Hip Hop, Music

Xkwisit Talks Making Hip Hop

This week I got to chat with Albany New York hip hop artist Xkwisit.

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An Interview With Xkwisit

Thank you for chatting with me today! Please tell the readers a bit about yourself and the work you do.

Xkwisit: I am known as Big Daddy Timbo the young prophet but some people call me Xkwisit. I rap and I’m a dad. I do some other stuff but it would not be relevant to this conversation.

Ax To Grind is an awesome EP. How did that come about?

Xkwisit: Ab and I decided we should put out an album and we had several ideas. It ended up turning in to three small projects and this is the first installment.

Making hip hop is often a collaborative process between performers, producers, and publishers. How do you build relationships and approach cooperative work?

Xkwisit: I try to be respectful of people I’m working with and get their feedback. I like to pick out beats and rhymes that either match or complement my style. The number one goal for me on a song is to create something that people will want to bop their heads to. Another important aspect is to do something different in each song. Whether that is a change in my cadence or delivery, tone of voice, energy, etc.

Making hip hop takes a lot of time and energy. What do you do to stay productive?

Xkwisit: I don’t drink anymore since 12/21/19. It has given me all sorts of extra hours during the day. I am recording and completing songs and albums at a higher speed than ever before. Ab helped out to make sure this thing happened right. He spent countless hours editing and mixing.

What are your biggest obstacles when it comes to making music? How do you overcome them?

Xkwisit: For one, everyone hates white rappers. They are mocked and not taken seriously. I had to develop a thick skin. Where I grew up, it was normal for everyone to rap or at least try it. When I grew up and stepped outside my bubble is when I realized the rest of the world is nothing like Albany, NY.

How do you foster your creativity? Do you work at it or wait for inspiration?

Xkwisit: I don’t ever sit down to make music without something in mind so I guess I wait for inspiration. Usually, it’s a good beat or funny thought that gets me started and then I build on that.

Do you ever have any performance/release anxiety when it comes to showing your work to others? If so, what do you do about it?

Xkwisit: I used to. Now everyone can fuck right off. There are two sides to this and I don’t fit in either place. Are the rap fans that like shooting people going to think I’m tough enough? And do the dorky lyrical rap fans think I’m clever enough?

I’m turning 35 on Monday. I’ve lost friends and family and been through so much that I really don’t get anxiety anymore about that. If someone doesn’t like it, enjoy Blueface and Lil Pump. Now I just do me and if you fuck with it, I am happy. If you don’t, I really don’t let it bother me. If you could get 5 out of every 100 people to like your music, that should be considered a win.

What advice can you give to people who want to start making their own music?

Xkwisit: Dovetailing off the last question, grow a thick skin, and remember that when you start showing people your craft, you will start receiving criticism good and bad. This is normal and you should work through it. Allow people to have their opinions. OH! And also be dope!!!

Do you have any upcoming events/projects/releases you would like to discuss?

Xkwisit: Sure thing. I have a new single out with Mista Pigz and Emcee Graffiti called Noah Macmanus (9/14). I have 7 or 8 albums I am working on Simultaneously which is something I have never done before.