eLZhi: Master Class

Let’s hop right into this latest single “Strangeland” — Tell me about this particular track; how did it come to fruition?

“Strangeland” was created to balance out the fusion of me and Georgia’s respectable art styles. With that said, I felt like the album needed more of what my fan-base was looking for.

Of course “Strangeland” comes courtesy of your upcoming joint project, Zhigeist — Conceptually, what does this title represent both to and for you?

The combination of eLZhi and the word zeitgeist represents my personal perspective of the culture. The translation means the spirit of the times.

For it, you teamed up with Georgia Anne Muldrow — How did this connection even come about? And, why exactly do you feel that the chemistry between you two works so well?

BJ Armstrong, who played with Michael Jordan on the Chicago Bulls, actually introduced us. Being that he’s a fan of our music, he decided to bring us together to do a project. In regards to me and Georgia having chemistry, I think synesthesia may have played a part in it.

Other than the obvious, how does Zhigeist either differ and / or compare to that of your previous bodies of work?

What makes this project different from my others is the collaboration between me, Dudley Perkins and Georgia. We discussed the tone and the voice of what the music was going to be before we started recording.

Reflecting, tell me your whole inception into music — When did you first become interested in it? And, how did it all begin for eLZhi?

My cousin, Chris Bud, was the one who sparked my fascination with music. After hearing him spit over “Doowutchyalike” by Digital Underground, it inspired me to take a crack at it. The first rap I wrote was written in my head…and the rest is history.

Growing up in ‘Motor City,’ who all did / do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?

Some of my strongest musical influences are Michael Jackson, Radiohead, Slick Rick and J Dilla, just to name a few.

How do you classify your overall sound and / or style?

My style is hybrid of feelings and technical wordplay.

Success, what do you attribute yours to?

Simply put, I attribute my success to GOD.

What do you want people to get from your music?

What I want people to get from my music is the feeling of enjoyment, personal relatability and a study guide for those who are interested in writing.

Are you happy with the current state of Hip Hop?

At the moment, I love the current state of Hip Hop. The internet has leveled the playing field, so everybody gets a shot.

Finally, what’s next for you, eLZhi?

What’s next for me is more music and more collaborations. Stay tuned!