Pittsburgh Rapper ‘Heartless’ talks Independent Music, Profanity-Free Lyrics, and Upcoming Projects

Mistah Wilson: What’s good wit’ it! Thanks for coming thru for this exclusive interview with ThaWilsonBlock Magazine. How ya’ been?
Heartless: I’ve been good trying to stay focused. Thank you guys for having me!

So our audience can gain a clear understanding of you as an artist, could you give us a quick background on yourself? 
Heartless: I’ve been doing music seriously since 2009. I had a song called “Sit Back” feat G.Breeze on music choice. In 2010 I decided to switch my music to profanity free, after my pops listened to my underground album, and said it was too hardcore with all the profanity and I might not reach as many people, as well as music is a business and if you want to change it you have to be better. So I listened to him and for spiritual reasons I decided to grow my skills and see if I could keep my street life that I lived in my music without cursing. In 2012 I signed a record deal with Tate Music Group and released” Keys To Da Game” Feat G Breeze with the hit single “Come Correct” that was in rotation on WAMO 100 (iTunes link https://itun.es/us/-Y9pF) and the YouTube video of it https://youtu.be/b6NJdzpXQ4g

Let’s talk music real quick! Your song “We Made It” is EPIC! We really enjoyed it. What message are you trying to send with this track? 

Heartless: When I wrote “We Made It” I was thinking about my bro, G Breeze, who’s doing fed time right now I made that song for him and everyone else that’s in his situation or on the outside like myself stating simply that the law can’t catch us all and if one of us make it we all make it I’m out here working hard to get this Short Life Profanity Free Street Music nationwide that was our plan from the beginning.

Tell us about some current and upcoming projects you’ve been working on..
Heartless: At this moment I’m just doing singles and marketing them to radio the three singles I’m releasing are “We Made It” Featuring D’voice, “Only Her”, and “City Life” Featuring Tia Moore. After that I plan on working on my second album “Get To Know Me” and releasing a mixtape before that comes out and working on Tia Moore’s album.

Who are some key influences in your life that motivated you to be the artist you are today?
Heartless: Since I was young I’ve had a passion for music, but the most important person is my Pops, Guy Wesley, He has watched me grow since the beginning, he still plays people the first songs I ever made. I would’ve never thought my older music would still hold any accountability, because I’ve grown as a artist so much, but when I was visiting him recently and he was playing it for people that were saying “wow that’s different we need that type of music ” and they listened and appreciated my latest music just as much, saying “stay focused your going to go somewhere, who’s managing you and when is the album dropping”. And everyone that listened to any of my music has the same reaction, “no profanity in it but it still has that gritty feel”. I like that because that let’s me know I’m accomplishing what I wanted in creating music with no profanity.

How do you develop new song concepts, hooks, and lyrics?
Heartless: I was writing so much, notebooks on top of notebooks filled with lyrics but no beats to match it, you can look at it as I was perfecting my craft.. After a while it started to feel like I was wasting my words, because I couldn’t find a beat that would bring it together. So I looked at it from another angle and started searching for producers. I can’t just write to any beat, I have to feel it, I’m making music based on my life. So I have my producer play different beats, and ill spit a few bars to see if it catches, if I don’t feel it in 10-15 sec I’ll tell them go to the next one, but when I catch that beat that makes me bob my head, its like the words attach automatically, that’s how it

happened with “We Made It” and “Only Her”.

Are you currently an independent artist or are you rockin’ wit’ management?
Heartless: I’m a independent artist I release music under Short Life Entertainment. I would like to have a manager, someone that can actually help me more than what I’m doing for myself right now. I’m doing everything and I pay for everything studio time, marketing releases etc everything.

What do you plan on accomplishing through your music?
Heartless: To grow my Indie Label and change the music scenery, I’ve worked to hard to master my style with profanity free lyrics and I like where I’m at.

Where can people connect with you online?
Heartless: Social media sites they can reach me quick on twitter however all my sites are below
https://facebook.com/heartless412
https://twitter.com/heartless412
https://soundcloud.com/heartless412
https://instagram.com/heartless_412
https://soundcloud.com/shortlifeent
www.shortlifeent.com

Yo, Heartless! Good lookin’ on comin’ thru for this exclusive interview with ThaWilsonBlock Magazine! if you have any shout outs, let’s hear em…
Heartless: I’d like to say what up to Antonie (Twan Beatmaker) Reed, my homie and engineer Diezel of Diezel productions, The Real G.Breeze, Dale Burch, Guy Wesley, and to my kids I love each of yall ….Lendell, Demonne, Quan, Dameir, Dalezsa, Daquan, Tyrae.

Should Altadena & South Pasadena merge with Pasadena? Cast Your Vote Today!

As the industrial age comes to a close and year 2000 babies become adults, a new generation of thinkers arise from our communities. Since the late 1880’s, Altadena, Pasadena, and South Pasadena have developed their own sense of character and esteemed heritage.

We’ve recently asked the Pasadena community if they’d be open to such a change. And a lot of more than half of them said “No”. After the initial response we received, we believe that Altadenans, Pasadenans, and South Pasadenans more or less agree on each city keeping their own identity. But, the young minds of today challenge that tradition with a simple question. Should Altadena & South Pasadena be Incorporated into one Pasadena?

Cast your vote below and feel free to explain why you feel it would or would not be a good idea. At this time, there is no commissioned initiative to change these cities. This is strictly for discussion purposes and to encourage community engagement.

DJ Kay Slay Takes Action on Ignorance in Hip Hop

Hip-Hop veteran DJ Kay Slay is fed up with the ignorance of a younger generation of rappers, and he’s doing something about it.
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The “Drama King” behind the magazine Straight Stuntin, is launching a new business venture to educate younger rappers.
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According to Kay, he’s launching a brand new radio show called “What’s the Science,” that will focus on educating whoever wants to learn about the essence of Hip-Hop.
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“Due to the lack of Knowledge in the Hip-Hop culture I’m starting a new show titled ‘What’s the Science’ dedicated to educating whoever would like to seek the knowledge of the essence of Hip-Hop,” DJ Kay Slay explained

“Each episode I will be sitting down with legendary MC’s/DJ’s/Break Dancers/Graffiti Artists/Producers and OG’s with Knowledge of Self.” DJ Kay Slay is more than qualified to tackle the sub…

Read More…

3 Pasadena-based Clothing Brands that Represent the City’s True Essence

Ask around. Pasadena, California is the place ‘you want to live’ if you’re in Los Angeles County or Southern California. It’s location sets it apart from any other city. Even Altadena and South Pasadena feel different. As the generations came and went, traditions were born and leaders were made. Today, the pride & culture surrounding the Pasadena / Altadena area is very strong and tight-knit. It’s like Compton. Everybody knows everybody. And for those who don’t, they still know somebody who knows somebody who knows everybody.

There are a lot of things that make people fall in love with Pasadena. Although everyone has their own reasons why they love the city, there’s one common thing that gives natives a sense of belonging. DENA. Quiet as kept, Pasadena has birthed great people. From Jackie Robinson to Michael Cooper. Van Halen. It has also been a place where greats have established themselves like famous R&B singer Teena Marie. On today’s scene, the artists and entrepreneurs of Generation X and Y have their own businesses and brands that represent the true essence of life in Pasadena / Altadena. And we’ve taken the initiative in listing 3 unique & local clothing brands that currently represent Pasadena / Altadena culture in it’s truest form.

Obvious Giant – The parent company of DENABOY / DENAGIRL, Obvious Giant is a clothing company owned & operated by Dale Mario, Otto Evans, and Eric Wilson. Since 2008,

Pasadena Artist & Entertainer Zoneiak McGee

OG has been the premiere clothing brand in the streets of Pasadena / Altadena being worn by local rappers and musicians at popular events which include the Yardnic & Nic@Nite. The brand helped create a unifying bond between Pasadena and Altadena, considering everyone went to school together. Obvious Giant has been one of the biggest local clothing brands worn by actual natives of Pasadena / Altadena over the past 10 years. You can see their gear in many local music videos, promotional footage, and events. The makers of this brand are products of Pasadena / Altadena making it one of thee top most authentic apparel lines in the city. You can find Obvious Giant (DENABOY/DENAGIRL) by visiting Dorothy’s Boutique at 2057 N Los Robles Ave #11, Pasadena, CA 91104 or Call (626) 817-9777

Pasadena-ish – Created by G Marcus, Pasadena-ish (“ish” standing for ‘I Stay Hustling’) rooted in 2013 and has since grown into a well known local clothing brand. Pasadena-ish has made

Master P (left) & G Marcus (right)

appearances in a lot of local music videos and has even been seen worn on models & porn stars 😉 . One thing that makes this brand different is the diversity in types of clothing. In fact, Pasadena-ish can be seen more on pants, beanies, and undergarments than T-Shirts. Pasadena-ish has been very well received by the younger Pasadena generation and embraced citywide. This clothing brand represents a generation’s perspective and artistic expression. Currently, Pasadena-ish is predominantly promoted on Instagram. Follow @pasadenaish_i_stay_hustlin to get in contact with G Marcus for orders.

 

We Are Born and Raised – A graduate of John Muir High School, We Are Born & Raised clothing company was created by Eric Williams of Altadena as a way to strengthen pride

& culture around cities that people grew up in. The cool thing about this brand is that it started in DENA but reaches to virtually any city you can think of. The brand essentially gives customers a way to sport their own city with the We Are Born and Raised design. Williams also has variant themes like Just A Kid from… and You can see his gallery and order your very own We Are Born and Raised gear on their official website.

Percy Johnson interviews artists on the Gold Carpet

Percy Johnson, a native of Pasadena, California, interviewed local artists who attended and performed at the BringingItTogether Gold Carpet Open Mic Photo Shoot & Drum Circle on Friday December 30th, 2016.