Tashawn Taylor: Roger That-Q&A
Tashawn Taylor is an eloquent and creative artist from Cambridge, MA. I was first introduced to him around 2 years ago when I heard his song “Miss Thang”, I immediately looked at his socials and saw he was looking for a writer/blogger. I direct messaged him and he took me under, I began the small job of writing his weekly newsletters for his email subscribers. This meant so much to me as I was looking to get into the music blogging industry and Tashawn was more than willing to help me out. After months of doing that, he invited me to the 2018 Boston Music Awards, to see his performance. Well, to no one’s surprise, Tay absolutely rocked his set. After that, Tay and I went around the venue and he introduced me to everyone he knew, an act that I will be forever grateful for. Tay is more than music, he also volunteers/participates in, The Hip-Hop Transformation, which is a youth program in Cambridge that empowers kids ages 14-18 with music. The program has won multiple awards and has produced some fantastic artists.
Johnny Dube: What was your childhood like?
Tashawn Taylor: My childhood was very interesting to say the least. Even though I spent a good amount of it playing basketball and video games (I’m not really good at basketball so don’t ask me to play), my childhood was practically filled with me looking for something I was good at that I actually loved. I used to draw comic books in the Frisoli Youth Center all the time, and I don't know why I stopped. I just got interested in other things.
JD: What were/are some your favorite spots in the city?
TT: Well shoot, there’s a lot of places I can name but I have to describe the purpose for me going. There’s A4cade which is a video game bar literally right across my house. I love to go there to play Mario Kart. There’s the Bridge Sound and Stage, I love going there to record. When I was skateboarding a few years ago, I loved going to the Lynch Family Skatepark. I ended up shooting a video there for that reason (watch here). I love going to Izzy’s for the eats, because those people do no wrong highkey. Finally, I love chilling around Malden from time to time just because.
Tashawn at Lynch Family Skate Park for his music video for Obnoxious
JD: How did your musical journey start?
TT: I was in my room listening to Young Money (record label) and I was f*cking hooked. I mean I always knew Hip Hop was cool but actually writing a verse that day gave me a feeling that I would never get about anything else. I wrote a verse to the song Roger That and it really made me feel like I was in Young Money. Since then, all I did was write music. It started as me doing remixes to popular songs while I recorded in the workforce, then I got to high school and made my first song ever called “For the Hell of it”. I was so gassed because that’s when I felt like people in my school knew that I was a rapper.
JD: How has your involvement in THHT affected you and most importantly, the community?
TT: The Hip Hop Transformation really broadened my horizons with music and just everything in general. I felt like I understood the importance of delivery, cadence, lyricism, and just anything to make the type of music I wanted to hear. I feel like I speak for a lot of people when I say that THHT is a huge stepping stone to a much greater calling in life. It kinda reminds us that this music isn’t about being cool, popular, or rich, it’s all based on the lifestyle that you’re willing to share. I haven’t seen one person leave THHT and not be a super dope artist from it because they also teach you about giving and taking criticism. That’s super important for any community and for any public space.
JD: Who are some of your musical inspirations?
TT: Kanye West, A Tribe Called Quest, New Edition, Stevie Wonder, leaders of the new school, Kendrick Lamar, 2Pac, all them to be honest.
JD: What has been your favorite performance(s) so far?
TT: My favorite performance is a first place tie between The Boston Music Awards and the Resistance. Literally there is nothing like those shows. I have been hella excited for both when they came up, and to be honest they both brought the same energy when I performed. That’s why I can’t decide. They both just had everything. Loving fans, loud music, loud Tay Tay, beautiful lights, live instruments, it was just a stunning atmosphere and a wonderful experience for both.
Tay performing at the House of Blues during the 2018 Boston Music Awards: Michael Last
JD: How do you want people to feel when listening to your music? Are there frequent messages you want to convey?
TT: I want you to love it, I want you to hate it, I want you to relate to it, I want you to cry over it, hell I even want you to wish death upon me for it, because at least you’ll feel something. I won’t dictate how you SHOULD feel about my music, because that’s not genuine. You should feel whatever you want to feel about it. I just know I do my best with every song I make and that’s all I care about.
JD:What drives you to continue making music?
TT: What drives me to make music is me making the music I wish I had as a kid. I feel like that in itself is what keeps me going. I feel like the more I do that the better it feels to me to express myself, and even in doing so I feel like I relate to someone down the line. That’s all that truly matters to me. I want to make music that connects me to the people that relate to me and connects me to the people that will understand and be inspired by what I’m talking about. But first I have to connect with myself and who I truly am.
JD:What makes Boston artists special and unique from the rest of the country?
TT: We say shit with our f*cking chest out. Like Brandie Blaze talks her sh*t, Oompa talks her sh*t, Heath 240 talks his sh*t. We talk our sh*t out here. It’s not a matter of do we have talent? it's a matter of why the f*ck has no one been paying attention like that? Like Don Dzy made one of the hottest songs of 2019, Most HighKingdom, which is $ean Wire, Najee Janey, and Milkshaw Benedict, have all put out outstanding projects. The guys at Van Buren too. Lord Felix, Jiles, Saint Lyor and Luke Bar$ have all put out outstanding projects. And Connis is still putting out abstract and super dope songs too. What everyone here has in common is that they speak and you know it’s them talking. You know who’s behind the mic when they speak, and they all have a very interesting story behind it all.
Follow Tashawn on Soundcloud below! You can also find his music on all major streaming services!
Instagram: @tashawn_taylor
