Hip Hop Artist Interviews

Industry heavyweights and fast rising phenoms step inside the DJBooth for exclusive interviews with DJ Z

YelaWolf Interview

Looks can be deceiving, but blown-out speakers don’t lie. Though much has been made of YelaWolf‘s unconventional appearance – he’s white, covered in ink and looks more like a punk rocker than your average emcee… – it’s the Alabama up-and-comer’s fresh, attention-grabbing sound that’s got the ‘net buzzing and subwoofers rattling across the nation. Drawing from classic rock, old-school rap, and the quintessentially Southern style of …

XV Interview

Filed under: We Got Next, Interviews

There are some mysteries that seem destined to remain unsolved: who was the real Kennedy assassin? How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? And why wasn’t XV signed to a major, like, yesterday? Though the answers to those questions may never become clear, there’s a very good chance hip-hop heads won’t be asking that last one for much …

I.Y.A.Z. Interview

Filed under: Pop, R&B, We Got Next, Interviews

Next time you’re cleaning out your MySpace inbox and come across a message from a musical megastar like, say, Sean Kingston, don’t just roll your eyes and click ‘delete,’ assuming it was sent by an impostor – that message just might be your ticket to the big leagues! Such was the case for I.Y.A.Z. Smith; though the British Virgin Islands-bred singer was skeptical when the Caribbean-pop …

Wiz Khalifa Interview

Filed under: We Got Next, Interviews

As anyone who’s ever flown with a major airline is well aware, getting off the ground is never as simple as it seems. Even after you’ve managed to check your baggage, get through security and find your gate, unforeseen circumstances can leave you landlocked for hours on end. Since last we spoke with him, buzzmaking emcee Wiz Khalifa‘s found himself in a similar situation; tired of …

J. Cole Interview

Filed under: We Got Next, Interviews

For most up-and-coming emcees, the prospect of stepping onstage in front of 10 thousand-plus fans to spit a verse alongside the great Jay-Z would sound like nothing more than a nice dream (or a nightmare, if you’re performing in your underwear). For J. Cole, however, this incredible scenario has become a reality. The Fayetteville, N.C.-bred, NYC-based emcee had just a single mixtape (‘07’s The Come Up) …

Jaicko Interview

Filed under: Pop, R&B, We Got Next, Interviews

Situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, the island of Barbados is well-know for its scenic beaches, its immaculate – and, in recent years, its uncanny knack for churning out pop/R&B talent. Since Rihanna opened the floodgates earlier this decade, the nation has produced a steady stream of promising artists, including “T-Shirt” singer Shontelle and Jive signee Livvi Franc. The latest rising star to emerge from …

Emilio Rojas Interview

Filed under: We Got Next, Interviews

If Emilio Rojas comes off as a little “Bold and Arrogant,” you can rest assured that he’s earned it. As an up-and-comer who left his hometown for Brooklyn with no job, no cash, and no clear plans, and then proceeded to quickly establish himself as one of the crowded NYC hip-hop scene’s most promising young talents, the rapper has a lot to be proud of. Already …

Jason Derulo Interview

Filed under: Pop, R&B, We Got Next, Interviews

We in the Booth pride ourselves on spotlighting emerging talents before they reach the big-time, and 19-year-old singer/songwriter Jason Derulo is a prime example of our knack for early adoption. When we first featured the Miami up-and-comer way back in August of ‘08, we had no doubt that his commitment to his craft would take him to the top of the game, and the overwhelmingly positive …

Fashawn Interview

Filed under: We Got Next, Interviews

In recent months, the Booth has been abuzz over the burgeoning West Coast revival, spearheaded by such talented artists as Nipsey Hussle, Pac Div and U-N-I (to name just a few). Another major player in the growing movement, Fashawn is an up-and-comer we know very well. With an acclaimed mixtape discography stretching back to the age of 15 and a long list of reader-approved features (including …

Pac Div Interview

Filed under: We Got Next, Interviews

With a sound that never quite fit into the SoCal box, scrappy rap trio Pac Div may have seemed like a long shot, but if there’s one lesson we’ve learned from sports movies, it’s that the underdog always wins (unless you’re Rocky, in which case you have to wait for the sequel). In true cinematic fashion, brothers Like and Mibbs and longtime friend BeYoung have triumphed …

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Hip Hop Artist Interviews

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