STATUZZ

BRONX | STATUZZ

INTERVIEW: TERRELL "REALIFE" BLACK

BRONX NATIVE, STATUZZ AKA THE RAGING BULL, HAS AN APPRECIATION FOR HIP-HOP, THE ORIGINAL ART FORM WHICH IS TRANSLATED IN HIS UNCUT, GRITTY STYLE, AND LYRICAL DELIVERY. HAVING TO OVERCOME, POVERTY, DEATHS OF LOVED ONES, AND RUN INS WITH THE LAW, MUSIC SERVES A BIGGER PURPOSE IN HIS LIFE. IN 2015 STATUZZ LAUNCHED HIS OWN LABEL MARTIAL WAL UMBRELLA, INC. ONE OF THE HOTTEST UP AND COMING ARTIST OUT OF NY, STATUZZ PLANS ON LONGEVITY AND MAKING SURE HIS FUTURE PROJECTS ARE CLASSICS. HE ISN’T OUT FOR FAME. REMEMBER THE NAME, STATUZZ.

VALIDATED: What's your earliest memory of hip-hop, the culture?

STATUZZ: I WOULD HAVE TO SAY VIDEO MUSIC BOX WAS MY firST one ON one INTERACTION.

VALIDATED: The first verse you ever wrote, tell me about it, was it a success or a failure in your opinion? Do you recall what it was about?

STATUZZ: I'D SAY I WAS PROBABLY 12 OR SO. BEING THAT AGE I GUESS IT WAS COOL AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN IT WAS ABOUT ME BEING THE NICEST MC EVER OR SOME STUPID SH*T LIKE THAT. LOL

VALIDATED: Being from the Bronx, how has it influenced your sound and outlook on hip-hop? If so, how so?

STATUZZ: WELL I GREW UP RIGHT IN THE HEART OF IT ALL IN RIVER PARK TOWERS RIGHT UP THE BLOCK FROM 1520 SEDGWICK AVE WHICH IS HISTORICALLY KNOWN AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF HIP HOP AND AROUND THE CORNER FROM CEDAR PARK ALSO A HIP HOP LANDMARK, SO I WAS CONSTANTLY AROUND THE CULTURE OF HIP HOP. PEOPLE SAY THAT I HAVE A GRITTY, RAW AND LYRICAL STYLE SO I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY HIP HOP HAD A HUGE INFLUENCE ON ME, I EMBODY THE CRAFT.

VALIDATED: From an artist standpoint Is there something New York has, that no other city can offer?

STATUZZ: I MEAN WE MOTHERED THIS CULTURE SO I WOULD HOPE SO. WE ARE THE ESSENCE, EVEN THOUGH MUSIC HAS CHANGED A LOT. EVEN HERE I FEEL LIKE ITS COMING FULL CIRCLE AND THAT FEELING IS BEING REGAINED.

VALIDATED: The first hip-hop album you bought, what was it?

STATUZZ: THE WU-TANG 36 CHAMBERS CASSETTE TAPE.

VALIDATED: Which hip-hip album would you consider to be the soundtrack to your life?

STATUZZ: THAT'S A TOUGH ONE... I HAVE TO GO WITH ILLMATIC BY NAS.

VALIDATED: What’s your affiliation with Martial WAL?

STATUZZ: I AM THE CO-FOUNDER, CO-OWNER, CEO AND ARTIST.

VALIDATED: Your latest project "GOD AS MY WITNESS", who are some of the featured artists and producers you worked with?

STATUZZ: I'VE BEEN PUTTING it TOGETHER ON AND OFF FOR A WHILE NOW AND MORE THAN LIKELY WILL BE REVAMPED BECAUSE I DID SO MANY OF THE RECORDS A WHILE AGO. AS FAR AS FEATURES IN GENERAL I'VE WORKED WITH OF COURSE HOME TEAM (PETE POWERZ, HOP CASHAY, BLVD), FAT JOE, DRAG-ON, CORY GUNZ, FRED THE GODSON, MYSONNE, TORCH, AXEL LEON, CHARLIE CLIPS and MORE. HARRY FRAUD, BIG DUBEZ (FROM SPORTY THIEVZ), SUPERSTAR O and BLASIAN BEATS ARE A FEW ON THE PRODUCER SIDE OF THINGS.

VALIDATED: What’s your favorite track off the project? Why?

STATUZZ: I WON'T KNOW TILL ITS FULLY WRAPPED UP BUT I'M MY OWN WORST CRITIC SO IT WOULDN'T BE THERE UNLESS IT WAS UP TO PAR SO I'D SAY EVERY TRACK.

VALIDATED: What up and coming projects can we expect from you in the near future?

STATUZZ: Aside from "GOD AS MY WITNESS", WE'RE ALSO WORKING ON A MARTIAL WAL COMPILATION PROJECT.

VALIDATED: Where can the reader support you and your music online and social media?

STATUZZ: @IamSTATUZZ ON MOSTLY EVERYTHING OR JUST SEARCH STATUZZ AND @MartialWAL FOR OUR ENTIRE ROSTER.