Fresh and fired-up Southside Jamaica Queens’ unsigned talent Loui V waits confidently for his moment, for his time to shine. As he proclaims in his song “Changing The Forecast,” it’s time for a new routine. Head bopping bars and hard punch lines seem to flow easily out the up and coming artist. With rap being his motivation 22 year old Loui elaborates on his musical influences, feelings on hip hop, the music industry and artists past and present.
“My mom was a tomboy; hip-hop was the only music she ever listened to- like Big Daddy Kane.”
Besides hip hop no genre of music was ever played or listened to in his household. Back then hip hop was heard more than it was seen. Listeners of hip-hop typically reacted to social circumstances and aspired to achieve recognition in order to relate with the culture. Along with his fellow hip hop enthusiasts, Loui hoped to turn his dreams into reality.
Nowadays, as these dreams have been brought to fruition, Loui finds an industry heavily influenced by what it sees and driven by what artists are seen doing.
From buying the finest things to performing the most extreme and uncensored acts, Loui states “some people are crazy and really wanna reenact crazy (expletive).” Shaped by all sorts of phenomena music is an art that will constantly recreate itself. Music is a sign of the times.
In five years Loui V assures that he will have achieved fame and reached financial pinnacles. He plans to retire by 2021. Last year he recognized that it is his destiny to become a hip-hop artist. While his focus is on rapping his way to the bank, he suggests: “just get it [money],” and go. He doesn’t think that this is the type of industry you should hang around for too long. While rap star Lloyd Banks, member of G-Unit and Loui’s older brother was listening to Biggie Smalls, Loui was into Nas, Mobb Deep, “and believe it or not DMX. DMX was the first animated rapper that I felt.”
He later compared his brother to Prodigy of Mobb Deep. After deciphering and then contrasting lyrical styles between the two Loui equated that style of “rhyming without rhyming” and rugged, edgy rawness that Prodigy possesses with his brother’s style of rap.
The charismatic and poised Loui V maintains that a large part of being financially successful in the rap game is remembering where you come from.
“You never know when you might have to go back to the hood! ” said Loui.
When asked who he thinks the greatest rapper of all time is he proudly answered “Lloyd Banks, and not only ‘cause he’s my brother.”
For his family and community his loyalty is profound. Among his other faves are 50 Cent, Eminem, Lil’ Wayne and Jay-Z. Overall Loui expressed that his most significant project would be a “collabo” hit, with his brother.
When listening to Loui V’s tracks one can appreciate his blend of two hip hop worlds. He “puts it down for his city,” rapping and spitting with a NY style that, he declares in his song he “Don’t Wanna Change.” Still, he was inclined to mention the respect that he has for the producers coming out of the south. His feelings for the dirty south beat-makers are nothing but love. Vibrantly nodding with a smile he said, “they get money.” He highlights that they are friendlier and have more fun than New Yorkers.
“People go to the party to dance, nobody wilding, nobody grilling, and there’s way more girls. Up here they go to the party to stunt like they don’t listen and dance to music anymore.”
The producers in the dirty south make beats that get people moving. It was Loui’s visualization of girls popping their butts to a beat that caused him to grin. In addition to the smile he said, “down south music be bumpin’…everybody moving, and sweaty. You gotta be bumpin’ to get the ladies down South.”
“I don’t dance” he said.
However, his smooth energetic spirit emanates over “dirty south” beats complimenting his NYC-styled lyrics and flow. Loui V is creating music that is meant to make “it” happen.
