Rapper A$CE HIGH, 23, may not have been active on the music scene for very long, but he has already demonstrated his natural ability to forge magnificent soundscapes with profound lyricism and contagious rhythmic flows. A$CE began his musical career two years ago at the age of 21 with his basketball teammates at a junior college, who all had a steadfast love for Rap and HipHop music. Check out the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
A$CE HIGH: I come from everywhere fr. My mom was in the military so I moved every few years. I’ve lived in Indiana, Alabama, Japan, San Antonio, South Carolina, Atlanta, Honolulu, Illinois, and Michigan and been to just about every other state. I used to play violin in middle school but I really got started making music a couple years ago jus chillin’ in my dorm bullshittin’ with my teammates.
2. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
A$CE HIGH: I think it’s important for people to interpret my music in a way that relates to them and their life but at the same time not be delusional enough to think their interpretation of my lyrics is actually what I meant when I wrote them. Some people believe that perception is reality but I believe perception is important and can affect reality but at the end of the day reality is still reality.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘A$CE HIGH?
A$CE HIGH: J. Cole & Lil Wayne are definitely my strongest music influences. Like many parts of my music the name A$CE HIGH, has a couple different meanings. It’s a nod to several things I love, including my basketball number, weed, gambling, and Anime, but depending on who is listening to me it can have more meanings.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A$CE HIGH: I think my versatility should be what resonates with listeners the most. You can come to my artist page and listen to a conscious J.Cole type sound, vibey Kodak Black type sounds, hard trap music, etc. You never know what vibe you’re gonna get with a new release from me. I would describe my music as meaningful. I don’t think I have many songs if any that someone would listen to and say, “he ain’t talkin’ about nothing”. I try to use my music to say how I’m feeling in the moment and I believe my audience can feel that energy in my songs.
5. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?
A$CE HIGH: Both for different reasons. I love being locked in on a project by myself in the lab so any chance to do that is an excitement for me but I’ve never really had a live interaction with an audience so it excites me looking forward to having that new experience.
6. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
A$CE HIGH: I feel like I’m getting back as much as I’m putting in. I got started just having fun and getting my thoughts out of my head and so far it’s been a therapeutic and eye opening process improving my skills as an artist.
7. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as HIPHOP?
A$CE HIGH:
I feel like I’m still in this stage of emulation. Most of the time when I hear a beat my mind will automatically go to, “what would one of my favorite rappers say on dis?”, and I’ll almost try to implement their vibe into the song while keeping my style. I even find myself going back to certain artist “type beats”, like Kodak or Sleepy Hallow, when looking to make new songs.
8. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
A$CE HIGH:
For me music is whatever we choose for it to be. So while the role of my music is to cause social, political, cultural, and most importantly spiritual change, others’ purpose for their music may be just to forget about what’s going on in their lives or have fun. The role of music is ever-changing and can be whatever the listener needs at anytime.
9. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
A$CE HIGH: My creative process all starts from a beat I’m fuckin wit. Once I hear a beat it’s like my mind just kind of starts flowing. I never really know what I’m gonna name my songs until about halfway through or I’ve finished completely. My entire life that’s how I’ve written, for every school paper I would just kind of start and keep writing until it was finished. No rough draft, whatever I write is what I said and what I said is what I meant.
10. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A$CE HIGH: I don’t look at things in my life as difficulties I just see ways of improving my self and making myself better. Any perceived difficulty I’ve gone thru has just turned me into who I am today so I don’t really recognize any negativity in my life. I’m just living tryna make it to the next day and another level.
11. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A$CE HIGH: I honestly feel the most successful when I finish a new song because I can see the growth from the last one. I can see the improvement with each new song I make and that’s what’s keeping me going.
12. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?
A$CE HIGH: I ignore social media for the most part. To me everything on social media is facade or front. Nobody is real on the internet so why would I take it serious?
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