Upcoming hip hop artist Al Sharp is putting together a glorious soundscape of meaningful themes that are arranged in a captivating course of hip hop characteristics.
Celebrating the glory and cultural evolution of hip hop and rap, upcoming artist Al Sharp is here with his soundscape of creative dreams. Having been brought up in a family of musicians and music, his career choice was a no surprise. His tryst with music started from a young age by the time he was in junior school, he has already started writing songs. With such insightful talent and perseverance, his course crossed paths with Inf Dot & longtime friend Fingaz to form the collective Reign of Terror that he would get the opportunity to record.
Through a friend, Al Sharp was inspired to put together a compilation album produced entirely by himself as a means to give the people an introduction to his work. The album titled Strength in Numbers Compilation vol. 1 received a widespread response and he was on to the next project Fist Born: The Beginning. He also gave his production hand to various aspiring artists. He later moved to California where he continues making music and producing for artists. In 2018 he released his album Audio Narcotic. With years of experience and songs like ‘Dirt’, ‘That ol thing Back’, ‘They Don’t Like Me’, and ‘Nameless’, he used his benefits of working with seasoned vets along with the younger generation to construct a solid body of work titled The Voice of the Unheard, his 6th solo album. For more, follow him YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for details.
Daily Music Roll: How important is thematic relevance in a song?
Al Sharp: I believe it’s very important especially nowadays since it lacks in today’s hip-hop climate. It doesn’t have to be applied to every song, but there should be a balance.
DMR: What role does the cultural roots or upbringing of an artist play in his or her soundscape?
Al Sharp: I believe it plays a large role in an artist’s soundscape. No matter who we are or where we come from we all have a story to tell from our upbringing. Whether good bad or ugly our life experience typically molds the man or woman we become, and it’s going to show in our art one way or another. In my eyes, it defines who you are as an artist. Most times life experiences are what we put in our music. Things we’ve seen or dealt with are usually the building blocks of what makes us who we are in general.
DMR: What inspires you the most as a musician?
Al Sharp: I just love the art of making music and pushing yourself to expand the culture. I want to help build on the foundation and take it to new heights. I don’t want to just exist in it.
DMR: How do you incorporate multiple influences into one blended, continuous course?
Al Sharp: It’s very unconscious. I am a student of the Hip-Hop culture ever since I was younger. I always had love for a diverse number of artists, so my bar is set at a level that I would need to achieve before I even put something out to the public. Even when putting an album together as much as I strive for consistency throughout, my influences allow me to be diverse within my tracklist cause my draw has never been on one artist style or sound.
DMR: What relevance does your personality hold in your music?
Al Sharp: Personality holds a 50/50 relevance in my music. I see that a way to draw a listener in. We may or may not be able through similar experiences, views, or interests, but my personality is the bridge to even allow someone to explore these common or uncommon grounds.
DMR: Is live performance an instrumental step in an artist’s development?
Al Sharp: For me it definitely was. It allowed me to see what songs resonate with people and why. It also showed me the emotion that comes from the music whether lyrically or from my production. I became more in-tune with my audience from live performances and it helped me with whatever I worked on thereafter from that knowledge.
DMR: Who are your favorite contemporary artists?
Al Sharp: I appreciate Kendrick Lemar, Earl Sweatshirt, The Whole Griselda camp, The Alchemist, Curren$ey, Freddy Gibbs, and Schoolboy Q among others. I can really go for days.
DMR: Do you think that making music in the lines of a hybrid genre can potentially garner more audience?
Al Sharp: Yeah most definitely. Look what it did when Run Dmc and Aerosmith collaborated on Walk this Way. That opens the gates for people like Kid Rock, Onyx, Red Hot Chilli Peppers among others. That “experimentation” brought in a wider audience that helps launch the careers of many successful artists thereafter.
DMR: How important are music videos?
Al Sharp: It goes hand in hand with the actual music. Is it absolutely needed? No, but it does help people experience you as an artist through your vision. This can further enhance the related ability as well. It gives the listener/watcher a visual to analyze and really dig into to find common or uncommon grounds.
DMR: What does the future look for hip hop?
Al Sharp: It looks good in my opinion. The doors are opening up, and there are many sub-genres within Hip-Hop to fill the needs of us all. No matter what type of Hip-Hop you like it exists. For some types, you have to find it, but it’s there. The only thing we need now is fair playing grounds in Radio-Television and so on because only certain genres of Hip-Hop is given shine in these forums.
DMR: Do emotions play an important role in your lyrical structures?
Al Sharp: Emotion makes all the difference. Anyone can say anything and you may be in tune, but the emotion is what drives your message home. The passion is felt which builds on the artist/listener bond. That will ensure they with you on whatever journey your music intends to take them.
DMR: Any pointers for upcoming musicians?
Al Sharp: Make music for the love first. Make the music you love and don’t be afraid to be yourself. Don’t try to fit in. Be the best version of yourself you can be no matter how left it may seem. There’s always an audience for it, and there’s always a group of people like yourself who wants to be represented musically, so find yourself than your audience.
