Features

For those that aren't familiar with E Reece, how would you describe your sound?

My sound is more universal than anything.  You can't really pinpoint where I'm from from [with] the music I make and it doesn't really alienate anyone or any one region. It appeals to everyone, from East to West, from young to old.  I call my music ‘Organic Hip Hop’ because it's true school hip-hop without all of the negative additives and preservatives that feeds your mind, body and soul. It’s just good music with a heavy jazz influence.

Do you still play the Saxophone? What part of your musicality did you walk away with from your time with that instrument?

I don't really play anymore and have kind of retired. I hope to one day pick it up again on a more consistent basis. From having grown up playing in bands, I can spot great musicianship and dope musicians, this has helped me form my live band Core Elements. I have good timing and rhythm and playing the sax has helped me with my delivery, tone and inflection when I rap.

Having spent a bit of time between both New York City and Los Angeles what do you think some of the biggest differences are when it comes to the people and the lifestyle?

Well NYC and LA are night and day. In NYC you have the subways, cabs, people walking the streets, the hustle and bustle attitude and a fast paced lifestyle. The people are a little brash, but for the most part they are good and honest. In LA you have freeways, everyone's in a car and the city is large and spread out. It closes down early so people can get their beauty sleep! (Laughs) It’s kind of disconnected in a way and it doesn't have the same energy as NYC. But you can't beat the weather and the scenery. You just have to love being able to ride around town on your bike without a shirt on in October! The people are more relaxed and love to see a smile. How can you not be chill with the beach right here?!

Is the West your new home or do you see yourself moving back East eventually? How has your time in LA affected your music?

The West is my new home. I don't know if I will move back. If I could tell the future I'd be a lot richer! (Laughs) I just had a child and most of my family is back East in Maryland and I'd love him to be around them for a portion of his childhood, but we'll have to see. The West has been good to me and I've had constant elevation and steady progress since I've been here. I guess its made my music more carefree in some ways.  I think I'd really make the same music anywhere I was in the world because it comes from me and I am who I am no matter where I am ya know?!

Give us the low on the new album Concrete Steppin'. Who you got on there and what can we expect when we give it a listen.

Well I've got production from the likes of Oddisee, Kev Brown, Presto, Proh Mic and others, with features from Buff1, Othello, El Prez, Tunji and more. It’s a solid hip-hop album from top to bottom and a real cohesive listen. You can expect to hear dope beats and dope rhymes, with subject matter that you'll be able to relate to.

What has been one of the biggest challenges of being an independent artist?

The lack of proper marketing and promotions [that comes] without having a big-time budget. There are hella dope indie cats out there, but a lot of them go unnoticed because there is such an unbalance between what you hear and see on commercial radio and video. Plus there is a real unbalance in underground hip-hop being heard on major market radio. More and more major market radio stations are not playing underground music and have cancelled a lot of the shows that showcase indie artists. Plus, a lot of promoters don't book indie artists because they haven't heard of you, even though your music is dope as hell! There's a real unfair mindset in the heads of a lot of people who book shows. I can confidently say that I can out perform a lot of more well known MCs out there and have better music than them, but because they have a bigger name, they get the booking. It’s a real catch 22 that you have to deal with as an indie artist. You just have to believe and have that confidence in yourself.

In terms of your own listening habits what's been on rotation? Is it predominantly older material or do you listen to new artists? How do you let new music inspire you, if at all.

I listen to a lot of golden era hip-hop just because that's the music that I like and that moves me the most. I do hit the blogs and stay on top of the new cats that are coming out. Currently I'm feeling Joell Ortiz, Stalley, Sean Price, Curtains and J. Cole. I like to stay in the know. Honestly new music doesn't inspire me at all. I'm mostly inspired by music that moves me and most new music just makes me laugh when I listen to it. There's really no feeling and a lot of the beats sound the same. Keyboards sounds, simple drums, handclaps, etc. There are a lot of underground cats though that inspire me to the point of when I listen to them and I hear something ill, it may make me want to write something sick. Most of my inspiration comes from everyday life though.

You’ve collaborated with a lot of artists and producers in the past, who would you love to collaborate with in the future?

I'd love to work with great producers like Pete Rock, DJ Premier, DJ Scratch, Alchemist, Will.i.am and artists like De La Soul, Q-Tip, Black Thought, Busta Rhymes, KRS One, among others.

We've heard you bring a solid energy to your live performances, what's the key ingredient?

Just being yourself and being comfortable and confident in your music and thinking of ways to make it more interesting from an audience stand point. Don't kill the crowd with long songs with a lot of verses. Keep it moving and take them places. Take 'em on a ride, keep it flowing and keep the energy up!

What can we expect next from E Reece? Anything we should be up on? Shoutouts?

Next I plan to work on a project entirely produced by my boy T.iM The Imagination outta Brooklyn, who’s originally from LA. The vibe will be on some cosmic, sonic, outer spaceness, with a lot of other sounds I don't normally rhyme to, but that has hip-hop at its foundation. I want to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself. I'll continue to collaborate with other like-minded artists as well as performing to support my new record Concrete Steppin. I'm booking shows through the winter and working on linking up on a tour in Europe around November. Make sure to check out my websites, Ereecelive.com and Ereece.bandcamp.com for all of the latest and greatest. Shout outs to ACCLAIM, HiPNOTT Records, Elevated Mental, Dunn Deal PR for hooking this up and respect to all of my fans and supports out there. Stay up and pay attention!

You heard E Reece for more on his releases and tours check for Ereecelive.com and his Bandcamp. Concrete Steppin is out now.