Up NeXt By DX: Ramaj Eroc

Former HipHopDX Features Editor Andre Grant said in his “Defense Of The Struggle Rapper” editorial, “Out of all the things the Hip Hop web has vilified, the “struggle rapper” might be the least deserving of all that ridicule.” Before Kendrick Lamar became big enough for Barack Obama to sing his praises or Drake found himself making deals with Apple, they were artists without a significantly large fanbase attempting what seemed like the impossible. Hitting the top of the charts became a distant goal to making past one hundred streams of a song possibly made within the confines of their bedroom walls and gaining likes, re-post or anything else that would reach someone. Providing a weekly outlet for those getting their feet wet in the sometimes brutal sport of Hip Hop, allow us to give readers a look into tomorrow’s possibilities through “Up NeXt.”

“My brother Hona Costello got me to start freestyling and whatnot at a young age on some goofy shit! I didn’t start writing until I was 12, but I didn’t take it serious until I gave up basketball at about 16, 17 years old.  I figured if I give up my biggest dream for music, there’s no way I can not take this serious. That was in 2008.”

“Of course, I do. I feel like anything I put my 110% all into, I can be great at it. I’ve managed to organically build a following on social media, especially on Soundcloud. I have more than 3,000,000 total plays on Soundcloud with no manager, no label, no PR, no budget. Just imagine when I do find reliable PR and/or manager. Pssshhhhh!”