Remember when rap artists had something deeper to say than “YOUUUUUUUUUUU!” or “Did Shorty get low, low, low, low…?” I make. I remember when rap and hip/hop hit the radio. I remember when melodic rhythms were accompanied by clever rhymes and sophisticated metaphors. I especially remember what hip/hop was like before the music industry started churning out packaged artists and spoon-fed lyrics.
Things have changed. Rap and hip/hop have changed. Fans of the genre, just like me, are stuck in a black hole called nostalgia, hoping to get back to the “good old days.”
Despite the odds, a Buffalo-raised artist is on a mission to do just that: take hip/hop back to its roots and ground it there for the future. And he is doing it the right way.
What’s in a name?
Some call him the scholar of the sidewalk, others call him the best hip/hop artist you’ve never heard. But this would-be emcee simply goes by the name of Edreys.
“Educated decisions reflect experience and years of study. That’s me,” Edreys said candidly. “I’m not trying to be Lil’ whatever or MC so-and-so. I’m not trying to present myself as anyone but me.”
Growing up on the east side of Buffalo, New York, Edreys found a lot of inspiration for his rhymes. He combined street lessons and formal education along with his given artistic talents to transform himself into a double threat entertainer as an artist and emcee.
“I’m proud of the fact that, not only am I good with the microphone, I’m also good with visual arts,” he said.
Add a little production experience, exciting live performances, amazing freestyle, painting, drawing and writing skills, and you have the makings of a uniquely developed creative mind.
“I chose to embrace all of my talents as they are a part of me,” she added. “I’m not just a master of ceremonies. I’m also an artist.”
Edrey’s music tends to reflect his art and vice versa. He aspires not only to make great music and art, but also to be “every artist’s favorite rapper and every rapper’s favorite artist.” And unlike many rappers in the spotlight today, he has something to say.
“I want to know why these kids today are so fascinated with the neighborhood and the block, especially when some of them come from good homes, two parents, things like that,” Edreys said. “I want to hold up a mirror to the community and say, ‘Look at what’s going on here. Let’s do it right.'”
The artist
In such a volatile industry where every move you make and every rhyme you spew is closely scrutinized, Edreys is under no pressure to stand out from other aspiring emcees. According to him, his rhythms speak for themselves.
“I am making a statement without preaching,” he said. “I am the story of Slick Rick, the narrative of Nas with the caliber of Rakim, Black Thought and Talib.”
Edreys also credits God with providing the inspiration for his rhymes, so much so that he tends to type with one earphone on and the other off. One ear is for music. The other is for God. And when he listens to both at the same time, he can produce great songs.
As master of ceremonies, Edreys delivers his rhymes with a seasoned mindset. He talks about mature concepts while still being able to captivate and reach a younger generation. Lyrically, Edreys is ahead of the curve. He is a true wordsmith with the ability to narrate an educational story through song. There are few rappers in the spotlight today who take the time and effort to teach that kind of lesson through their music, a lesson worth listening to. As an artist, his work is just as bold and full of expression. Using clean and creative imagery, Edreys captures the true spirit of hip/hop and somehow manages to put it on the canvas for the world to see.
Something missing, something is missing
When asked what the rap game is missing today, Edreys said simply, love.
“The rap game has a lot of money,” he added. “But the passion is missing. The love and the yearning to influence a movement of longevity and inspiration for peers and the future is missing.”
Edreys plans to appeal to people who have grown tired of the same manufactured hip/hop music by reintroducing them to what made hip/hop popular in the first place: originality.
“Kanye West broke the mold because he was original and unique,” he said. “He wasn’t shooting anyone, talking about drugs or making the kind of music that other artists forced to feed the public. He wasn’t hiding behind an image.”
Edreys does not hide behind an image either. He is a normal guy. And that’s part of what makes it so attractive. Some rappers today don’t think they have to be held accountable for their actions. But Edreys is not like most rappers.
“I know that I have to be responsible for what I say and do,” he said. “So I walk and talk what I know, and live the way I present myself as an artist. An artist for change”.
Edreys’ extensive community involvement has prepared him for this kind of responsibility. He recently co-founded a nonprofit called Villages Children, where he speaks to teens about the kind of maturity and responsibility he raps about.
“You can deliver a deep message and still make it fun,” he said. “I am an educator at heart and it shows through my music and my art. I have been given the ability and opportunity to go into schools and talk to kids about life skills, decision making, being owning a business and making music and art. These are all things I experience on a daily basis.”
They say the key to rapping is rapping what you know. If that’s the key, then Edreys has it down to a science.
The future of hip hop
As pop music continues to top the charts and monopolize the music industry, the future of hip/hop remains uncertain. But Edreys is optimistic.
“Hip/hop moves in cycles,” he said. “And cycles can’t be prevented from happening.”
Edreys also said he has his finger on the pulse of the industry and has seen hip/hop transform from conscious to gangster and from bubblegum to sexy. Now, he believes that he is headed in another direction.
“Innovation and creativity with a message”, he smiled. “That’s where hip/hop is hot. And I’m the one bringing it to the masses.”
Edreys’ message goes straight to the point. Have a certain sense of responsibility. Use your mind and not your weapon. Read. To learn. Growing up. And most importantly, have the courage and faith to expand your horizons.
“There is a way to make good music without compromising ourselves and our beliefs,” he said. “And we can do it all while having fun.”
an expensive hobby
For Edreys, rap is not his main source of income. He calls it “an expensive hobby”, which is also the name of his next album.
“It’s been said that if you put time, money and effort into something without making any money…then it’s a hobby,” he said. “And I’ve spent many sleepless nights in the studio perfecting my hobby.”
Study hours cost money. Home study equipment costs money. Microphones, websites, mixers, you name it, it all costs money.
“You drop $100 in there, $300 in there and it gets expensive,” Edreys said. “I really wanted to connect with those people who understand the reality of that statement. If you play golf but don’t make anything out of it, it’s an expensive hobby. If you like making movies or documentaries but no one watches them or hasn’t earned any income – it’s an expensive hobby. The intent is to turn that ‘hobby’ into a viable career. And there are plenty of people out there who can relate to that.”
For Edreys, music and art can be hobbies now. But his determination to turn them into his career is already starting to pay off.
You can sample some of Edrey’s music on his website at www.edreysmusic.com or catch up with him on his blog at edreysmusic.wordpress.com.