R&B

Deej: The Next Star To Come From Pittsburgh by Alex Young

Deej | Photographs by Alex Young

Deej | Photographs by Alex Young

The snapshot of Pittsburgh culture the last two years at times was bleak. People died. People key to the development of arts, entertainment, creativity, and ultimately progress in the city are gone. After his death, the artist known as Yung Mulatto left a legacy through his illustrations that showed how he championed familiar hip-hop communities in The ‘Burgh. Jimmy Wopo, another local rap legend, was on the brink of takeoff— stardom. Worldwide notoriety was soon to be his, but senseless gun violence killed him. Mac Miller, a beacon of Pittsburgh pride and musicality, died from an accidental drug overdose. Cap Jazzo, a participant in the local hip-hop scene with the group Glasshead passed on too. Within a year and a half, Pittsburgh lost some of its greatest artists and minds. East Pittsburgh Police officer Michael Rosfeld also killed an unarmed black teen named Antwon Rose shooting him in the back three times during that same period, and a white supremacist killed 11 Jews in their synagogue in Squirrel Hill.

Communities here remain hopeful and productive, though.

A legendary author walks among us snagging press in the New York Times, Time magazine, Washington Post, and more for his debut book, What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker by Damon Young. Rappers who came up in the local culture performing at functions like First Friday have gotten signed and hit the road for national tours. Benji., a talented musician and performer opens up for popular rap group EarthGang. Coincidence— Benji.’s older brother, Christo, is a trusted DJ and chart-topping producer in the music industry, especially with Dreamville’s J.I.D. Meanwhile, another Pittsburgh player, Zeke Nicholson co-runs the management firm Since the 80s backing EarthGang and J.I.D, along with 21 Savage and other popular hip-hop acts. My Favorite Color, the rapper originally from Los Angeles who moved to Pittsburgh during adolescence through young adulthood, signed with Rostrum Records upon his return home to L.A. Now, Taylor Gang prepares to make a bigger impact in the city upon the release of their compilation mixtape featuring select artists from here in Pittsburgh.

One of those artists on the mixtape will be Deej, a superstar apparent who can rap, sing, and hold your eye.

Once she opened the door and walked in Klavon’s ice cream parlor in the Strip District, the sun from outside behind her peeking through the closing door made Deej glow. Her colorful pink ensemble kept her in the spotlight. A soft, fluffy long pink coat matched her patent leather pink boots. The skirt she wore was teal leather paired with a big teal belt and buckle. The whole thing was groovy and mixed well with fun and playfulness in the ice cream parlor.

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“Pittsburgh artists are doing great,” Deej said. “We’re dope people.”

Michael Carroll, Deej’s manager, mentioned Deej’s placement on the Taylor Gang mixtape and began talking about the contemporary culture as it pertains to the history of Pittsburgh’s music scene. There’s two sides: the left side talking about enjoying life and the right side talking about drugs and killing each other. 31-year-old Carroll claims the left side has had better success furthering their careers and getting signed. He references 2008 when Wiz Khalifa was coming up out of the ’Burgh along with other artists like S. Money. It was the same narrative with the left and right side. Wiz became a household name whereas S. Money wound up in jail.

On the other hand, the 22-year-old rapper-songstress Deej fits into any music community well, although admittedly, she’s “a little different” from others. She’s into mermaids, fairies and aliens as a self-described loner. Deej’s ability forces her to pop out because her voice is too good to keep to herself. “I won’t say I’m this talented person, but I am,” Deej said. She’s soft-spoken, but, as you see, the Pittsburgh native can break into her bag and boast when it comes to her music.

You know I run it.
— Deej in "#Bykwri"

Impressively, how Deej transitions from rap flow to singing listeners like. “Everything she does is effortlessly,” Carroll said. Her R&B vocals became prominent in her January 2019 debut album called “Unikorn Black.” Tracks on the record like the sultry “Good Wood” and “On$ight,” which samples Ginuwine’s hit song “Differences,” shine as complements with the bars Deej bites off rapping in “#Bykwri.” She said, “I just create art. Some people call me a rapper. Some people call me an R&B singer. I guess I’m both,” classifying her skillsets.

The mood board for Deej takes inspo from Nicki Minaj “Super Bass.” Deej smiles thinking about that time in her life. “I wore Chinese Bangs in highlighted colors all the time. I did my own hair… You know that was that era it was lit swear.”

As an artist, Deej gains traction due to her product and promotion. She’s performed as the opener for Young M.A. The “Unikorn Black” album released first, and now Deej drops periodic music videos to keep the songs fresh. Both “Pri$tine” and “Space$hip” are next to receive visuals. She also credits her team thanks to her mother and Carroll for helping with her success. “Being isolated is cool and all, but really you need other people around you to learn,” Deej said.

Through it all, Deej has learned her process is “about trust.” Trusting herself, trusting her management, and trusting her message is true. “A good environment and good headspace, you’ll be good. You just gotta want it. Get up and go.”

Read the full transcript from the Deej interview below.


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Deej: Is it homemade ice cream?

InTheRough: I’m not sure, but it is good.

Deej: I kinda want a shirt— a Klavon’s shirt.

ITR: Cool. So, you’re 21-years-old now. How long have you been making music?

Deej: Since I was 17, so four years.

ITR: Where you are now musically— your catalog and your brand— did you imagine that four years ago?

Deej: I prayed for it. “Pray I get there.” I’m a manifest-er. I make it happen.

ITR: Do you feel like you are where you need to be?

Deej: For now.

ITR: Where do you want to go?

Deej: The impossible.

ITR: Now, “Unikorn Black” is what brought me here. The song “Peter Pan” is my favorite song on that album.

Deej: Period.

ITR: I noticed you can have songs like “Peter Pan” or “Space$hip” where your singing steals the show. You can also drop bars. How do you go between those moods?

Deej: I just vibe out. I won’t say I’m this talented person, but I am. If I want to rap, then I’m gonna rap. If I want to sing, then I’ll sing.

ITR: How do you classify yourself?

Deej: I’m an artist. I just create art. Some people call me a rapper. Some people call me a R&B singer. I guess I’m both.

ITR: How do you fit in to the culture here in Pittsburgh musically? Do you even care about it?

Deej: I care a lot about it. It’s actually dope. We had an event yesterday with Taylor Gang. I loved it. We’re doing great things. Pittsburgh artists are doing great. I fit in very well. I’m a little different.

ITR: In what ways?

Deej: The work ethic. The creativity. I’m a little different like I said, but we definitely have similarities, like the swag. It’s dope. We’re dope people.

ITR: Yeah, I saw you Tweeted you met Wiz Khalifa for the first time at the TGOD event.

Deej: Yes, and I was drunk as fuck, but it was lovely. He was like, “Oh, hey, Deej.” I’m like, “Oh, what’s up. I’m drunk as hell, but what’s good?”

ITR: [laughs] I say that not for the fact of meeting Wiz, but for the fact that there’s a lot of hip-hop artists with roots in Pittsburgh who are good and who are making moves. Artists from the ‘Burgh sign deals. I’m curious. How does it feel to be part of that community? How do you feel when other artists make it from Pittsburgh when you’re next to do that?

Deej: It gives me hope. If they can do it, I can do it. I’m as good. We all dope. It just makes sense. Everything takes time and I’m just waiting for my time. That’s all.

ITR: Is there a specific artist out there who gave you that inspiration?

Deej: Honestly, I just stayed in my own lane. I’m a very isolated person. I didn’t really know people in Pittsburgh. I finally popped out now, so I never really compared myself to them. Be myself and I’ll be good.

ITR: Where did you go to high school?

Deej: Moon Township and Upper St. Clair.

ITR: Where were you born?

Deej: I’m from the West Side of Pittsburgh.

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ITR: Gotcha. I noticed you’re very colorful. Not just how you dress, but your personality too. Explain your style.

Deej: I was always this colorful person even before I did music. In middle school, I would dress different. I would wear the colorful skinny jeans with the Chuck Taylors. My hair would be different colors. I would say Nicki Minaj. I loved her when I was younger. I wore Chinese Bangs in highlighted colors all the time. I did my own hair. She inspired me. “Super Bass” that was that shit. You know that was that era it was lit swear.

ITR: Yeah, your style is very bubbly. That’s why I picked here at Klavon’s to interview.

Deej: Nice and I love it. That’s why I’m dressed like strawberry ice cream.

ITR: What is your favorite song on “Unikorn Black”?

Deej: I would say “Space$hip” and “Pri$tine.”

ITR: Why those two?

Deej: They sound really pretty. They’re vibe-y. It’s a mood. It’s a couple things. We’ll see in the videos.

ITR: Oh, you’re making music videos for both songs?

Deej: Yes, I’m excited.

ITR: Why do you prefer having money over being famous?

Deej: Because people are terrible. The world isn’t terrible, but the people in it are. People will bring you down so bad. If we get more consistent with love, the world will be better. Fame is not going to be my thing. I’m gonna be ‘over it’ like Summer Walker. Money is okay because I can help other people and expand. Money is kind of important.

ITR: Yeah, it’s important.

Deej: Honestly… I talk my bullshit on Twitter. I do not want my Twitter to be viral. I talk my shit.

ITR: [laughs] That’s why I’m asking some of these questions because I read your Twitter.

Deej: Now I’m going to watch.

ITR: That’s what it’s for though…

Deej: Twitter is for talking shit. People have their moments. People go through things. Just learn how to control emotions. I think you’ll be great once you master that.

ITR: I feel that. My therapist says you have to balance your emotional side with your rational side in order to be the best person you can be.

Deej: Right.

ITR: How important is your mental health to you?

Deej: Very important, that’s why I’m such a spiritual person. I like to meditate. I like to study spiritual things like crystals. I’m really learning it now. Horoscopes too. Mermaids, fairies, aliens, and everything.

ITR: [laughs] That was the perfect description of yourself— mermaids, fairies, aliens— thank you.

So, I was listening to “Good Wood.” I think people are naturally distrusting. When you talk about the female/male dynamic when it comes to love and relationships, females are extra distrusting because some males are dogs. In the chorus of “Good Wood,” I think you’re saying, “Is he a dog or a counterfeit?”

Deej: “Is he a dub or a counterfeit.” Is he a 10/10 or is he fake? Is he really fucking with me or is he fake? Do you want me to sing the hook to you?

ITR: [smirks] Okay, sure.

Deej sings the hook of “Good Wood.”

ITR: You seem genuine and positive. It does suck when people betray you. What advice would you give to younger you or young girls out there to protect themselves in love?

Deej: Just be single and love yourself. I know relationships can teach a person, but trust me be single. Learn to love. Be genuine and open. Be very confident. Take risks. Love could wait. Friendships are important, but love could wait.

I say friendships because people can teach you how to adapt to different environments. They can teach you different traits and how to cope with things. Being isolated is cool and all, but really you need other people around you to learn. Me being a loner I was really weird. I just had to pop out and get to vibe with all the people. I was really shy, but I’m getting better.

ITR: It’s always interesting with entertainers. Like you walked in here fashionably late and all the attention was on you with your pink coat and pink boots to match. You took over the room. I’m like, “Oh, shit. She already is a star.” So, how can you be shy? In a way, your job has become entertaining other people. I feel like entertainers lose parts of themselves that way.

Deej: Honestly, I’m just getting started so we’ll see. Just be pure. Be true to yourself, honestly, that’s really what it is. The universe knows the truth. What you speak and what you live is your truth for sure. If you’re back stabbing and you’re fake, karma is a bitch.

ITR: When you’re making music and you get critique, how do you not take it personally?

Deej: As long as that person knows what they’re doing. You just gotta know what you’re doing and I’ll trust you. It’s all about trust for real.

ITR: What are you working on now?

Deej: Building my content for IG. I’m not an Internet person. I’m still an isolated person, so it’s kind of hard, but I’m getting the hang of it. Plus, I’m a naturally poppin’ person, so it is what it is [laughs]. I’m definitely working on music.

ITR: How do you plan to followup “Unikorn Black”?

Deej: I get better all the time. I have no worries. No worries [laughs]. Either a new project or we’re just going to keep dropping videos. Videos first and then a new project. I feel like “Unikorn Black” needs to be pushed a little more with the videos.

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ITR: I like when artists drop an album then delay the release of the music videos. It keeps the project fresh.

Deej: I agree. At first, I was like, “Damn, we haven’t done shit for these.” But, no. Time tells.

ITR: You let the music breathe first then you give people more.

Deej: Right. Time is always right for sure. Stay tuned. I’m excited.

ITR: All of your videos are well done. The storylines everything.

Deej: I agree. They actually were dope. They’ve gotten better. Michael (Deej’s manager), he helps me bring them to life. I am really blessed to have the people I have in my life. You have to have a great team. Great support. My mom is very helpful. A good environment and good head space, you’ll be good. You just gotta want it. Get up and go.

ITR: Michael and I were talking before you arrived about the difference between all the artists in Pittsburgh and those who are finding success is the team around them. What advice would you give to up and coming artists for their path to make it?

Deej: Stay original. Stay pure. Count your blessings.

[Interview conversation on Nov. 12, 2019]

Opaline - a night of iridescence by Maxwell Young

Opaline is an intersectional program of art, music, and food curated by Briona Butler aka Surrealistma.  It returns February 1.

The inaugural Opaline on December 1, 2018 photographed by Maxwell Young.

The inaugural Opaline on December 1, 2018 photographed by Maxwell Young.

Washington, D.C.—A feeling, or mood if you will, Opaline first manifested on the Instagram pages.  A tumblr-like onslaught of black excellence and beauty, opulence, and iconic hip hop and R&B figures became hard to ignore: Quintessential Kelis—her signature green epitomized in a pair of fierce sunglasses and a subtle ombré.  Tupac and his mother Afeni.  Hyper-sexualized fruits.  Avant-garde fashion.  Iridescent crystals.  Cozy Diddy.  And a young Mos Def freestyling in a New York park all conveyed potent levels of nostalgia.

This sentiment was transmuted at Dwell DC, an artsy, knick-knack-filled clubhouse tucked away in the Northeast quadrant of the District.  Performances by MARTYHEEMCHERRY, Nappy Nappa, Lulu Sunflower, and Pangelica as well as DJs Moses and Greenss buoyed the first monthly events in December and January.  At the last Opaline on New Year’s, I watched Dreamcast and Nappy Nappa run through their collaborative track, “Dolphin Squeek,” a glitchy bop that appears on Dreamcast’s most recent offering, The Lost Tapes vol. 2.  A bowl of black eyed peas and collard greens—a dish supposedly bringing good fortune in 2019 catered by Green from Within—added a savory element to the night while Sir E.U filtered through his library on the turntables.

“It’s important for me to create spaces for us to be together and cool it,” Butler told me over brunch at The Diner in Adams Morgan.  “For me, music is a very spiritual healing tool.”

Butler is no stranger to orchestrating music programming in Washington, D.C., and growing up as a military brat in Southeast and Northeast, D.C. as well a PG County, Maryland, she has a vast experience of what the DMV’s art community can cultivate.  During 2017 and 2016, Butler was integral to the Glow End Theory series presented by CMPVTR CLVB that focused on reinvigorating the divine feminine, featuring artists like Alex Vaughn, Odd Mojo, and DJ Little Bacon Bear.  She noted that the inspiration behind her desire to create intersectional events was derived from Sanaa Fest, a party series founded by D.C.-based artist Yaya Bey in 2015 that provided a tolerant environment to showcase creatives in the DMV and New York. 

Butler reminisced about one of the parties in which Afrovelvet, no foreigner to InTheRough pages, had a fashion show and the iconic female duo Oshun performed.  “I feel like the Sanaa Fest changed the course of my life.  That was a seed that made me want to be off what I’m off.  I have mad respect for Yaya.”

Opaline, however, is solely the brainchild of Butler.  The genesis of the idea came as a way to amplify the voice of her childhood best friend, Babby, who’s angelic crooning has enchanted guests over the first two shows.  The Baltimore-based singer’s impromptu a-cappella  set on New Year’s hushed the entire audience, centering the room in a moment of serenity.

Only two parties underway, “a night of iridescence” as Butler refers to Opaline is still in its infancy, but the optimism around the movement is evident.  Already it has engendered a feeling of comfort with familiar faces returning to engage with the series.  Butler doesn’t see Opaline as just a party, though, rather as a multi-media brand.  Her Opaline mixes on SoundCloud convert the visual aesthetic of the program into a sonic palette while highlighting rising talents in the community.  Greenss’ assistance with the audio mixing in the inaugural set is a nice segue into his own offering of tracks in mix 01.

The third Opaline will be held at The Village Cafe on Friday, February 1 with performances by Bobbi Rush, Nate G, Sir E.U, Naygod, Hoeteps, and Free.GG along with an art installation by Rap Rumi. Stay tuned for the next Opaline mix.

Friday, February 1

The Village Cafe

1272 5th St NE

Washington, D.C. 20002



The Uptown Interview by Maxwell Young

'The Uptown Interview' is a series of candid conversations with some of D.C.'s cultural influencers in an attempt to interpret and preserve the artistic heritage of the city.  In homage to the late Hugh Hefner and 'The Playboy Interview,' InTheRough sat down with two of the most dynamic forces in the District's creative ecosystem: producer/singer Davon Bryant aka Dreamcast and journalist/D.C. cultural archivist Marcus Dowling.  Read on for a couple excerpts from the conversations, and head to the Uptown Art House website for the full interviews. 


Davon Bryant photograph by Maxwell Young

Davon Bryant photograph by Maxwell Young

Dreamcast on making "sit down" music...

MY: So, a full album,  When can we expect that?

DB: I’m thinking within the next 3 to 4 months, man.  I need to have it out.  I really wanna maximize me being on the radio now to push it.  I’m just having fun with it dude, like, it’s really not a job right now.

MY: Is that the main thing you do?

DB: I was just working at a dental office for maybe 6 months to a year, and I ended that before I went to Europe.  But what I’m focusing on now is just making some new content.  I just wanna make some shit that makes people sit down.  There’s so much turn up music.  I want to have that same realm of performances as James Blake, where people come and sit down.  They stand when they really feel the music.  You don’t have to be turnt up.  I want you to come on some acid.

MY: That’s some jam-band shit.  Some Grateful Dead shit.

DB: Yea and just enjoy yourself.  There’s no pressure to look like you’re going to the club.

Marcus Dowling

Marcus Dowling

Marcus Dowling on D.C. being great unto itself...

MD: Before Obama was elected, things would happen in the darkness and they would be amazing.  They would be amazing unto themselves.  There was no mainstream for it.  The Fleur Guys were booking Armin Van Buuren and Tiesto and all of that, and they were killing it.  But it wasn’t like they were killing it and the world needed to know.  Like they could make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year and nobody knew.  There was no need for D.C. to become this explosive and expansive scene.

MY: Why do you think that is though?

MD: Because D.C. was a federal town at this point.  D.C. was a government town first and an arts town second.  A government town first and a creative hub second.  When we had jazz and we had go-go, these were things that were nationally renowned if only because people from other places came here and took the culture to their hometown.  Rick Rubin would come down for Junk Yard shows all the time.  So, if you wanna understand how go-go expanded outside of D.C., Rick Rubin would come down to punk and hardcore shows and book go-go bands as the openers.  So you would get Fugazi and Junk Yard Band on a bill.  So, when he started Def Jam with Russell Simmons, he’s like, “Okay, we have to make rap records that are sonically different.”  And Rick was into this sound that’s brash and big and tough.  So, he’s listening to Junk Yard and Trouble Funk and all these bands and he’s like, “Wait, the drums on these tracks are ridiculous.  The rhythms on these tracks are ridiculous.  The least I could do is get these guys up to New York and have them play, so I can sample their drums and rhythms.”  And that’s what he did.  That’s how Trouble Funk’s “Dropped the Bomb” got sampled and Junk Yard Band got signed to a record deal.  And that was only because Rick Rubin was coming down to D.C.  Had he never come down here, the music would’ve never left.  D.C. has been great unto itself, like legendary great.  Not just great in a way where it’s just “cool,” but legendarily great unto itself.

Poise and Purpose from Tairey by Alex Young

Tairey photographed by Alex Young

Tairey photographed by Alex Young

Since 10th grade, Tairey devotes every day to music.

"Music taught me how to speak up for myself," said the dedicated and confident 20-year-old hip-hop artist, pronounced Ty•Ray.

His sound documents personal maturation, and is inspired by sentimental moments alone, '90s R&B, and empowering people to best themselves.

At secure I.D. Labs, a recording studio and production team placed in a former bank building in Pittsburgh, Pa., Tairey and I are buzzed in. Shiny gold and silver certified records like "Loud," "Donald Trump," and "No Sleep," by Mac Miller and Wiz Khalifa, respectively, proudly adorn the walls of a lounge area.

"After those guys [Mac and Wiz] made it everyone was trying to be next, so it was competitive. There are more lanes here now. You got dudes like Hardo doing what they are doing, and then you got soft shit like me. There's a growing scene here now of young cats doing their own thing," Tairey pointed out about Pittsburgh's music scene.

Thanks to the city's small market, however, the music community thrives because of the artists' supportive nature. Inside I.D. Labs "everyone's doors are open," Tairey explained, and a lot of the 'Burgh's young musicians make music there.

Primarily, Tairey labels time as the most valuable thing anyone can have while we conversed in a room with articles posted to the wall about the city's musical legends. So, the meeting with the Boston-born, Pittsburgh resident with Puerto Rican roots was appreciated from the beginning.

Tairey at I.D. Labs

Tairey at I.D. Labs

While recuperating from a February through April, 24-show, national tour with Kirko Bangz, a Houston, Texas rapper, Tairey re-evaluates his music. To capitalize on the exposure he gained, Tairey makes certain his sincere characteristics are still apparent while upgrading his musicality.

In cities such as Colorado Springs, Colo., Houston, Los Angeles, Calif., New York, N.Y., and Valparaiso, Ind., after every show Tairey would go into the crowd and hand out 10 CDs. He called it "grinding and paying your dues," and "showing people that I'm a good dude. If you're music is good, and you're a dick head, then people will only like your music." First impressions are very important, and Tairey kept this in mind all tour long. "The nation is seeing me for the first time, so being able to talk to people and literally deliver my message personally was a beauty in itself," he said.

However, Tairey may not have had the opportunity to go on tour if he did not drop out of college last school year. School took too much of his valuable time. "I'm not meant to be in school, and I'm not good at College. I was an engineering major. Engineering is not easy, and it takes up most of your time. The school was taking up too much time being in a dorm and classes all day, and not having time to do what I wanted to do made me depressed," he said.

With pressure from his mother to go back to school, and seeing his friends get engineering internships, Tairey felt insecure about being labeled as a dropout. He recognized the value of getting professional resources from college for a future career. But, Tairey also understood he could learn real life lessons outside of school, "I'm learning shit about life that school can't teach me. That's something that music did for me tremendously. It taught me how to speak up for myself, it taught me how to have integrity, and it taught me how to be a poised person, and I am now after having those insecurities of being a dropout. Music gave me purpose and fulfillment."

The effort Tairey puts into his music generates personal and professional growth for the artist. His work ethic keeps him from idling and opens up opportunities for him to do things like go on tour, which was an adjustment compared to his home life.

"I was in tour mode. That means I'm traveling, and my mind focused on other things, like being healthy. I did not want to gain weight on the road. I was eating fruit, yogurt, and water, as well as sleeping a lot," Tairey said. Riding in a van for, at times, 18 hours, it was paramount that he took care of his body.

Tour life also shifted Tairey's musical focus. It was difficult to make music on the road, so he concentrated on performing better to make the crowd more engaged with his music and his stage presence.

"When I'm on tour I think of my music differently," he said. "I think how I can enhance what I already made to make motherfuckers put their arms up more and make them dance more." On the Playa Made Live Tour with Kirko, Tairey took his previously recorded songs and performed them over other beats. Audiences felt the music more because the beats he rapped over were "crazy, unorthodox" instrumentals from SoundCloud that were good to perform live.

Additionally, a southern environment, brought forth by Kirko's hometown, Houston, had a positive affect on Tairey. During the tour's 11-day break in early April, spent in Hustle Town, Tairey and Kirko kicked it in the studio. Tairey caught a vibe with Kirko's whole team, and he even worked with a keyboard player. The show after the break, at the Warehouse Live venue in Houston, some people with access populated backstage, and ultimately invited Tairey to Mathew Knowles' (Beyoncé's Dad) studio following the rapper's set.

From recording multiple songs in the Texas city, and the tour experience in general, Tairey's music is changing a bit. "There's definitely more energy. Tour made me want to put more energy into my music because I know how motherfuckers are going to react to it," he said. The musician cites soulful, gospel chords the studios in Houston were using.

"Tour made my beat selection way more on point. And, I have more character now. I am able to talk to crowds better with the confidence to do it too," Tairey said.

Back to I.D. Labs in Pittsburgh, I felt the energized spirit in Tairey's new music booming through the speakers. Bass drops and catchy hooks like, "I just finessed you right," and "this is one for the bad bitches," a reflection of the type of girls he is attracting, keep listeners engaged.

Tairey and I.D. Labs play basketball

Tairey and I.D. Labs play basketball

Spending long hours in the studio into new light, Tairey is currently making a whole bunch of music "real reflective" of his life. Although he has not released anything in a while, he is ready to variously deliver a long reflective part of his life. He said he wanted to be sure the art was packaged right so that his "music gets the love it deserves."

At a nearby park a few blocks away from the Labs, Tairey and his friends at I.D., like Big Jerm, break from their studio sessions to play basketball. When they resume work, Tairey prepares to release a new song, "No More Drugs" featuring Linwood, on June 10.

Since restoring confidence in himself, and building his character on tour, Tairey hopes his musical efforts will cater to and empower people in an authentic, mature way.