How did you get started in Hip Hop?
This girl I knew in high school was a big hip hop fan. We used to listen and debate about rappers and lyrics all the time. She used boast about, her crew of friends who all rapped. Naturally, I got a bit jealous and began to rap myself. Never stopped since.
Where did you get the name Feature?
I was really into graffiti and tagging as a kid. I had a number of tags, Feature being one of them.
How do you describe your music style
I wanna say it’s a mix of that new age swagger and flow with the infamous lyricism and grit of New York rap. That’s the style I strive for. I try to be versatile and throw in some more poetic and introspective raps from time to time. So I can relate to listeners and express myself on a personal level.
What image do you think your music conveys?
That being smart and witty is cool. I don’t dumb down lyrics and I use a lot of references that may require listeners to listen to tracks more than once. But, I try to deliver it in a melodic and appealing way so listeners can appreciate the confidence and delivery as well as the intelligence and creativity.
Who are your influences?
Rappers like Nas, Big Pun, Lupe Fiasco, Mos Def and Talib Kweli and a lot of others. But, outside of rap, I usually get my inspiration from movies,shows I watch and books I read. Conversations I have also turn into food for thought that can turn into lyrics.
What inspired you to write We Want It?
We Want It was the last track I wrote for my mixtape The Trailer. I listened to the tape and felt I hadn’t conveyed the hunger that I feel to break in to the rap game. So I decided to write a song that delivered the anger and frustration that comes with an overwhelming desire to obtain something.
How did the concept for the video come about?
Matthew Pizzano, the director of the video, heard We Want It and he completely understood it. He recognized that the song was about my desire to break in to the music industry and be successful. Matthew then had the great idea of expanding this theme to other forms of art. That’s why in the video you see a writer, a dancer and a painter all going through their struggle filled journeys.
