In this interview spotlight, I chat with Aykay about his latest release, challenges, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of hip-hop do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I am originally from a small town called Livingston, TX. I have a very melodic and wavy flow, but my lyrics have substance. I make music that you can feel. Rather you’ve ever been in that situation or you’re hearing it for the first time. I write stories, I want people to understand where I was coming from and what I was feeling before the ink dried on the paper.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay on course?
Hands down, Lil Wayne the GOAT. The first track I ever heard by him was when he featured on Chris Brown’s “Gimme That” (That was the first hip hop album I had ever heard; I couldn’t listen to explicit lyrics until I was 13). After that I dove head first into music and haven’t come up for air since. My biggest motivator for me has been the journey of making it off the block and actual being able to pursue my career in music full time. The first mixtape (MGB: More than just words) we ever recorded was out of a green, beat up, 1997 Geo Metro, we played the song off one phone and recorded directly into another phone so there were no retakes. I’ve just come so far, and struggled so much, the struggle motivates me.
How is “Only For Tonight” different than your previous projects? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
The biggest difference is it has a “clubby” vibe and I’m telling these ladies straight up, if you fall for me that’s not my fault. Love is a never-ending battle that I don’t have time to fight. I’m just saying, my career comes first and foremost. Realize how much time goes into a relationship, the energy, the time; everything. Got it? Good. Now as an artist you have to put the same amount of energy in your career, but we don’t have magical reserves of energy on standby. All I’m saying is I sacrificed my love life for this and all relationships eventually sink..
Do you face challenges as a musician in a digital age? How has technology helped you (assuming it helps)?
Well yes of course, with the market so over saturated people are bombarded with so much music they tend to not give a new artist a chance. With that being said it also gives those with the real talent and creativity (musically, promotion, branding, etc.) to shine in a very copy and paste environment. I have been organically building a following on social media and is predominantly how I built my brand. Once I realized we have the world at our hands I knew there was no way I could fail if my team and I take full advantage of this technology.
Where can we connect with you online and discover more music?
Anything else before we sign off?
I would just like to thank you for having me. I love every single one of my fans, yall continue to motivate and push me to keep going. From the bottom of my heart thank you, the love you show is un-comparable. This is just the beginning! MGBNAH LLTM!https://open.spotify.com/track/1YZ84YYcK7tMM67sQBaGOj?si=4RrR9a-GSgi01Op0GlFNCQ
