I get hit up a lot via email/social media with “check this out…my boy is next up”, “we about to take over”, and all the: “insert overly self confident statement here” you could imagine. Huey P is a name I’ve been hearing for a few years now, but never really paid attention. Huey started popping up on my Twitter and Facebook but we weren’t even connected. By the 2nd week of constantly seeing his name associated with respectable moves I sought out the internet to find his music. Needless to say I wasn’t disappointed and reached out for this interview.
Ironically a few days later I went to a show over at The Baltic Room and right when I walked in Huey was on stage. We linked up outside and I was introduced to TJ and Erin on his team, which led to an invite to the studio the next day. I honestly didn’t expect anything to come from this as rappers usually do not have the best attendance record. But Huey and TJ showed up the next night and we put some work in. I was further impressed with the up and comer. A lot of local artists are always ‘next up’ or ‘about to blow’, but this young man is more than on his way. With cosigns and features from Dj Drama, Dj VIP, Ty Dolla Sign, Wale, and Cassidy, Huey is a Northwest name you need to get to know!
1. First off who is Huey P? Where are you from and what do you represent?
“Huey P.” (Gov.Hugh Brown) from the inner city Seattle/Tacoma area in Washington State. I’d say I represent the people, peace, love, the struggle. I represent the everyday hustler trying to stay out of the way of police, I represent the everyday father trying to put on for his family.
2. How long you been making music?
I’ve been making music since the age of 13 (Now 26), so exactly half of my life.
3. What is your process to approaching records and creating?
– start with ideas, beats, a specific project in mind?
My creation process is really about vibe first, the music actually makes me say the things I say to them. I mean I have ideas all day but nothing happens without the music. I then visualize where I want to take the song and how I want to approach it. and the music forms it self after that. Sometimes it might start with a hook or just a phrase that sticks and becomes catchy. But other times it could start with a dope verse and you build the song around that.
4. Your upcoming project 206253 has been turning some heads with the Dj Drama collab and features…how did the Dj Drama link come about?
As for the Dj Drama Link for the “206253” project. We did some business with close friend Papa Black of BossLifeEnt, LakeShow (Manager of Drama) and Dj Drama about 2yrs prior to making the project. At that time they heard some music and liked what they were hearing but like all great things, it happens with time. So in the process of waiting we kept grinding and stayed in touch over the 2yrs. Put together a project the proper way and presented ourselves. The time was right and we made it happen.
5. How about the Wale and Ty Dolla features? You want to explain how these records happened? Did you have a track in mind for them or get in the studio and create from scratch?
For the major features with “Wale” & “Ty Dolla $ign”. The song “Fan” Ft Ty Dolla $ign was made first. He came out to Seattle on his tour and we made the connection through a mutual friend. Recorded the track in his lab from scratch. As far as the song “206253”Ft. Wale. I got the link though my Executive Producer. We didn’t actually record it together. That song was pre meditated so we took our time with it.
6. What do you think about the Seattle hip-hop scene?
– What do you feel it is lacking?
With the seattle music scene I feel like its thriving but at the same time stagnant do to the fact theres not enough unity. I don’t think theres enough artist helping artist. Everybody trying to get on alone. But its not a one man game. I feel if we do it as a collective we could accomplish so much more in not just the city but the state of Washington
7. Favorite Northwest artists?
My favorite artists out of the northwest right now, I’d say Mike Mack , Donte Peace, Brainstorm, Christina Pallis, Fresco Lee, Lil Ripp, Jesse James, Papa Black , Q Dot. I recently became a fan of King Leez and Nirvana Pistol as well.
8. As you may know, right now there is a little tension within the Seattle music scene. We have a big gentrification issue and most of the ‘hip-hop’ acts within the community can be attributed to a result of this issue. We have some acts speaking out about the lack of love/respect for African American artists within an African American music community. Do you feel this is an issue or has there just not been the right outlet for certain artists?
I feel like the fact that nobody from the inner cities of Seattle down to Tacoma have made a big enough impact to actually bring mainstream here cast a shadow on us. Like you said theres nobody to speak for the urban culture but a few and from my knowledge no of them (Myself included) are to a point where we can say we are. Theres a few artist close but like I said we need to do it as a collective in order to make a bigger statement and impact to say hey the NorthWest is here. I think the more pop rap stuff that comes from here is just easy to sale to mainstream consumers honestly. We have a very multi cultural atmosphere, which gives us the ability to speak to all walks of life. So I dig what guys like Macklemore are doing. It’s just different from what some of us more urban artist do.
9. Who do you want to work with you haven’t had a chance to work with yet?
If I could work with Andre 3000 & Erykah Badu on the same song. I think it would be magic .
10. Im a big food head so I have to ask…favorite spot to eat in the town?
My favorite spot(s) to eat in town Ezells Chicken, Dicks Burgers, Catfish Corner, if those fail I’m at the Pho spot.
11. Anything else fam?
Yo thanks for the interview man. Shout out to Respect My Region, shout out to the city, shout out to TjYoloEnt, shout out to Have A Heart Cafe, shout out to Dj Drama, shout out to the NorthWest.
Since this talk with Huey he has also released this teaser about an upcoming free project he did with Dj VIP entitled Did You Get The Message. I got the exclusive listen and I think this joint is going to set things up nice for 206253 and will give listeners a solid, solid Northwest project.
Stay up to date with Huey P on his Twitter page and check back soon for Did You Get The Message and the highly anticipated 206253.
