So you were born and raised in Ghana, and you ended up in the U.S for college. Did you study something music related and did you always know that you were going to be a hip hop artist?
Yes I came here in 2001 for college in Ohio. When I first enrolled I majored in architecture, switched to interior design, then to fashion merchandising, and then I realized that I was never going to graduate if I kept that up. I ended up graduating with a degree in marketing because I realized that I needed to study something that would help me with my art. I always knew that I would become an artist, but not a hip hop artist per se.
Your last two albums "Stereotype" and "Native Sun" have been very well received. What has your journey been like in the context of your lyrics and your message, have you always been a conscious rapper?
It has evolved slowly over time. I have always been socially and politically aware, my father has worked as an attorney in the human rights field for a while, and so we were raised to know about social justice. So that came naturally, and as an artist that voice developed slowly. As my sound has evolved I have become more comfortable speaking about issues as well. With every success that I have had artistically, I have become more confident and I have started to dig more and more into the music that I grew up on in Ghana.
The two albums are very different, does each album represent your identity as a New Yorker and then as an African, or do they reflect more of a transition for you as an artist?
It is more a transition I have made. With Stereotype I hadn’t achieved much success, I hadn’t toured yet, there wasn’t much I had done and I was very insecure as an artist in terms of what story to tell. Now that I have gotten that out of my system I can just be myself. Native Sun isn’t just about doing an African record, it is the true me that I have been trying to get to for a long time.
You have performed in a number of continents, what country has been your favorite and why? Also where haven’t you been that you would like to go?
I can’t pick a favorite it is too hard but I will say that I had a really special experience in Brazil. There is something there that feels so familiar but yet unfamiliar at the same time. I really connected with the people there and they connected with the music. I have never been to Japan, I would love to tour in Japan or East Asia in general.
What is it like when you perform songs in your native tongue Twi, like "Akwaaba" or “Free your mind”, for audiences that do not know the language or cannot relate to your experience as a Ghanaian/African?
I may do some explaining but I try to let the music do the talking. I do not change my show however no matter where I am performing. I made up my mind about that as an artist a long time ago. There are times when people will not like what I have to say, sometimes people walk out of the show but you cannot please everyone. I try not to make assumptions about my audience though, I prefer to maintain the authenticity of my music and let the people decide how they feel. I might do some explaining about the song, but I do not change my shows, you cannot please everybody.
Being an Independent artist you have to do a lot of the work and raise funds yourself, but there must be a positive aspect that keeps you going so what is that and what words of encouragement do you have for upcoming artists?
Well I try not to give advice lol, but I will share some of the lessons that I have learned. Creative control, no matter how much it limits your popularity or your exposure, is one of the most important things you can have. My team and I always have the option to decide how, where, and when, we want to present our work. As far as business, I am fortunate that I went to school for that and so I know how things like cash flow and return investment work. I would encourage those who can to take business classes, marketing classes, so that you are in the loop with your affairs and major logistics.
Among scientists and other musical talents you are a recipient of this year’s Vilcek award, congratulations! How does it make you feel to be receiving such a great award?
I feel extremely honored. This award honors immigrant contributions to the United States and I know a lot of people who have and continue to enhance this society based on their immigrant experience, and so to have been chosen as one of them, like Yo-Yo Ma who I am a true fan of, is a true honor. It is a reminder that if you embrace your experience no matter how unsexy or unpopular, if you believe that you have to share a particular story and you stay true to who you are, you will get rewarded somehow.
Along with other industries in Africa, music is growing fast. Who are some of your favorite hip hop artists right now? Is there anyone African or not, that you would like to collaborate with?
I listen to Tumi from South Africa, Baloji from Congo, Sarkodie who is a brilliant artist, and also some of the pop stuff like Wizkid, Fuse ODG, and D’Banj. I believe in rising tide lifting all boats, so no matter what style of music if it is a win for one it is a win for everybody. There are a lot of people I would like to work with so I don’t even know where to start. With the new album I am working on I am hoping to get certain people like Angelique Kidjo and Nneka.
What else do you have going on? Your short film Native Sun was pretty good, film making perhaps?
I am working on a new album called Afropolitan Dreams. It is a continuation of my story or the story of African immigrants, but it can really apply to anybody who has migrated to the United States from elsewhere. Native Sun was kind of my journey from Africa to America and after that album came out I realized that the story doesn’t end there. A lot of people come to America with a dream or a goal that they are trying to achieve and it is a powerful thing when you go from coming here as an underdog and then through hard work you create a win.
If I were to walk out here on Nostrand Avenue there are immigrants who have stores and yet they probably came here with one bag and a dream. That story is unsung and that is what Afropolitan Dreams is about, not just that but also really celebrating all aesthetics of the African diaspora. It is about capturing the look, the attitude, and just getting a snap shot, of young Africans all over the world today. I see the same energy from Africans all over the world, be it in London, Paris, or New York. They want to be seen and they want to be heard whether it is through fashion, or music, or their choices, young Africans are living out loud and that is the really the premise of this whole record.
Blitz thank you so much for taking the time to talk with AfroMuzik, it has been a pleasure.
You’re most welcome, the pleasure is mine.
Keep up with Blitz the Ambassador via any and all of the links below, and If you have not yet heard his music or his latest album, Blitz was kind enough to stream the entire album so click the following link to go on the journey that is Native Sun . Check it out!
http://blitz.mvmt.com/
https://twitter.com/BlitzAmbassador
http://www.facebook.com/BlitzAmbassador