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Astray: Climbing Beyond
the Local Level.
Interviewed By Dru Mighty
With his
3rd album in the streets pushed hard by his Self Made Recordings team,
Astray is not one that doesn't know what it means to have "hard work" and
"music" in the same sentence.
Is it working? Well, this album "Who's Coming With Me?" debuted
at #67 on the BillBoard Rap/R&B charts, and #1 regionally.
Not only that, but you'd have a hard time finding a rap head that hasn't heard
or at least heard of Astray in the Tri-City area. With his long list of
performances, and radio debut's, Astray is out there doing the damn thang.
Now we have him with us today for a brief interview to get a little deeper into
the life of Astray.
Welcome Astray. Congratulations on the debut stats of this new album. How
do you feel you've grown as an artist over the three albums you've put out?
Since I've started, my first albumŠ well, I started before my first album,
but my first album was the landmark of when I started, and like anybody, I've
started kind of following my influences. I can't speak for everyone, but most
rappers, or anyone I've ever heard or met, seems like they start off and they
follow the people that influence them. That's what they're hearing, and that's
how they're getting their skills better, or learning how to rap better.
I followed a lot of my influences, especially for the first album. I didn't
really know what to do; I just knew how to spit a hot verse. My choruses
weren't really that good. My topics and overall theme of my first album was
really just beginner material. I put that out, and then I put "Hungry"
out. Got a little better with "Hungry". Started developing my
own style, somewhatŠ I was still following my influences, because it was only a
year after my first album.
Now it's been like three years, and I've had time to practice, study, find
myself, and develop my own style. Just three years to sit down and think "who
am I?" and "what do I have to bring to the table?" You know, "how do I want to
do this?"
Now it's like I got my head on straight. I sometimes wish this would have been
my first album. I mean, I'm proud of myself on my first and second album,
they're definitely an accomplishment, and still to this day I get compliments on
them. They're not anywhere where I thought I wanted to be though.
So basically, with 2 albums in your history, this third album is really your
masterpiece so far?
Yea, it's more me coming out in my music, and me being able to better
express myself.
And following up from that first question, who would you say are your major
influences in your music?
Back then, my major influences were definitely Eminem, Redman, CanibusŠ.
Just you knowŠ likeŠ all I was concerned about was being a little battle rapper
back then, and like I said, putting down a hot verse, and not being able to make
a complete song, or a complete albumŠ
Honestly now man, I feel like I'm so knee deep in my own work, that I don't
really have any influences any more. I have people that I respect who are doing
it, but I don't look at them like "I love what they did". It feels like I've
been studying and practicing, and I got more my own thing. I want to focus on
that, like bettering myself, instead of worrying about what other people are
doing. I definitely have my favorite rappers. It's just not like it used to
beŠ
What inspires you the most in making your music??
Well, like we were talking I used to follow my influences, that almost
inspires me now to just be as original as I can. Still, the main thing that
will inspire me is verses and seeing how far I can push myself intellectually
and skill level wise. Wittiness, rhyme patterns, and how much heart I can pour
out on to a piece of paper is an inspiration for me.
What do you prefer more, stage or studio?
Well, I definitely prefer studio moreŠ wellŠ. Damn, that is a hard question,
I like the studio, just because you can brainstorm, and put together your artŠ
where the stage, the energy and the feeling of being in front of a packed crowd
and they're all going nutsŠ isŠ it's the most overwhelming feelingŠ and at the
same time.. it's only for what, 30 minutes? And a CD, it's gonna be around
forever, so I guess I'd have to say I'm more studio, but I wouldn't give neither
up for the world.
What's your favorite song you've ever recorded?
HmmmŠ. DamnŠ. I'm just gonna have to say, there isn't one favorite. I'll
have to say this whole new album, because I put the same amount of time and
energy into each song. Like my first album, and my second albumŠ Like say a
rapper wants to put their 100% into a track, but that rapper isn't as good, so
that 100, is more like 50-60%. All of this whole album, I'm just so proud,
because it's that 100% I wanted to put in. I did it, I accomplished it.
Whether it's a club song or a song I did about my life. I'm equally as proud of
the whole thing.
If you had one chance to do an all star track with anybody, and you have 20
seconds to answer this question I might add, who would you feature on the track,
and who would you have produce the track?
OhŠ DamnŠ That's a hard questionŠ. UmŠ I'm thinking I was so impressed by
the beats on the new Mobb Deep CD, that I'd have Havoc do the
productionŠ. Then I'd put Royce 5'9", me, Crooked Eye, and
Jay-Z on the trackŠ.
NiceŠ NiceŠ So tell us, who is the next up and coming from the Self Made
Recording's camp?
MAG 7. You'll hear 'em on my album, if you haven't already.
Alright, we gotta wrap this up, any last shouts you wanna send out?
Yea, thanks to all those who bought my album, I hope you're enjoying it, and
please, tell a friend!
Well, there you go ladies and gentlemen, the local rap artist Astray, who
just released his 3rd CD "Who's Coming With Me?" Make sure you
get out there and cop it, support your local talent, you won't be disappointed.
Stay tuned here to The Review for more local features and
reviews. If you are a local artist and would like to be featured, please send
or drop off your material to The Review office in Old Towne Saginaw, or email me
at DruMighty@Review-Mag.com.
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