Adalesson

Adalesson
Meaning: Learn as you go and go as you learn

Adalesson, Ad for short, is a native of Chicago’s South Side. He is the youngest nephew of the bass guitarist Johnny Howard who played for Ice Man Jerry Butler before his passing in the late 1980's a few years after Ad was born. Through his father’s interest in music in the early 1990's Ad learned how to simply record music to tapes off of vinyl and spin records off of his father’s turntable at family gatherings and other related events.

Jazz is his first love and hip hop is his second. Everything else from soul to rock falls after. At an early age Ad experimented with writing his first rhyme to a Lenny White instrumental from the 1995 release “Present Tense.” Since then he has developed a huge love for Roy Ayers, Bob James, Lalo Schifrin and many more.

From actively listening to jazz and improvisation it influenced the uncoordinated recording structure that sets Ad apart from most hip hop artists.

Ad’s hip hop influences extends far like a three time felon’s rap sheet. Ad actively listens to artists such as Raekwon, Mos Def, Mf Doom, Malik B of the Roots and Phonte of Little Brother. Ad listens, adopts, adapts and converts various artists’ styles into his own. With constant experimentation and listening of various producers such as Madlib, Flying Lotus, J Dilla, etc. He tries to dodge the lane of being a “backpacker” or being categorized as just a typical underground hip hop artist.

Through storytelling and cohesive concepts Ad looks to sum up everyday life whether in a 30 second window or a 4 minute window with thought, creativity and most of all fun.