Musa Reems, AEMMP Records’ new signee, brought us his very dope Lately I’ve Been Sol Searching EP earlier this week. Today, he goes in-depth on the process behind that project in a Q&A he did with us.
How has working with AEMPP been different for you?
It’s been very exciting so far. Me looking from the outside and seeing artists that were involved with AEMMP was definitely a cold thing to me. Seeing Thelo[nious Martin], Joey Purp, and Ajani Jones last year was definitely a cool thing to see. Working with RTC is also a dream come true. He does a lot of great things for the city, not only with AEMMP but Closed Sessions and Ruby Hornet. And to see the people in each department just thoroughly go through things, identify what we want, then make that happen is definitely a thing I look forward to every day in our meetings.
What do you expect to be able to do working with the AEMPP class that wasn’t possible before?
Understanding the business side of music more, especially with someone who has so much experience there like RTC. The things that have to go into music, the things you have to pursue within emails and phone calls. I definitely also want to release way more music that I have before with AEMPP. I want to release a lot of music.
Had you been working on this project before signing or did the AEMMP team come to you and suggest a project go into production?
A little bit of both. I was open minded about what to do but I also had an idea of what I wanted. I had been working with Curbside Jones, who produced Play For Keeps, for awhile now. I knew him for 2-3 years over Twitter, and our relationship really took off this summer going into fall and everything came together. Just perfect timing.
And has it evolved at all since working with AEMMP?
It’s just given me more room and more time to be in the studio and go harder with what I wanna do. I’ve asked myself “what makes more sense?” especially with someone like RTC in the classroom constantly helping with portion control. Lyrically I feel like I still get to be who I wanna be and they definitely give me room to execute.
You spent a lot of time around the poetry/open mic scene. Do you think it’s still the place for a young artist to hone themselves?
I would definitely recommend people go there. Specifically YCA (Young Chicago Authors). I started going there after landing on a couple of there mixtapes. I still go to their Wreckshop, which is taught by Add-2. If you wanna learn about something from people who are in the industry and have talent the Chicago open mic scene is there. And in terms of just finding fellow upcoming artist that are good at what they’re doing it’s a good place to be for culture. Black culture especially.
You came from an era watching the rise of Savemoney and PIVOT. What was that like as an aspiring artist?
It was mad inspiring. I remember going to listening parties at Jugrnaut and Leaders and just seeing everybody in there then seeing them get national attention. I got put on to Chance right at 10 Day came out. Then Acid Rap just shot out the gate. And seeing Vic drop Innanetape, the Leather Courdorys come up, and now even seeing Saba and Joseph Chilliams get big, it’s crazy seeing these guys you know grew up in the same city make these monumental steps not only to the national scene, but the international scene.
You’re very squarely a spitter. Do you plan to experiment with that more?
I wanna do both. I wanna mix it up some. I think some people do think my music is only spitting and I wanna play around with realms of production a bit.
Do you think there is still a place in rap for a straight spitter or do you think you have to do more at this point?
I think it depends on what level you’re trying to be at. But there’s lots of room. People like that kind of leave the door open. There’s people that can rhyme their ass off. Is that what lots of people are still looking for? Maybe not but I definitely think it’s still appreciated.
Who are some artists that have helped you in the city?
Add-2 for sure. He’s definitely been a great mentor. I remember I put out a project with [my old group] Children of I.L.L.I.O.S. and he tweeted about it. It kinda shocked me at the time. He was signed to Jamla at the time and seeing him being a fan like that pushed me and made me realize that I can do this. So shoutout to Add.
Another person is Amare Symone [the other half of Injured Party]. She helps in terms of figuring out what I wanna do and where I wanna go. Expect more stuff from us together, by the way.
RTC, who’s been looking at me since I released Another Dose. He’s a another person in the scene I look up to, who’s been a big help.
What’s going to be the biggest difference between your new work and what we’ve heard before?
My new work is definitely more conceptual. My last project was conceptual too, but as I write more and more I get more life experience and an understanding of what I wanna do. And I just get more ideas. Sometimes when I write things it goes in a direction I didn’t expect. I think people are gonna say I’m stepping up lyrical. The next record has a lot more than punchlines.
What can we expect to see from you as an artist in the next few months?
In the next few months you’ll definitely see a new Musa. I feel like these next few records are a completely different sound. I’m definitely building off a foundation that I already had. I feel like I’m really building on stage presence too.
Top 5 Albums?
- MF Down – Mm.. Food
- Notorious BIG – Ready to Die
- Big L – Lifestyles of the Poor and Dangerous
- Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt
- Madvillain – Madvillainy
https://soundcloud.com/musareems/sets/lately-ive-been-sol-1