Add-2

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ADD-2

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Rapper Add-2 of Chicago, IL

Rapper Add-2 from Chicago, IL plans to mark his territory in the game by serving as a voice for his fans and using storytelling to “add to” the genre of Hip Hop.

1. Where are you from? Chicago

2. When did you first begin expressing yourself through writing? I first started writing raps and poems around 6th grade. It was a way for me to deal with some of the changes that were going on in my life that I didnt understand (close family members and friends dying, friends slowly turning to drugs and street life). Writing became a way for me to release that frustration in an honest and positive way.

3. Were there any insecurities in your childhood that led you to start writing? I learned at an early age that no one is perfect even those who may appear to be perfect. Since I was younger I’ve always had a scar on the left side of my head and as a kid it made me insecure because kids would make jokes, adults would make faces and comments but instead of making me self-conscious it made my skin tougher and I became more confident.

4. Who influenced you to turn your writing into music? Around 6th or 7th grade my best friend Jeremy would always, always, always make me freestyle, no matter where we were he would force me to freestyle with him. He and a lot of other people would constantly say that I had a lot of talent in rapping but I never really seen that much potential in it. I never seen anyone making a consistent income from it so I didn’t take it serious.

5. What type of music and artists have influenced you since childhood? I listen to all sorts of music from Hip Hop, R&B, Pop, Old School, Funk, Jazz, etc. I’ve always been a big fan of artists like Common, Kanye, Jay-z, John Coltrane, Terence Blanchard, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, 2pac, B.I.G, Bone Thugs, Nas, Mary J., The Isley Brothers, Bobby Caldwell, Prince the list just goes on and on.

6. What time period in hip hop do you feel reflects your own music the most? I feel that the 90′s most reflect the music I create where it is based on lyricism, story telling, charisma and creating an emotional connection with fans by telling your story as opposed to just making hits.

7. Where does your name Add-2 come from? My father gave my brothers and I the initials A.D.D and I was the 2nd child of 3. He always said when it comes to anything in life always “add to” it never take anything away from it. So I adopted that as my own mantra and try to add to Hip Hop.

8. If you could put your music in a category, what would it be? Also, what group of people do you specifically make music for? We consider it true school where its not quite old or new school and its true to the roots of the old school. I try to make music for everybody because music is for everybody. Even though Red Hot Chilli Peppers didn’t make “Under The Bridge” for a kid on the southside of Chicago I can still relate to it and enjoy it. I could never shut off a certain group especially knowing that my music might be able to help them through their struggles.

9. Through what perspective do you approach your music? I always wanted to be able to tell the stories of those who may not be able to speak for themselves. Never sugar coat anything, just be 100% real, flaws and all.

10.Hip Hop continues to evolve regularly. What direction do you feel hip hop has taken and how do you plan to change it? Hip Hop is getting back to where we want it to be. It had a period where it was getting far from its roots but its getting back to where it started. It won’t go back to the 80′s, 90′s or 2000′s so we have to usher in a new era of music combining the best aspects of each. In every era there’s a lot positive and something negative in it as well, so we have to learn from those mistakes like bad contracts, violence or misogyny and grow from it. I plan to be apart of that growth.

11.What famous artists and producers have you work with so far? I’ve had the privilege of performing along side The Roots, I’ve worked with 9th Wonder, Khrysis, Tanya Morgan, Andy Allo, Nida Nasheeda, Slot-A, Antman Wonder, IIL Meel, Act Proof, Sean Boog, Gerald Walker, The Are and many more.

12.Which top hip hop sites have featured you on their websites? Allhiphop, HipHopDX, 2Dopeboyz, Okayplayer, OnSmash, FakeshoreDrive, DJBooth, KevinNottingHam, RubyHornet and many more. Pretty much mostly everyone but NahRight haha.

13.How did your video “Dream Girl” get to be aired regularly on MTV? Is this your first time having your music video aired on the network?I submitted it and the program directors liked it enough to play it twice a day on MtvU. It was a great feeling to see it on TV. This is the second video I was able to get on the MTV network.

14.Do you owe all of your accomplishments to the works of a promotions team or management? No, I owe my accomplishments to God and my own work ethic. I’ve never had a management or PR team, I wish I did! But not having one never made me feel I needed to wait for someone else to make my dreams come true, if anything I cut out the middle man and built my own relationship with media outlets.

15.Where can readers find out more about you, your music, and upcoming performances/events? Follow me on twitter @ADD2theMC or go to www.Add2themc.Wordpress.com

16.What does the future look like for Add-2? As long as I’m walking with God everything is looking bright. More music, more videos and a couple surprises.