Artist Spotlight: Lyrikill

Last month Lyrikill released his impressive sophomore album More Heart More Sole, so it seemed like a perfect time to catch up with the New Orleans emcee for our latest artist spotlight. Lyrikill speaks on the new LP, the current New Orleans hip hop scene, how Red Bull Big Tune influenced The Soundclash, his role as a mentor to young emcees in the city and how becoming a father has changed his music approach. Hit the jump to check my full conversation with Lyrikill. 

Justin: For those that don’t know, who is Lyrikill?

Lyrikill: Lyrikill is an artist in every sense of the word. I am what manifests when southern culture combines with authentic hip hop influence. I represent for those not represented — the struggling artists who strive to freely create. Among other things, a father, an emcee and an advocate for my generation.

Justin: What are some of the positive and negative aspects of New Orleans’ current hip hop scene as you see it? Can you see the N.O. re-emerging as a hot spot for the genre like it was in the late 90s?

Lyrikill: Things are great in New Orleans because creativity and competition are at an all time high while all eyes are on us due to the success of the camps emerging from our area. There is, and has been, a large pool of talent here due to the musical history. The only negative side is that the market is saturated and lacks a level of respect. There are some renegade rappers servicing their own agenda and not respecting the city scene as a unit.

Justin: You’re the founder of The Soundclash, a monthly beat battle for producers that also helps bring in well known artists to perform in New Orleans. What was your goal when you initially started Soundclash and has it exceeded your own expectations?

Lyrikill: The goal was to provide an atmosphere to unite the post-Katrina New Orleans hip hop scene. I went to Red Bull Big Tune in DC and just kept thinking, ‘This would be big in New Orleans.’ I knew it would provide the producers the opportunity to showcase their skills, as well as give the artists a chance to network with them. The first goal was to make local artists become the featured act, because previously our only opportunity had been to open for national artists. The second goal was to give everybody a role to play so they could be included in the event instead of just being spectators. I expected for it to do well and get support for the music community but I never envisioned it developing the level of talent it did.

Justin: Do you feel like more unity is being built in the N.O. hip hop scene because of events like Soundclash, Grassroots and Uniquity?

Lyrikill: Some will say that we created cliques in the local scene being that many of the major events in New Orleans are tied together, but I think it has created a unified system for a new artist to develop his or her talent locally. This definitely did not exist a few years ago. Within months a kid can go from making music in his house uptown, to doing Grassroots, to doing Soundclash, to doing a feature at Uniquity to opening for Wiz Khalifa at a Supreme Street show and being covered in national media.

Justin: You’ve taken on a mentor role of sorts to many young emcees in the city. What made you decide to look out for and help these up & coming talents?

Lyrikill: I believe in tradition, and since Truth Universal did it for me so i feel like I owe it to him to do the same for the young talented cats. I passed him a mixtape and he hit me up, we did a song, he invited me to rock some shows and showed me a wealth of things that I pass on to MC’s like Lyriqs, Heatabest & City Sparks. Now it’s tradition for them to do the same thing for the next generation.

Justin: Let’s talk about your new album More Heart More Sole [purchase]. Who were some of the people involved in the creation of this LP besides yourself?

Lyrikill: Prospek, who produced both of my albums in their entirety, was definitely the motor in the vehicle that is More Heart More Sole. I feel like Suave was the transmission. I felt like Heart & Sole was more of a thinking man’s album and I wanted to have a groove with the new album. Suave, along with Elliot Luv & Mrs. Kendra Williams, definitely gave it a groove. Evelyn Champagne meshes well with Suave on “Above My Shoulders.” I was glad to get Truth Universal on this one, as well as Impulss — two large influences on who I am as an emcee/leader. Some of the N.O. scene’s best emcees drop some great 16′s on this one: Melaphyre & Elespee as well as the youngins’ Heata, Lyriqs & Sparks.

Justin: Prospek has really become your go-to producer. Can you explain to us what a typical studio session with him is like?

Lyrikill: Most of this album was made on fish plates from Roberts, Bud Light 12 packs and some real good smoke. We don’t say, ‘this is the album session’ or anything. I’ll come in with some samples I dug up, he loads it up and gets to work. Pro plays bass and drums, so we have a good deal of preloaded organic samples to mix with the synths and the records. I usually write to a metronome so I always have rhymes around and we just vibe out and create.

Justin: How does More Heart More Sole compare to 2009′s Heart & Sole?

Lyrikill: More Heart is me doing what I want to do after Heart & Sole was what I had to do. There’s more volume at 15 cuts vs. 9, but the quality is consistent. The maturity between the two makes More Heart more straight forward & introspective. Heart & Sole is the meal that nourished the hungry, while More Heart is the desert conversation afterward. They definitely go together.

Justin: You became a father earlier this year, has that changed the focus of your music at all?

Lyrikill: Not as much conceptually as it did business-wise. Having someone depend on you makes everything different so I had to refocus. I can’t spend all day in the studio or take as many shows because I have a duty at home. I always felt that I made music that was socially responsible, so this made me appreciate the small things in life and balance home and rap life.

Justin: What do you hope to accomplish in this industry over the next few years?

Lyrikill: I hope to maintain a leadership role in the city as the underground scene bubbles. I’m part emcee part diplomat, flying the flag for the South and its true school hip hop movement. I definitely have a few more albums in me. I’m working on one with Dubb [from the Hut Ent], one with Emynd from Philly, the Shoewoo Gang Compilation and my next album Made With Love. I also have another EP with Prospek complete & a mixtape with Statik Selektah on deck.

Justin: Any shout outs or last words?

Lyrikill: Shout to everybody supporting true school hip hop culture and thank you to everyone that has supported Lyrikill. Follow me on twitter @lyrikill to stay abreast of what I have going on.