since I was young and I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. As far artists go, Nas, Kanye West, The Dream, Jay Z, Eminem, Neyo, and Joe Budden are in the list.

24: For those who may be unfamiliar, can you list some of your most recent song placements?

X: Flo-Rida “Turn around (5,4, 3,2, 1)”, Soulja Boy Ft. Trey Songz “Hey Cutie”, T.I ft. Drake “Poppin Bottles” are a few of the most recent ones.

24: When did you first feel you were your own writer/performer?

X: Mmmm… Well I was originally a hip-hop artist, but at the same time I loved writing all genres of music. So I knew that I had to put myself in a situation where I could do all. So I decided to put the artist “Xplicit” on hold and pursue songwriting.  

24: Now that you have an audience, do you feel a special responsibility when you write a song?

X: Of course, because I’m not only writing as a songwriter, but also as a fan. I want to provide the listeners with the same feeling that I get while writing these records.

24: Have you always felt this way?

X: Yea because it isn’t so much about me. It’s all about the fans and the consumers; you guys are buying these records. My job is to please you guys.

24: How do you resolve the autobiographical nature of your lyrics when collaborating with artists?

X: I try to put myself in their shoes; it’s basically a game. But as a songwriter, it’s my job to study their styles and mimic them to the best of my ability. I want to be able to tell you their story through my writing.

24: How much in a song is Xplicit and how much is the artist you are writing the record for?

X: Well it depends on the artist. Whether I’m collaborating with the artist or if I’m producing and writing the records from scratch and shopping them to be placed. It really varies depending on the situation.

24: Do you find it easier to write rap or Pop/R&B records?

X: Hip-Hop is easy to me, not saying that Pop is difficult but Hip-Hop is second nature to me, that’s my background. I enjoy writing all genres of music though; I’m a music lover first.
 
24: Generally speaking now, what makes a song a hit?

X: No one really knows what a hit record is, it all depends on the listeners, how much funding the labels put behind a record, and the politics behind the record which makes it a hit.

24: Do you know when you have written a hit?

X: When my bank tells me so! Haha. No, but seriously when you’re on every chart and your record is spinning everywhere, that’s when you know you have a hit.

24: Which one of your songs do you like best?

X: Well, which one of your kids do you like best? Lol…I love all my music the same. It’ll be unfair to just choose one.

24: How did you come to write Turn Around (5,4,3,2,1) for Flo Rida?

X: I was working on Flo Rida records in Atlantic Studios, when I came up with “mm da da” Mike Caren loved the idea, and had me work the first half of the chorus 12 times, until I got it right. Mike Caren knows hit records; he is a genius! And just like he said, Flo Rida heard it and fell in love with it instantly.

24: Did you intend for Turn Around to become a Flo Rida record?

X: Yeah I wrote it intentionally for him. It was tailored for him; I had no other artist in mind when writing it.

24: Did you sense that Turn Around was a potential single?

X: I only go off from what the label tells me. Right now I’m keeping my fingers crossed and seeing what it does.

24: Let’s switch gears and talk a little craft. Do you abide by any specific guidelines to give your songwriting direction or continuity?

X: No, I have no specific formula when writing a record. I write upon feeling, if I don’t feel it within the first 30 seconds I can’t write the record. I have to move on.

24: How structure-conscious are you?

X: It’s all about catching melodies to me. Me and my partners @_TheMonsters & @TheStrangerz philosophy is the more hooks on the record, the better. And I’m not talking about the chorus being repeated. I’m talking about each part of the song has to be as catchy as the chorus.

24: Have you ever experienced a dry spell?

X: Always, I’m human. As people we go through things in life that might hit the “off” switch in our creativity. It takes a lot of discipline to snap out of it and get back to work, but you have to do it because at the end of the day, this is my job and how I feed my family.

24: How do you deal with the fear of failure?

X: Failure is not an option, and if it comes a time when I do fail, I’m always ready for the next opportunity.

24: How long does it take you to bang out a song?

X: You can always make a song better. It really all depends on the record. Some songs take 15 min, while some take 4 days. I never put out a record that I’m not fully content with. My team and I are perfectionists.

24: When you write lyrics, do you have any special do’s and don’ts?

X: Shit, I’m giving away my secrets Haha. I try to stay away from so many cliché concepts. Even though you’re forced to use them once in awhile, I try to make myself as creative and new as possible.

24: Do you have any do’s and don’ts as a melody writer?

X: Do’s and don’ts? DON’T ever write anything whack! Lol… And don’t ever be too scared to say anything on a record.

24: Do you spend more time on your melodies or lyrics?

X: Mmmm… both. Like I said earlier, I’m a perfectionist. The melody is just as important as the words.
 
24: And, as the charts show, your audience is one of the big ones. Which brings us to business.
How do you deal with your songs becoming commercial commodities?

X: You have to have a great team around you that is going to push a record and place you in the right position to make the hit records. S/O to HiaEnt, InkMusic, TheDBHHFirm, and Timeless Management.

24: How have you and the rest of your team been able to deal with the sacrifices that come with success?

X: Well it’s a sacrifice. Sacrifices are never easy; they’re not supposed to be. My whole team just picked up and moved to LA and left our families back in Miami. You have to DREAM BIG AND HUSTLE HARD.

24: Since everybody has got the “why me’s,” what advice would you give to the hopeful
songwriter who may be suffering from the “why-not-me’s?”

X: If you’re asking “why-not-me” you’re not built for this business. God has a plan for every one of us, but we hold our destiny in our hands. It’s who goes the hardest, who makes it the farthest.

24: How do you feel about the current state of music in general?

X: I love music. I love the music now; it’s taken me a bit to get use to though. But Music in the 80s was different from the 90s and so on and so on. But I love music so much, that I’m able to adjust and appreciate it for what it is.

24: What else are you currently working on? 

X: I’m currently working on all your favorite artist projects and also I’m low key starting my own project …

24: How would the fans go about contacting you?

X: They can contact me via twitter @iamxplicit, @_TheMonsters, and www.xplicithiphop.com

24: Thank you for providing 24hourhiphop.com with this exclusive interview, do you have any last words for your present and future fans?

Yeah all glory to God, prayers come up and dreams come down, it’s HIA…