The Battle Within is the eighth album by American rapper HellRaizer, released June 3, 2023. The album is a concept album that tells the story of HellRaizer’s personal journey of overcoming life’s struggles and finding inner peace. Check out the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
HELLRAIZER: I’m from the South, mostly raised in Mississippi and Texas. My journey into music began around 2003, armed with Acid Pro and a passion for music. I poured my energy into learning the art of mixing, and mastering tracks.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
HELLRAIZER: I devoured tutorials and stumbled through trial and error for a while, but learning from producers behind my favorite albums was a total game-changer. Their guidance took my music to a whole new level.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘HELLRAIZER?
HELLRAIZER: My musical roots consist of Coolio, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, and Three-6-Mafia. They weren’t just rappers, they were sonic sorcerers, bending sound to weave their magic. That’s when I knew music was more than entertainment, it was alchemy. “HellRaizer” predates my musical career, originating at the tender age of eleven. A mischievous spark in the computer lab ignited a flame, birthing an alias that would later embody the audacious energy I poured into my music.
4. 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?
HELLRAIZER: Social media can be a double-edged sword, but I ain’t shying away from the heat. Constructive critiques – I soak them up, sharpen my rhymes, and come back stronger. Haters? They’re the background noise of the industry, the static you tune out. They might spit venom, but their barks ain’t got bite. And as for the naysayers? Their doubts fuel my fire. You wanna tell me HellRaizer’s gonna crash and burn? Watch me rise from the ashes, rhyme emperor on my throne. This freedom to express, to create, it’s a gift, man. Not everyone’s gonna dig my flavor, and that’s the beauty of it. My music ain’t fast food, it’s soul food for the hungry hearts. So bring on the critics, the haters, the doubters – they fuel the HellRaizer inferno!
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?
HELLRAIZER: When it comes to birthing fire, the studio reigns supreme. Live shows are an electric exchange, but crafting the raw energy in the studio, that’s where the deepest satisfaction lies. I’m not wired for constant applause – my music is a gift to the fans, a sonic tapestry woven in solitude, each beat and rhyme imbued with an authenticity that demands laser focus. The industry might be churning out instant hits, but I’m crafting heirlooms, forged in the furnace of creative isolation. The stage is a celebration, but the studio is where the soul bleeds onto the beat.
6. 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?
HELLRAIZER: While I pour my heart and soul into crafting intricate narratives and messages within my music, the beauty of art lies in its individual impact. It’s incredibly rewarding when listeners connect with my songs on a personal level, even if their interpretations differ from my initial intent.
7. 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?
HELLRAIZER: The grind’s an endless road, yeah, but the asphalt sings beneath my soul’s engine. Every track’s a testament, a scar stitched with rhymes. If success comes, cool, but the fire’s fueled by the music itself. As long as it flows, I flow, and that’s enough.
8. 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?
HELLRAIZER: My creative process is an electric storm; I chase the energy wherever it sparks. It could be a beat that thumps into my soul, a lyric that lands like lightning, or even just a vibe in the air. I let the universe be the conductor, guiding me through the chaos until a song takes shape. Sharing ideas, bouncing beats, spitting verses back and forth – that’s where magic happens. My 9th album will be a testament to that energy, with some fresh fire from my friends
9. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
HELLRAIZER: While milestones and awards hold undeniable weight, my personal measure of success hinges on seeing my audience and fanbase steadily expand year after year. Witnessing the numbers more than double each time serves as a constant affirmation of the connection I’m building with listeners, and that’s truly significant. Every new fan fuels my creative fire, propelling me to push boundaries and explore uncharted sonic territories.
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