Screezzy does it- quite well, in fact. There’s a lot of buzz surrounding the 26-year-old Los Angeles native as of late, and given that he’s paid his dues in full, it’s about time. With his hit single heating up the airwaves, Screezzy is quickly becoming a hot commodity, and his raw ‘real life music’ track ‘Welcome to LA’ could become an anthem for the modern hustler in the vein of Tupac’s ‘California Love’. But Screezzy is in no way a carbon copy. Drawing inspiration as a child from The Jackson Five and Michael’s ‘determination to do his own thing’, Screezzy has cultivated a style uniquely his own. This determination to be original has made it easier for him to stand out in a crowded hip-hop playing field. A self-proclaimed ‘storyteller’, Screezzy is also a stickler for the written word (fabricators beware), another factor differentiating him from his peers. Though his lyrics often express the types of things that others would like to do but can't, the underlying messages contained in his music are quite human and universally significant. Independent reporter Lily Clark recently got an inside look into the life of this talented rapper, his musical inspiration and plans for the future.

LILY: When When did you first discover your love of music?
SCREEZZY: When I was in the 3rd grade I happened to see ‘The American Dream’, a documentary on the Jackson 5. I was blown away by their struggle, what they endured and what they accomplished but what really struck me was Michael’s determination to do his own thing. I said to myself ‘I can do that’ and it's been history ever since.

LILY: Your song 'Welcome To L.A.' is receiving a positive listener response on radio. What was your initial reaction when you first heard your song playing on radio?
SCREEZZY: Honestly, I was like ‘finally’. All the hard work I’ve put in thus far and my dedication is starting to get recognized. It's only the beginning of a very prosperous, long ride.

LILY: What was the inspiration behind your debut radio single?
SCREEZZY: Well every movie has a soundtrack, and I always thought it’d be cool to be on one. One of my favorite movies is ‘Menace to Society’ and if I had the chance to do a song for the soundtrack then my single ‘Welcome to LA’ would be it. If you listen to the words of the song I'm telling that story.

LILY: Would you say that the mood of your other songs is in the same vein as your debut radio single?
SCREEZZY: Not at all. I'm very diverse with my music and I don't want a song to sound like the one you previously listened to. I give something different on every track so that everybody will take something from it versus only one kind of ear being targeted.

LILY: How would you characterize yourself as an artist?
SCREEZZY: I do real life music. I talk about what's going on in my life and yours in the form of storytelling. That can be down-to-earth, serious, fun, loving- life gives you all of that.

LILY: Did you come from a musical background? Are there other artist in your family?
SCREEZZY: No, but the whole family has a passion for music and some of the songs that my elders would listen to will spark concepts on a song for me to do.

LILY: What do you find most rewarding about being an artist? What do you find most challenging?
SCREEZZY: The most rewarding thing is being able to say what someone wants to say but might not know how to say it, to let them know that they’re not alone in the situation. The challenge is staying consistent with my craft and not to let myself down because I am my worst critic (laughs).

LILY: Who are your role models in music?
SCREEZZY: To sum it up, the ones who say what matters, because I hate fabricators. If you really listen to lyrics you can separate the two easy, I mean very easy. There should be a message in every song and if there isn’t then it's just a waste of time.

LILY: Describe your best or most memorable performance.
SCREEZZY: Honestly every time I'm on that stage I'm a different person. I get into my mode and the rest is magical, so I really don't have one. It's all the same, just watch me work (laughs).

LILY: Do you have a music video for your hit single? If so, what can you tell us about it?
SCREEZZY: Not at the moment, I didn't want to do one for ‘Welcome to LA’ because the movie ‘Menace to Society’ is the video, but I’ll try to put out at least 3 videos in 2015.

LILY: I look forward to hearing it, Screezzy. Thanks for taking time out to share your story with me. I wish you good luck and continued success!

http://www.jango.com/music/screezy

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