Legendz

Chicago is an interesting place to be a hip-hop artist. The city’s most successful artists in Kanye West and Lupe Fiasco are unique to say the least. It’s in the Midwest so it’s influenced by music from the South, the West, and the East and many people not so affectionately refer to it as “haterville”. In steps Chicago’s latest, Bullet who is receiving praise across the board from some of the biggest names in hip-hop.

Not surprisingly, Bullet is more Lupe than Twista and his space age sound is traveling through the industry at light speed. Chi-town may not be too happy about it but it looks like Bullet is next up to bat. Sixshot.com caught up with the talented MC to discuss comparisons to Kanye and Lupe, songwriting, and why he doesn’t curse on records.

Sixshot.com: What’s up Bullet?

Bullet: Everything is real good man, thanks.

Sixshot.com:You’re getting a lot of positive feedback from a lot of big artists in the industry. How does it feel to be getting such critical acclaim for such established artists being new to the game?

Bullet: It feels great man and it especially feels great because I’m not talking about any violent things or cursing in my music. I’m not doing the typ ical rapper stuff, all the stuff that you normally hear. That’s what’s really making me happy right now that I’m actually doing the right thing and it’s still getting the attention that it is.

Sixshot.com: So that’s a conscious decision? What made you want to stay away from the violence and the cursing in your lyrics?

Bullet: Yeah definitely because I feel that if you can get your point across without using any negative stuff and you could keep it from being corny then you should do that. You don’t have to curse and use violence in your lyrics just because it’s been done. You have to make your own way in the music.

Sixshot.com: You think the hip-hop community is ready to accept an artist who doesn’t curse at all at this point in time?

Bullet: I mean I think so because the way that I do it I don’t even think they would notice it unless I told them, “yo I don’t curse in my music”, you know what I mean? That’s the main thing I wanted to do. I wanted to not curse but at the same time have people not notice it so they can go back and listen and be like, “oh yeah, he doesn’t curse”. That makes me feel good.

Sixshot.com: People are also saying that you have a very unique sound, very different from what’s currently out. How would you describe it?

Bullet: I like to use the term independently creative but still commercially acceptable. I say that because I think that certain people who are signed kind of lose some of their creative control. I feel like there are major artists who would kill to be able to do what they want. I could make the type of songs that everyone else is making but why would I do that? I’m independent so I take advantage of that and I do what I want. I have full creative control so I’m making my own lane, you know? I think that’s the smartest thing to do instead of trying to be like everybody else out there.

Sixshot.com: The music industry is obviously changing. Do you think it’s a good time to be an independent artist?

Bullet: Yeah I mean I definitely think it’s good to establish yourself first as an independent artist. Everybody’s dream is always to go to a major but I think this a time when people should be taking risks and trying new things. If it works you could build a buzz off of that and then go to a major but I definitely think it’s a good time to go independent if you know what you’re doing.

Sixshot.com: You’re generating a lot of buzz. At what point would you say people started really noticing you?

Bullet: My first single off this project was big for me. When I put it out and I googled it, it was just everywhere. I also did a song with the Cool Kids and I saw that everywhere. Then I did a freestlye to Nas’ “Hero” and that was all over the place so I was just like, “okay people are starting to take notice now”.

Sixshot.com: Are a lot of people reaching out to work with you?

Bullet: Yeah definitely, a lot of people have been telling me that I’m doing a good job. I was talking to Inglish from the Cool Kids the other day and he was just telling me to keep making records.

Sixshot.com: What about in terms of the labels? Have they been coming out of the woodwork trying to get at you?

Bullet: Honestly, it’s not as many as I’d hoped. This project was really just to garner a good buzz and get peoples attention. The next project is the one that my mentality is like okay I should definitely get signed off of this project. This project was supposed to be a mixtape actually but we decided to make it an album. I didn’t want people to think I’m too weird so I figured I’m come with that real hip-hop this time around. Next time I plan on really venturing out and doing some of the stuff I want to do. Everybody complains about what’s on the radio so I like to focus on my songwriting. I mean you can cater to radio without having to dumb it down. Ludacris does a great job of it. Nas does a great job of it and that’s what I want to do. I don’t want to just be underground. That’s not me at all. That was the plan, to make a CD that shows that I can rap and then drop a project of just dope records.

Sixshot.com: When you said you don’t want people to think you’re too weird I understood what you meant. People think it about the Cool Kid, Kidz In The Hall. Do you think that’s going to be a problem for you?

Bullet: I mean I had an interview on a website and they labeled me a hipster and I was thinking to myself, “damn I ain’t no hipster.” That’s why I did this album to show people that I’m probably better than half of the rappers that are out right now. Now when I venture off and so some more creative stud it’s not going to seem like a gimmick. This is actually what I do. I’m a good songwriter. People will just know I’m being creative so I had to show that I could actually rap first.

Sixshot.com: Do you also feel that people might put you in that Kanye and Lupe category?

Bullet: I mean I think that was inevitable because I’m from Chicago and I do different stuff. Any rapper that makes it out of this city really shows that they are artists and that they are really creative. The people from here who make the gangsta music or the down South music really haven’t made it anywhere but the people who are making creative music that’s different from everybody else are actually having successful careers. I just look at that and take it as a good sign.

Sixshot.com: Like you said, Chicago has a lot of different types of music. Who would you say are some of the artists that have influenced you?

Bullet: I been listening to a lot of Timbaland just because of the way he songwriters. I listen to a lot of Lupe. That’s my favorite rapper. On the R&B side I listen to a lot of Keri Hilton. I like to see how they write records. I actually like studying them.

Sixshot.com: Alright man, tell us what you got coming up.

Bullet: I got my website www.gobullet.com. Back To The Lyrics is out now.

Sixshot.com: Anything you’d like to say to your fans out there?

Thanks for everybody supporting me. I want to shout out my college, Columbia College. Shout out to Sixshot.com. And I’m from Jupiter. (Laughs)