When God and good lighting unite.

Whether or not Radamiz is a conscious Hip-Hop artist is not up for our judgment. What we can certainly say is that Radamiz is cerebral. His answers are cryptic and indirect at times, but always thoughtful and intelligent. Radamiz is not the type of modern artist who offers the minutiae of his daily travels for mass consumption on social media. Rather, he shares his inner-workings via the music.

“$100,000” is a hustler’s anthem that Radamiz released in 2013. Something inspirational for the underdogs: “For lent, I gave up lint.” Envisioning riches on wax is not a groundbreaking concept, but $100,000 delivers a musicality that sets Radamiz apart from the pack and it was this song that alerted me: Radamiz is on his way to stardom. 

Hailing from Bed-Stuy’s Sumner Houses, Radamiz is no stranger to poverty. His worldview is also shaped by his native Dominican Republic, years of study at New York University (Class of 2015), and years of membership in the Mogul Club. The Club is comprised of multimedia artists – MCs, producers, cinematographers – and unified by a noticeable covering of brotherhood.

It is not possible to explore the artistry and possibility of Radamiz without a concurrent exploration of the Mogul Club. Radamiz succeeds as a solo artist, but not as an independent actor. When the release date for Writeous was finally announced, members of the Mogul Club began shouting “April 18!” from their social media rooftops too. There is a prevailing myth in New York City Hip Hop that artists do not support each other, and the Mogul Club constantly defies that. Everyone is lauding and promoting the greatness of Writeous with the vigor that artists typically reserve for their own projects, but therein lies the beauty.

Radamiz has delivered a project that has been four years in the making, not to mention its lifetime of development in New York City public housing. The most recent single from Writeous is “Sumner,” an ode to the Sumner Houses where Radamiz honed his art form. The record finds Radamiz in a comfortable yet triumphant pocket as he reflects on the rats, roaches, and junkies in the Ps while championing the faith and perseverance that have delivered him through.

Faith shines through heavily on Writeous — “Stacking every penny, still got Jesus by the dresser” — and on the introductory track, Radamiz wholly ascends. “God Talks to Me A Lot” sets the tone for the album and announces Radamiz as king. The second verse, though. Radamiz is joined briefly by a Lauryn Hill soundbite and a thorough closing verse from Mogul Club veteran Madwiz. The two have been collaborating musically since their high school days, as evidenced by the hidden YouTube gems that only the real fans know about. 

Wordlessness is a rather prominent current Hip Hop trend, but Radamiz seems intent taking the culture, or at least his own music in a new direction. He packs myriad messages and metaphors into each bar, demonstrating the relentlessness that has been able to keep him persevering through the struggles. The rapid flow that he employs on several songs — including the thumping “poweR” that features Mogul Club member History — conjures positive memories of Kendrick Lamar on “Cartoon and Cereal.”

To be brutally honest, one may find difficulty getting straight through Writeous because this album truly demands replays to soak in all of the content. However, when an artist is operating at this level —

Labels still can’t figure out how to market a gut feeling

— we owe it to ourselves and their craft to make the time. There is a reason why we listen to, know Radamiz: he is chosen.

Suggested Articles:

Madwiz Criticizes Gangs And Promotes Love On “Belly Of The Snake” EP

Radamiz Feat. King Critical – “Maintaining” (Prod. By Rudy Mills)

The post RESPECT. Interview: Radamiz is ‘Writeous’ appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The amount of talented artists in New York City in the past few years can be a rather overwhelming list. But who’s complaining? It’s an amazing thing – Radamiz being one among the extensive list. “Sumner” is the final released cut off of his forthcoming ‘Writeous’ LP – which is set for April of this year (2016).

RESPECT. Magazine staff have had the pleasure of getting to know Radamiz on a few different occasions. The first word that comes to mind is gratitude. It’s one thing to get on records and paint an image for the public’s sake – it’s another to actually live it. He’s beyond grateful for every blessing at stake and it’s genuine. Needless to say, this reflects in all areas of his life. The life perspective is refreshing and the music industry could always use more of that.

“Rather than reflect on the negatives of the current, this record focuses on the types of necessary switches I’ve made to my perspective and applying them to create that better life.” via Vibe

It’s gritty, it’s real, it’s honest and it’s dope. We don’t need to get into a long review – let the record speak. Enjoy yourself. Peace and love!

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The post Brooklyn’s Radamiz Drops Off His Latest ‘Sumner’ and Gears Up For April Release appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.