Today Da Gas Block presents to you an interview with Dallas own Original Soul. We conversed through a range of topics, that the readers will enjoy as they get chance to learn more about this conscious lyrical emcee.
“Original Soul has been able to create, improve, and progress with his music for almost 3 decades”
One day after participating in a fun game of, “Name That Tune”, during his 6th grade music class, Original Soul decided he wanted to explore the different sounds offered through music from established artist, to then feeling inspired to write his own lyrics. In 1992, he became more serious about music, as he took classes revolving around technical engineering. Ushering the feeling of acceptance towards his want to create music, was the final stamp towards knowing he wanted to be apart of the Hip Hop genre, and be able to share his views of the world.
In total, Original Soul has created over 15 projects since 1999. The beginning portion of his career he was involved in Spoken Word. Which was a big influence towards his subject matter, as he watched poets perform about: their community, neighborhood, and city. Original Soul credits his 2007 album, “The Glass”, as one of his favorite pieces. As, “The Glass”, album highlighted different subjects such as: Homelessness, single mothers struggling, the music industry, the responsibility of subject matter in music, amongst other topics that people weren’t used to hearing. In November 2019, Original Soul released his latest album titled, “Finding Heart Feeling Normal”, which features standout tracks: “Pressed 4 Time, The Sign Off, Don’t Start, A Sister’s Soul, Finding Heart Feeling Normal, and You Can’t Leave The One You Love”.
The album was inspired by a series of events in Soul’s life. For instance, back in 2017 when it seemed like he was moving forward, life unexpectedly made him take a few steps back… In addition, he began caring for his wife when she suffered a massive stroke, forcing his focus to boost her health as a top priority. Consequently, through that troubling time the creation of, “Finding Heart Feeling Normal”, opens as a statement to the world saying that Original Soul is a husband, leader, emcee, poet, and businessman who’s dealing with some things personally. Thus, he remains composed in the moment with much more to say!
“You can expect an early 2021 release for Original Soul’s forthcoming album, Remember Who You Are”
Soul openly credits Common as one of his biggest influences from the way he writes and moves a crowd. He also credits, Talib Kweli, KRS-One, Rakim, Gang Starr, Mos Def, and the “Old” Kanye West (Oh, don’t we miss him?) as his other big influences. Ironically, like his influencers, Original Soul has been able to create, improve, and progress with his music for almost 3 decades.
“Artist should be writing music from the heart & their own mind, that way the listeners will be able to tell if they’re genuine or not”
Da Gas Block was able to get the inside scoop about Original Souls forthcoming project, “Remember Who You Are”, it’s a piece that will start conversation about knowledge of self amongst listeners, enabling them to look at who they are from the 3rd person point of view. The album is expected to be released early 2021. In addition, you can catch Original Soul performing live at Top Ten Records on May 9th, 2020 for the “Three Emcee’s And A DJ” show that features Complete, Dez 2-2 & DJ Dogstyle on the 1s and 2s.
“I don’t want to leave anybody behind that stuck with me, including my wife! If it wasn’t for my wife, I wouldn’t have a studio, amongst other things. And, that statement also extends to anybody that has extended their hand to me”.
During Original Souls closing statement he had advice for struggling artists saying: “Speak from your Heart”, and the reason why is because, “A lot of artist are copying what they see from more established acts, in thus reversing the position of authenticity which is making it hard for them to be successful”. He continued on that idea feeling that artist should be writing music from the heart & their own mind, that way the listeners will be able to tell if they’re genuine or not! When asked about what artist he would take with him if he were to find a new level of success he said, “I’m taking everyone on my label M4G Ent with me, because they all need to experience what I did. I don’t want to leave anybody behind that stuck with me, including my wife! If it wasn’t for my wife, I wouldn’t have a studio, amongst other things. And, that statement also extends to anybody that has extended their hand to me”.
Follow Original Soul
Instagram: @originalsoul31
Twitter: @originalsoul
