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Interview with IRV DA PHENOM!
RnB/Hip Hop | Wednesday 19th March 2014 | Matt
Over the last couple of years Kanasas born rapper/singer Irv Da Phenom has been making quite a name for himself through touring the USA constantly, releasing an Album and a free mixtape in the space of 12 months and securing some high calliber guests spots. I caught up with to get inside the mind of the rising star.
For the people out there who might not be familiar with Irv Da Phenom would you like to briefly introduce yourself and let us know what you are about?
- Honesty. Hunger. Humility & expression through art. Just a kid from kansas Dreaming Big & Hustling Hard.
How would you say you have evolved as an artist from your early beginnings?
-With living life comes lessons & deeper insights on everything, I've come to understand the gift of music & the power that is in music when you can touch people with it.
Do you remember a specific 'Eureka' moment in your life where you realised that music is what you wanted to do?
-Not really, I've known its what i was here to do my whole life. I grew up singing in the church.
What is your favourite and least favourite part of being in the music industry?
- Favorite: Meeting incredible new people from all walks of life & coming together through the common bond of music.
-Least favorite: Egos, dishonesty, Misrepresentation/Pimping of the true culture.
You have worked with a large number of artists from around the world including Tech N9ne and Twiztid, if you could work with anyone, no matter how big, who would it be and why?
-It would be stevie wonder. Because he is the greatest artist ever, duh. lol.
You dropped the full length album 'Los Kangeles' last year as well as a free mixtape 'power level' , how has the response to those been?
-They have both been received well a lot of new people are starting to lend an ear to the fun i have in the booth. Its a good feeling.
What is the meaning behind the title 'Los Kangeles'? Im from Kansas City. I Moved to LA to further pursue my dreams & write some new chapters in life.
From listening to the album it's instantly noticeable that you incorporate a huge range of styles and themes into your music, who are your biggest musical influences outside the world of hip hop and rap?
- D'angelo, Cee-lo, Lauryn Hill, Musiq Soulchild, The Beetles, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Sam cooke, Audio Slave, System of a down, Bilal, Rick James, lol I can go on forever. I love a lot of music.
Your music is released thru 'Def Metal Gospel' is this a label you run? Are you able to tell us a bit more about DMG?
-Def Metal Gospel is more than a label, Its a philosophy of what makes the way i view life. Im a very versatile person who draws inspiration from many different things, just like everyone does really. So its just about being fluid & able to thrive and learn from any environment as well as never allowing yourself to be limited or put into any box that you or any one else has for yourself.
In your song 'Diamond Stuff Pillow' you infer that you are 'slept on' in the game, even though you have reached a moderate level of success this notion seems to be shared by fans and critics alike, why do you think you are not at the Jay Z/ Eminem level of fame yet and do you see yourself getting that big in the future?
-Everything comes at GOD's timing, all i can do is continue to grow and stay ready for when my opportunity to go to the next level comes.
Is there any chance of you coming over to rock some shows in the UK in the foreseeable future?
-Yes! Very soon i hope! I need to get this passport broken in! lol
What can we expect from Irv Da Phenom in 2014?
-VISUALS. VISUALS. VISUALS. Youtube.com/IrvDaPHENOM
If you had a time machine for a day what moment in time would you go to an why?
-I would go back to the creation of the universe & sit back with the creator and watch while he did his thing.
I don't know if you know much about psychometric questions but apparently the type of animal you would most like to be says a lot about you. So what animal would you most like to be and why?
- Siberian white tiger with blue eyes. lol idk, because the look fucking awesome & they're rare.
I will finish with some multiple choice questions.
Day or night?
-Day
Metallica or Iron Maiden?
-Metallica
Comedy or Horror?
-Horror
Drugs or Alcohol?
-Niether. Music.
Pamela Anderson or Carmen Elektra?
-Carmen
Stallone or Schwarzenegger?
-Stallone
(American) Football or Basketball?
-Football
Limp Bizkit or Linkin Park?
-Linkin Park
Coke or Sprite?
-Water
Dre or Snoop?
-Dre
Thank you very much for your time, is there anything else you would like to add?
-Peace, GOD bless. Be inspired & keep it 3H!
-PHENOM!
Interviewed by Matt Watkins
@DarksideNewz
