Interview with the Steem Creators Conference Artist | Devin Burgess

Im excited to introduce the artist we have lined up to perform for you at the Steem creators conference first ever Concert series. Taking part on September 6th, 2018 in Toronto CA, At the studio

Much respect to my good fellow @steemcafe for making me part of the @steemcreators team in effort to bring you guys a totally unqiue and grand concert.

Tix will be $25 online. $40 at the door. www.steemcreators.com

Where are you from?

Peace peace. My name is Devin Burgess. I'm a 24 year old emcee, engineer and producer from Cincinnati, Ohio. Born in a smaller city called Middletown, Ohio, north of Cincinnati on the outskirts of Dayton, Ohio.

What type of art do you create?

I guess I make Alternative Hip - Hop haha. That's what people tell me I make. I've also heard that I make intelligent lo-fi stoner music. So I don't know how one would categorize that, but I just like to say I make hip hop.

How long have you been creating it?

Let's see. I put out my first mixtape called The Elegant Project in January of 2012. I was a senior in high school at this time. Prior to that, I was writing raps as early as 8th grade. I initially got into making music thru my father buying me Fruity Loops aka FL Studio. I didn't even want to rap at first. I wanted to DJ, like with ACTUAL turntables and shit, and make beats. I was beat boxing for my homies that did rap at the time and make beats on any surface i could. One day in between classes, my homie Breon was like "Yo, you should just write a rap". I was like fuck it, so the next period while we was supposed to be taking notes, I crafted like my first sixteen. I spat it for him for lunch and he was like, "That was pretty dope!" and I've been rapping ever sense

Why do you create this type of art?

I like rapping because I'm pretty decent at it and I like what music does for people. Back in 2014 i put out another project entitled SoulMusic, and I have this record on there called Find You. It's basically about self worth and self love. And that was like one of the first couple records that ACTUALLY resonated with people. Like I had folks tell me that THAT song made them cry, gotten them thru a tough time. Things of that nature. That's when I knew I had something special, like I'm supposed to be doing this. The things that music can do for people is just incredible to me. It's wild how it can move you, affect your mood, etc. Music has gotten me thru tough times, so I feel like I rap in order to touch other people. We all have similar experiences, and often times it feels as if we're the only one going thru them. I like to think that me rapping about my own endeavors will give a person I don't know the sense of everything being okay because they relate to what i'm saying or how i'm feeling.

Who are some artist that have influenced you and your work?

My biggest influences are Jay-Z. He's my favorite rapper of all time first and foremost haha. Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, J-Dilla. Dilla actually kinda influenced the way I rap, as well as how I make beats, but rapping nonetheless. He taught me about pockets. Like he would find these pockets with his flows and just sound sooooooo fucking cool. I love it. He was one of the ones that made me SUPER conscious of rhyme schemes as well. Slum Village, Common, Blackstar, GangStarr, Wu-Tang, Madlib, PRETTY MUCH ALL OF STONES THROW, 9th Wonder and all of Jamla, (rapsody, actual proof, GQ, etc). Tarintino. Odd Future. I get tyler and earl comparisons all the time. Chicago and their music from the last 20 years basically. Everything from Juke music to Kanye, to Common, to Chance, to Saba, to Noname. Chicago is incredible musically.

What excites you most about being apart of the Steem Creators Conference?

I'm excited about this because it gives me validation that if you're patient and stay true to yourself, opportunites will start happening. I'm so excited about leaving the country. I've never been on tour before. I'm excited about getting to know everyone, I'M REALLY EAGER TO LEARN A BUNCH OF SHIT SO I CAN APPLY IT TO MY OWN TOUR ONE DAY. So all the information imma receive. Just everything man. Thank you.

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