#TheTapeDeck Meets Brandon Lockheart

Recently got a chance to interview a very driven recording artist  from Detroit that goes by the name of Brandon Lockheart. Incredible wordplay,introspective lyrics, and just all around dope artist,without a doubt he will be doing big things in the future.  Me and Brandon discuss Upcoming projects,his sculptures series,Kanye West,zombies and much much more. Click the jump to read my interview with Brandon Lockheart.

Yoh: First off want to thank you for doing this with me bro. For the readers that’s not familiar what can you tell them about Bradon Lockheart and how long have you been recording music?

BrandonL: Whats good man the pleasures all mine thanks for having me. For the uninformed man, I’m Brandon Lockheart, 19 year old hip hop artist out of Detroit. To be real with you, I dont think I ever truly wanted to be a rapper, lol I picked the mic up after I graduated and fell in love. The rest is history.

Yoh: Even though you only started rapping after graduating from High school did you always have a love for hiphop? If so who are some of the artist that inspire you?

BrandonL: Always man, i was born listening to hip hop. My Dad was heavy into Pac so the music was always prevalent. Nas, Jay, Big those are all my heros. But more so then hip hop I grew up being exposed to a wide variety of music. From Elton John to Bob Marley, I love it all

Yoh: That’s pretty dope being exposed to all types of music is always good for a artist. Since you haven’t been doing music long what are a few goals you hope to achieve being a recording artist?

BrandonL: I think the biggest thing, which is something we’re all searching for…is just to be recognized. I’d like to use Hip-Hop to reach people who can’t be reach in other ways. I don’t only represent the entire midwest but I represent everyone who feels that they have no voice.

Yoh: Speaking of voice you’ve recently started a sculpture series,with each songs it seems to showcase you opening up more and more. How important is that to you, and what was the the idea behind sculptures?

BrandonL: I wanted people to understand me. Where I’ve been and how I came to this point you know. For me when I was younger I always appreciated when I was able to feel a personal connection with an artist and that brought about scriptures. Mentally I stripped myself naked and tried to reveal my biggest fears, secrets, hopes, and dreams.

Yoh: A open book into the world of Brandon Lockheart. You’ve been releasing a slew of music lately any projects in the works?

BrandonL: My heads all over the place foreal lol. But my main focus at the moment is completing the Scriptures Series on youtube, which will be avaliable for free download upon completion. As far as other projects, I’ve got something big plan around October, that’s all I’ll say for now lol.

Yoh:  Lol I respect that. I see your big videos,can you see yourself directing out your own music videos?

BrandonL: Funny that you say that, I feel like if I wasn’t an emcee, i’d be a director. Imagery is an amazing thing and creating and sharing with the world is even better. Sometimes i wish I could’ve sat with Davinci or Picasso and just had conversations on life.. Art is like a window into the soul man and I’d be blessed to be able to share my take on the world.

Yoh: I agree 100% on the art comment. Maybe you can master both crafts, directing has benefits in the Hiphop industry. Don’t know if you’ve notice but alot of young cats are slowly but surly being a force in Hiphop, what do you think will not only set your music apart but make you stand out?

BrandonL: Everyone has a niche you know, something that they’re good at and that trait sets them apart. Thats great but I think the artists that were able to captivate everyone were the most successful. There’s this thing in Hip hop, where if you make mainstream material your a “sell-out”. As you know I’m big on content and never want to dumb down my content to sell but I feel like I could be one of few younger artists who is embraced by both the commercial listener and the hip hop heads alike. So I kind of wanna bridge the gap.

Yoh: You have the potential to bridge that gap coming from a fan of your music. Now if you had one song you would like a major label or even a group of possible fans to listen to which one would it be and why?

BrandonL: Damn I’m torn lol! Off hand it would have to be “Oh No” thank joint to me really connects the mainstream appeal while steal retaining the content. From a musical standpoint it really sounds impressive you know. But that aside it would be ‘Do You Love Me” ft my homie Rawb from Toldeo. The energy of the track is crazy and our two sounds meshed really well, so it’s a toss up between the two.

Yoh: #Shoutout the homie Rawb ill make sure to link all our readers to those songs. With the growing of social networks like facebook and twitter how important are these sources to a up and coming artist like yourself?

BrandonL: The internet is amazing, for us up and comers and I’m grateful to live in this day in age. With a click of a button I can get contact out to thousands of potential listeners, something that early artists didn’t have. Only drawback is the getting complacent with internet numbers and forgetting about the foot work. no matter how advanced we become technologically, the hustle is still important and will always set those who work the hardest aside from the rest.

Yoh: Preach! I feel like some people don’t want to hustle and grind assume it should just be given to them. One thing we both have in common is our love for kanye’s 808 and heart break album which we discussed via twitter. How has the album effected your view on creativity in hip-hop?

BrandonL: Yea that album is probably my all time favorite beside Illmatic. It took hip hop by the hand and said ‘It’s ok to feel”. It opened the flood gates for artists like Drake and Cuid, even myself. Before we were at a state where content had to be gritty and no wanted felt comfortable giving that unadulterated emotion. I feel like that’s the most influential hip-hop album in the past decade hands down, it changed the game.

Yoh:Seriously i feel like some shunned the album because it wasn’t the kanye we have become accustomed to, but it’s influence on hip-hop is undeniable. It probably will be a few years before it truly gets the shine it deserves. A interesting change in hip-hop is unsigned artist/signing distribution deal over signing to major. Now would you perfer to be signed to a major or continue the grind without?

BrandonL:I just want to be in the most beneficial situation possible, Period. I’m not a big fan of the newer 360 deals and things yet I’m not opposed to majors. I just want to be as comfortable as can be with whatever situation i see fit for myself. I love to rhyme it’s what U do best and that’s what I want to give to my fans, through the best avenue I can.

Yoh: i feel that man,chasing fans and not the labels will always lead to some kind of opportunity. Alright i got a few more questions and it’s a wrap

BrandonL:

1. I would love to work with Nas always have. Illmatic dropped when Nas was only 20 and I’ll be hitting that milestone in October, so it would be interesting to chop it up in the lab with him. I’m sure we’d create a classic.

2. Follow his heart and don’t be afraid to embrace your gifts and talents no more what anyone says.

3. Hell yea! Lol, just imagine your playing Left For Dead. In reality..lol

4. This year’s biggest accomplishment for me would be getting the October project to the fans and just have a really positive turn out. I’m working hard right now and haven’t been to open about it but trust it’ll be great. I wanna grow as much as possible not just as an artist this year but as a person.

5. Success is overcoming the task of being More, when less is accepted as more than enough- Locksteady Motivation..Take care

Yoh:
1. I think alot of people forget that about nas and the type of music that was made by someone so young. Brandon x Nas would be dope

2. Great advice a little cliche but great lol

3.lmao! My dude!

4. Dope

5. Word!

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