When people in today’s society hear the words “Hip-Hop” they most instantly get images of what they see in the videos on MTV; Artists flossin’ stacks, waving them at the camera while the “bitches” in the back round shake their asses with next to nothing on, usually standing next to or sitting on the hood of a Bentley or Cadillac while the artists rap about how much money they have in the bank and brag about the game. Does anyone remember Hip-Hop’s roots or that MCing is an actual art form utilizing an artist’s raw talent and on- the- spot genius to spit out the truth via verses of poetic rhythm to a live beat? With over 10,000 live shows under his belt, D.R.E.S. ThaBeatnik is one of Hip-Hop’s purists and is talented in everything from human beatboxing , MCing, lecturing, hosting, and most importantly he is a true fan of hip-hip and its culture. His skills and talent as an MC and human beatboxer have only been strengthened by his inherent understanding of Hip-Hop culture and a strong knowledge of its history and roots. I recently had the opportunity to speak with D.R.E.S., a talented artist and an amazing person. Here’s what he had to say:
TMN-Abigail Lyn: I know you grew up in Philadelphia. Can you tell me a little bit about that and how it influenced who you are today?
D.R.E.S.: I actually enjoyed growing up in Philadelphia and in relation to me, it shaped the person I am today in many different ways. I’m a 70’s baby, so music is definitely a prevalent thing that was coming out of Philadelphia at that time. I don’t know—I just feel like there’s something in the water in Philadelphia. In my household growing up there was always Motown, T.S.O.P., there was always jazz. I didn’t actually get Hip-Hop until I got out of the house and was amongst my friends. I left Philadelphia when I was twenty and moved to Atlanta, and I’ve been here ever since.
TMN-Abigail Lyn: Do you think the combination of the musical influence in the home and that of your friends helped mold you into the musician that you are today? I know you do a lot of your own beats via beat-boxing. Do you think the mix helped push you to take your music there?
D.R.E.S.: I think so, I mean, mostly just me doing my own beats came out of necessity. I’m a mean beat-boxer, and most of my production is just that. It’s done mostly because I couldn’t get access to equipment to be able to make my own beats using traditional instruments. I played upright bass in school, I sang in choirs so that part was always fun; it was just the ability to move forward with what I was doing that had eluded me for so long.
TMN-Abigail Lyn: At what point did you decide you were going to follow through and move forward in the direction that you did? What gave you the drive to rise above and beyond your circumstances of not having access to equipment most rap/Hip-Hop artists consider essential?
D.R.E.S.: Just having ideas that I wanted to get out, mostly. See, I got this really good idea—I think I’m not alone to put this idea out and see what happens. I mean, it’s all trial and error mostly. I got involved in Hip-Hop mostly because of my friends; street corner ciphers, things like that. There are street corner free- style ciphers and all of that stuff. In school singing in choirs that was fun, a different type of fun for me, but I have been singing pretty much from birth until ages 13-14. When I got here to Atlanta, I actually got involved in a group with my cousins, and we were on the doorstep of some deals but nothing ever came to fruition. At the same time I was doing that, I was also doing my thing with 4 Kings Entertainment and starting my own business and all that good stuff. Once we all grew apart musically and that came to an end it was, “Well what am I going to do next?” and it was just a natural progression thing.
TMN-Abigail Lyn: How did you get your name, and what does it stand for?
D.R.E.S.: Well D.R.E.S. is an acronym for Divine Real Essence of Sound. ThaBeatnik is actually paying homage to the beat generation, but it’s also a nickname that my music teacher in high school gave me. I was slightly different and left of center from everyone else.
TMN-Abigail Lyn: It’s very clear that you are quite passionate about Hip-Hop and its culture. Tell me what you love about the music that you are doing. How would you compare it to what’s been done in the past and what is being done now?
D.R.E.S.: Honestly, I don’t think I am doing anything different. I don’t believe there is anything new under the sun; everything just works in cycles. What I’m doing, I guess in theory, is no different than scat or in be-bop. Beat boxing, if you will, is actually a distant relative from that. I feel like what I’m doing is similar to that of Bobby McFerrin, and I’m actually taking another step from what Biz and Dougie have done and Rahzel and Kenny Muhammad. You know… Taylor McFerrin, Kid Lucky, D-Cross and Click 88, right? It’s crazy, I think this is the first time in a very long time that you have more than one or two human beat-boxers that are relevant in not just the beat-boxing scene but in music across the board. You can hear the influence of beat-boxing even in pop music. Michael Jackson was a human beat-boxer, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland—he’s a human beat-boxer. It’s crazy how many people do it that you can actually hear, know what I’m saying? You can hear the influence. I guess to initially answer your question; I don’t really feel like what I am doing is anything different. The only difference is that I am putting my perspective or making my contribution to a much bigger piece of art.
Part 2 in up and coming issue of TMN Illustrated.
Interview by: Abigail Lyn