DOLLAR WAY: MILEZ $WAY
BRONX, NEW YORK | MILEZ $WAY
INTERVIEW TERRELL “REALIFE” BLACK
“I just remember recording these songs off the radio with tape cassettes and becoming so good at it I could cut out the commercials in between.” - MILEZ $WAY
VALIDATED: Being from the birthplace of hip hop, the Bronx, NY, what’s your earliest memory of hip hop culture?
MILEZ SWAY: 1994 was when I fell in love with hip hop. Everything on the radio that year from BIG - “Juicy”, Craig Mac - “Flava In Ya Ear” to Nate Dogg and Warren G - “Regulate”, Snoop - “Gin & Juice”, so many more. I just remember recording these songs off the radio with tape cassettes and becoming so good at it I could cut out the commercials in between... that’s a fact. I had over 25 tapes that year and would write the lyrics down so I can memorize them and repeat them when I went outside in the neighborhood. I didn’t realize it then but I was teaching myself how song structures and a deeper understanding of what the lyrics meant by seeing them written down. The different styles and cadences from all these monumental artists opened up a whole new world for me.
VALIDATED: You grew up in a Dominican household in the Marble Hill Housing Projects, how did that influence you musically?
MILEZ SWAY: My parents came to this country and spoke no English. Pops always stayed true to the Dominican roots playing merengue and bachata. My mom however, she was in love with American culture. She would play everything from Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston all day. We had finally got cable and would watch MTV faithfully so I got the best of both worlds early. Then just growing up in the hill was an experience itself. The history and talent that came out of there was unknown to me at the time but so many talented people came out of there. I was influenced heavy through friends and just the lifestyle we lived. The way we dressed, the way we spoke, that all played a part.
VALIDATED: How did you get your start as an artist?
MILEZ SWAY: When I was 15 I started to record myself and create songs. At first it was just a hobby that I kept to myself but I ended up staying home for an entire summer one year practicing. I was obsessed with trying to be good at it. I let a few friends hear it and they were those type of friends that love to put you on blast and shit. I remember playing ball and just hearing “Ayo you know he rap right!” It was all jokes then but from that day on I took it serious. I felt I had to if I was going to be randomly called out, I wasn’t going to look like a loser. My confidence grew once I started battling in high school and hitting up other blocks. That’s when I knew based off the reactions of strangers that this is something I was going to be good at.
VALIDATED: Which emcees influenced your flow and what if anything did you “borrow” from them?
MILEZ SWAY: Of course like most I’m going to say Biggie, Jay-Z, Nas but when you listen to me you going to hear a little Big-L, Jadakiss, and Eminem also. I have so many influences because I am and always been a fan first. A lot of people always compared me to Fabolous and Jadakiss the most though. I ain’t mad at that.
VALIDATED: Your record “Pardon Me” produced by Khardier Da God is featured on “Who’s Really Got Bars Vol. 2” presented by Jada Kiss. How did the opportunity come about and what did the exposure do for you as an artist?
MILEZ SWAY: This Pandemic kept all of us at home and on our phones, including celebrities and made them a lot more accessible. I was on Instagram and shot him a DM about the project. He asked for some music and just so happens I just recorded “Pardon Me”. I chose that song because I felt it was most appealing to what I felt Kiss would be looking for the project and not to mention he had “Hunting Season” featuring Pusha T out that was also produced by Khardi so it just made sense. Once that was out I didn’t get much out of it as I expected but it didn’t stop my grind. I ended up participating on a show called “Thats A Bar” hosted by Wild N Out’s Justina Valentine, Conceited and Charlie Clips. I was crowned the champion of season 1 and that put me in a better spot as far as exposure. The relationships I got to build with the hosts, producers and other artists during those weeks was humbling and exciting.
VALIDATED: In July 2020 you released your 1st official project called “M.I.L.E.Z (Make It Look EZ) Vol. 1”, what was the response to the project?
MILEZ SWAY: “M.I.L.E.Z vol 1” was big for me on a personal level. It was my official re-introduction to music. I took more than a few years off from being an artist and I went back and forth with myself a lot during those years on whether or not I still wanted to even make music anymore. A lot of things were going on in my life and I felt I lost the passion for it when I was really just distracted from it. This project was strictly a personal goal for me. It was going to determine if I’m going to do this again or not. The response was great and it’s the reason I’m blessed to have this conversation. It has been a overwhelmingly amount of love and support. I’ll always hold that project in a different light from anything I put out in the future.
VALIDATED: Your upcoming full length LP “Dollar Way”, when can we expect it?
MILEZ SWAY: An all around experience. It’s more than just rap to me. I want y’all to see that, most importantly feel that. It’s a rare breed of artist that can pull you into their world. I’m trying to be one of them. I got a few more talented artist lending me a hand on some of the songs, shout out to 100Grand Royce, JuNYor and Fresco Kane. I hope the people enjoy this as much as I did creating it.
VALIDATED: Without giving it all away, what can you tell us about the project?
MILEZ SWAY: One of the reasons I titled it “Dollar Way” because it’s me “$WAY”. I wanted to give y’all me as a complete artist on this project. It’s my first official LP. When it comes to a dollar it doesn’t matter how beat up, wrinkled, crumbled or stepped on it is... somebody is always going to find the same value in it that it always had from the start. I felt I was written off by a lot of people when I decided to fall back from making music all those years. I know many felt I probably didn’t have it anymore. Now they’ll finally get that for sure answer with this project.
VALIDATED: How do you feel you grew as an artist between the release of “M.I.L.E.Z (Make It Look EZ) Vol. 1” and your upcoming project “Dollar Way”?
MILEZ SWAY: On the “M.I.L.E.Z” project I had something to prove to myself, which was can I still do this at a high level. Now on “Dollar Way”, my vision is clear on what I want to do and how I want to do it. I had fun doing this and it was really built off the momentum of the “M.I.L.E.Z” project. I have a lot to talk about and it’s only the beginning.
VALIDATED: Hip hop, what does it mean to you?
MILEZ SWAY: This culture is what raised me outside my parents of course. I learned to be confident, I learned that although I was poor in a poor neighborhood the culture was worth more than money. The rich kids wanted to dress like us, talk like us and act like us. Hip Hop showed the value of my people, even after being beaten, wrinkled, crumbled and stepped on... we are still worth something.
VALIDATED: Other than the release of your upcoming LP, what’s 2021 look like for you?
MILEZ SWAY: I can confirm “M.I.L.E.Z vol. 2” in July. Throughout the year though just expect consistency and more heat man. The shop is open, let’s work! Dollarway!
VALIDATED: What’s your social media contacts?
MILEZ SWAY: Right now you can tap in with me via Instagram: @milez_sway or email: milezsway@gmail.com.