OT the Real: Philly’s Finest

First things first, congrats on your stand out Cypher performance from the semi-recent BET Hip Hop Awards…

Now let’s hop right into this single / video, “LOST,” featuring TSU SURF & BBY HNDRXX — Tell me about this particular track; how did it come to fruition?

I hit Surf on IG, and he said come through. It was long overdue.When I got there to Newark at the studio, Surf made this hook to a HumBeats track and brought the kid BBY HNDRXX in to lay it.

Of course “LOST” come courtesy of your new solo LP, NO MATTER WHAT — Conceptually, what does this title represent both to and for you?

No Matter What represents the relentlessness that we have to put into our hustle, our ‘fight,’ when quitting is not an option.

How then does NO MATTER WHAT either differ and / or compare to previous OT the Real entries?

Every tape represents the points in my life when I am creating it. I feel like the music is getting better each drop.

As an emcee, when you sit down to pen your rhymes where do you draw your inspiration from?

I draw my inspiration from things I’ve seen, things I’ve done and things I’ve seen others do. Real life.

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

I always wrote rhymes playing around, and recorded some, too, but never put ANYTHING out. Then I went to jail and really zoned in on my pen, and when I came home it was on.

Where exactly do you hail from? And growing up there, who all did / do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?

After State Property, it was Meek. Watching how they held the city down was inspiring.

In having said that, how do you classify your overall sound and / or style?

I don’t!

Switching gears here…

What has been the key to your longevity? And, what will continue to sustain you in music?

You gotta feed the fans AND be dope. Once you stop doing either, it gets tough.

What do you want people to get from your music?

I hope my music keeps helping people get through tough times like it’s been.

On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of Hip Hop?

Things could be better, things could be worse.

Do you have any other outside / additional aspirations, maybe even completely away from music?

I have other businesses, but all roads lead back to this.

To date, what has been your greatest career moment(s), at least thus far anyway?

BET Awards Cypher. Getting shout-outs and genuine love from legends like Snoop, Shaq, Gillie, etcetera. But the real jewels are the relationships that (I) have now.