“Phenomenal Hip-Hop Individual Living Through His Years.”
The name says it all. P.H.I.L.T.H.Y, born name James Gardin, can fight the AIDS epidemic, lead Bible study, do a fashion shoot, create an awesome EP, and still have time to jump on stage for a performance before the day is done.
After the mixtape Young Black Hope Vol. 1 and the album Save Us All (Click Here to Buy on iTunes), the 24-year-old has released the EP Love Songs for Losers & Ballads for Ballers (Download and Listen Here), which showcases his talent for laying lucid lyrics over the touching soundbeds to make a universally appealing listen. And don’t let the EP title fool you; this project encases a diverse topic line-up, covering awareness, love, respect and more.
The 24-year-old Lansing emcee knows how to keep balance in his life and in his music, making him admirable to fans, fellow hip-hoppers and strangers he meets in the streets. In the interview below, P.H.I.L.T.H.Y. lets MichiganHipHop.com in on the secret to how he became a phenom without losing himself in the process.
MIHH: You’re known for practicing what you preach. You wouldn’t be mistaken for an artist who only mentions God when accepting his Grammy. How do you incorporate your beliefs into your music and your life?
I’m never going to have a song where I talk about someone else’s problem and how they need to change it. I’m going to attack myself and the problems I need to work on. I think that if people saw an example and see there are possibilities of finding a way out of it, it would guide them more instead of saying, ‘Jesus this, Jesus that, if you don’t do this, you’re going to Hell.’ I don’t like that or respond to that well. I would never describe myself as a Christian rapper. Because by definition, I believe if you’re a gospel or Christian rapper, your audience is primarily Christian or gospel. Even Jesus said he had to save the lost and heal the sick. I don’t think I came to entertain the people who already have it or are already on the right road. Being overbearing isn’t the right way to do it, and I try to use myself as an example. If I’m talking about faults I’m talking about myself, my faults and how I dealt with them. I think that’s the best way to do it.
MIHH: Have your beliefs ever caused a conflict when working with other artists who don’t have the same point of view?
No and I think the thing that works is that I’m not overbearing with it. A lot of people who I do shows with are of different faiths or no faiths. The way I look at it is dope music is dope music. You may not have the same beliefs as me but I can still like your music....continue reading on www.michiganhiphop.com
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