Hiya Hassan thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
The moment I started to realize that traditional ways of getting money were not fun or engaging. Music was something I did as a hobby, and I realized I could be enjoying life by making this my main source of income and enjoying my work in the process.
Introduce us to you and your musical history.
I am Hassan Black, a soulful upcoming artist bringing his own Hip Hop sound from his home in South Africa. Having begun at just 16 when I was gifted a version of FL studio by my brother, I knew I’d found an outlet for my internal pain and endless creativity.
Since then, I’ve forged to an impressive level, with my use of distinctive basslines and 808s, emotional chord progressions and all types of drum instruments setting me apart in the scene. My launch into the scene took place alongside my most frequent collaborator Breed Xl, working together on each other’s projects ‘Anything to Escape’ and 2022 project ‘Black’.
Name me your 3 favorite Albums.
Exis EP by Roy Woods, Thriller by Michael Jackson, and Views by Drake
What was the first song you heard that steered you into a music path?
A song from the movie Scarface titled ‘Push it to the limit’.
The music industry is the hardest industry in the world to progress in, How do you feel you are doing?
I’m doing my best is all I can say, I try by all means to challenge myself to reach new heights and break my ceiling.
I’m seeing a lot of debate about women not feeling safe at music gigs, any thoughts on what we need to do to help?
I think a sufficient amount of lighting for audience and venue space since it’s usually crowded, dark and difficult to navigate.
As you develop as an artist and develop using socials what ways do you get new ears on your music? Any tips?
I usually create album art track-videos and use them to promote my songs on social media. I use my songs on reels with whatever content I have. I post short teasers of new tracks am working on and see how they react to them. I let people know that they can use my songs in their videos as well.
Tell us Two truths and a lie about you.
Creative, Self-improvement junkie and a lie would probably be that I am not fun to around with.
What’s your thought on Spotify’s monopoly on the music industry?
Us artists have sort of lost our ability to negotiate prices with the stores (Spotify) because it’s the only place we can stream our music for example. We are being pushed over this monopoly, the lockdown showed artists that they cannot live off streams if they have streaming splits or just not enhancethrough traffic to drive streams.
Do you sign up for any conspiracy theories?
Not really sign up but yes I do have a few conspiracies I approve of. I have my own too, if you’d like to know DM me on Instagram @_hassanblack
Did you buy anything you don’t need during the pandemic?
No, I’m very smart with my money. Besides I had much to do and no time for lazing around with crazy desires lol.
What was the worst experience on stage?
The first time gitters, when everyone doesn’t really know who you are at that moment and you have no other option but to blow them away otherwise they blow you off stage.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
I look ridiculously young for my age. People say I look 19 yet I will be in my 20ties.
What makes you stand out as a band/artist?
My goal is to provide you with music that makes you feel something. The music I create is from raw emotion, I try my best to deliver a bunch of emotions to heal your soul.
I hear you have new music, what can you tell us about it.
The project that’s being released is ‘Desire‘. The main goal of the EP is to help people going through emotional distress, aiming to share ” the courage to keep going after we’ve been hurt or defeated, even when it seems like there’s no reason to keep going anymore”. The EP is a collection of diverse and
entrancing Hip Hop tracks that I’ve written alongside musician Breed Xl.
Talk me through the thought process of the new tune/s.
So, Breed XI and I have this friend that came over to the studio once and he just poured his heart out to us about him not achieving his goals and not finding success on anything. At that moment I decided I am going to put the music to good use and actually help some people who have similar emotional distress in life.
What was the recording process like?
I worked on the project with my frequent collaborator Breed XI, whom I wrote the lyrics with, and we came up with catchy hooks and distinctive flows while I personally made the beat simultaneously. Everything was recorded in 7 days. The recording sessions is just so driven and motivated by the cause we had and not to forget we had a bunch of fun creating the tunes for the people’s ears.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
Actually, turning my raw, fleeting emotions into chord progressions and drum patterns. All emotions are energy and the energy you put in a song is the same energy that will bounce off the listener.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
My ears hear things more than a fan’s perspective so yes, there are a bunch of things I could’ve done better but I appreciate the project with the way it is and the energy surging from it.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
I would like to share my most frequent collaborator Breed XI. Shout out to him for giving us an exceptional vocal for us to enjoy over some chilled beats.
And if anyone is in need of someone to talk to for personal or whatever reason, do not hesitate to send me an email at therealhassanblack@gmail.com or simply DM me on Instagram @_hassanblack
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