R.A.P.P. Quelle

So, we decided it would be in everyone’s best interest to bring some exposure to R.A.P.P. Quelle and get some insight from this all-around artist. It became obvious for me that his passion for music was just one way of expressing his general views on life. With a talent to both move people yet still maintain a level of respectable content is matched by his ability to properly assess his own position in the industry and push forward towards his goals like any real artist should.

So, on a busy day of reinstalling machines in the studio, replying to various requests for reviews and nonstop text messages that for some reason wouldn’t give me a moments rest, I was able to sit down for about an hour to ask some questions in a chat session with Quelle.

BSR: So, tell us about your background in music, and your parent’s contribution to it. You mentioned that they were both music lovers on your website [http://www.rappquelle.com/].

RQ: Well, I’ve always loved music. It was a big part of my childhood. My dad was into Sam Cook and Stevie Wonder, and my mom was always playing music when she was cooking or cleaning. My dad is a great part of how I look at music and [how I listen] for great music. We took rides together when I was growing up. He would flip through the dials where we’d listen to tons of music on our rides, no real talking; it was kind of like the songs said everything we would want to say.

Christmas time was always great, because my dad would get all the tapes together and set the double deck machine to play tapes back to back, and he would get up in the middle of the night to put new tapes in. Christmas times were the best because I fell asleep to music and woke up to it. Nat King Cole, Mahalia Jackson, Ray Charles…. All the greats!

I remember one time in particular I became “aware” at Xmas that my dad was making something in the kitchen and Stevie Wonder’s “Someday at Christmas” was playing and I began to cry. That was one of the first times I felt the very real impact of music. I was about 9 [at that time].

BSR: So, would you say you try and make that same impact in your music?

RQ: Yes, my goal is to give you something important every time I write and entertain you. I want to leave an impact [on the listener].

BSR: Sounds good. That’s important. Now, how is it being from the Bahamas and promoting music in the states?

RQ: Well, honestly, at first I used to say it was “doing the impossible;” but now with the internet market growing by the second, it’s become a very real thing for me and that ironically changed and widened my focus.

I look at it like this – nothing in life that’s really “worth it” is gonna come easy, so this is something I’m gonna have to work hard for and I am ready to do that. So now a great deal of my time goes to networking and making genuine connections with each body on the other side of the screen.

BSR: Now, you also mentioned being involved in photography. Does that experience shape your way of marketing your artist image at all?

RQ: Well I think it does in some way. When I was only doing photography, my favorite images were the really abstract and artistic ones… the ones that stood out. I think I try to do that in my own way with my image as a recording artist now

BSR: What do you consider as major influences of your music besides the old school music? What of the 80's and up era stood out to you?

RQ: One of my strongest influences as a writer comes from Brandon Boyd of Incubus.Around 13 or 14, I’d say was when the whole Hip Hop love came for me. The videos used to come on TV and I’d record them on a VHS tape and play them back [in order to] write out the lyrics of the songs so I could know them in and out. I started writing down lyrics from KRS-One, Rakim, and then later DMX and Busta Rhymes.

My biggest Hip Hop influence at that time was Tupac, and it wasn’t the “gangsta” image that had me; it was WHAT he was saying. I felt connected like I could live every word of it and feel all of what he said. He helped me to understand the importance of the words behind the songs and why things should have a meaning in Hip Hop.

BSR: So do you feel your music has that movement of feeling personally, or do you see yourself as “getting there“?

RQ: I think it hits and misses. My goal now is to find the best way of getting people to understand the whole [concept] of the art. With so much music coming out, why should someone take time to understand the meaning behind every bar? So I guess am getting there. (HAHA)

BSR: So, how do you feel about being compared to other artists?

RQ: Well, I take it as a compliment…Ya know? I think it’s good for people to be able to say “Hey , you remind me of ..Etc etc” and still be able to stand on your own with your own artistic dogma.

BSR: So, do you think that helps or hinders your overall image? Sometimes artists feel the need to break away from that.

RQ: I think if you don’t feed into it and give the listeners as much of your “true self” as possible your individuality will shine through. But if you use that to gain more support it’s a career killer.

BSR: What do you feel is one of the best things about doing music independently?

RQ: Besides freedom…LOL (jokes). Well, I think it’s great to be able to say what you want to say, and how you want to say it. The ability to give your listeners the full expression of your art is priceless.

BSR: What are some of the challenges you encounter, and how do you address those?

RQ: Well, I think something that challenges a lot of Indie acts is money, and this is where the internet has become such an invaluable tool for my team. There is so many free ways to get the word out, and you can pick and choose for yourself what is worth paying [for].

You can create your core with virtually no start-up cash, and with the new age of DIRECT TO FAN networking, the fans now can support you in more ways than just going to your show and buying a CD. With online branding I’ve been able to meet one of my biggest challenges head on, and I feel consistency will only improve this.

BSR: Sounds like you know your marketing So, who all run’s the R.A.P.P. Quelle brand from behind the scenes?

RQ: No disrespect to your job at hand, but I think there is strength in my team being “behind the scenes,” so I think I’ll just leave it as that. People like BootSlapRap.com help [us] push the brand

BSR: Fair enough! What’s one lesson you would be willing to share with all our readers out there, artist or fan?

RQ: well, it’s not really a lesson, but more of a quote I go by in a lot of situations that helps me to remember I can never learn enough.

“The man that knows something, knows that he knows nothing at all“

BSR: True indeed, one of my favorites as well. So, what’s in your Media Player rotation these days?

RQ: Brand New Heavies, Joe Budden’s “Mood Muzik 4”, Funkadelic’s “America Eats Its Young”, Tony McKay’s “Exuma”, Jamiroquai, and some snippets of Jaco Pastorius’ “Live Shows with Weather Report”

BSR: Any other words you have for our readers or shout outs?

RQ: Thank you for taking the time to read a little about me and i hope you enjoy the music. Shout out to everyone living their dreams and those trying to get there

[CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE MIXTAPE]
Official Website: http://rappquelle.com
- Boot Slap Rap

The Young Professional embodies many characteristics and while success and motivation is definitely some of those qualities, the intent and purpose of the journey means the most in the long run. There are plenty of people finding success, since success can be measured in so many ways, but The Stink Grenade feels that the inspiring story and content of character that embodies a Young Professional is the most important story of all.

This is why I am honored and excited to introduce to you RAPP Quelle.

Hip Hop is so many things and many people have their own feelings and beliefs as to what Hip Hop means to them. That is the beauty of the music and the art because it leaves ample room for interpretation and expression. While recently, Hip Hop has become more mainstream and commercial, Hip Hop use to represent a much deeper message and meaning. Has that message been lost amongst all the bling and glamour? Is Hip Hop really dead? Take a closer look and you’ll see that it’s stronger than ever!

Rapp Quelle represents Hip Hop from The Island of The Bahamas. In his spare time he plays C.O.D, plays his guitar and watches a ton of movies but obviously his passion in life is Hip Hop. Through Hip Hop, he hopes to be able to show the younger generation in his country that they can do, be and go wherever they want as long as they willing to work for it. He and I discussed many things during our hour long conversation and what caught me by surprise was how his view of the world was so similar to mine. He believes in the oneness of mankind and that somehow we are all connected. His hope is that through his music , he can convey that important message to the masses.

In regards to his music, his most recent works are, Abstract Art: Quelle’s World Vol.1” (on April 12th ) and “After The Art : We Are Up” (a cover sampler September 14th ). We touched on the subject of projects and what his plans are and it was no surprise that he is keeping himself busy with his music. We discussed how in the past, people appreciated albums and connected with the entire body of work rather than the way people are just obsessed with singles nowadays. Unfortunately, you can’t control the nature of evolution and how much of a “faster” world we live in today but one thing that RAPP Quelle believes he can control is the content of his music. He infuses meaningful rhymes with a catchy delivery that would satisfy both the old school and new school, thereby satisfying both cravings at the same time. Hip Hop is indeed a live and well, it’s just harder to find nowadays because the marketing machines of the world deem the original version of Hip Hop to be less marketable than the current format but unfortunately they don’t realize that the people want it back. What we want, we will get and in the meanwhile show some love and respect to Team RAPP Quelle.

Stay tuned for his future projects:

Abstract Art: Tenacity & Perseverance Vol.2.

“The most important thing to me (along with my music) is my family. They’ve been a great support and continue to push me in everything I do.” – RAPP Quelle

www.Facebook.com/R.A.P.P.Quelle

www.Youtube.com/RappQuelle

Twitter: @rappquellemusic

@team_rappquelle - The Stink Grenade