LIVE FROM BUFFALO: SON OF TONY
BUFFALO, NEW YORK | SON OF TONY
Interview Charles Brown
With the emergence of Buffalo's own Griselda Record Label harboring star-power artists such as Conway The Machine, Westside Gunn, and Benny the Butcher, hip hop fans all over have been wondering what else lies underneath the cracks of the New York based city. Well, low and behold another true emcee who's been grinding while never compromising his style. Buffalo's own Son Of Tony has been a true spitter since 2016 with his poetic street tales and hard-hitting gems that'll make you question how to move in this world. Coming at listeners with a gritty sound and an unorthodox flow, Tony has definitely created a lane of his own. With a commendable catalog full of projects and collaborations with artists and producers such as Skyzoo, Mickey Factz, Tobes, and P.A.Dre, Son Of Tony is obviously relentless with getting his pictures painted. Now with his recent release “Son On A Sunday”, there are no signs of the street poet backing down from the mic and becoming the best version of himself as a man.
“You create music you like first. Then let the public decide if they feel it or not.” - Son of Tony
VALIDATED: When did music become a personal choice for you?
SON OF TONY: 2016 for sure... I felt this awakening kind of, I got this hunger to live. Out of all of my years alive, I don't think I started really trying to live until 2016; the moment I realized that music is really meant for me.
VALIDATED: Why is it important to always stay true to yourself musically and what are your thoughts on following trends?
SON OF TONY: Authenticity. Music should be an extension of you; not something you necessarily have to reach for. If your bars are based in reality, being creative after that point becomes easy. You create music you like first. Then let the public decide if they feel it or not. Trends come and go. Things have a fast burnout rate here. What dominates charts does not live past 3-5 years. Only trend I find that's useful honestly is the challenges. These challenges encourage artists all over the states to be brave... Showcase skill. These rap challenges deadass be teaching these newer artists... Rhyme schemes, etc. Can't be mad at that. Even though some of it's aggravating to hear over and over.
VALIDATED: What goes through your mind before you approach a song? Your rhymes are filled with details, lessons, etc.
SON OF TONY: Depends. I never overthink anything going in. I have no thoughts at all. I generally just let the beat play first. Whenever a particular feeling hits me is when I start to construct ideas. What does this beat make me feel? Where does the chorus take me? Then it's more or less how I want to connect with the listener. I write with a worldly view so I strive not to be selfish and just pen what I like. The music is meant to be shared so I'm seeking common threads to pull from to bring a certain set of thoughts. Everything is designed to be replayed. Gonna miss something if you don't. That old "I let my tape rock til my tape popped".
VALIDATED: What made you sign with the label AIM 1st Entertainment and when did you sign?
SON OF TONY: I signed with AIM 1st Entertainment last year in February. I just bought into the vision that was presented to me. They let me be me. They believe in the skill but more importantly they believe in the man in me. It's family here. They got me out the street. Some of my people ain't that lucky.
VALIDATED: How big are you on creative control?
SON OF TONY: It's important to me. We spoke about trends a minute ago. That's one of them; being like everyone else because it's popular. If I can be creative, I can be free. Nobody likes a job where they feel like a slave. Besides, my creative self is my best self. However, all that really matters is the end result. Did the fans feel it?
VALIDATED: Do you feel like the hunger or drive is missing from today's rappers?
SON OF TONY: Hunger? No. The way promo is going nowadays, it looks like everybody is hungry as hell. Even in the bars. While I'm here let me say this... It took me a little longer to understand the way the south spit their bars. Some of those guys are hard as hell. I hear a lot of hunger from there. Nobody's hungrier than the East Coast right now though. We feel like we're underneath the world somehow. Lyricism will always matter to us.
VALIDATED: What was the most difficult song that you ever had to write and why?
SON OF TONY: That's tough. But any song where I'm talking about my tragedies really; when I gotta tell my truth because that's what the content demands. I got a song called "Letter to my molester". I don't talk about it at all but that's the record that pretty much started my catalog. I freestyled it at first. But once I heard it again, I started to believe that I could help others. God put it in my heart to reveal. Lord knows how long I lived with the trauma. I never planned on releasing it. It was more just me spilling my heart but it was life in it. He told me in a dream that I would help others with it so I constructed it into a song. I swear to you, I had no idea that many people would hit me up and tell me it changed them or their situation or the shame behind it. We're divided and united through pain and tragedy because none of us are immune to it.
That “Letter to my molester” was definitely the hardest. "Wet Stones" was too tough. The pain of the memories are still sharp.
VALIDATED: Lastly, who is Son of Tony?
SON OF TONY: That guy that seeks redemption; atonement for my wrongs. I lost a lot of time to prison and the streets so, it's important my story doesn't end how it started. I'm fighting for a legacy for myself, my kids, and my loved ones. I'm the guy that believes anything is possible now. I want to break all generational curses and walk in the light. I wanted to be a teacher when I was younger. I still teach, just now I got a bigger classroom. I'm striving to make as many of my wrongs, right, if it is his will. Before my time is over, I'm going out like a good guy. With honor.
Instagram: sonoftonyworldwide
www.sonoftony.com