Category: Premiere

We brought you the premiere of the Eternal Ridin’ single last month, but today we are proud to introduce you to the whole album. Stream below, then keep scrolling for an interview with Libretto about the new project, working with Buscrates, Portland hip-hop, and the impact of Nipsey Hussle on the local community of Watts and beyond.

The new album Eternal Ridin’ is upon us. Tell us what we can expect?

You can expect soulful, raw, uncut, golden era, true rap music in its purest form of the hip-hop culture.

Your music has a very cohesive feel, with emcee and producer perfectly in sync, and a feeling of it having actually been recorded together, not done over emails. How do you guys tend to create together?

After hearing some of Buscrates beats via email, we actually had a chance to connect in person which made the a big impact on the vibe and feel of the album. Our connection to the same era of rap growing up helped out a lot too… We are both in the same age bracket and grew up to the same style of music…if I’m not mistaken.

You’ve had an interesting journey to get to this point in your career, from making hip-hop since the early aughts, to then having to put music aside to serve time in prison, to now. Do you feel like you’re in a good place?

Yeah, I feel like I’m in a “good place” in my life I guess. The stresses of life are very high in my life dealing with a few family members and a lot of friends still held captive behind enemy lines in this nation’s prison system. Creatively, I am in a great place…producing music, composing, staying inspired and creating timeless art.

You started out making music with Lifesavas, who were part of the whole Solesides/Quannum collective. Do you still have a connection with any artists from that circle?

Yes I do. I still create with Jumbo, Vursatyl (who is featured on our new album on a song called The Struggle) and Rev. Shines of the L.S. Crew… and I recently dropped a 12″ with Lyrics Born of Quannum Projects.

Lifesavas are from Portland, Oregon, which is where you are also now based. What’s the local hip-hop scene like there?

The scene here is thriving with new and young talent, as well as the vets who are still holding it down and pushing new boundaries in the culture as well.

That said, you are from Watts, and there’s always been a distinctly west coast sound to your music. Is that something innate inside you, regardless of where you are based now?

Absolutely! I was raised in L.A., Watts, and Compton areas my entire life before relocating to the PDX. And even when I relocated here, I never stopped going back home to check in and spend time in my projects and in my section. It keeps me grounded and is the foundation of my character.

I’d like to talk about Nipsey Hussle. With you coming from Watts, his death must have hit hard. What effect has it had on yourself and the community as a whole?

The passing of our beloved comrade Nipsey Hussle has had a huge impact on me and the community in L.A. Nipsey basically did what we all aspire to do coming from the slums. He made it out his ‘hood, but never left. If that make sense…haha. He bought property, employed people from his ‘hood and invested there as well. Nipsey’s connection to Watts starts when he was in Jr.High School when he was going to Marcum which is in Watts. Which is why you see him in Watts hanging out, chillin in my projects (Jordan Downs) and taking pics in front of the Watts Towers.

His life was inspiring to me as an artist and a businessman. His thoughts on business, investing and financial literacy is something that I acquired in Federal Prison. The music and art was the tool he used to take care of the business and that’s what I feel we should be doing as artist. The Marathon Continues… Long Live Nipsey Hussle, The Great!!

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Eternal Ridin’ is out now on Liquid Beat Records. Purchase it here. Follow Libretto and Buscrates on Twitter. Interview by Grown Up Rap Editor Ben Pedroche.