Interview with ReaL

When I asked the Pacific Northwest born ReaL his thoughts on his music he had this to say, “This music is me, about me, my life. Its real.”

ReaL is no novice to musical innovations or hard times and struggle. He’s dealt with life on the streets, hustlin’, heart break and death. What does one do with a full life, and an amazing talent? ReaL makes amazing music to match. He’s taken gritty street life, hip hop and crunk beats and laced them with smooth R&B vocals to move the feet and the soul. Yet there was more to learn from ReaL.

ReaL has no intention on missing the chance to be heard and sharing his life story with the rest of the world. Although he is well aware of his talent and singing abilities, ReaL also knows that there are artists out there that are not only pioneers of the industry but deserve his unending respect. When I spent time talking to up and coming artist ReaL he gave me a run down on where ReaL has been, and where he plans on going.

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: Mostly on the West Coast between Seattle and Los Angeles, but a lot of different cities contribute to “ReaL,” from Chi-town to the ATL from VA to Reno, Sacramento and Oregon. I’ve been so many places and have taken something from each. I really feel at home in diversity. [The same way] everybody has to come up, hustlin’, doing what needs to be done to get by.


Q: What's music all about for you? Why music, why not something else? When did it become more than just a pass time?

A: Music is the essence of my being; the very root of my soul is music. It’s always been music for me, there was never a question if it was gonna be music. It became more than a pass time the first time I stepped into a studio at age 13.


Q: Tell me about unexpected changes, and how you handled them.

A: I really welcome change. All artists and all hustles are subject to change without notice…”did you get the memo?” Aha, you gotta be able to roll wit whatever life throw atchu. I didn’t know I wasn’t gonna have no father figure, that’s just life, I could deal wit it. ”Man up,” as we say or crumble, and I ain’t the one to crumble.

Q: What or who have been some positive influences?

A: First my grandmother (mother) - she did her best to raise us right, tried to keep me around the church and outta trouble. Pioneers in music have also been important positive influences for me, even cats like the Beatles and Elvis have attributed. Most definitely, Hip hop in general has played a major role.


Q: What about negative barriers?

A: Ignorance in general is a huge negative barrier. Haters, people who judge me based on trivial things as opposed to the music.


Q: What has kept you driven and focused on music?

A: The hustle. Knowing what’s on the backside, or the flip side, knowing what I want, and knowing what I don’t want, more importantly. [I have] the desire to be an icon in something that has given me so much.


Q: Who in the mainstream of the music business gets the most respect from you right now?

A: Luda! That’s my guy, he plays on words like none other! Big ups and Luda, if you reading this, we gotta link up one day soon and do a joint! To my dudes at Aftermath, G-unit and Shady records! You all inspire me and to work wit ya would be an honor! Em is a pioneer, for obvious reasons he has opened many doors for cats such as myself! 50 showed the world that you can come from nothing and came up! Diddy, E40 my guy! Cube n’ them, Snoop -- basically anybody whose doing it real big and not conforming to what the “industry” says to do. Oh and Mos Def, and Jamie Foxx -- I always knew he was hot like fire, it was only a matter of time before the general public would accept him for what he is -- a true artist, a triple threat!


Q: Who's CD, who's work is paramount to you?

A: PAC, Biggie, Jay Z, 50cent, Eminem, Freddie Jackson, SOS band, New Edition and all the offspring, Run, Public Enemy, to really break it on down, Hip Hop in general has been major, it has offered me a home and an outlet. Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Ojays, etc…


Q: Why should the public want to hear you?

A: I’m not a carbon copy of anything they seen before, I am all new and all original. My style and sound is Grimy, gutter, street, whatever word you wanna use, its ReaL. I keeps it sexy for all my ladies and hood for the fellas, everyone should get on board ya dig?


Q: Who is your sound comparable to?

A: No one really, although my influences can be apparent in my music.
If you have to pick somebody though, I’d say you can feel a lil R Kelly mixed with Joe and Dave Hollister with a side of Aaron Hall topped with Anthony Hamilton over easy.


Q: When did performance start for you?

A: When I was [around 4 or 5 years old] I was doing talent shows for the family at reunions, in the living room, wherever and whenever.


Q: In ten years what will you have accomplished?

A: I will have broken down all stereotypes associated with R&B as it pertains to white dudes, my empire will be strong and vast, and cats with real talent will have opportunities that I can provide. The ReaL dynasty will be in effect, merchandising, movie deals, and endorsements. All that!


Q: What do you want us to know about you or your music future?

A: Don’t miss out on the music cuz you too occupied with the story, and don’t miss out on the story cuz you too occupied with the music, there are many facets to ReaL and I will share all that I can with the world. Get ready and stay ready, I’ll be in it for the long haul, ya dig?


Q: Where can the public find out more about you and your music?

A: Most definitely checkout the website at http://www.realgrimy.com/, it’s going down! Get on that good ReaL fan club so I can come to a city near you real soon!
And BIG UPS to MYSPACE!! Every artist’s dream come true! Check me out at the official myspace spot: www.myspace.com/realgrimy and remember, I’m not like a lot of these artists out here, I do care about ALL my fans, I’m accepting all adds and I definitely try to respond to every message personally! So holla at ya boy! And keep supporting ReaL R&B and Hip-Hop. For Press Inquiries please contact Heidi Buech, Publicist, at heidibuech@comcast.net.

Copyright © 2006

Credit Girl

Weighed down
Forced upon bended knee
Pushed to death of self
By society

She wanted to be perfection
Paid for new everything
Now she is the perfect conception
Of death by the "jones"

She fell hook line and Coach
For unattainable class placement
She looks gorgeous in her debt
Living in a dirty basement

No Fifth Avenue home
No on lookers awed
No trip to Paris, the Islands or Rome
No one to save her

Her stale money
The promises of one more day
She can do nothing now
She is lifeless like autumn's bare trees

Gone are the parties
Gone is the false wealth
Gone are the men
Gone are the girl and her sense of self


This was published online at http://www.swartzentruber.com/13-bad-credit-risk-bankruptcy.htm. It is a literary interpretation of an artist's painting. Both the poem and the painting can be viewed at the aforementioned site.

Copyright © 2006