Whisker-A-NoGo

Rahat is a Bengali Hip Hop artist from The Bronx New York.

He has been rapping for fun since Middle School as a way to impress his girlfriends, but it quickly evolved into a way of life once he saw how effective it was as both a form of stress relief and a way to tell the stories of his life and situations growing up in The Bronx.

My rating: 7.5/10

@whiskeranogo

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Here’s my Q/A with the artist himself:

Briefly introduce yourself, and your band if you play with one.

My name is Rahat and I am a Hip Hop artist. I’ve been rapping and producing for about five years now but recently I’ve taken to just sticking to my rap roots. I’ve been treating this as a hobby for the past couple years but now I’m starting to take it much seriously than before and music has basically started to become a very huge part of my life.

In no particular order, list your top ten inspirations, even if they’re not musical.

I’d say my top inspirations are my family, my freinds, my fiance. My friends especially are a huge amount of inspiration for me. I’d also say my favoite band Linkin Park especially Mike Shinoda from the band is a great inspiration for my music. Many underground artists have also inspired me on my music based on things they’ve accomplished that I’ve either been inspired to acheive myself or to suprass.

What are your thoughts on the current status of the music industry?

It’s hard to get into, it always has been but now its even harder. It seems to me like most majors in the industry don’t give much though to independent artists. They go towards independent artists who already have a buzz and build on that. The initial buzz is now soley on you. There is a lot of oversaturation of people who think they can just record something in their bedrooms and call it a hit.  The internet is making it easier and easier to get your stuff out. Overall I think the majors in the industry are slowly going to die out. Indie labels look like they will be prospering though.

Are you signed to a label? What are your thoughts on that?

I distribute my music through Island Def Jam but I am not signed. I am still an independent unsigned artist but my distribution is crazy. Through Island Def Jam I got my music on Itunes, Spotify, Amazon, and soon on IhearRadio and more! It’s really just amazing the amoung of places that my songs are readily available for streaming or downloading.

What would you hope people think about when they hear your music?

Depends on what song they are listening to. If they are listening to one of my more political songs I hope they take the message away from what I’m saying in my lyrics. If their listening to one of my hopeful songs I hope they gain a better perception of their own life or of others. If its a personal song I hope people aren’t too judgemental of me and can learn from my mistakes.

Have you ever bought an album for its cover? Which one?

I actually haven’t though I have seen some crazy artwork on some albums. My favorite is Fort Minor’s album cover for The Rising Tide.

What’s one place/venue in the world you’ve always wanted to play?

Madison Sqaure Garden! Will it happen? I don’t know. I just love the history behind the place and to think about the others who have performed there and the many amazing games that have been played there is just crazy.

Who inspired you to rap?

My first inspirations were my late friend Angel and the band Linkin Park. Those two really got me into music in general and ultimately rap.

What’s your favorite show or tour story?

I was playing a show in my senior year of high school and I really go the crowd going for a while. I remember that being the first time the crowd really enjoyed my music and were cheering me on instead of polite clapping. That was a great feeling to know everyon who was there watching me perform were really enjoying it. Whenever I perform I remember that time and I just try to emulate that vibe again and again. It truly is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

What’s your least favorite thing about being an artist?

The amount of work required to promote when you’re doing it on your own. It really is insanely hard without a team helping you. I try my best to keep myself relevant and active on social networks and wherever else I can. But I have to admit promotion really is one of the hardest and my least favorite things to do. Though the end results are always worth it despite my complaints.

What’s your most favorite thing about being an artist?

Knowing that someone is listening to me. That just feels amazing to me when I think yea someone has my song on their Ipod. I know some people who blast my music in their cars and that’s crazy to know there are people out there who like my music. That to me is the greatest part of being an artist.

In your opinion, what’s the best way for an artist to make $ these days?

Branding and venturing out into more than just music. Look at Dr. Dre for example and his beats headphones. You see them everyhwere in music videos, commercials, and anywhere you walk. Those over expensive headphones are everywhere and is a great way to make money. Branching out from more than just music is where the real money is.

If you could go back and change anything in your career, what would it be?

Funny I complained about it just a couple questions ago, but I used to be one of those people who thought they could make a recording in their bedroom and put it up for the world to see and expect to be instantly loved. It doesn’t work that way and if I could go back and change it I would have spent more time on practicing my craft getting in some studio time and making one or two great songs instead of five or six horrible ones.

Do you feel like you sell more music online or at shows?

Online, you just have more people at your fingertips (almost the whole world really). People do buy singles if they really like them most people won’t but if its good music and easily accesible people will buy them.

How do you feel about the new “facebook timeline”?

They need to stop changing everything so often. I was really used to posting on peoples walls now this timeline crap just makes everything harder and more complicated. Sometimes you just shouldn’t try to fix something that ain’t broke you know?

If you could interview any musical celebrity, alive or dead, who would it be? 

Tupac, I’d ask him if he’s really dead and what he thinks of his hologram.

What’s the first concert you ever saw?

Linkin Park back in 2008 first time they played in Madison Square Garden.

Any advice to up and coming artists?

Practice your craft and learn to take crticism. I still am learning that myself but really there is always room for improvement.

Do you play music for a living?

Not yet but I do hope to one day!

Any websites that you’d like to plug?

Check out my website www.rahatmusic.com for the latest info on my upcoming music! Also be on the lookout for my album on rahat.bandcamp.com You can download it from Itunes on May 7th but if you get it from my bandcamp you’ll get many more bonus tracks! Also follow me on twitter @rahat_music