Austin, TX – Artists and trade of us are swarming Austin, Texas for the 2019 SXSW Convention & Pageant this week — and Deraj is one them. He’s one a number of artists acting at HipHopDX’s “Replicate Greatness” SXSW Showcase on Wednesday (March 13).
The formidable Reflection Music Group artist is at the moment within the center a music marketing campaign known as “Saturday.” For the primary half the 12 months, he’s releasing 5 singles and their accompanying movies. Apart from that, he’s centered on exhibits and releasing some “hearth” merch at See & Hear Apparel.
Deraj’s inventive background landed him a job as artwork director for RMG. When the label discovered his rap expertise, he was promptly fered a spot on the roster.
The DMV-raised, Orlando-based performer accomplished his third EP Goodish below RMG in 2017, following 2016’s For the Folks EP with B. Cooper and his 2014 debut, Mirrors and Drugs.
Consequently his onerous work, Deraj has been featured on NBC’s America’s Acquired Expertise and at main sporting occasions, together with NCAA, NBA Finals, NFL and ESPN’s First Take. His achievements stress the significance artists being daring sufficient to seek out and develop their very own distinctive voices, finally serving to to advance the tradition.
Forward his SXSW efficiency, Deraj had a couple of moments to talk with DX about how he bought into music and the largest misconceptions about being a Christian rapper.
HipHopDX: When did you first get into music? What was your family like rising up?
Deraj: Effectively, I wrote my first rap after I was 9. My older brother was the one who launched me to Hip Hop. He had a rap crew again within the DMV. Nevertheless, it didn’t change into critical till I’d say round 2012, a couple of years after I graduated from faculty. I had simply bought involved with the label as a graphic artist. They might later discover out about my music background. Earlier than then, music was extra a interest and a approach to share my religion and life experiences.
DX: What made you need to change into an artist?
I’ve all the time simply been actually obsessed with artwork usually. I’m a self-confessed, all-around inventive. Rap simply turned one other type creativity for me. I discovered I used to be kinda good at it and commenced exploring it extra. My pals and I discovered the way to produce and file ourselves, which opened up doorways for extra expression. After I turned a Christian, it was a approach to categorical my religion.
DX: What’s the largest false impression about being a “Christian artist?”
Most likely simply the lane matters we are able to contact on as artists. The “Christian” title assumes we solely discuss God or Jesus in our music. Some do extra explicitly than others, however we converse on life, love and a variety different issues however by way of our worldview.
DX: How do you fight these stereotypes?
Primarily by simply remaining relatable and true to who you’re by creating from an sincere place. Greater than ever, it’s a time for us artists to create our personal tribe listeners. There’s a lot variety music, its actually a matter creating and attracting the bottom that desires to listen to what you need to say. The remaining will fall in place.
DX: What are you hoping comes out this SXSW look?
Broadening my community, actually. It’s what SXSW is constructed for! I’m trying to join with individuals who I can share assets with and vice versa. All of us want one another within the trade and it’s my philosophy to see how we may help one another win — that and sync licensing alternatives.