Stalley says producers aren't being very "innovative” with their music, comments on artists being signed vs. independent. While Midwest Hip Hop has usually been associated with the likes of Chicago and Detroit a number of Ohio rappers are beginning to put the state of Ohio on the map when it comes to music. Among them is Ohio rapper Stalley who spoke on Ohio finally getting the shine it deserves in a recent interview.
“We are Midwest rap…Ohio has a lot of talent.
We’ve had a lot of talent, but now we’re starting to get the recognition with guys like myself and Cudi, Chip Tha Ripper, Machine Gun Kelly, and artists like that coming out,” Stalley explained in an interview with 90.5 KSJS. “We finally getting enough voices out there to bring attention to the state. But we’ve always been there. We’ve always been talented and had talented artists there.”
As a newly signed artist, he signed to Maybach Music Group in April, Stalley also spoke on artists who choose to sign to a label and those who choose to remain independent.
“I mean I’m not sure if it’s better either way,” said Stalley when asked if it’s better being signed to a label. “I just think that it depends on the artists and the situation. Some people don’t need a major label or don’t even want a major label. Some people don’t need it and they still use it as a tool to gain more recognition or help with exposure…It just depends on where you wanna go with your career. What you trying to make out of it. And if you fit better.”
When asked if there’s any producers he’d like to work with in the near future Stalley explained that there aren’t many producers who are bringing something new to the table but did state that he’s a fan of Boi Wonda, Swizz Beatz, T-Minus, and more.
“It’s not really a lot of producers that I think are being innovative at this time. Everything kinda sounds copied, cut and copied, or whatever you wanna say. But I mean there’s a few,” Stalley explained. “I’m a fan of Kanye. I like 40, T-Minus, Boi Wonda. I think they got some dope sounds. I mean you got Swizz Beatz. There’s a lot of dope producers, but there’s also a lot of bad ones so I guess it depends on who I would vibe with.”
by Danielle Harling
