Rap like a natural, I'm so organic. - Hollywood @aGnamedH - "Deep Cover"
CLICK HERE for the HBO Vol 1: My EastSide Story FREE DOWNLOAD
My
favorite thing about H himself
is that he's just a normal, very well-dressed n*gga (no offense) who happens to
be glorious on tracks. "I expected him to be taller," a friend
said. H
stands 6'3, 150lbs, which means he towers over my 5'2, but maybe his rhymes are
just that colossal. Born to Rosalyn and Michael Williams on February 26th, in
the year of royalty (1988, is where it's at), 25-year-old, Michael
"Hollywood" Williams is an East New York, Brooklyn native;
a G from The Field across the boulevard. We can call him "H" and he's been charged with one mission: Bring real rap back.
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| DOWNLOAD HBO Vol 1: My EastSide Story for FREE! |
"Too
many tracks?" How
the f*ck was I supposed to know? I've always wanted to be involved in the
creative process of the greats, but when you get there, you realize that the
most telling characteristic of a great artist is that they're great no matter
what they do and especially no matter what you say.
"Not if they're
dope," is what I think I said. Whatever you wanna do, is
probably how I responded. If I recall correctly, the 16 he was thinking
expanded to 19 tracks with skits. The energy of the project makes the songs fly
by, you barely notice it's that many tracks. The only issue is, they're all so
dope I want to write on them all :( H's
first mix-tape, 24/7, was a supreme selection of 7 solid
tracks. Part of the reason I reviewed 24/7 track-by-track was because there
were only 7 songs, but mostly because I couldn't believe that I liked
them all. F*ck what you all think, I had to prove it to myself. I stayed up all
night dissecting the music and loving the lyrics --even when I
understood them wrong. When I tweeted H my "finished" version, asking
him to let me know if there were any errors, he did what most people don't do:
He actually responded.
The difference between H and most "rappers" is that H isn't a rapper. He actually doesn't like the term and he prefer you label him a musician. I think he's an artist. His music and the way it's crafted actually matter to him. When I met him the first time and asked him to send me his music, he actually sent it. Most times I give an artist my card, they ask if they can contact me personally, to show me around the hood they have the audacity to rep or... "scoop" me when I'm free. Surprisingly enough, very few people actually send me music (and most of what I do get is trash). Once you're in the music/industry thing, what you begin to notice is that people care more about the clothes, parties, the attention... the b*tches --with lyrics to match. If you catch H at a show, he's probably brought some pretty ladies with him --tucked in the back somewhere you can see but can't touch --but he's busy talking to whoever plays an instrument first. If you were dope on-stage, you can expect a handshake from him as you walk off. What H says is just as important as how it sounds, which is just as important as who he collaborates with. The only official feature for HBO Vol 1 is on "Dutchess and Hennessy" with Brooklyn's own guitarist, Lawrence "Strings" Williams, current Freshman at Hampton University -- & the way that boy strokes strings can show you what love sounds like. The words, though, are all H's and he means every single one of them.
"Can
I Live?" (Correct, like Jay-Z's but now version H) has
been my favorite song of the project since I heard it. Everyone picks favorites for their
own reasons. It's not that I enjoy this one the most, or that it's the best
song (I think the entire project is brilliant) but this is the song which I
respect most for its content, lyricism, artistry and honesty. I can't count to
you how many times I've recited "Don't hate the haters cuz they hate
so, N*gga, get it straight. Cuz even haters show you love, it's just they love
to hate. See they been throwing hate at H since back in 88. It turned a
n*gga heartless -8O8's and heartbreaks," and had you been at the Mixtape release/listening party back on 12.21,
you could've seen how real it really is. What if every time you posted
on social media, an internet thug you've already addressed hid behind a
computer screen expressing his hate, his computer keys doubling as
weapon and instrument? What if little men worldwide tried to sit in your chair because it
made them feel almost as big as you? You could get upset and let them throw you
off your game. You could say, "Go," at any moment and have your team
address the situation in the fashion of "no justice. Gotta handle
this the street way," and then get caught up with a case because
today's thugs love courtrooms. Or... you could continue with your life,
warning everybody within earshot that it's nothing to "get you hit by a
n*gga that you close to... handle it discreetly," but that would just
cause "Pandemonium," wouldn't it?
Rap's a tough sport because
you've got to stay alive to make it to the top. Men and women have lost
their lives, spirits and freedoms to this game. Once you get to the top, it's
your morals and personal relationships that suffer. People test you and beg you
to prove yourself. You're put into situations you've never faced before... how
does a street n*gga learn how to move in a room full of vultures? I
suggest you take heed to the cautions set by Hip-Hop's pros. I mean, take a
look at the teams to precede which have already risen and fallen before:
Bad Boy, Rocafella, Dirty Money, Young Money. Rap is a difficult genre
because "real" rap is, by origin, Gangsta *shrugs*. My personal
opinion about Hip-Hop and its tendency to parade violence is that... violence
is real... "Street fights like Ryu, Ken you relate? From walking
by, awkward eye up in a n*gga face. But see your pride gon' ride so you never
take disrespect. That's why you got that hammer on the waist," H
deliberately sets the scene of the life commonly seen by young men in the
commonplace war zones we call our homes; our hoods. NWA's "F*ck the
Police" is a song some might refer to as a throwback but the sentiments
felt have never retired.
I believe the
biggest test for H (and the reason I'm proud of EBF)
will be in setting an example of how to maneuver this (music) world today. This
sh*t is different. How do you earn and maintain respect in an industry where
everyone comes at everyone? How do you gauge your reactions knowing that you will
be judged on your actions as well as your music? Where do you lay the line
between being a private individual and a public role model? Those are things I
would hope he would consider but I'm sure he already has; his actions speak
louder than his rhymes and in time all will see. Very frankly, I don't do many
album reviews on here because if I don't support you as a person, I
can't stand behind your art either. To me, it's all one in the same. If
your art doesn't match your life... I question which is the lie. H & I
see eye-to-eye on various topics, most importantly what's real and what's
not. I value his opinion and honestly just wish you all would get to know
him.
The best part of the project is that it makes me what to hear more. I don't just want to hear the catchy hooks or hear about what he bought, H's lyrics actually give you insight to how he thinks.
"Can
I Live?" provide us a sneak peak to his views on politics, classicism and racial structure, while a track like "Crush on You" give the ladies a little bit of insight into how the fellas might feel. Not saying I'm a fan of every word of the song (I'm stuck-up so sh*t just don't apply to me lol), but it's the truth of what a male mind might think from time to time. Funny enough, I know H is a gentleman regardless of those verses --it's the only place I semi-question him. I suppose it's just entertainment. Speaking of entertainment, he's not afraid to "break it down" and "party on tracks" cuz... it's been a while since his last mixtape, 24/7, but... "Hollywood Back". H provides a steady dose of real topics resting on well paced, excellently executed, well written verses that can get you to vibe and party: It's called lyricism, people. Hip Hop's newest. Brooklyn's current finest, from what I've heard. There is little doubt that his craft will improve and the messages he's sending will continue to filter through. I'm excited for him :) Seeing as how he's a real person, I figured I'd let him talk to you
a little bit. If you want to find H on Twitter or instagram... remember he's @aGnamedH...
So I had to ask:
ELLA: What is a G?
H: A G doesn't have to mean a gangster. And in my definition,
it ain't. I see it like this, if you got ya shyt together you're a G. If you're
all around good you're a G. The look, healthy, smarts, a master at your craft,
financially sound, well balanced social life, nice threads... You're a G. Most
niggas is frontin. U can't fake smarts and dollars, so… Be yaself. Canal can only get you but so far.
ELLA: Does a Gangsta fear God?
H: "God Fearing", "Fear of the Lord",
"Fear no man but Christ." Most nggas don't even know what they're
talking about when they say that. The word "fear," when talking
about God, has nothing to do with being scared. God is Love and there's no fear
in Love. "Fear of the Lord" means that you have the utmost respect
for God. Respect rooted in one's love, appreciation, and admiration for God. It
means that you dread the idea of offending him bc you love him that much.
Nothing to do with being scared or afraid or whatever. So does a gangster fear
God? Well regardless of your definition of a gangster, he should. Does a G fear
God? Well I do lol
ELLA: Finish the sentences:
- Before you listen to HBO:
- While you listen to HBO:
- After you listen to HBO:
- This mixtape is:
H: Before you listen to HBO: split 1
open & pour your yac (#14. Dutchess n Hennessy)
While you listen to HBO: put ya phones on silent and
make sure you don't just hear it. Actually listen lol. after all that's taken
care of lol... just enjoy the ride
After you listen to HBO: "Tell yo
friiiieeeends about me" lol. "Sharing is caring". "Give and
it will come back to you." "When you've been blessed pass it
on". Lol All dat. Your "thanks" is already understood. Don't
mention it. You're welcome lol.. I'm excited about this tape yo lol. Confident
and excited. Tell me what you thought, tho. As cliché as it sounds, feedback,
whether good or bad, is ALWAYS appreciated. Well by me at least.
This mixtape is: Better than my last, but not
as good as my next. It's detailed. It's a story. Lol My EastSide Story, to be
exact. It's a project. It's the first of a 3 part series. It's lyrical. It's
vulgar. It's real. #RealRapIsBack
To
see all of ELLA's posts on H & #EBFLifestyle, PLEASE CLICK HERE!
