RAISED IN AN ERA: Rim DaVillin
INTERVIEW @ReaLife.VALIDATED PHOTOGRAPH @sinematic.studios
VALIDATED: Being born and raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York, what’s your earliest memory of Hip Hop Culture?
RIM DAVILLIN: Ah man, shout out to my Enlightener and MC Barshar aka Barshawn. We grew up on the same block, Strauss Street. He was the older God though. He was on AZ’s first album and he did a song with Kurupt that was on Rap City's Top 10.
I also remember Fox Boogie Brown coming to the block! Shout out Foxy B!
Then shout out another OG from my block, Barry. He worked with Puff and Bad Boy. I remember he bought Klept from Junior M.A.F.I.A. to the block, I was hype.
VALIDATED: Your initial plan wasn’t to be an artist but to manage a friend that rapped, what led to you becoming an artist?
RIM DAVILLIN: Facts, the other half of DaVillins is Villin P, he from the same block as me. We grew up together, that's my brother before the music. Villin P or P lower (the name Sean gave him) is one of my favorite MC's. He been nice since we was youngins. I rapped a little but was no where near his level. I wanted to manage him but we both went out of town to get some money, he got knocked. I came home, hit the block, I got knocked and took a program.
Then when we finally was able to be home, he asked if I would do the rap thing with him. And now I'm doing an interview with y'all cause of rapping.
VALIDATED: What role did the late great Sean Price play in your career early on and what influence did he have on you and your music?
RIM DAVILLIN: One thing Sean wanted is for me not to rush into this shit. He wanted me to study game before I even put a record out. I used to go to the studio with him all the time, and when I didn't he would send me what he did that night.
Sean told me to write to everything he was doing even if I wasn't getting on the song. You don't even understand how much that has helped me.
He was on some Mr. Miyagi shit, feel me. He is the reason why I still do it. When he passed I wanted to stop, but when I was thinking that one night I heard him say "You better not." It sounds crazy but I heard that nigga. So everything is for P! We all going to make sure his name lives on, especially Bernadette and the family. But thats one thing you will never have to worry about on my side. That's his influence, to just keep going with quality over quantity.
VALIDATED: Besides Sean Price, which other MCs had a major influence on your flow and what if anything did you borrow from them?
RIM DAVILLIN: Camp Lo, Grand Puba and Big… I borrowed their aura and charisma, but turned it into my own.
VALIDATED: Whats your affiliation with Boot Camp Clik?
RIM DAVILLIN: Nothing, Sean is Boot Camp. I was Sean's artist but those are the Big Homies. Just because I was Sean’s friend don't mean everyone that grew up with him is going to be mine. That's one thing he also told me. I had to earn their respect, nah mean. They didn't know me. Shout out my big brother Rock, but he thought I was trash. I wasn't mad at that, I had just gotten serious and was still perfecting my pen. They all showed me and still showing me love that they don't have too, and I appreciate all of them for that.
VALIDATED: You were raised in an era where Hip Hop was all about bars and lyricism but do you feel that gives you an advantage or disadvantage in todays Hip Hop Era?
RIM DAVILLIN: You are correct in a way, the era I'm from was all about bars and lyricism, but we also had songs like “Jump Around” and “Twist The Cap”. It seems people only remember the lyricists and not the ones who kept the party going. I love Nas but I'm not going to let a woman grind on me in the club to “One Mic” beloved... Balance is key.
I feel that MC's in my age bracket from that era do have an Advantage though, because we know what it's supposed to sound like. Not because of YouTube, but because we was there. You have to have the feel, nah mean. It's a certain funkshway.
VALIDATED: What affect did the unfortunate passing of your mother have on the music you create?
RIM DAVILLIN: Shout out my brother Ty Farris, one of the dopest MC's from Detroit. When my mom's passed I was out of it and he sent me something for “NCJC 4”. I thought that's what I needed to get out a funk, but that shit was trash. I couldn't even write or record. I remember I was crying while recording. Then I realized what I had to do, I had to make that album “Felecia Sun”. That helped me cope and get everything out. Since then I feel like a slight burden has lifted. I also try not to curse so much, cause she didn't like that.
VALIDATED: In March of this year you dropped the 8 track album “Mine Set”, produced by Canadian producer Finn, how did the collaboration come about?
RIM DAVILLIN: Me and Finn always been locked in. Shout out my guys Daniel Sun, Juco, and Asun. Finn is a dope producer and we just locked in.
VALIDATED: Which artists were featured on the album?
RIM DAVILLIN: My bro Eddie Kaine, UFO Fev, and Asun Eastwood, Maffew Ragazino, and Bub Rock.
VALIDATED: Earlier this month you released the 8 track album “Verse Ability”, produced by J. Beers, how long did it take to put the album together?
RIM DAVILLIN: Shout out my guy Joe Beers, we met at a Rhode Island show when I was on the Rome Streetz Tour.
VALIDATED: What’s your favorite record off the album at the moment?
RIM DAVILLIN: Probably “Pale Ale” featuring Passport Rav. I love how melodic that beat is, and the content of the song isn’t the norm for the underground.
VALIDATED: You dropped both albums back to back, what’s been the response to the new music so far?
RIM DAVILLIN: Ah man, beautiful! I'm all about quality over quantity, nah mean. I make sure whatever I put out is grade A. Definitely wasn't planned to do back to back but that's how it happened.
VALIDATED: You recently dropped the video for the “Ballantine X” record, what made you choose that record for the first video off the album?
RIM DAVILLIN: Just because its different... It's a different feel and vibe. Of course I got inspiration from DMX, I just put my own spin on it.
VALIDATED: Whats your thoughts on the resurgence of lyricism in New York Hip Hop?
RIM DAVILLIN: Finally! Balance, that’s all we needed! It was one sided for a minute.
VALIDATED: What’s next for Rim DaVillin?
RIM DAVILLIN: “Rimbrandt”, It's a 20 song album that I'm splitting into 2.
VALIDATED: Where can the fans follow and support your movement?
RIM DAVILLIN: Don't follow me... Follow your God. But you can find my music on all streaming platforms and videos on RimVevo.
Instagram: @Rim_From_Daville