What does Rejuvenation mean to you?
A return to that youthful state. For me it's returning to a fruitful, root state. To be more healthy physically, mentally and spiritually.
How does your environment affect your writing process?
I like to write in the car. I like to write in solitude, where I can be by myself but I can find inspiration in everything and anything. I’m easily inspired but I’m not easily influenced so I can learn from a kid, I’ll learn from an old man, I might learn from a tree I might learn from a bird, but it's just the ability to be a sponge… But when it comes to the writing process I like to be in solitude.
How did you get into music?
When I was young my pops had a small independent label that he had with his homies back in college… I watched them do their thing till I was like 9 and they kinda broke up and everything. I knew then that I wanted to get into music… I got into spoken word and writing through an English teacher, that led to me doing spoken word and poetry, stuff like that, then I got back to the music in High School.
Who are some of your inspirations?
Growin up it was like trap music for sure, like T.I., Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes… as I matured in my understanding of music and what I was drawn to I started listening to more Cole, Kendrick, Jay Z, then I started to get into the roots of hip hop in general and I was inspired by LL [Cool Jay], Rakim, Black Thought, Andre 3000, I could keep going… The ones who put the soul in it and kept it hip hop, I’ve been inspired by that for sure.
What's something that helps you refocus when you get off track? How do you get out of a slump?
What I’ve learned to do is be more mindful of my consumption mentally, spiritually and physically. What I’m listening to, what I’m eating, making sure I’m working out, things like that. A lot of times it’s just listening to music, it might be taking a walk, getting into nature, it might just be meditating, it might just be rappin or eating some whole fruits.
What has your biggest obstacle been so far?
The biggest obstacle has been funding the music and being one with the process, being faithful in your process… I think at some point in time you do have to make the decision that you’re gonna be all in for whatever you want but you can do that in multiple ways. I’m deciding to do it in a way in which I create more solid financial foundations for myself and then create out of that. That allows me to pay for studio time without stressing, and pay for the content and things that I need.
Any plans for 2022?
My goal is to shoot shots that don’t miss, to keep it simple. I’ve got a lot of music in the cut that I’m making to just release in singles, but I’m trying to do it as efficiently and effectively as possible. So just making good music that’s timeless but maybe in single format so I can just bear with a visual instead of giving a whole body of work until I’m ready to do that again. That’s the approach I’m taking this year.
Your name is DamarTheEmcee, what does it mean to be an Emcee to you?
I came up with the name from watching an interview from KRS-One, Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everybody, shout out to theTeacha. My first name is Damari, so it's just Damar without the “i”. I think the emcee's role is to peep the poetry and to articulate those messages to the people. To be an M.C. is to be a master of ceremonies and that’s just what it is. Who can peep the poetry and give it to the people in a digestible way. I’m still perfecting the craft but I’m definitely an Emcee.
A return to that youthful state. For me it's returning to a fruitful, root state. To be more healthy physically, mentally and spiritually.
How does your environment affect your writing process?
I like to write in the car. I like to write in solitude, where I can be by myself but I can find inspiration in everything and anything. I’m easily inspired but I’m not easily influenced so I can learn from a kid, I’ll learn from an old man, I might learn from a tree I might learn from a bird, but it's just the ability to be a sponge… But when it comes to the writing process I like to be in solitude.
How did you get into music?
When I was young my pops had a small independent label that he had with his homies back in college… I watched them do their thing till I was like 9 and they kinda broke up and everything. I knew then that I wanted to get into music… I got into spoken word and writing through an English teacher, that led to me doing spoken word and poetry, stuff like that, then I got back to the music in High School.
Who are some of your inspirations?
Growin up it was like trap music for sure, like T.I., Jeezy, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes… as I matured in my understanding of music and what I was drawn to I started listening to more Cole, Kendrick, Jay Z, then I started to get into the roots of hip hop in general and I was inspired by LL [Cool Jay], Rakim, Black Thought, Andre 3000, I could keep going… The ones who put the soul in it and kept it hip hop, I’ve been inspired by that for sure.
What's something that helps you refocus when you get off track? How do you get out of a slump?
What I’ve learned to do is be more mindful of my consumption mentally, spiritually and physically. What I’m listening to, what I’m eating, making sure I’m working out, things like that. A lot of times it’s just listening to music, it might be taking a walk, getting into nature, it might just be meditating, it might just be rappin or eating some whole fruits.
What has your biggest obstacle been so far?
The biggest obstacle has been funding the music and being one with the process, being faithful in your process… I think at some point in time you do have to make the decision that you’re gonna be all in for whatever you want but you can do that in multiple ways. I’m deciding to do it in a way in which I create more solid financial foundations for myself and then create out of that. That allows me to pay for studio time without stressing, and pay for the content and things that I need.
Any plans for 2022?
My goal is to shoot shots that don’t miss, to keep it simple. I’ve got a lot of music in the cut that I’m making to just release in singles, but I’m trying to do it as efficiently and effectively as possible. So just making good music that’s timeless but maybe in single format so I can just bear with a visual instead of giving a whole body of work until I’m ready to do that again. That’s the approach I’m taking this year.
Your name is DamarTheEmcee, what does it mean to be an Emcee to you?
I came up with the name from watching an interview from KRS-One, Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everybody, shout out to theTeacha. My first name is Damari, so it's just Damar without the “i”. I think the emcee's role is to peep the poetry and to articulate those messages to the people. To be an M.C. is to be a master of ceremonies and that’s just what it is. Who can peep the poetry and give it to the people in a digestible way. I’m still perfecting the craft but I’m definitely an Emcee.
Written By: Jonathan Miller
Stream Damartheemcee on all platforms
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