Rapping conversation with B-Eazy

Temple rapper Brandon “B-Eazy” Smith talks about how he got into the game and where he plans to take his efforts. Whether you like Nas, the “old” Ludacris, Jay-Z or Kanye West, upcoming Temple rapper

Temple rapper Brandon “B-Eazy” Smith talks about how he got into the game and where he plans to take his efforts.

Whether you like Nas, the “old” Ludacris, Jay-Z or Kanye West, upcoming Temple rapper B-Eazy has what it takes to make you listen to his music.

Brandon “B-Eazy” Smith, 19, hails from New Jersey. The Temple News met up with him on a sunny Monday afternoon to discuss his blossoming hip-hop career along with his brand and to have him answer one elusive question: Who is B-Eazy?

The Temple News: What is your major?

Brandon “B-Eazy” Smith: Entrepreneurship and business. I … [want] to run my own business as far as a music label is concerned.

TTN: How long have you been rapping?

BE: I [have] been rapping since I was 8 years old. My first performance was at 14, at a college talent show. I was just ready to show everybody what I could do. My raps [were] just punch lines and battle rhymes mainly.

TTN: What motivated you to start rapping?

BE: Well, my older cousin was a really good rapper, and before he went to jail, he gave me a stack of rhymes to keep, and my mother used to sing backup for Kool and the Gang. (Laughs) I’m just in love with music. When I was young … I just saw Ludacris and Jay-Z having fun with their music, and that’s what I wanted to be.

TTN: Who are your favorite new- school and old-school rappers?

BE: New school rappers would be Jay-Z, Kanye West and Nas. My favorite old-school rappers are Ludacris, when he had the afro, [and] Eric B. and  Rakim. They influenced my style because I just fell in love with their wordplay and lyrics.

TTN: Do you categorize your music as rap or hip-hop?

BE: Definitely hip-hop. I feel I don’t sound like anybody. My beats usually have bass in them.

TTN: What prompted you to start rapping at Temple?

BE: I started rapping at Temple by meeting cool people that share the same passion for music as me.

I never doubted myself. Some obstacles were that people have a perspective of freshmen, and I basically showed them something different … I’m not just a freshman, and my first breakthrough performance was amazing.

TTN: Do you associate with any other rappers at Temple?

BE: Yeah, Aime, Fese and DJ Damage I’m really cool with. I don’t know if we’re gonna collaborate. I don’t take anything from their style, nonetheless, I take their advice. I don’t try and copy anybody – I try to be the best me possible.

TTN: And what about the haters?

BE: I mean they [are] haters. I can’t argue with them because it’s free promotion. I just try to keep my head up and make music, as well as stay focused with tunnel vision. Whenever I perform I look at that one person that’s not “rocking” [feeling the music], and I stare them down thinking you’re gonna f— with me, you have no choice right now.

TTN: What have you done to better hone your craft thus far?

BE: Doing a lot of showcases, performing on campus, Freestyle at the Bell Tower. In the beginning, whoever knows me [will] rock with me, and usually during my performance where everyone is rocking with me I focus on the person that’s not until they move to the beat with me … they don’t have a choice.

TTN: Can you name some places you performed last school year?

BE: Yeah, Delta Night at the Apollo, showcase at Pubb Webb, Best of Both World’s party with So Far Out Entertainment, and I’d go to a couple [of the] Freestyle Fridays at the Bell Tower.

TTN: Can you do freestyle right now?

BE: Yeah. ‘Her body is a Temple, I applied 2009/ Just try’na study abroad tell me where to sign/ My pen in my pad is all that I have/ It helped me scribble out the images of me and my dad/ Yeah, it’s sad I keep swimming through regrets that I had/ The flow could even convince Michael that he wasn’t bad.’

TTN: Your future plans?

BE: To have a stable fan base in Philly, Jersey and Delaware, and [create] many more crazy mix-tapes and videos. I see myself making it big, of course. Locally, I want to collaborate, but that would be after the general public appreciates me, then I can look into collaboration.

TTN: What inspires your music?

BE: Life, experiences and my future.

Fatia Kasumu can be reached at fatia@temple.edu.


2 Comments

  1. I am very impressed with the vision and talent of this up and coming artist! Not only is he an awesome rapper, he also is an awesome person! If you haven’t heard or met B-Easy, do yourself a favor pick up his mix tape and check out ‘Easier Said Than Done’!

  2. I am very impressed with the vision and talent of this up and coming artist! Not only is he an awesome rapper, he also is an awesome person! If you haven’t heard or met B-Easy, do yourself a favor and check out ‘Easier Said Than Done’!

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