DP
When you think of Florida you can’t help but think of the sun soaked coastline of the Sunshine state that attracts tourists from all over the world.
When it comes to the music scene in the state the bass scene of the late eighties was instrumental in creating a lane from some of Florida’s biggest names, Trick Daddy, Trina, Pitbull, Jim Jonsin, Flo Rida. Now with a Floridian resurgence well under way one MC hailing from Gainesville is bringing his own twist.
Working to the beat of his own drum, DP is a lyricist who challenges himself as well as opening up to those who take the time to listen to his words and stories. With high hopes of making it in this rap game, DP might just have what it takes to put Gainesville on the map.
How did you get involved in music?
I've been playing piano since the age of six, and I knew early on that I wanted to be a performer/songwriter, probably since I was 10 years old.
Was hip-hop always your genre of choice?
I've always listened to hip-hop but you know in the early 90s, it didn't seem like an option to me to be able to actually MAKE hip-hop, I didn't have the vision to see how I could be a hip-hop artist, and fit in with what was going on, so I started a couple of bands, through middle and high school, did that, got a taste of what it was like to perform on stage, but hip-hop evolved and expanded it's reach throughout the years, to the point where I felt that the style of music that I make, my stories, my sound and vision could be transferred through hip-hop, you know, the music of my generation, it makes sense.
The Florida scene seems to have had resurgence recently, has this helped you?
I can't say that it really has to tell you the truth, I'm not riding on anyone's coattails, I've got no connects with what the other guys in Florida are doing, so while it's great for the state, and great for the success of the artists that are reaping the benefits, to me it's a non-issue.
Your recent project was written/produced/mixed and mastered all in 48 hours, how was that?
Well actually, it wasn't mixed and mastered in 48 hours, just produced, written and recorded. The mixing process takes weeks. How was it? It was fucking nuts. It was lunacy. You can see it all on the videos.
Do you always set yourself challenges such as that?
No, but I am trying to do interesting things with my music, different ideas and topics for each process, give the fans something fun. The idea actually came about because I'm working on a project called "Renaissance Man" that I’ve been working on for a while, but I want to keep putting out projects in the meantime to keep the buzz going strong. So anyway, the idea came up to see how quick I could actually do a whole album, knock something out quick so that I can keep focusing on all the other songs that I'm working on.
How do you hope listeners and critics perceive your music?
By listeners, I hope they get that the music is genuine, and I hope that they can relate to the music, the topics and emotions that I try to get across in my music. Shit, I want people to love it. I want people to connect. As far as critics, I hope they get that I'm really on some 'artist' shit in the day of 'entertainers'. There's no machine here people, there's no team. It's one man with a keyboard, and this is what you get.
What do you have lined up for the rest of the year?
I'm going to be dropping another concept project this album, a double album called 'Death of a Salesman / Birth of a Nation'. I haven't fleshed out all of the conceptual ideas for it yet, but it's going to deal with the new direction I'm taking my music, which 'fortyeighthours.' definitely hints at, but this double album is going to be kind of a more official crossover or move in the direction of what "Renaissance Man" is about, which is a more structured and complicated song-writing style. And then at the end of the year, I'm looking at around November; I'll be dropping 'Renaissance Man', got videos ready to go, and all that.
You produce as well, if you had to choose between that and lyricism, which would be your choice?
I don't see when I'd ever really have to make that choice, but I guess if it was like, getting my hands chopped off to where I couldn't play keys anymore, or losing my voice so I couldn't rap, I guess I'd rather lose rapping. I get a lot out of playing music, regardless of if it's for a song or project, but just as a way of expression, and I've been doing that longer, so I'd take producing for sure. Although producing for other artists isn't really something that interests me, so if I can't produce my own shit, man, I don't know!
What do you believe the key to longevity is in this game?
I'm the wrong person to ask, as a relative newcomer, but I'd say from looking at artists that have been around a while, staying consistent, keeping material out there for your fans and audience. I think it’s harder than ever to have a long career in this music thing, because the public has gotten so ADD about music thanks to the Internet. Everyone is constantly jumping from one artist to the next.
The Internet is great because there's so much music to be exposed to, but horrible for an artist’s career because everyone's attention span is so short now, they love you today, tomorrow they jump on someone else. I think taking the time to build an audience slowly, of fans that really love your art, is important. Also I think making sure that you've got more to offer than the one single that everyone falls in love with is also key.
And long term, I think having the balls to re-invent yourself without losing touch with the heart of your music keeps people interested, like if we look at Outkast, who always brings us something new, but it's still the Outkast that we love, regardless of how different it is.
Melanie Cornish
When you think of Florida you can’t help but think of the sun soaked coastline of the Sunshine state that attracts tourists from all over the world.
When it comes to the music scene in the state the bass scene of the late eighties was instrumental in creating a lane from some of Florida’s biggest names, Trick Daddy, Trina, Pitbull, Jim Jonsin, Flo Rida. Now with a Floridian resurgence well under way one MC hailing from Gainesville is bringing his own twist.
Working to the beat of his own drum, DP is a lyricist who challenges himself as well as opening up to those who take the time to listen to his words and stories. With high hopes of making it in this rap game, DP might just have what it takes to put Gainesville on the map.
How did you get involved in music?
I've been playing piano since the age of six, and I knew early on that I wanted to be a performer/songwriter, probably since I was 10 years old.
Was hip-hop always your genre of choice?
I've always listened to hip-hop but you know in the early 90s, it didn't seem like an option to me to be able to actually MAKE hip-hop, I didn't have the vision to see how I could be a hip-hop artist, and fit in with what was going on, so I started a couple of bands, through middle and high school, did that, got a taste of what it was like to perform on stage, but hip-hop evolved and expanded it's reach throughout the years, to the point where I felt that the style of music that I make, my stories, my sound and vision could be transferred through hip-hop, you know, the music of my generation, it makes sense.
The Florida scene seems to have had resurgence recently, has this helped you?
I can't say that it really has to tell you the truth, I'm not riding on anyone's coattails, I've got no connects with what the other guys in Florida are doing, so while it's great for the state, and great for the success of the artists that are reaping the benefits, to me it's a non-issue.
Your recent project was written/produced/mixed and mastered all in 48 hours, how was that?
Well actually, it wasn't mixed and mastered in 48 hours, just produced, written and recorded. The mixing process takes weeks. How was it? It was fucking nuts. It was lunacy. You can see it all on the videos.
Do you always set yourself challenges such as that?
No, but I am trying to do interesting things with my music, different ideas and topics for each process, give the fans something fun. The idea actually came about because I'm working on a project called "Renaissance Man" that I’ve been working on for a while, but I want to keep putting out projects in the meantime to keep the buzz going strong. So anyway, the idea came up to see how quick I could actually do a whole album, knock something out quick so that I can keep focusing on all the other songs that I'm working on.
How do you hope listeners and critics perceive your music?
By listeners, I hope they get that the music is genuine, and I hope that they can relate to the music, the topics and emotions that I try to get across in my music. Shit, I want people to love it. I want people to connect. As far as critics, I hope they get that I'm really on some 'artist' shit in the day of 'entertainers'. There's no machine here people, there's no team. It's one man with a keyboard, and this is what you get.
What do you have lined up for the rest of the year?
I'm going to be dropping another concept project this album, a double album called 'Death of a Salesman / Birth of a Nation'. I haven't fleshed out all of the conceptual ideas for it yet, but it's going to deal with the new direction I'm taking my music, which 'fortyeighthours.' definitely hints at, but this double album is going to be kind of a more official crossover or move in the direction of what "Renaissance Man" is about, which is a more structured and complicated song-writing style. And then at the end of the year, I'm looking at around November; I'll be dropping 'Renaissance Man', got videos ready to go, and all that.
You produce as well, if you had to choose between that and lyricism, which would be your choice?
I don't see when I'd ever really have to make that choice, but I guess if it was like, getting my hands chopped off to where I couldn't play keys anymore, or losing my voice so I couldn't rap, I guess I'd rather lose rapping. I get a lot out of playing music, regardless of if it's for a song or project, but just as a way of expression, and I've been doing that longer, so I'd take producing for sure. Although producing for other artists isn't really something that interests me, so if I can't produce my own shit, man, I don't know!