Good morning UxU fans. We got another one!
This artist reps his New Orleans roots, but currently
resides in the DMV. He goes by the name of Joey Phantom.
His most recent project, I
Am What I Am is a self-proclamation. He is a product of what he has
endured, but that is not the end of his story. This album is a look into his
life.
Phantom’s lyrics are honest and his entire flow emanates a
cool vibe. The beats on his mixtape are definitely something to chill and ride
to. His music is a direct reflection of who he has become and why.
“I’m really calm,” he said. “When you rap to calm beats, you
can really hear yourself and you can really see things and put them into
perspective.”
Phantom listens to more old school Hip Hop than anything
else, and he appreciates the first heavyweights. He listens to a lot of Outkast,
Biggie, Nas, Scarface, Jay-Z, and the list goes on. He even credits the late
Soulja Slim as a direct influence to his style and flow. Although he does
listen to A$AP, Ace Hood and a few others, old school is where he tends to
float back to for inspiration.
“I’m a rapper,”
Phantom said. “You can’t be out here listening to everybody’s songs because you
don’t want to sound like them. I want to sound like one of those guys.”
Messages and the sound of Hip Hop are completely different nowadays.
Phantom wants to bring back the old school vibe to Hip Hop. He believes that
music now is completely different and doesn’t reflect the same passion and honesty
from its beginnings. He wants to revamp it, but still maintain its
authenticity.
“Music is twisting and turning,” he said. “It’s going
everywhere. You gotta grab hold of it and pull some of it your way.”
Phantom defines his style as versatile, but he doesn’t want his
music to reflect Gangsta Rap. He knows that all eyes are on him, and he wants
to lead by example. Phantom believes that youth are a huge following in Hip Hop
and he wants to help influence them positively.
“It’s all about your image,” he said. “You gotta get people
to follow you and believe in you. All it is is influencing the youth, and you
gotta influence them the right way. I have to show people that there’s more to
life.”
He hopes that one day he’ll be able to give back to his
community in a way that will help them prosper. Phantom says that “you can’t
eat and watch everyone else starve.” It’s important to know where you came from
and not leave those that helped you behind.
Here are some other things we asked Phantom:
Favorite track on his
mixtape: “Hallucination”Ã
make sure you check it out!!
Direct influence on
his life currently: Jay-Z…admires his grind, come-up, and humble beginnings
Future collabs, dead
or alive: Tupac, Biggie, and Soulja Slim
Currently listening
to: Lil’ Wayne, Jay-Z, and Nas
His second project is in the works, so be on the lookout for
it within the next few months. Phantom says that this one will be stronger and
very different. His style changes often. Until then, download I Am What I Am on DatPiff.com sooner than later.
Joey Phantom is on Twitter and InstaGram, so go him some
love ASAP @JoeyPhantom504. Also, go check out some of our other Music Monday
artists and cop some gear at www.uxudmv.com.
Follow us on Twitter and InstaGram @uxudmv.
‘Til next week, be unique and don’t settle for less. Be Uncontemporary.
-Snook <3
