XYLE
QUEENS, NEW YORK HIP-HOP ARTIST & ACTOR
VALIDATED: Where are you from and what's the story behind your rap name?
XYLE: I'm from Southside Jamaica Queens. My rap name came from the bible. I felt I needed a name that described best who I am and not have the same type of name everyone else had. I grabbed the bible, closed my eyes and flipped through the pages. I knew what every my finger landed that was the name meant for me. I landed on EXILE. So I took it and flipped the spelling. That day..."X-YLE" was born.
VALIDATED: Growing up, what kind of music was played in your household?
XYLE: Well I grew up in a Jamaican household so it was Sanchez, Beres Hammond, Bob Marley and more every Saturday morning lol. My mom would turn the music on and play it loud so you heard it through the whole house, and she would just clean everything.
VALIDATED: Tell us about your neighborhood growing up and how it influence you?
XYLE: My neighborhood is just a mixture of good and bad. Its residential so people automatically think nothing goes down. Its quiet, but don't look at the wrong person the wrong way. If you listen to my music, its core comes from my life growing up where Im from. The good, the bad, the misunderstood. I learned to watch my surroundings, appreciate my circle and grind like everybody's against you.
VALIDATED: Name the hip-hop artists that have influenced your flow?
XYLE: Thats an extensive list lol. My delivery is ever changing so I could never really narrow it to 1 artist. My storytelling was influenced by Nas. Punchlines also hard to narrow down lol. Too many to count. Substance is definitely my own design.
VALIDATED: What can fans expect from your latest/upcoming project, "FULL MOON"?
XYLE: On my new project "FULL MOON" fans can expect nothing but quality content. I definitely made sure it was different from my previous work. From flow to lyricism all the way down to production, everything on this project is a new X.
VALIDATED: What's your earliest memory of hip-hop, the culture?
XYLE: Damn Thats impossible to answer lol. There's so many, but if I had to pick one it would be when the song "Scenario" dropped. It was LEADERS OF THE NEW SCHOOL and A TRIBE CALLED QUEST. The beat was hard, and there were no wack verses from any emcee on that record. Everybody had quotable verses. Classic.
VALIDATED: Name your top 3 most slept on indie Queens rappers.
XYLE: Damn thats a tough, cause theres alot of us. I would say Me (lol), Call Me Mone and Kyah Baby.
VALIDATED: Can you recall the moment you fell in love with hip-hop and what inspired you to pursue it professionally?
XYLE: Wow lol. That question definitely brings up memories. I fell in love with hip hop the moment I saw how it made people feel. The raw emotion it brings out of people is incredible. Hip hop can set the tone for your whole day, or bring you out of dark place that seems hopeless. Thats what inspired me to really pursue this. Theres nothing like the feeling that hip hop gives you. And I just want to be as influential to others as the ones before me were A: Wow lol. That question definitely brings up memories. I fell in love with hip hop the moment I saw how it made people feel. The raw emotion it brings out of people is incredible. Hip hop can set the tone for your whole day, or bring you out of dark place that seems hopeless. Thats what inspired me to really pursue this. Theres nothing like the feeling that hip hop gives you. And I just want to be as influential to others as the ones before me were influential to me.
VALIDATED: How difficult is it creating your own lane while trying to stay true to you and your brand of hip-hip?
XYLE: Its actually not that hard if your being honest. If the music is real the audience will gravitate towards you. Everything I say in my music my reality and whoever else can relate. Making music is easy when you telling the truth.
VALIDATED: Is there any one person that over looked you that you want to prove wrong? And why?
XYLE: There'splenty of people that over looked me for whatever reason they feel. Im already proving them wrong by being consistent with everything I do. Why, 'cause nobody can stop me EXCEPT ME.
VALIDATED: What sacrifices have you made or things that you had to go without because you've invested in your artistry?
XYLE: Ah man I've lost friends, girlfriends, sleep, food, you name it. Not everybody will understand what you do and why you do it. I've had to accept that. I've had to accept that nobody will understand how deep my love for music is.
VALIDATED: Tell us about other ventures you're currently working on.
XYLE: How much time you got lol. Im working on another project called "INTOXICATED THOUGHTS" with a team called Council Money Ent. Finishing up filming season 2 of L.I.P.S. The Web Series. Working on the "FULL MOON" tour. New designs for the "X-YLE/ FRONTLYNE" merchandise and "THE CO-SIGN MIXTAPE" Vol.2.
VALIDATED: Where can the fans support you and your music online and social media?
XYLE:
OFFICIAL WEBSITE:
http://www.iamxyle.com
TWITTER:
http://www.twitter.com/@XYLENyC
FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/xyle1
INSTAGRAM:
http://www.instagram.com/@XYLENyC
YOUTUBE:
www.youtube.com/XYLE1000
SOUNDCLOUD:
http://www.soundcloud.com/X-YLE1