Photo Credit: Mir Fontane – “Still Alive (Cover Photo)”

New Jersey’s own, Mir Fontane celebrates his birthday with his new 6-track EP, Still Alive.

Laced with 6 tracks, Mir calls upon producers Mike Zombie, Kenif Muse, MixedByTheBest, Shiv, Khoality Beats, Kam DeLa, Kev Rodgers, and Spaceman for this very intimate body of work.

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The post New Jersey’s Own Mir Fontane Celebrates His Birthday with New 6-Track EP, “Still Alive” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Camden, New Jersey is a rough city to grow up in- I would know, my father was born there. A budding emcee by the name of Mir Fontane has beat the odds to make a name for both himself, and Camden.

His breakout singles, “Wanni Wag” and “Space Jam” have further bolstered Mir’s music and movement and have earned him cosign from the likes of Sway Calloway and more. Read our conversation on early beginnings, his music and sports below.

RESPECT.: How was life growing up in Camden, New Jersey?

Mir: That was pretty much all I knew growing up because I didn’t grow up anywhere else. It was pretty much a tight community, everybody knew everybody. It definitely was more innocent in the eyes of a child than it is now. Growing up, it felt like a community but as you got older it changes. People change, circumstances change and life hits you, things get a little bit more real.

RESPECT.: When did you start taking music seriously?

I don’t know if you would call it making music but around in middle school. We use to roast each other and crack jokes. The way we did it was it was strictly punchlines, you would have to set it up and say whatever you were going to say as a punchline. That wasn’t really rapping as in hooks and song structure go that didn’t start until I was in high school. I was trying to impress the girls, one girl specifically. That didn’t work out [laughs] but I found out I had a gift for telling stories and saying things in a certain way that could reach a lot of people. That brought me joy and it was fun for me, music is definitely something that changed my life.

RESPECT.: What were some of your early influences musically back then or now?

Back when I first started my influences were Lil Wayne, Kanye West, 50 Cent. I found common ground with them because they were all storytellers. The way they rapped was just cool as hell to me, it was either punchlines or the way they said something was just so cool and I just wanted to be that guy. As I got older and got more into what I wanted to do musically I look up to Drake, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West still. I grab a lot of inspiration from the people in hip-hop that’s trying to push things forward and not keep doing the same shit we’ve been doing since nineteen whatever. Mainly the people that incorporate rapping and singing that are trying to find their own sound, if you can find your own sound in this day and age that’s something I can respect.

RESPECT.: We saw that you were on Sway in the Morning, and received a co-sign from him. How did that feel?

That was like a dream come true, I remember when I use to watch Sway early in the morning before I went to school. I used to always want to be on there, but you know growing up in the hood that’s a pipe dream and is only going to come into fruition by you saying that. So when it actually happened it was surreal to be in that moment and not making a fool of myself thank god. I just saw myself doing what I thought I could do when I was dreaming about it in the back of the classroom.

RESPECT.: Ish Williams is a frequent collaborator, can you explain to the people who don’t follow what he is to you?

Ish Williams is my brother outside of music we pretty much grew up together when it comes to music. We figured out what works and we put our heads together to take the south side to the next level. Like myself Ish has a very unique voice, so when we actually make music together its fun because I’m working with a friend. Also it’s an experience that you want to keep doing over and over.

RESPECT.: Your last release Who’s Watching the Kids, explain the creative process that went behind articulating that project?

I did a lot of walking around Camden and listening to beats. I did that because I wanted to create a soundtrack for my city. I tend to do that a lot I like to walk around and write while listening to instrumentals. I can’t really write to my best extent while sitting down head into the notepad or my phone just trying to come up with bars. When I came up with who’s watching the kids I didn’t want to come up with another eco-crazy theme or tell a story from another perspective. I wanted to get a little more personal with this album, so I pretty much did a lot of soul searching. Also how I could be perceived to the public as Mir Fontane, what story could I give you all. I still have plenty of stories but it’s stuff I’m trying to save for my debut album, but this album was pretty much dedicated to all of those who have been with me since day one. It was a challenge with myself to try and open up and just give people a classic album so they wouldn’t have to skip one song.

RESPECT.: Did you watch the Olympics? Are you usually a big sports guy?

I usually do watch the Olympics but this year I haven’t really been watching it. Maybe it’s because I don’t like this year’s basketball team. But I’m a very big sports fan I love basketball first and foremost football is okay but I think basketball is king in every sport in my opinion. I like the 76ers because A.I. was there, but when he left it was kind of like alright well…you know what I mean. I guess I’m going to stick with the Sixers we got Ben Simmons, but my favorite player of all time is LeBron James. I just want to keep seeing that man win rings.

RESPECT.: If you had to pick a rap starting five who would be in it?

Lil Wayne, Kanye, Tupac, J. Cole, Jay-Z.

RESPECT.: What can we expect moving forward and for the rest of 2016?

You can expect a hell of a lot more music, surprises, and merchandise. I got a lot of surprises coming up I don’t want to give too much away. But definitely expect more music on the way before the end of the year.

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Influenced by the sounds of 50 Cent and Drake, Mir Fontane is truly a chameleon in rap, with the ability to deliver unapologetic, raw lyricism, or serenade the ladies with a melodic single.  The 23-year-old NJ rapper/singer has been on fire in 2016. Fontane’s ode to Dajuan Wagner, “Wanni Wag,” has become a South Jersey anthem with over 36,000 plays to date, and even got Mir Fontane a cosign from G.O.O.D. Music producer, Charlie Heat, and OVO Sound’s Mike Zombie.

Mir Fontane is now preparing for the release of his Who’s Watching The Kids mixtape.  After his recent Sway In The Morning interview, Mir Fontane shares a new single titled “Space Jam.”  Recruiting frequent collaborator Kev Rodgers for some menacing production, and Kam DeLa to lay down soulful background vocals, Fontane delivers a catchy banger for those struggling with what it means to love.

“Space Jam” will appear on his Who’s Watching The Kids mixtape, which is slated to drop August 1st.  In the meantime, feel free to stream below.

Stream below!

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The post New Music: Mir Fontane – “Space Jam” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

While other rappers are getting ready for summer16’s playful pop style, Ivy Sole alternatively gives listeners a soundtrack fit for spiritual spring cleaning; something motivational for anyone grinding away, focusing on work, or channeling positive energy towards the next big dream. As the young Taurus celebrates her 23rd birthday and gears up for a new chapter in her life, we were able to catch up for a short but telling interview about Ivy Sole’s new music and future plans!RESPECT: I’ve read some press on Eden that calls it an EP and some that call it an album. What is the truth? What is your official discography so far?

IVY: The truth is it’s the first real project I’ve dropped in my life and if it sounds like an album, it’s because I treated it that way. My official discography starts with Eden.

The last time we spoke, you had just dropped a mixtape, Exquisite Corpse, and you were a part of an arts collective called Third Eye Optiks. Plus, you are currently in two bands, Liberal Arts and IndiGold . What’s the artistic difference between the music you make on our own, and the music you make with your bands- and what’s the status of Liberal Arts right now?

I’m no longer affiliated with Third Eye Optiks, it’s a now defunct collective, although many of us are still pursuing music. As you’ll see on Eden, I’m still collaborating with many of the LA homeys, but as for making projects as a group, I don’t know if that’s in the cards. Indigold came out of this summer, it was supposed to be a side project and turned into a really amazing experience with a really well-received EP. Indigold is the way I make the music that doesn’t fit neatly within the hip hop/soul and allows me to have the collaborative outlet that I love about being in a group/collective.You’re a North Carolina native, educated at UPenn, and residing in Philly now. When you think of your home, what immediately comes to mind?

At first, I’d say my mother & sister, the people who make home what it is. Then, I’d say just the feeling that you get when you’ve been away and you get to return to something or someone. That feeling, to me, is home.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?

I wanted to be a doctor, mostly because of how lucrative it could be, but I hated physics and lost interest.

You have new footage up of the Eden Release Party. How was that experience for you, and why did you pick Mir Fontane and Sammus as your openers?

The release party was amazing, about 100 of my closest friends & supporters to celebrate the completion of Eden. It was a goal that I’d always had and it felt great to be able to fill a room and really just vibe out. It had a great turnout and people came from out of town to come support, including my mom. The openers were chosen based on preexisting relationships. Mir is a great, talented guy from the southside of Jersey & we met through performing in Philly. Sammus is a fellow femcee and Ivy League grad who’s making some dope moves, and we got connected via her manager.

All Mine has a great King Krule sample from Out Getting Ribs. Are you a big King Krule fan or was that just the producer’s choice? What your favorite King Krule song.

I’m a huge King Krule fan, especially the multiple mediums that accompany his new album A New Place 2 Drown.

You said on The Vow that you daydream about doing shows in different cities. What’s a city you’ve never been to where it would be a dream come true to perform?  

I honestly can’t pick one, but I’m really excited at the prospect of performing abroad. I’ve heard that Europe is really good to hip hop artists.You’ve explained before that your spiritual beliefs align more with eastern religion than western religion. Yet, the title Eden obviously references the Bible and Christianity. Plus, on You Don’t Know My Name you end the instrumental with a sample from Genesis 3:18. Can you talk about the spiritual undertones of the album in terms of your personal faith and how it relates to the album’s theme? 

I think the answer to that is three-fold. In one respect, Eden is the beginning of a journey for me–musically, creatively, and professionally. Also, the song that follows that sound clip is a retelling of the story of the garden of Eden, so creatively it helps move the project from one topic to the next. And lastly, I think my music will consistently be a meditation on religion & spirituality. On Master Plan, I ask the question, “Is it the master plan or the master’s plan?” and one of the meanings of that line is the uncertainty of knowing whether what you’re doing is just the actions or if it’s a part of some higher being’s plan for your life. I haven’t decided which one I believe just yet lol.

You Don’t Know My Name speaks to your first experience with puppy love, and it’s really cute. How old were you when you had your first crush that you rap about on the song?

YDKMN is actually written from the perspective of a man reflecting on the relationships he’s in or has pursued in the past. The first verse is the present, the second is college, and the third is like middle school.

Love is a reoccurring theme throughout the entire album and you tackle it again and again with songs like Enough, and Lost Without You. Do you believe in soulmates, like there’s one true love for every person? 

I don’t believe in soulmates in the traditional sense. I think that in life we find people who match our energy at a specific frequency and whether or not these friendships or relationships last isn’t indicative of a lack of something.

What does Black Sensuality mean to you?

Black sensuality in artistic forms is one of my favorite things in the world. I think reclaiming Black sexuality and the ways its been portrayed as improper or hypersexual and making it more intimate and subdued. I think restraint is a really powerful way to show intimacy and my favorite artists do that well (Prince, Maxwell, Floetry, etc)

Who is Malika?

Malika is a symbol for a beautiful girl, like the type of person that kinda stops the room when they walk in.

What’s the last song you listened to?

Can’t Keep Checking My Phone by Unknown Mortal Orchestra

Specifically what songs on Eden did you produce?

I produced YDKMN and collaborated with CS~W in a very minor capacity on Master Plan & Cloud Kickin’.

How do you spend the majority of your free time?

I’m working full time on music and freelancing as a designer/writer, so most of what would be my free-time, is actually spent on music & whatnot. But before this, I played pick up basketball and spent time outdoors.

How long were you a vegetarian, and why do you practice veganism?

I’m still a vegetarian, haven’t really been able to let go of cheese just yet haha.

What should the fans look out for next?

I’m planning a mini-tour for the fall, I’m definitely excited to get out on the road and connect with people in real time.

What the one thing you particularly want people to notice when they look at your work?

I want them to see that everything I do is genuine & personal.

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The Southside meets North, on this raw New Jersey-based collaboration. Camden’s Mir Fontane is undoubtedly still on fire from his buzzing “Wanni Wag” single, and delivers a new song titled “Ride Or Die” featuring Newark rapper Tsu Surf, and vocalist Kam DeLa Coopsta VII.

The jazzy Zach Capner production (w/ some assistance from Monstarr Beatz), captures the two Garden State rappers sharing gritty experiences from their respective hoods, as Kam DeLa Coopsta VII treats us to some soulful background vocals.Though Mir Fontane is not sure if “Ride Or Die” will appear on an upcoming project, stay tuned for more updates.
 

The post NEW MUSIC: MIR FONTANE FEAT. TSU SURF AND KAM DELA COOPSTA VII – “RIDE OR DIE” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

2015 has been a relatively quiet year for up-and-coming New Jersey artist Mir Fontane. Some months back, during the NBA Finals, Fontane released an ode to the Golden State Warriors guard, entitled “Steph Curry.” Though that single was well-received, and quite timely, Fontane has not been very consistent.

Well aware of his absence, Mir Fontane has returned with a single that makes up for the time lost. With his new offering, “LOW,” the NJ native croons about the people he rather not be around and being back on his grind. The artwork, drawn by Mir Fontane, and colored by St. Hope, offers an alternate world to the popular Nickelodeon show, Hey Arnold! Maintaining his comedic approach, Fontane spits, “I know some n***** ’round my city want to see my flop/ ‘Cause I (eye) ball on the side like I’m Fetty Wap.”

Get familiar with Mir Fontane and stream his Roca Beats-produced “LOW” here:

The post New Music: Mir Fontane – “LOW” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.