The Solediction staff had the pleasure of catching up with an up-and-coming hip-hop artist that is taking the genre by storm - Phil Adé. With already two successful mixtapes under his belt, there seems to be nothing stopping the 368 Music Group-rep from making it to the top. Representing DC, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV), Phil looks to bring attention to an area that has yet to receive credit in the rap community like other metropolitan cities; such as NYC, Atlanta, and Miami.
Learn more about the rising star & what he has in-store for the future via the interview after the jump...
Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to participate in this feature. For the readers who aren't familiar, who is Phil Ade & when did he begin rapping?
I'm a hip hop artist from the DC Metropolitan area... better known as "DMV" signed to Raheem DeVaughn and Andre Hopson's 368 Music Group. I started rapping when I was 17 in my Junior year of high school.
Raheem DeVaughn, Wale, Tabi Bonney, and yourself, seem to be the standout artists in the DMV area at the moment. What do you feel you can bring to the table that differentiates yourself from the others?
Each of us all have our own lanes, with each artist you get something different... With me you get a little bit of everything, rapping and singing. Being able to do both makes it easier for me to try a wide range of things creatively. The word I use to describe my sound is international. There's something for everybody in my music.
We had the privillage of watching you perform at the Sneaker Pimps event last year in Washington DC with some notable names. How does it feel to perform back at home?
It feels great! To be able to share the stage with artists like the Clipse, J.Cole, and Wale and do it right in your backyard where you have the most support. You won't get that feeling anywhere else.
Being that you're the first signed artist to the 368 Music Group, do you feel any pressure to live up to certain expectations?
No not really... With the way things have gone so far for me in my very short career, I can see that everything is going to work out just the way everyone hopes and prays it does. Being under 368 I've been able to have creative freedom and make the music that I want to make, and just seeing how it is so well recieved in different parts of the world, I know there's no way to go but up from here.
You just recently dropped your second project, "The Letterman", which we here at Solediction bump heavily. How does it feel to be the first artist from the DMV with a Don Cannon-approved mixtape?
I never really thought of that.. (laughs) It feels great. I've always been a fan of Don Cannon. I can rap the entire Cannon song he did with Lil' Wayne from start to finish, so you know the respect is there. It's almost surreal to have this project stamped by him.
Describe your experience working with great artists like Tabi Bonney, Raheem DeVaughn, Skillz, Wale, Raekwon, and others on the album.
Everyone that I've collaborated with on this project I have high respect for. Also all of these artists have a real passion for what they do. Once they heard what I could do the feeling became mutual and they all agreed to work with me, and I'm forever grateful.
Download: The Letterman (Mixtape)
Do you have a personal favorite off the tape? If so, why that particular track?
I would say the standout track for me is the song I did with Kevin Ross called "Toast to Life".... It's a song about hopes and expectations that I believe anybody trying to be successful has.
What artist(s) would you like to work with in the future?
Nas, Jay-Z, Kanye, Q-Tip, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, Coldplay, Green Day... the list goes on. There's so many artists that I enjoy and would love to make music with.
You seem like a pretty fly dude. What brands can we catch Mr. Ade flossed in?
You're most likely to catch me in something from Stussy DC or Commonwealth... I love Levi's I don't think I have anything else in my closet as far as jeans. I love Louie Vuitton Damier belts and Gucci belts also.... on the feet you're most likely going to see me in some Jordan's or some foamposite Penny's
Favorite sneaker of all time?
I would have to say the black and cement Air Jordan III's.... I don't own a pair but I've been scratching to find one for a while now. I'll have a pair before August is out. I'm pretty sure of that.
What's next for Phil Ade?
I'm already working on my next project.... its untitled of course. The next project you'll catch me on is the 368 Music Group project called "368 FTW".. It's all of the artists on 368 Music Group along with Raheem of course, we definitely got some bangers on that so look out for it soon. I have a show at SOBs in New York July 28th. A lot of greats have performed there so thats gonna be a dream come true as well as an incredible show. For the month of August I'm going to be touring in Australia and New Zealand... I didn't even know I had fans out there so that once again is gonna be CRAZY.. and to finish out the fall I'll be on the Sneaker Pimps tour once again going all over the U.S... So I'm definitely keeping busy. *
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