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Dead End Hip Hop

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Yahweh On Depression & Recovery, “Arcadia” & Working With TheDeeepEnd [Interview]

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North Carolina’s Yahweh has released his EP “Arcadia” that goes both ways. In one hand “Arcadia” is a dark exploration into Yahweh’s mind and the struggles he’s dealt with. However what separates “Arcadia” from most projects like it is Yahweh gives multiple solutions, a light, a way out of the darkness. I had a chance to sit down with the NC standout to talk about his journey.

Dead End Hip Hop: Who’s Yahweh, where’d the name come from?

Yahweh: Yahweh is a 20 year old kid who grew up in a small town just outside of Raleigh, North Carolina. My real name is Alex, but I chose to go by Yahweh for a few different reasons. First and foremost, I’m not saying that I’m God, which is how some people interpret it unfortunately. I didn’t pick that alias with any bad intentions in mind. Growing up, Yahweh was one word in the bible that always stuck out to me and I just loved the way it rolled off the tongue. ‘Yahweh’ is built off the Hebrew word for ‘I Am’, and I love that translation because of all the translations it entails. It’s relatable. No past, no future, just simply being. I am what I am, and will be until I meet my end.

DEHH: Talk to me about growing up in North Carolina and how you get into hip-hop?

Yahweh: I didn’t grow up with family issues, I didn’t have to worry about where my next meal was coming from, and I was blessed with a solid group of guys that I grew up with (3 of which are now my roommates in Boone, NC where I attend App State). Honestly, I wouldn’t say I had any issues throughout my childhood until high school came around, and junior year is when I’d say shit hit the fan. I was in a toxic relationship and was being mentally and emotionally abused, I was bullied worse than anything I’d experienced before (I’m talking getting chased down the highway by a group of guys, getting pictures sent to me of other guys messing with my girlfriend at parties, and getting calls from random people late at night just to let me know that I was the equivalent of dirt), and I could feel my mind degrading quickly. I started getting more into drugs shortly after the relationship ended, hoping that it would ease my anxiety, but of course it was only a temporary bandage. That bad decision followed me out of high school and led to my arrest in July of 2016. With my college acceptance rescinded, my car impounded, 2 felonies staring me in the face, and my family and peers looking down on me, the depression and anxiety attacks kicked in quickly, and much worse than before. I felt so alone and helpless that suicide crossed my mind several times a day. I’d never been the type to open up about how I was feeling, so I suppressed everything as best as I could. One day I was with my friend Levi (who’s a damn good musician) and we were messing around with some instrumentals. He told me to put some lyrics over the beat he had created, so I searched lyrics online. He realized what I was doing and basically told me to cut that out and write something myself. This was the first time I’d ever written my own lyrics. From then on, I just wrote, and wrote, and wrote. I would go on YouTube and find cool beats to try to fit my poems/lyrics. But for the first time, I felt that I could let it all out.

DEHH: One thing I always like to ask artists is what made you make the transition from a fan of the genre to making music?

Yahweh: I’d been into hip-hop and rap since middle school, but never in a deep way. I enjoyed listening to the music, but I wouldn’t say that I developed a deep respect for the music until I realized what an effective outlet it was for me to express my feelings that I had suppressed for so long. I dove deep into the genre, extended my reach, and really tried to get an understanding of the music I’d been listening to for years. If I was going to get into rapping seriously, I needed to know how important it was for the artists that made the genre what it is today. I started listening to lyrics more carefully, and for the first time I understood the stories, the emotions, and the journeys.

Early on in my musical career, a few months after my arrest, an old middle school friend named Key reached out to me. She saw via Instagram that I was a decent photographer and she was hoping I could do a photo shoot for her to promote some new music. We got together and I was surprised at how well she rapped and how clean her music sounded. Truthfully, I was surprised she hadn’t blown up locally yet. Driving around one night, I told Key and her cousin Noah that I had been writing some raps. They smiled, and I could tell they didn’t take it too seriously, but they wanted to hear what I had in store. When I rapped for them over I beat I had found on SoundCloud, they both looked shocked, laughed, and Key said, “Yeah we need to get you in the booth”. That was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. She helped me make my first connections to other artists and engineers. To this day, I’m thankful for Levi, Key, and Noah for getting me started in Hip-Hop and taking it seriously.

DEHH: “Arcadia”…what’s it mean? What gave you the idea for it?

Yahweh: Originally, I wanted to make an E.P. that was more uplifting and positive than the music I had released in the previous few months. I was in a better place in life, or so I thought, so why not try to express that through some new music? With just a concept in mind, I went to Malcolm (theDeeepEnd) and asked him to produce the whole project. One of the first beats he created was for the song ‘Welcome to Arcadia’, and to me it just had this retro arcade game vibe that I really liked. The word Arcadia just popped into my head. When I looked up the word, I learned that it’s a Greek term that describes “a poetic shaped space associated with bountiful natural splendor and harmony.” However, Arcadia was often regarded as unattainable.

This was the name for the project. I knew it as soon as I saw that description. It captured my emotions to a tee. Through my trials and errors, I thought that I had reached a safe, harmonious place. My anxiety led me to believe that it could’ve been a farce, but I tried to reassure myself that I was indeed in a better place. In reality, I bounced between a happy, strong state of mind (Arcadia), and feelings of doubt and dread that aimed to make me believe that this sense of peace could never be attained.

It was perfect.

DEHH: I’m a sucker for a emotionally honest music, what made you open up like this in a hip-hop climate that doesn’t always reward emotional vulnerability?

Yahweh: Whether my openness would be rewarded or not, hip-hop gave me an outlet to unload. The only outlet that I’d been given before. Hip-Hop literally saved my life. If I hadn’t found a way to express myself and let my feelings out, they would’ve killed me one way or another. I didn’t start rapping to impress people by talking about drugs, money, and girls, I started rapping to let others know that I’m f*cked in the head too. My goal with making music is to relate to my listeners and induce a feeling of relief that they aren’t alone, a feeling I’ve been enduring for far too long. I opened up to be real and keep true to myself. Sure, it’s fun to bump some hard ass hip-hop, but I find gratification in meaningful lyrics. I hope that one day my music will be appreciated by those who understand what I’ve gone through and they’re able to relate.

DEHH: You worked with North Carolina’s theDeeepEnd. Tell me what that was like and what he added to your creative experience.

Yahweh: Ahhh Malcolm. I met theDeeepEnd on September 8th, 2017 at North Carolina’s Hopscotch Festival. I saw that there was a day party and thought this might be a good opportunity to get some cool pictures. I got to the show way too early so I was hanging around outside the venue when this tall dude wearing khaki cut off jeans walks out and asks if I’m here for the day party. I say, ”yeah I am, you too?” He told me he was performing and his name was theDeeepEnd. He brought me inside the venue where he introduced me to a few locals like Ace Henderson, his manager Elliot, and Marc Figueras. I felt a bit out of place being the only one who wasn’t in this group of people who had known each other well, so I ended up drifting away while more artists joined their circle. Malcolm saw me on the sidelines and pulled me back in to introduce me to the others that had arrived – Nance, G. Yamazawa, M8ALLA, and others.

This may seem like a small gesture, but it made me feel like I belonged somewhere. Here I am, some random white kid no one knew in a room of people I didn’t know, and Malcolm took a few seconds out of his day to make me feel included although he had only known me for less than an hour. I knew this dude was special and I was eager to try to work with him.

When I was planning the project out, I knew I wanted to have a sole producer create all the beats to have a similar sound throughout the entirety of the E.P. To my relief, he was down to work. Through the whole process, he helped me develop my voice and find myself within my own lyrics. He gave me tips to further advance my delivery, he offered to throw down adlibs and vocal doubles, and even a back and forth verse on the song ‘Masks’. theDeeepEnd influenced me to think outside of my organized little box I had been using to make songs prior to our sessions, and overall this project wouldn’t have been nearly as much of a success as it was with out him. I feel that I’ve improved so much as an artist just because of him, and I can’t express my gratitude enough for that.

DEHH: “Arcadia” is a bit different in that you don’t just talk about the problems you’ve faced, but you’ve talked about the solutions and how they’ve helped you. Can you go in depth on the strategies you used and the importance of including it in the music?

Yahweh: I’ve tried a lot of things to get my head space back in a positive place. Stuff like eating better, drinking a gallon of water a day, washing my face twice a day, and working out. My hope was that a better physical health could in turn boost my mental health, and I have seen some positive results with this. I’ve cut out negative people from my life including people who I haven’t talked to in years. I’ve tried opening up to people more about what I go through, which hasn’t been easy, but it’s a step. A big thing I’ve been doing is just letting go of the past, which I think is where a lot of my stress comes from.

I thought it could be important to include stuff like that in the songs because just in case I catch someone’s ear who has similar troubles, they may be able to use these strategies to overcome their demons just like myself.

In all honestly, I’ve still got a long road ahead of me before I can say I’m in a good place. I’m still looking for more positive influences and outlets, but I’m confident that things will improve in the future.

DEHH: When people are done listening to “Arcadia” what do you want them to walk away with?

Yahweh: I want them to know that it’ll be okay. We all have our demons. I don’t care how old you are, what you do for a living, how much money you have, or how big of a smile you have on your face. We’re all going through some shit, and I’m no different. I know what the bottomless pit feels like, and you aren’t alone. I’d hope that listeners can leave this project with a sense of relief and like a weight has been lifted off their shoulders. Of course, I hope they enjoyed bumping the project in general too.

DEHH: North Carolina, despite having legends like Phonte, 9th Wonder, Rapsody is still underrated. What do you bring to the hip-hop climate and who are some other artists that inspire your movement?

Yahweh: I’m still trying to figure out where I fit in the NC Hip-Hop scene, but from my short time in the game I believe that I bring a different state of mind than other locals. I’ve been at rock bottom and I’m still down, and I think I can help others out of the pit even if I can’t get myself out. Not that other local artists haven’t been at the bottom and aren’t down, because I know a few who currently are, but I have a strong will to fight for people. I want to uplift others, help others, and push others to be great. I feel like there are plenty of people in the local music scene who won’t uplift other artists mainly because they don’t want anyone else to take their spotlight. Of course, this is just a minority in a sea of amazing local artists who are here to push NC to the top. I would love to be a person that artists and others in general can come to with their problems and seek help that I’d be more than willing to give.

One of my absolute favorite things to do is connect with people, especially artists I look up to. Some of my biggest influences are artists like Nas, Isaiah Rashad, Joey Badass, Anderson .Paak, Gambino, Tyler, Earl, Frank Ocean, Saba, Noname, and of course the late Mac Miller (whose passing pained me more than I could’ve imagined). These artists make music that induce a strong emotional pull in me that leaves me wanting more. It’s relatable and that’s why I keep going back to listen to them, something I hope to be able to do through my music one day.

Rapsody is one NC artist that I would love to work with above almost all others one day. Her energy is infatuating, and she truly seems like an amazing person. Definitely someone I can look at and think, “I’ll be there one day.”

DEHH: 2018 is wrapping up but it isn’t over yet, what can we expect from you as the year comes to a close?

Yahweh: As we start wrapping up the year, I’ve got some plans. I’ve already begun to work on some new music with Levi (the same friend that encouraged me to write my first lyrics), but I’m taking a different approach. Being a relatively new artist, I don’t know where I fit. I don’t know what type of hip-hop I’m best at making. So for the next few months I’m going to be working outside of my comfort zone with new kinds of beats, new flows, and mainly just experimenting with different things.

I’d also love to perform in some more shows, so hopefully I can make that happen as well. Getting my name out there is a top priority, but I try to remind myself that I’m still a baby in the genre.

I’m not even close to reaching my full potential, and I think that’s what I’m most excited about.

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Yahweh: “Arcadia” [Album Review]

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As summer comes to a close and we transition into the beautiful season of autumn, our moods and thoughts start to shift. The brightness from the sun turns into melancholy from the cloudy skies and precipitation. With this change comes a shift in the musical tone as well, North Carolina’s Yahweh has teamed up with TheDeeepEnd to release his debut album “Arcadia”.

From the top Yahweh dives face first into confronting his anxieties, fears, depression and more. Now’s the best time to talk about Yahweh’s partner in crime on this one, TheDeeepEnd, on this TheDeeepEnd takes the reins as producer. If you remember correctly, TheDeeepEnd produced his own solo album as well and if you go back and listen to that project, “Arcadia” is a big departure from the production on Deeep’s debut.

Yahweh fits the production weaving in his stories and feelings through Deeep’s production. A prime example of this is “Water Fallin’” where a deep (see what I did there) acoustic solo starts this track warming you up to what’s to come. I’m all for emotional, honest, heart-wrenching records, what sets “Arcadia” apart from what some call emo rap are Yahweh has more or less seen his mental transformation through. Numerous times on “Arcadia” Yahweh mentions some of the moves and solutions he’s taken to help deal with some of the mental struggles he and all of us deal with. Even from simple solutions like drinking more water, trying to eat healthier, Yahweh isn’t just complaining but giving us ways to deal with life’s struggles as well.

Tracks like “Peace of Mind” has our hero proclaiming his future and successes, thanking those who stuck by him during the storm. Even the following track “It’s Not That Deep” is Yahweh accepting him for himself, those who prefer to judge can keep it moving. Yahweh and TheDeeepEnd are surprising duo, the dark focused production from TheDeeepEnd gave Yahweh the soundscape to show not only his struggle but his ascension. You feel the depression, the anxiety, and at times the desparation of Yahweh trying to navigate through this world.

Yahweh: “Arcadia” [Album Stream]

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North Carolina’s Yahweh is here with his album “Arcadia”. And sheesh, this is an album I didn’t know I needed. I’m big on honest lyricism. While I’m all for turning up, we’re all going through something and sometimes that stuff piles up and we breakdown. “Arcadia” taps into the emotional struggles and battles we deal with not only on a daily basis but the bigger picture.

North Carolina’s TheDeeepEnd provides the production on this and it fits to the mental tuggings that Yahweh spits. Thankfully this project goes full circle though, it’s not just wallowing in self-pity and drowning. It’s getting through those issues and growing from it. You can stream “Arcadia” below and get ready as we’ll be interviewing Yahweh soon.

 

Yahweh: “Water Fallin'” (prod. by TheDeeepEnd)

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Yahweh is getting set to release his debut album “Arcadia” and if my notes here are correct I believe North Carolina’s TheDeeepEnd produced the entirety of the upcoming project. Today I have the second single from “Arcadia” called “Water Fallin’”.

If you peeped the first single “Last Resort” featuring Danny Blaze was a dark and personal venture. “Water Fallin’” truthfully plays like the perfect sequel to the aforementioned first single. Yahweh continues to open his heart wide to the audience, while still wallowing in life’s struggles, Yahweh is doing his best to climb out of the hole. Better habits, healthier diet are just some of the steps taken to lead a better life. Take a listen below. “Arcadia” drops this Friday, September 7th.

theDeeepEnd: “Skeletons” [Music Video]

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North Carolina’s theDeeepEnd released his debut EP “Think Good Thoughts” last year and it’s one of my underrated projects from that year. DeeepEnd produced the entirety of this EP and with not a guest appearance in sight, we get to see the North Carolina hero at his finest.

Full of energy and passion, TheDeeepEnd has provided visuals to “Skeletons” just in time for the summer weather. “Think Good Thoughts” isn’t all sunshine and unicorns and on “Skeletons” the name of the story is blunts and bangers. The trippy video has TheDeeepEnd essentially rapping and celebrating himself and the energy just radiates off the artist both in actual art direction for the video and the sharp lines he comes with. You can check the visuals for “Skeletons” above and if you haven’t heard “Think Good Thoughts” yet you can stream that below.

TheDeeepEnd talks Good Thoughts, Producing His Solo Project & The Future

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North Carolina’s TheDeeepEnd has had eyes and ears on him for a minute, I personally was introduced to him through his guest verse on a P.A.T Junior project. Finally, he released his solo EP “Think Good Thoughts” last month, eight tracks deep, is his current mission statement, produced by himself as well. I got a chance to sit down with TheDeeepEnd, to talk about the process of making the project, the inspiration behind and what’s to come for the North Carolina native.

Dead End Hip Hop: For those who don’t know who is theDeeepEnd?

TheDeeepEnd: I’m really just a regular guy who loves music and connecting with people. theDeeepEnd and Malcolm are really interchangeable, it’s just crazy I’ve been able to face so many fears and inspire people while finding myself as an artist. I’m super in love with music, I just get jaded sometimes being an artist and dealing with the politics and over-saturation. I’m also an anime lover, 2k monster and avid reader.

DEHH: Tell me a bit on how you got started in hip-hop?

TheDeeepEnd: I originally started writing poetry around 2009 my senior year of high school, but I always had a burning desire to rap and possibly produce. My older cousin used to be on a hip-hop based radio show at NC State and when he would come home for holidays he would always try and get me to freestyle with him. I would always be too scared but one day I took him up on his offer and it really felt like the best release of emotion ever. I was supposed to do a mixtape with my homies in college and it never materialized, but I got a lot of freestyle work in during those days. Everything became real when I heard The Warm Up. I couldn’t sleep one night and I said I’d finally give J. Cole a chance. Listening to the story and the beat on Can I Live and realizing that this guy was from N.C. really gave me the push I needed. A lot of times we think things are impossible until we see someone from a similar walk of life push the limit. I’ll forever be thankful to Cole for that.

DEHH: “Think Good Thoughts” is your debut, how did the idea for it come about?

TheDeeepEnd: From depression, heartbreak, sickness, loneliness and being fed up with my current circumstances. I went through a really bad break-up, got fired from my job, started dealing with some health issues and just felt like a lot of things weren’t going my way. I felt distant from God, from my family and from myself. I picked up a book by James Allen called As A Man Thinketh, that basically spoke about how thoughts become things. I was in a super dark place, but I knew I was powerful enough to dig my way out and this became my mantra. It’s really the only reason I’m alive and it’s always been inside of me even before I realized it. When my mom died when I was 16 I really didn’t cry much, because I wanted to be a rock for my aunt and cousin, and also because I just found a way to focus on the love she did give me and all the good things that were still happening around me. When I started coming up with a title for the project I knew immediately what I would call it. If my time on earth is ever cut short I’ve at least given the people I care about a piece of me and a formula to cutting through the darkness.

DEHH: I didn’t see this coming when I first heard the project, but you produced the entire thing, what equipment do you use and what inspires your sound?

TheDeeepEnd: Like I said earlier, I’ve always loved just listening to music. I come from a big gaming background and when I was younger before the internet was booming like it is now, I used to leave games like Chrono Cross on their map screens just to listen to the soundtracks. When I would get in trouble and losing my gaming privileges, I would always just play this little Casio keyboard my mom had from when she was a kid. I wasn’t making anything extravagant on it, but it allowed me to explore myself through music. My uncle used to sing and play the keys so I would always watch him or my cousin play stuff on the full-size keyboard and it inspired me. It’s just crazy how music can effect you even when it doesn’t have lyrics attached. I tried my hand at making beat with FL studios around 2010, but it was mad hard and I got frustrated and quit. I picked up the Maschine that a close friend gave me (shoutout to Suggs), in 2014 and just taught myself how to do everything. The Machine was super natural, because I watched my brother and engineer, Arthur Adams, make beats on it all the time. I actually made my first beat with him on my first project 13 Feet Deep in 2013. My sound is really just inspired by whatever God allows to come out of me. I have like base techniques I use, but everything is usually just organic and free-flowing. I don’t even know how to describe my sound, but I felt like it was important to produce the whole project to make a space for my sound and to solidify the fact that I’m not only a rapper, but a producer.

DEHH: You have quite the network out in North Carolina but chose to handle the brunt of the vocal duties, why is that?

TheDeeepEnd: To be blunt, I’m a loner. Well I definitely was during Think Good Thoughts. I was in a groove locked in with Brian Kidd and Arthur every Friday and it just felt like I was free to be me just working with them. My production style can be eccentric and sometimes it’s not easy to find artists that organically fit into the space. I hate forcing anything when it comes to music. I had a song with RJ Hatton doing background vocals that I love, but it didn’t make the cut. He’s a fire singer that’s apart of P.A.T. Junior’s Be Absolute brand. I’ve been working with a lot of my homies post-TGT though, so you’ll get more feature-laden work in the future.

DEHH: When people are finished listening to “Think Good Thoughts” what do you want them to walk away with?

TheDeeepEnd: That nobody is perfect and everyone has sins and demons. That just because, you’re not perfect doesn’t mean you don’t deserve salvation, love, happiness, peace, financial success, etc. I think The Formula is my message to the people on how to get out of the darkness, because I’ve truly had to let go of deadweight to elevate. I also just want people to have fun and not be as serious as I am. I’m super analytical and I think sometimes that can be a detriment, but learning control and how to think good thoughts has been a great way to correct my course when things get out of hand. I think their are 2 parts to the project. The first half that speaks more to the fun side, in terms of the production and style and the second half after Katana that gets darker and gives more insight on my personal life.

DEHH: Obviously North Carolina has some legends in hip-hop with Little Brother, Rapsody and others, but there seems to be a surge right now with you guys hosting festivals, opening for premier artists and more. What does NC bring to the hip-hop table and where do you see NC hip-hop being in the next couple years?

TheDeeepEnd: The sky really is the limit for North Carolina. I could name drop a plethora of talented artists out of the area from so many different genres. I think the most beautiful thing that I’ve witnessed from living in the Raleigh-Durham area is the unity and support we’ve been able to show for each other. I worked hard to build and attract the network I have, but it all came by being genuine and supportive. It’s a lot of love out here, even people that appear to be ahead of you don’t mind reaching back and giving advice and support. I wouldn’t have made it this far without all doors opened by God and other artists, promoters around here. I think as long as we can keep working together North Carolina will blow up. All that trying to be a king and the first to make it does nothing but divide and conquer, because there’s enough for us to all eat. We could really be the next Atlanta in terms of a cultural movement from a state or city.

DEHH: You dropped your project at the latter end of 2017, what can we expect from you in 2018? (I’m serious if I don’t have a full-length from you next year I’ll find you).

TheDeeepEnd: Bro, to be honest I’m a hoarder when it comes to music. I could technically drop another project next month if we just went by catalog. TGT was done in May and while I’ve taken occasional breaks, I’m always working. It felt good to prove to myself that I could release a project the right way. Most people don’t even know I had an initial project in 2013. Now that the floodgates are open, I think we’ll be enjoying this ride for a while. This is only the beginning and I have so much work to do, but you can definitely expect more music from me in 2018. I wouldn’t want to be on your bad side haha.