We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ras Beats a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ras, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

My first solo album “Control Your Own” with was a collaboration with a variety of MC’s including Roc Marciano, O.C., Elzhi, A.G., Masta Ace, Sadat X, Rasheed Chappell, Ufo Fev and others. After that my collaboration projects with Eloh Kush “The Law Of Least Effort”, Freddie Black “Black Beats, Peyote Cookies & Late Nights” and my brand now “Crudo” project with Dre Colombian Raw. They were all meaningful to me, but “Control Your Own” taught me a lot about leading a project that I was able to bring to the other projects.

Ras, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I got into music production from being a hip hop dj, cutting, scratching, all that fun stuff. Eventually I started working on my own music and it become more interesting to me than DJing even though that’s still something I love and do on the regular. I consider my music part of a long tradition of hip hop with certain “rules” and ways of doing things. Staying true to how I believe it should be done. While enjoying things and not being too attached but following those ways because I ultimately believe it creates better music.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Making good and hopefully great music. That’s up to the listener to decide of course, but doing anything I can to make sure I do my work and cut no corners in the creative process. Double checking those beats, the mix, the artwork etc.

Making sure it’s as good as the listener deserves

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Streaming is a very easy and convenient way of listening to music, but if you want to make sure people keep putting out music or whatever art you like, consider purchasing from them to encourage the artists. The streaming isn’t going anywhere but the numbers aren’t necessarily fairly split up.

I do that myself, if I hear music I really like I support it but copping it, it’s the way things have always worked, Plants need watering,

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Image Credits
Rasmus Jensen.