Interview with Will-Lean

Save a Dollar a Day

If you saved one of these a day you would have enough money to get ASCAPed, get your own website, and start a company within a year. Not bad at all, especially once you realize that 80% of being independent is having a handle on your financial situation. If you put away a dollar a day, you'll be up and running with the big boys in no time. For most people, its hard to do so because you want to have the latest gear and splurge once in awhile. But let me ask you this, who's having more fun in the club. The duke outside with the 40 inch rims and the candy paint that can't get in the club, or the guy in a polo and some nice jeans that just has enough money to buy two drinks and some food for later on? You decided!

2009 Top Rapper #1

I'm pretty sure you guys figured it out by now that Drake was going to win number one simply because the guy's mixtape got him nominated for two grammy's. I mean gimme a break this Canuck pretty much stole the show and showed all these bustas that originality is key to being successful. (like that pun) With "Best I Ever Had" he's pretty much solidified himself as rapper of the year. Once was an actor, now's he's the artist that the new blood will look up to when its their turn to start grinding. Drake has showed through hard work, originality, and being humble will get you further than you can imagine. Drake is best to listen to when you are in the mood for some R&B, you want someone to relate to, or you just wanna hear some catchy hooks. Drake, you've earned it homey. I confess, I did think you were being pubbed a bit too much, but look at where it got you. Keep up the good work. Who knows, maybe YOU that's reading this will make the list next year. Till then...KEEP GRINDING!!!

Edumacation?

So late last night I was on a conference call with my manager (@diamondent) and heard a guy say something that kinda got to me. He said that you can't be a college student and a rapper at the same time. That school would take you away from music and that eventually you'll either fail out or just stop rapping completely. Now, I for one don't agree with this. I have two college degrees and I'm still doing this. I still found time to hit the studio, pass out fliers, research marketing techniques, rehearse, and stay on my grind. At the end of the day, if you want something bad enough, you don't have any excuses. Matter of fact, you don't even think that far, you just do. I'm here to tell you guys that I'm a living example that you can get your degree(s) and still rap. Also there are major artists out there that went to college and graduated with degrees such as; Common (Baton Rouge), DJ Premier (Prairie View A&M), Talib Kweli (City University of NY), Paul Wall (University of Houston), Mos Def (City University of NY), and Killer Mike (Southern). There are also artists that attended college but didn't finish, however, they did attend (which may be the reason they even became great artists); Lil Wayne (University of Houston) Kanye West (Chicago State University) Cam'Ron (Navarro) and Chamillionaire (University of Houston). Having an education gives you an edge over the competition anyway especially if you are trying to build your own label or learn how to read jargon (look that one up). So hit the books and know that it'll help you in the long-run

2009 Top Rapper #2

Is this dude really a rapper or just a great artist? Either way, he's earned his spot this year. I have to say, I respect Kid Cudi's morals when it comes to groupies and walking the lone path that a lot of us have to walk from time to time. Cudi is a great producer and visionary that welcomes listeners to his dark world of loneliness and drug use with hits such as "Day-N-Nite" and "Soundtrack 2 My Life." Kid Cudi is best to listen to when you're having a bad day and want something to relate too. His music isn't 808's and Heartbreak material (so don't worry about having thoughts of suicide or going into manic depression). Pop in Cudi's mixtape or album and take a trip.

Don't Call it a Come-Back

2009 Top Rapper #3....

Yes, Shawn Carter came third in something, but its only for the year. Let's be honest, the only thing that's been going on with Jay is BP3 and the whole Beanie thing. But, it was enough to make the list. BP3 is a great body of work, I don't think it was meant to for the listener to just listen just one single, you get more value from it listening to it all the way through. Jay-Z has rhymes that have to be looked at twice simply because of the double metaphors that he uses. Every track he spits on oozes with greatness. (liked that one)Jay is best listen to when you really feeling yourself. Most people that grind and get to a certain point where they feel that they have left so much behind and have accomplished a lot more and like to boast about it from time to time jam his music. Jay invented swag, so this is definitely an artist to listen to when you're in your two-piece suite.