Resilience: the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc. after being bent, compressed or stressed; ability to recover from illness, depression, adversity, or the like
We know of no better word to describe talented rapper and urban poet, Eazymoney, than the word “resilience”.
Eazymoney is a product of New Orleans’’ 10th Ward. Like so many other artists before him, Eazymoney is pure, unadulterated, raw talent just waiting to be uncovered – a diamond in the rough, if you will.
Though he has experienced more than his fair share of rough times and set backs, he continues to exhibit resilience and shine – shine that The Heat has a feeling you will be seeing a whole lot more of in the near future.
Surrounded by a ton of other musical talent, Eazymoney not only raps, but he also performs Spoken Word poetry – a talent that he has nailed.
“It took a long time to find, thoughts that a pen reincarnates through my mind. I did a lot of wrong, some of y’all might call a crook, but I touched too much money to be worrying about a checkbook. Take a look through my sunglasses, everybody smile when the fun passes. See how much makeup over the years can help hide my pain and tears of sorrow, trying to live off ten dollars tomorrow and the stress that world gives the best …”
The poem “Be Forgiven” is deep on a spiritual level and it goes on to speak of how we can be forgiven and make what was wrong, right. It’s deep – very deep – and speaks volumes of this young man’s talent and potential, given the right opportunity. It also speaks of redemption and is a testament to positive change, no matter what a person has been through in his or her life.
“Even if you took a life, you can be saved, too. Be forgiven.”
Eazymoney clearly has the perils of this world figured out and he stands poised to overcome the hurdles it throws his way.
The Heat had a chance to catch up with Eazymoney and here’s what he had to say:
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Who is Eazymoney?
EAZYMONEY: I’m a regular person with the same problems as everyone else. The only difference is, I have the ability to put life’s struggles into words on a track to paint a picture people listen to and understand where I’m coming from. I can rap about almost anything cuz I have been through just about everything, from losing my mother, getting locked up, having money, and even being homeless. I just don’t want to be thoughtof as a artist who can only make hood music, when I’m capable of making hip hop, bounce, gangsta, R&B, whatever . The name Eazymoney comes from always being focused on money, no matter what the hustle is and making it look easy.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Who are you affiliated with?
EAZYMONEY: Right now, I’m working with a label called Ghetto Slave Records with Skip from UTP. The label consists of us two, Reggie Hammin, Reem & a lot of talent down here that’s nice, but ain’t been heard yet. It’s so many people who been a part of my career or had a hand in it – Threat & J-Dawg of Black Menace & Mista Meana & Kango Slim of PNC mentored me when I first started rapping for a crowd & got my first deal. Reem and Hasheem (Recon) taught me how to make my own music and put it out myself. Juvie, Wack and Skip (UTP) showed me it’s business and people really making money from music. Then J.Prince & Scarface put me on my first nationwide album, My Homies Volume 2 ,”We Out Here “.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Who influenced you musically?
EAZYMONEY: Honestly, and I’m not just saying this, but it’s the artists around me in my circle cuz they say something or make something that have me like, “Damn, I gotta step my game up. Can’t let em shine on me.” Skip is like one of the most animated artists I ever heard. Reggie Hammin gives the most emotion and creativity I’ve seen and Reem is like the ultimate lyricist. I hear people say they don’t write, but I watch him sit there for 30 minutes then walk in the booth and rap. But I grew up on real music from my family – older people – so you know I heard Patti, Luther, Isley Brothers, stuff like that, so I try to make real music that you can listen to years from now cuz that’s what influenced me first. They was talking about real life experiences and really playing them instruments like that and we sample them now to get that sound. Shoutout to my cousin Al who wrote my first rhyme when I was 12.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: How much of an effect does New Orleans have on your music?
EAZYMONEY: A lot in different ways cuz it made me who I am – gives me what I rap about, showed me a lot of different genres of music from hip hop, bounce, jazz, blues – you name it, it’s here. Its also hurts cuz it’s politics here so if you not affiliated with certain circles, you have to work just that much harder. That’s why y’all would be riding to my music, but hear somebody ya’llthink wack gettin more love.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: Tell us about the spoken word material you do.
EAZYMONEY: Well really rap is poetry. We don’t always get that much credit, but it is. But when I write poetry, it’s no set amount of words to express like you would writing 4 bars in a verse, so you can really describe whatever picture you’re painting, but I love spoken word. It’s more competitive thenrap cuz you know they gonna say something catchy. Spoken word is so special cuz they don’t focus on music with words – just words and how you put them to get your point across.
THE HEAT MAGAZINE: What can we expect from you in the future?
EAZYMONEY: Right now, I’m promoting “Ghost Dope”. It is my first project since I came home. Be looking for the new Ghetto Slave project, “High Fructose Corn Syrup “, the “Kongo” album, Eazymoney & Reggie Hammin, and a bunch of Ghetto Slave projects. Right now, I’m dealing with some legal troubles, so I might make a mixtape for the time I’m doing in the halfway house. Be looking for that, too. Just remember, when you hear me say 2000 & Ghetto Slave that’s because we gonna be here a long time.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We salute Eazymoney and wish him the best of luck in all of his creative endeavors. Make sure to download his album and check out the videos. You won’t be disappointed.
Vice-President & Asst. Editor-in-Chief of The Heat Magazine, Arlene is a Louisiana native, Certified Paralegal, Publicist, Owner of MIKODreamz PR, co-owner of 504Diffusion, writer, producer, and jack of all trades, who is heavily involved in her community as well as serving as Media Advisor for New Orleans Union for Entertainment (NOUE), Member of the NOLA Music Awards from 2012-present & Member of the Press Club of New Orleans. Her work is published across the web. Her PR work has been highly recognized & awarded. She was/is publicist for the late great BTY YoungN, 0017th and more. She is also working on her first novel & aspires to turn it into a film & is currently writing the authorized biography of the legendary Pimp C of UGK. She can be reached via email at Arlene@theheatmag.com. Follow her on Twitter - @CategorySeven & Instagram - @hurricanearlene.
