Meet Hype: Independent Hip Hop Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hype and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hype, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
I think this is one of those things that comes down to pure intuition and what you desire out of life or a certain situation. Sometimes you find yourself in a situation where you understand that you aren’t getting anything out of it and giving up will help you save time, effort and your happiness. Other times, you have to have a little foresight in a situation to understand that there’s a big reward on the other end of that fight, and that the fight is part of a learning process. Sometimes, it’s bigger than you, and you have to keep going for the sake of yourself and others. You have to weigh the sacrifice against what you believe will come from it. To give a personal example, I am currently fighting to be released from a recording contract and regain ownership of my masters. I signed with a record label (P.U.R.E. Records) in June of 2020, and at the time it seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime. After about 6 months on the label, I realized that they had misrepresented what they truly had to offer and who they really were, along with how they work. After getting into a dispute with them, I realized I couldn’t continue working them but also that they’ve done the same thing to 7 other artists. Some of the artists had given up on fighting them and haven’t made music in over 2 years. I realized that I couldn’t allow myself to be in that same position, but also that I couldn’t allow them to continue doing this to other artists. Me giving up would only serve to validate them and their ways, which would allow other people to fall victim to the situation. The reward of the fight greatly outweighs the sacrifices that have to be made.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a producer and a rapper and I think that what sets me apart from others is my work ethic and my dedication to furthering the craft and the culture and all that comes with it. I got where I am today by continuing to better myself and knowing that there is always room for growth. I trusted myself and my talent to get me to where I knew I deserved to be, even in my current conflict, I still trust that I will come out of it better than I went into it. None of it is ever easy, but the way you overcome challenges is by overcoming the fear of them. Lessons I’ve learned along the way are to trust yourself and never let anyone have control of your creations. They won’t appreciate and care for them the way that you will and do. what I want the world to know about me and my brand/story is that it is built on appreciation for others and authenticity. Art belongs to the people and it speaks for and to the people, and we have to keep it that way.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There’s so much to do in Atlanta. I don’t currently live there but I visit quite often, mostly for food and fun, I can’t say I’m really a club person. Some of my favorite spots are The Corner Grille, Top Golf, you can always find something to do downtown. If you’re in the mood for something more high class there’s the Sundial Restaurant or different spots in Buckhead. It all depends but like I said I’m not a native, I just go there a lot.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to shout out my good friend/producer/brother CJ Little AKA JKeyz. He is one of the main reasons I got into music as deeply as I have and he is doing amazing things in the world right now.

Website: https://hypes-merch-store.myshopify.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/da_insanehype/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/da_insanehype?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dainsanehype/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvNdKpC3rBUybCYkHLAyFfg

Image Credits
Nick Palmer Nnamdi Onyekwuluje