Eastside

By: Ariyana Griffin

XYMu5lqT.jpg-large When we talk about the new era of the LA rap game it is so important not to forget the Eastside, because right now that’s where the vibes are. Today we have a Long Beach rapper by the name of N8 Carter, all the links to his social media and music streaming platforms will be below so make sure you check those out before you leave!

Every artist has a different way that they discovered, and started getting into their craft so I asked, “ When did you start rapping?“

I started rapping when I was young maybe about 11-12 I was writing my own rhymes. Trying to write songs.

There are different writing process, one may not write, write after they have the beat, or even before, but I was curious on “what N8’s writing process is?”

My writing process was really write lyrics to beats that I like. Random beats I always came across, I’d write freestyles every once in awhile as well. My writing styles has changed a lot since then, now I usually just get behind the mic and just spit. Whatever comes out I stick with or start over. My lyrics became more fresh and more passionate because it was the first thing off of my head.

Joint albums in my opinion are dope, and its a few people that need to get on that wave ASAP so I asked,” If you could have a joint album with one rapper dead or alive who would it be?”

If I could have a joint album with anybody right now dead or alive it would probably be Drake. I think we’d bring out a whole new energy between each other.

GREAT ANSWER!!

A person’s first CD that they owned tells a lot about a person so I asked “what was the first CD you remember owning, and how did it influence you?”

I think the first CD I owned was like Country Grammar I believe. That’s the album I do remember having when I was kid. It influenced me so much to this day because as an artist one thing Nelly taught me was how to make a hit. It’s not always about who can rap the best but he gave us music that would last a lifetime.

Whats your favorite and least favorite thing about creating music?

My most favorite thing about creating music is the head space I get put in when I’m in the zone. I feel like I can’t do no wrong. I feel free I feel like I can be myself and anybody else I want to be. My least favorite thing is actually the tediousness off it. Not going to lie trying to mix certain sounds together can be quite frustrating at times.

Gawdly is the name of his EP, but he explained the inspiration behind it and what the name means.

My inspiration behind Gawdly was everything really. Gawdly is an acronym for God Always Will Deliver, Love Yours. So from the first to the last song it was all inspired by events and feelings in our every day lives. I’m very concept based so every song has a setting, a meaning, and a lot of truth to them. I also wanted to bring a sound that resonated, I wanted people to really feel everything I said on every song.

I love how hard Los Angeles artist It’s really a great year for LA artist, I wanted to know how N8 Carter felt about that.

It has been a great year for LA hip hop, so many dope artists coming out with some heat. Especially out of Long Beach. Long Beach has a sound right that’s just so different. From especially from all of our more stand out artists nobody really sounds the same and I think that’s what truly makes us unique. I don’t ever feel like my music sounds like anybody else at the moment and I love that.

N8 Carter stays busy, this is what he has coming up.

I have a clothing line releasing very soon for the ladies. I just wrapped my last shoot for the GAWDLY movie I will be releasing it early 2020. And I have finished my next music project so we starting off 2020 with a bang for sure.

Links

Music Videos

https://t.co/9r0nSSgSRF?ssr=true

https://t.co/i5fFYp11JJ?ssr=true

Apple Music

Spotify

Twitter

Instagram- @n8cartermusic

By: Ariyana Griffin

You may have seen the question floating around, “Who is Airplane James?” Well, today I am going to finally get the answer! I do know that he is more than just a rapper from the Eastside, he is truly an artist who puts his all into his craft. Airplane James is changing and embracing the Eastside sound, so if you haven’t listened already, you have to tap in! In today’s music industry it’s rare for an artist to have a great beat, lyrics with meaning, and visuals that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also have meaning. You definitely need his latest project, Eastside Project, in your rotation. Another dope new project is on the way and you want to tap in, it’ll be worth it I promise you! Make sure you check the links below for social media and music links.

I wanted to finally get the answer to the question “Who is Airplane James” and his answer was:

“I feel like I should have more intricate story on how I got the name, but I don’t. My middle name is James, and airplane is something my Grandma would really use as a playful insult to me being hard-headed and wanting to do things my way as a kid. She’d say “boy, your head is just as wide as fuckin’ airplane, you don’t listen to anybody” I just ran with it as an ode to her.

But as far as who I am… I’m just a regular nigga off the Eastside that just so happens to be good at music. When you listen to me…you’ll find out. I’m a father, a family man, a son, a brother. I go through the same shit everybody else do”.

As many Los Angeles natives know, the Eastside is very different, like any other part of LA. They have their own everything, style, lingo, you name it, so I asked, “How did growing up on the east side affect your upbringing and your style?”

Man, I had a cool upbringing. I didn’t have it “super hard”. Every rapper says that shit, those niggas be lying. I was raised by my granny, who taught me a lot. I wasn’t allowed to go outside my gate until I was around twelve years old, I had to ride my bike and shit in the backyard so when I finally was able to go outside that gate, it was like a kid in a candy store.

I got into everything you could imagine, except doing drugs or selling them. But everything in the streets was enticing to me. It wasn’t until my friend got locked up and they gave him a decade that I woke up and was like…. Wait, this isn’t what I’m supposed to be doing. I feel everyone weighs their options and I knew then I wasn’t a nigga that was supposed to be sitting in someone’s prison.

So from there I started mapping out what I wanted to do. The Eastside instilled in me a sense of pride though, I’ll tell you that. Any Los Angeles native knows we are like the bastards. People call us easy, dirty, and all that shit, but a lot of history started on the Eastside. So when I started doing this shit seriously, I made it my mission to put us on the map, the Eastside as a whole. Like YALL GOT US FUCKED UP, was really my mentality and still is. Anybody from the Eastside know it’s a vibe. We got our own lingo and everything. Every other sentence we start it with “boy”, so you hear that a lot in my music.

Since 2019 will be over in the blink of an eye, I asked, “what are some of your goals for the rest of the year?”

Man, I’m already in 2020 with it. Just keep perfecting the craft. It’s a couple things in the works that I can’t speak on at the moment, but we’ll revisit this… say October or so.

Who is your inspiration and what artist do you look up to

My inspirations are my kids, my woman, my homies, they all drive me. All these pictures I paint, they inspired it in some way. As of late, I don’t really look up to any artist. But back then, nigga USHER was the shit to me, I ain’t gon lie. I grew up on Hot Boyz, Bow Wow, and just whatever was out. It wasn’t until I was older that I went back and listen to all the classics. People will probably crucify me but, I just listened to Jay Z blueprint.

Who are some people you want to work with in the future ?

Snoop Dogg, Arin Ray, Kehlani, Missy Elliot, John Mayer, Frank Ocean, Kee Riches, 22Icecoldbishop, Rucci, and the rest of the niggas that got it going crazy right now.

What is some advice you would give your younger self ?

Everything you going through serves a purpose and I’d tell myself to finish school.

What’s something you want people to know about you that they probably wouldn’t expect

They probably wouldn’t expect me to be as hands on as I am with every single aspect when it comes to my career. I co-direct, co-produce, and I design my own merchandise.

Who is the GOAT??! Lil Wayne, Drake, or Kanye