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 With my interviews I like to dig into the heart of the artists. I just did an interview with Richie Righteous, and that was a great interview! I now have an awesome interview you with someone I've just gained a HUGE amount of love and respect for. He goes by the name of Braille. If you've hated on him in the past - I believe you'll begin to love him. If you've slept on his music in the past - I believe you'll become a fan of it. His heart for the lost is larger than what many may have expected. Braille, in my opinion, is the perfect example of someone God has called to reach the lost through hip hop. He simply "gets it." If Jesus was a rapper, he would be doing music just like Braille. Of that I have no doubt! Man, let's get it int! Peep the interview!
Zee: Braille Brizzy!!! First of all, let me go ahead and say that CloudNineteen is hands down a classic, bro. You and S1 (Symbolic One) out did yourselves on this one, man. What’s good man?! How have you been?
Braille: I've been really good. I was just watching some cartoons with my daughter before doing this interview. Today I had a meeting with a guy named Ron who is bringing me into a youth correctional facility next week. I'm also preparing to leave for San Diego this weekend so that I can record some new material for Syntax.
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Zee: (laughs) Why am I not surprised to hear that? Man, you ALWAYS on the go! (laughs) I hope you’re ready for this interview though. I’m going to challenge myself to bring the best out of you on this one! We’re going to get into CloudNineteen in a few, but I have a few things I would like to know first. How long have you been rapping? Thirteen years, right?
Braille: Yeah, I guess I'm going on 14 years now. My rap career has hit puberty and is growing it's first mustache.
Zee: Blasted! Off by one year! (laughs). In that time, what kind of challenges have you faced as an artist? Do you feel you have always been accepted and or respected as an artist? Things are really shining as of late, but what about in the past when you were first coming up?
Braille: I've faced a lot of challenges but I was never in music for the money or fame. It was never really my goal to get big or get known. I think that's a misconception sometimes people have with me. I'm an underground dude, so being unknown has never bothered me. As I've grown and matured, I do desire access to more people because I know the kind of impact music can make. I'm just reacting now based on FRUIT which I've already seen. In terms of acceptance - I never really felt accepted. Specifically once I became a Christian. I wasn't raised in a Christian family - so at age 14 I was changing but I didn't know how to communicate it to my friends and family. I was never taught how to communicate it. I became isolated and I explored my faith through music. The music was so personal I didn't really want to share it - plus I always knew I still had a lot of work to do - I wasn't very confident in my music so not many people knew I did it. Like, in high school people didn't even realize that I rapped until my senior year. Even then I was still very quiet about it. I didn't like having to prove myself because that's not why I did it. I really just had a genuine love for music, self expression - and by the time I had an audience, my style was already very personal and intimate. But I do remember it being a lonely time. I didn't have a church, I didn't have a car, I didn't have any friends at school, I didn't date - I literally invested every waking moment into music from age 14 to 19. 5 years primarily being alone - and I think those years were essential to my understanding of who I was, where I came from and where God was taking me.
Zee: Hip Hop Is Music is a name as well as a mantra. Who started that movement and why does it make that declaration?
Braille: I started Hiphop IS Music around 2004. The title of the label isn't really that serious for me. I just felt like we were reaching a time where hiphop was considered a "joke". We are in a time when people think if RAP as ring tones and club songs only. They don't think of it as music, or as something that you take home and listen to from start to finish. So as much as the name appeals to some hiphop heads, it's really a statement to the non-hiphop listener. Sort of like... "we make music, and if your turned away from hiphop because of what you hear on the radio then maybe you should still give us a chance because we have a different sound."
Zee: Word. I kinda thought that's what it meant. Thanks for clarifying that, man. I first caught wind of you from the Holy Hip Hop DVD produced by Christopher “Play” Martin back in 2006. Tony Stone had also been putting your name out there as an artist he respected and had worked with on quite a few occasions. Since then I’ve come to learn that you have been doing your thing for a good minute. I’ve peeped your albums and have noticed that your craft and skill level has grown by leaps and bounds. Is that something you actively work on or stive to become better at? I think any artist should.
Braille: I'm constantly pushing myself. I've never really been hype off my own stuff. I get hype in the moment but it quickly phases out. I often feel like I wasn't born with the "natural gift" but this has in-fact been a "trained" gift that came through perseverance and the favor of God. The challenge is... everytime you improve one area, sometimes you loose certain traits of other areas. It's always a give and take. Each record and season has been essential to learning new things and learning how to use those new things tastefully.
Zee: What are your musical influences? On a lot of your songs from CloudNineteen you remind me of Rakim. Is he one of them?
Braille: I would say Rakim is an influence. I honestly don't have any of his rhymes memorized - I'm not that kind of guy. I don't have other artists stuff memorized but certain characteristics of different MCs stand out in my mind. Sometimes I will say a line in a verse and the specific line will remind me of another MC. The whole verse won't, but one line or one phrase or one tone in my voice. It's just something that happens and as I gain more control over my voice I'm able to zone in on those things and expand my palette to create the emotion behind what I"m saying without always yelling or sounding whiny.
Zee: Now see... you just taught a bunch of cats something new with that right there! Good stuff... CloudNineteen has a wide range of musical sounds and styles infused into one classic hip hop album. Did you really, really, really try to stretch yourself on this project? I forget which one at the moment, but you said on one of your songs that you were trying to make a classic like Nas’ Illmatic. What makes a classic album?
Braille: Honestly CloudNineteen was one of the easiest records I've made so far.
Zee: Sorry to cut you off, but see... that just kinda goes to show that organically everything just fell in place at the right time and everything you know? Continue...
Braille: The hardest thing as an artist is going through the years of practice to get to a point where you can make stuff that you're happy with. When I was writing Box of Rhymes - some of the songs would take me 7 hours to complete. Just writing. With CloudNineteen I was finishing some songs within an hour or two of getting the beat. Written and recorded within a few hours. I was always insecure with myself but after doing it for so many years I'm learning to be a little bit more confident. Not arrogant - but I have the faith to believe that I can write and record powerful music. I know what God has done in my life, I know how much time I've spent practicing and I have more faith when I write. I don't worry about it as much. I just let it out.
Zee: Right quick! Let me just thank you on behalf of so many other artists for what you just said right there man. That's real right there. Some think you either have got it or you don't. But you just expressed many of the same sentiments that a lot of artists don't voice. Hopefully they'll be encouraged by that right there. Hey, even I thank you, being an artist myself. I've kinda been progressing toward that way myself anyway... That's a confirmation right there.
Braille: The line about trying to make a "classic," it's not so much about ME thinking any of my records are classic. Every artist can say "yo, my album is classic." But when I say "trying to make a classic like Illmatic," I mean "trying to make a record that impacts an era or a generation like Illmatic did." Trying to make a record that the fans remember as a classic. That's just an "artistic" goal - trying to be excellent and striving for excellence.
Zee: I know what you mean man. Cause I used to bump that Illmatic night and day. Along with Tribe and more. So, it's not so much being a classic in the sense that people know who you are, but a classic like Bob Marley in which your music had a great influence over a culture and movement - a vibe in people's lives. I feel you. Do you think CloudNineteen is by far your best work to date though? And how do you compare it to The IV?
Braille: I think each record has been a progression in one way or another. Some people still think Shades of Grey is my best record. Even people who have heard CloudNineteen. I personally think this is my best record for RIGHT NOW.
Zee: I feel and understand that.
Braille: The fact that my previous records are still relevant to some people, that's awesome. The IV was a hard record to make. I had most of the beats by the end of 2006. I spent all of 2007 writing, re-writing, recording, re-recording. 07' was honestly one of the hardest years of my life. My daughter was born at the end of 06' and there were complications. We didn't have any insurance so we had like 18,000 dollars worth of hospital bills. We were told my daughter had brain damage.
Zee: Wow! Man... I don't think very many people knew that!
Braille: Then James Brown passed away - which might not seem relevant to my situation but I was his opening act and that was one of my main sources of income. So I got all these hospital bills, my income is decreasing, I'm trying to be faithful with my commitments on the record label side, I can't afford my house payments - then my father passes away - I started struggling in my personal life because I was trying to carry all this weight on my own. These were new problems for me and I hadn't learned how to give them to God yet, so trying to carry it on my own was taking a toll on me. That's why songs like "Blessed Man" were so powerful. When I was writing that song - I was convincing myself that I was blessed despite what my circumstances were saying. I was feeding my daughter breakfast and the Joy of the Lord came over me. The Joy of the Lord became my strength. So by the time I started CloudNineteen I was set free from all those troubles. We sold our house, we were working our way out of debt and I was truly learning to rely on God in everything. So yeah, CloudNineteen was easy for me because I was free. I wasn't worried about the approval of man, I wasn't worried about success - I just wanted to take my talents and resources and give my best.
Zee: Hold up man... I just feel like we need to pause for a moment of silence after that! (selah) Whoo! Man, that was powerful right there! Praise God for his faitfulness! And I thank Him for substaining you during that time. Also, thank you for being a man of faith during that season of your life, because things could've really gone down hill bruh. Mmmm...
Yo, you and S1 hooking up as one emcee and one producer is reminiscent of the days of classic duo’s like Eric B. and Rakim, Guru and Premiere, Pete Rock and CL Smooth and more. That’s the classic hip hop formula for success if you ask me. Is that what you and he were after with this album?
Braille: We never really took time to think about all that. Everything happened so fast. We started making this album before we even hung out in person. I think the producer/mc formula is very strong but it all depends. Sometimes records like that can get redundant - and sometimes they turn out beautiful. We have been excited and surprised by the response this new record is getting so far. I've never really had the resources or patience to work on a record produced entirely by one man. So yeah... I definitely see the benefits of it.
Zee: Speaking of S1, man. Where in the world did you find this dude at, man?! His production is one to be reckoned with! I haven’t heard such original music in a looong time!
Braille: S1 actually has a pretty solid career. He's from a group called Strange Fruit Project and they have 3 or 4 records out. S1 also has a couple production records out there as well. Our story is pretty crazy. I first met him at a show in 2004. We weren't familiar with each other at the time but we exchanged CDs. We emailed back and forth once or twice but never established a relationship. Then, I hit him up on Myspace towards the end of 2006 when I was finishing The IV. Even at that time I had no idea we would end up making a whole album together. We still had a very casual relationship. We didn't even start talking about doing a record together until long after The IV dropped. It was like in July 08' - we started recording in August 08' and all the sudden it became really serious. I didn't even realize how talented S1 was until we started working together closely. He was blowing me away track by track.
Zee: (laughs) I bet man! That's a diamond in the rough type situation. So, how did you meet him to get “Blessed Man” made?
Braille: Some heads have been up on S1 for a long time. When I was working on The IV he sent me like 5 different beats to choose from. Originally there was a raw banger I was gonna roll with, but then I had the beats playing in my kitchen and the inspiration to write "Blessed Man" came.
Zee: With all of the producers you’ve worked with, how do you rate S1 as a producer? Do you think he is ahead of the game? Not just in Christian hip hop, but hip hop period.
Braille: Working with S1 actually reminded me of working with Tony Stone. I'm not the easiest artist to produce for because I get bored easy. I like change ups and I'm more drawn to "emotion" then I am to rhythm.
Zee: Exactly! Me too, man. I can't stand repititious beats. That really, really bores me!
Braille: There are a lot of cats who can loop up samples - and there is definitely a SCIENCE to all that - but it's fresh when you can work with producers who are well versed in music. S1 is dope with samples and dope on the keys. He can play out the basslines, he knows the right sounds to use and he can do chord progressions. Those things make a difference - and with the constant improvement with keyboard patches - the production world is changing dramatically. Ten years ago, if you threw a Triton beat at me - I could smell it from a mile away. I couldn't stand most tracks composed on keyboards. Now the sounds are so much richer and the guys who know how to play have better sounds and textures to work with.
Zee: So, he can play instruments as well?
Braille: Yeah, he can play the keys and some instruments himself. Sometimes when he has complicated ideas he brings in this guy Caleb to flesh out his ideas and add layers. S1 isn't afraid to let other musicians contribute to his tracks, which is a great mentality to have. On this record we added guest musicians to a few songs to help bring them over the top.
Zee: Let’s talk about the title track – "It’s Nineteen." What’s the message behind that song?
Braille: There's a lot of messages behind that track. The first verse talks about our quest for PEACE. Sometimes we build IDOLS in our minds - like, trying to imagine the perfect world or the perfect situation. Our own personal "cloud nine." And the song is basically saying "being close to God is greater then anything else you've ever hoped for." Whatever represents "cloud 9" for you - being close with God and redeemed from sin is a higher place then that.
Zee: Amen. What is your favorite song on the album? What about S1? What’s his favorite? Has he said? And what was your favorite from The IV? Was it “Blessed Man?”
Braille: I've never been the type to pick out favorites from albums. When I was in Texas we were bumping the final record together in S1's car. Each time a new song would start we would get hype. I think once we start touring, then we will establish favorites. Based on doing live shows - my favorite songs during my career so far are "Keep On," "Humility," "Blessed Man," "Get It Right" and "The IV." Those joints all FEEL right when I perform them. I'm hoping at least 4 or 5 tracks from this CloudNineteen record survive the live show test and become an important part of my live performance for years to come.
Zee: See, another nugget! I hope you artists are paying attention! I realized that from my first album. I had some songs that were great to listen to, but when it came to performing them - they weren't really performance tracks. So, now I approach music differently. I think about it all the way around. Yeah, it's hot, but can it be performed as well? Something everyone who says they are an artists should think about. Ain't nothigng worse than attending a show and I'm standing there with my arms folded because the artists is just rapping on stage. Is that supposed to get me hype? (laughs). Step your game up! All of us! (laughs)
How did S1 enjoy working with you?
Braille: I think we've both been mutually excited during this whole process. I remember times where I would forward him feedback letters we were getting and some of them made him tear up. We both just want to be an encouragement to people - and seeing FRUIT has really been a blessing. The whole process of making this record and working together has been very PAINLESS so far.
Zee: What was the creative process like? I know that the internet makes the world a small place, but working with him like this, was it a grueling process? What challenges, if any, did you face? I heard you say somewhere that y’all communicated through email and phone initially, and then when it got down to it y’all met up – I think you flew his way – and y’all put the finishing touches on the album. Did you request certain types of tracks, or did he shoot you some and then you just wrote to them? Was there any involvement by S1 in the writing process and/or conceptualization of songs? As a producer, I’m sure he may have had a vision for some of the tracks.
Braille Photographs
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Braille: Yeah, S1 defintely had an influence over some of the concepts. I can give a few examples. With "Frankenstein" - the beat was already called that same title. So I just built off of what he had started. With "Broken Heart" - he suggested that concept. Same with "From the Pulpit." On the flipside, "Heart of God" was just the initial beat loop - I added singing vocals and the shovels/grave part - then he added the extra piano parts. Or with "Work That Way" - we added that violin part together after my vocals were already tracked. So for the most part, he would send me a beat and I would write based on my initial inspiration. Then he could sequence the track around my vocals, add new elements and flesh out the song. We didn't really have any challenges making this record, honestly - it was so much fun. I was recording my vocals over the mp3 bounces - then sending him all my vocals back to him in WAV format.
Zee: Man, I'm sooo glad you made this album. Again, it's a classic, man, and I KNOW folks are gonna love it. They got a whole month to wait though! Whoo! So, so sad! (laughs). How long did y’all work on the album?
Zee: Where did you get the pilot gear for the album artwork photos and who did the packaging design?
Braille: There are so many different layers to the concept of the album title. One of my first ideas was "coming down from our spiritual high to be among the people." The best example we have of this is Jesus. Why would he want to come down from Heaven? If I were him, I would want to stay put. I don't even want to get off the couch when I'm cuddling with my wife. (laughs) But this record is all about us stepping out of our comfort zone - stepping out of own little world and going to where the people are. Going to where the people are hurting, going to where the people need to hear from God. So I tied that in with parachuting from the sky - hence the flight suits - which I purchased at a military outlet store in Salem, OR. I got the rest of the odds and ends at GoodWill. All the graphic design stuff was handled by Sean Herman.
Zee: This project is a completely independent release. You said in one of your YouTube videos that y’all had entertained the idea of shopping it to some labels, but wanted it out ASAP, so you just decided to do your thing and spit it out independently. Did you consider getting Syntax to release it? If so, how come you didn’t got that route? Would that have caused delays as well? Man, I’m sure they probably wanted to jump on board for this release.
Braille: I did consider sending the record to Syntax but I already have another album that I'm working on for them.
Zee: Uh oh! Y'all hear that folks! (laughs)
Braille: I didn't want to clutter the release schedule with too many records from the same artist going through the same system. Putting this out with Syntax might have taken longer because they have a business model that they follow. It's a good one and it's necessary when dealing with the music industry and the distributors. For this particular record I just wanted to BYPASS all of that though and go strait to the people. However, I will be doing more albums with Syntax in the near future.
Zee: 30,000 free CD’s – that’s the campaign you’re pushing. How has that been coming so far?
Braille: We've already raised enough money to manufacture and give away 5,000 CDs. That alone is a huge thing for us, but I truly believe the entire goal will be met before the end of this year. It's all God willing, whatever he wants to do with this record, I'm willing and available to serve.
Zee: Also in that same video you said that you really, really wanted to reach a demographic you haven’t really been able to reach through marketing. Do you feel you may have been missing out on a key audience all of this time by the way you have previously released your albums?
Braille: It's hard to "outreach" through marketing and sales. Like, should I take a picture of myself posing rugged and quote something like "buy my album because I want to make an impact in your life." I don't think I've been missing any audiences... I've just tried to be faithful over the audience God has placed me in front of. This vision didn't come to me during Shades of Grey because I wasn't meant to do this at that time. This vision came now, because now is the right time, this is the right record and God is showing me NEW ways to do things. I wasn't ready to attempt something like this 3 years ago and God knew that. He planted seeds in me, he was leading me in this direction but it wasn't time until now.
Zee: What do you attribute your fanbase overseas to? How have you been able to gain the “popularity” you’ve obtained by doing what most consider to be “backpack,” or “underground” underground hip hop?
Braille: I think God has just given me grace and favor for learning opportunities. Imagine how life changing it was for a 23 year old rapper to travel to Japan and rap in front of an audience that doesn't speak the same language? I've been to Europe six times now. The first time I went the promoter was actually a believer who didn't even really like "underground" style rap but he told me that God said "bring him out."
Zee: WOW!
Braille: I ended up having a great relationship with that promoter and we've been working together ever since. I had other great opportunities to tour as the opening act for James Brown in Europe. So that was awesome and put me in front of some huge crowds. I will say that during my trips to Europe and Japan that modern American commercial hiphop wasn't very popular with the hiphop heads out there. A lot of the listeners are purists and not really interested in club songs or club beats. So I guess my style was fitting for their palette but I don't really think too much about all that stuff. I don't really like creating a bunch of "categories." I'm not trying to be underground or anything specific - I just make what feels natural to me. If I got a concept - I look for beats that fit that emotion.
Zee: The interview is going longer than usual, but I have one additional question. There have been battles online concerning whether certain artists are truly Christian hip hop artists or not. They say that some do not have enough doctrine in their rhymes, or don’t use the name of Jesus enough. What is your approach to music and how do YOU view yourself?
Braille: I feel like those arguments have been running in circles for so many years. It's just like denominational arguments. I don't expect someone to understand why I do things the way I do. I wish I could just put people in my shoes, but it doesn't work that way. There are different parts of the body. You might think that I'm the most useless part of the Body... maybe you think I'm the "nose hair" of the body and you just wish I would get trimmed out. (laughs) But I'm a part of the Body. God is being glorified through my little "nose hair" ministry and he has me playing this role for a reason. I'm done fighting for the approval of man - I've seen God move and I've seen fruit. I don't think I'm perfect by any stretch. I have flaws and I have a lot of growing up to do. At the end of the day - I do things the way I do them because I am very sensitive towards the lost. Hip-hop used to be my God - so I know what it's like to be a Hip-hop head who doesn't know God. As Christians in America, we got our own "church language" - stuff we say that isn't even in the bible and we expect everyone to follow suit. I'm not going to follow dead rituals and randomly place dead rituals in my music to prove that I'm a believer. Everyone who hears my music knows I'm a follower of Christ. It's never been an issue. I've been labeled a "Christian rapper" by every magazine or website that has ever reviewed my music and I'm not ashamed of that. As a writer - I don't approach this like I'm trying to PROVE that I'm RIGHT. The truth of Christ is absolute - and through my relationships I point to that truth. For me, music is a way to build relationships with people. To share my "human experience" with them, relate with them and then filter that all through the perspective of a victorious follower of Christ.
Zee: Good stuff right there man. I don't even need to say anything to add to that. You said it all. Again, good stuff. I’m sure you’ve seen or have heard of some of these battles too. What’s your take on these unfortunate situations taking place within the genre?
Braille: I choose to meditate on the praiseworthy stuff. One brother was sharing with me about how some other brothers weren't too keen on how I do music. I was expected to lash out towards those who were talking about me but instead I express my support for their ministry.
Zee: BLAOW!!! Amen to that bro! That's how you do it! I wish more would realize that. Sorry, continue! (laughs)
Braille: I don't need approval in order to give approval. I'm past all that. So while cats debate - I'd rather just praise God for what he's doing around me and what he's doing in me. I'd rather pour into the peoples lives who are close by and try to reflect the compassion of Christ. That's really what has compelled me recently. If you say you love God but hate your brother then you are a liar. I've been there before. We can be so concerned with BEING RIGHT in a disagreement that we forget to LOVE the person we are arguing with. Then we miss the whole point. Are you disagreeing with folks so that you can be RIGHT - or do you truly LOVE them and are you offering rebuke out of LOVE.
Zee: Man, this interview is blessing me full circle. I hear your heart all in this bro. I hope a lot of people peep this interview and hear your heart. You have a lot of respect from me man. It's refreshing man. I could cry right now dawg! I pray that many more ministers of God through hip hop get your mind and spirit about this thing man. I say all of that because you are an example of true success to me. The success isn't necessarily in the awards and accolades. But how is your ministry truly affecting everyday people who know nothng about your social status, awards and what not? Man!
How do you like the new DaSouth.com bro?
Braille: I think it's FRESH - you guys keep it updated on the regular and that's definitely a strong point right now.
Zee: Amen. Thanks man. That's a blessing coming from you. Any last words for our members and visitors?
Braille: Feel free to hit me up on email or online -
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or www.braillehiphop.com. I'm touring all year long so hopefully I'll see some of the people reading this in person in the near future.
Zee: Thanks Braille! Keep doing great things for the Lord man! You have our respect and support man! God bless, you.
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