Artist Profile & Music Review: Tevin Dantrell

In this world of copycats, funk fakers, and gimmick artists, Tevin Dantrell strives to be an original. Here at Nogo Street Beat, we love straight hip hop with no chasers. His latest creation “Purple Sky Nights” will drop on November 19^th. After getting a chance to hear his music first hand, I got a chance to talk with Tevin Dantrell myself at the Fountain square Starbucks in Waukegan, IL.

Tell our readers about yourself:

My name is Tevin Jenkins. “Dantrell” is my middle name. I started going by Tevin Dantrell probably about four months ago. I used to go by the name Supastah Gutta and I just grew out of the name because I had that for awhile--since the eight grade. So, I was like, why not go by my birth name?

I’m from uh--

I don’t really like to say I’m from the city, like I claim Chicago because that is where I was born, and that is where my family is, but my whole life, I lived everywhere.

I have lived in North Chicago, Zion, Aurora, Kenosha, Chicago--like all around the Chicagoland area I guess you could say.

I don’t know what else to say about myself, except my birthday just passed on October 16^th.

　

　

Happy Belated Birthday.

　

Thank you, thank you.

Alright, let’s talk about your music. Define your style of hip hop.

　

My style, I don’t know, I guess it’s like a “streetish” style--a street like storytelling style. You know, I don’t like to rap about anything that’s not really going on in my life. Everything is 100% true. And I don’t rap about money cause I don’t have like a lot of money. It’s real, I guess you could say my style is real.

　

　

Where do you get your inspiration from?

　

[I get my inspiration] Usually from music that is out right now. Like some of the top people that I think are out right now like Kendrick Lamar, or Kanye West, or like people who are just real storytellers cause that is what I aspire to be. Like J Cole, or someone like that.

And I think the music itself, the actual beat itself, inspires me probably the most out of everything. Because I listen to the beat first and then write the song around it. Like the mood of it. So that is what inspires me the most--the beat.

　

What sets you apart from the other local artists that maybe out right now? What gives you your unique sound?

　

I think it’s the realness actually. Because a lot people that I’ve actually heard locally talk about stuff that I know they are not really doing. Umm--talking about cars or something. Like I know you don’t drive a lot cars.

I actually heard a song like this before.

I think actually the things that I do, the type of music I choose to do, & the type of beats I actually use is probably different. Like now on this new mixtape, Purple Sky Nights, I do have stuff that can actually bang in the clubs because I want to go perform. And that’s the reason I did those. But if you listen to some of my past mixtapes, it’s more hip hop style and a lot of freestyles with me just telling what is going on at the moment.

So, I think that’s what set me apart: my content and choice of beats is different.

　

　

　

How many mixtapes have you put out there already?

Officially I put out 4 with one on the way. And unofficially, like 8 from when I was younger.





How old were you when you got started though?

I think I was like 8 years old when I started rapping. The first song I ever rapped over was the Ludacris and Germaine Dupri song “Welcome to Atlanta”. That was the first actual beat I ever rapped over.

The first time I was recorded was in 2008, when I was a sophomore in high school with two of my friends Maine and Derrick.

Who else do you listen to, what else do you like other than hip hop music?

I don’t think I have an ear for anything other than hip hop music. Hip hop and R&B, of course. Sometimes I hear a song from a different genre that I like drift off to. But, I don’t have like any other genre that I really like. Nothing I can think of, but there are other songs and other genres that I have actually heard and liked.

　

Explain your song “Suicide Note” . I thought the song was dark, twisted, and interesting way of looking at that subject.

“Suicide Note”, hmm! When I made my last mixtape “Tin Man Heartless”, I was going through a lot of things then. And when I am going through things I can’t really put them out, I can’t talk about them, & I can’t rap about them. So, now that I am out of that, I am in a better place. You know, I was going through some bad stuff. Just stuff going through my head so I thought I would just put it in a song.

Do you recommend hip hop or writing as a way to vent your emotions?

Definitely, I do. It is a really good way to do it. It is a stress release. It’s fun to me, so it relieves a lot a stress. For me, it is way to actually talk about something without actually talking about it. I could say more on a song than I could say in person. I know I’ll put more in a song, and really people still don’t understand that my music is real stuff that I want to say about real people. And people around me, they still don’t get it. They just think it’s music. But, maybe they will. So, I think its good way to vent without people knowing you are venting at the time.

　
It was refreshing to meet an artist that is dedicated to being humble and honest about himself and his craft. The music in Tevin Dantrell's "Purple Sky Nights" is some of the best I've heard in a while. 　

Tevin most definitely has skills as a lyricist, and he definitely is not afraid to take his listeners on an emotional journey with his storytelling.  In Tevin Dantrell's music, we have the harsh reality of a young man who is not afraid to tell us like it is.  My favorite tracks from "Purple Sky Nights" are "Suicide Note","ten times" , & the oddly titled "Bill Nye". 

The album drops November 19th.  PURPLE SKY NIGHTS                                     Check out his FACEBOOK FAN PAGE
  
Trust me, you will love what you hear.

(BBC) BBOY FOR CHRIST

The art and skill of blending faith with hip hop music has been a part of the rap genre since the days of the Sugar Hill Gang. Over the years, the hip hop genre has been peppered with groups like DC Talk, and PID (Preachers in Disguise). These days even secular artists like Kanye West add a religious message to their music (Jesus Walk).

Granted, there have been many arguments made against putting religion in hip hop music. Everything has been said from that’s not real hip hop to the music sounds too worldly for the believer.

Like all poetry, hip hop comes from the heart. Christian rap is no different. At the center of the music is the message and the purpose of the artist is to get that message out.  Over a series of weeks, I corresponded with a Christian hip hop artist who goes by the name of BBC B-Boy for Christ. Here is some of what he had to say about himself and his music.
How did you come up with name BBC B-Boy for Christ? 
I have always been into hip hop. Since I was 7. I loved the whole culture, the graffiti, djing, breaking and of course rapping. It means break boy because of break dancing but it expanded into all things hip hop. That’s b-boying. I’m gonna always be a b-boy, but now when I do it, its to glorify Jesus. B-boys were rebels so was Jesus. In a sense, being a Christian is pretty rebellious.


Your music has an old school sound to it that real hip hop heads can appreciate, but your message in your music has a biblical basis. Some would still argue that you can't mix a secular sound with the gospel. How do you respond to that?
I think when you go the Kirk Franklin route, using old secular songs as gospel songs, like Stomp, is when it gets cloudy. People use to get high to George Clinton. So when Stomp first came out we're all like hey that’s One Nation Under A Groove! There is a certain spirit there. Your singing gospel over a song people use to or still get high too. Just like when Christian rappers do a mixtape and rap over a Kanye or Lil Wayne beat. If you go perform it and the people in the crowd only hear the Lil Wayne song and not the message that your trying to give out. So to me when you mix secular and God in that sense, it gets cloudy. But as far as rapping the gospel, its a form of ministry. Just like praise dancing, spoken word preaching, its all ministry. We're not ministers by any means, but this is ministry and this is our way of doing it. We just want to bring Christ to the forefront.
When people hear your music what is the main thing you want them to take from it?

Christ. See Christ and want to know more about him. I want people to not be afraid to love him and show him PDA. People will defend the lyrics and actions of their favorite rapper and question if God is real or if the bible is a true story. Jesus is real, he's coming back, deal with it and get right or get left behind.
Who do you listen to when you are not recording your own music?
I love the Red Ink Army. Yaves the Street Pastor, Bizzle, Mouthpiece, there’s so many. I still listen to old R&B like Stevie Wonder and Frankie Beverly. But mainly its other Christian mc's and I also listen to CD's of my Bishop's messages from random services.

You listen to "Champion" a song by BBC by clicking this link.

Follow B Boy for Christ on Facebook.  Also check out more of his music and fan him on Reverbnation:

BBoy 4 Christ

NoGo Street Beat Intro

The music of North Chicago, IL is rough, gritty, and often depicts a less than savory side of life.  We have DJs, Singers, Rappers, Book Authors and Poets.  Producers, promoters, etc.  One thing I have learned about the entertainment business, it is often a cutthroat business.  You have to come correct with your product or don't come at all.

This blog is for all the creative hustlers and original individuals who are trying to put our little slice of the Midwest on the map.  They honestly take no short cuts and they love their craft.

Being inbetween Chicago, IL and Milwaukee, WI, we honestly can't afford to take shorts.   For every artists there is out there doing something, there is one doing it bigger or better.

Those are the chances that you take in the entertainment industry.

Everyone has a story to tell, and there is a drop of blood and sweat in every line of every song.

I hope those of you that enjoy underground hip hop and independent artists will enjoy this blog.