00:00
DJ Whatsherface
Off the Record is a show from 88.1 WKNC in which DJs talk with artists about everything from their music to upcoming tours to former bandmates birthdays. Make sure to follow WKNC on SoundCloud and Tumblr so you never miss a beat. Enjoy. This is DJ Whatsherface. And I am currently joined by two artists who will be playing a show this weekend. You want to introduce yourselves?
00:42
Newman
What's going on? This is Newman.
00:44
Benny Okoto
What up, y'all? It's Benny Okoto.
00:47
DJ Whatsherface
And they will be playing at Kings Raleigh this weekend. They got a show going on with Ace Henderson, Cloud Nueve, and Chlo the God. And what time will that show start?
01:00
Newman
It's gonna start at 9:00 clock and the doors are at 8.
01:04
Benny Okoto
I'm through.
01:05
DJ Whatsherface
Sweet. So this showcase was put on by tsa. Can you tell me a little bit about what that organization is all about, what they do in this area?
01:16
Newman
TSA stands for a couple different things, but mainly it's 10 steps ahead. And it's really just, you know, a bunch of different creative people that we met growing up here in Raleigh. And it just kind of expanded throughout Virginia and New York and mainly deals with music, but also just like technology and different designing, you know, aspects and stuff like that. But it's mainly just about progress, just embracing, you know, personal progress and just always trying to stay 10 steps ahead. And that's.
01:52
Benny Okoto
Yeah, yeah. More on that is staying 10 steps ahead of yourself and what you want to accomplish.
02:02
DJ Whatsherface
So were you all founders of tsa?
02:05
Newman
Yeah, yeah, we founded it. And along with some other homies. Yeah, we started out with.
02:10
Benny Okoto
We have like a main core group of homies that we started it with just.
02:18
Newman
Just rapping in the home studio type thing.
02:20
DJ Whatsherface
How long has it been around for?
02:23
Benny Okoto
Since 2012.
02:24
DJ Whatsherface
Oh, wow. So it's been a while.
02:26
Newman
Maybe even 2011.
02:27
Benny Okoto
Yeah, I mean, there have always been like our friends who've done creative things. It's just we finally came together about six, seven years ago.
02:37
DJ Whatsherface
So is it just kind of like to create a network of people who can like, I guess, support each other's art? Or is it like, do you book shows or.
02:46
Newman
It mainly is just about just. Just making, you know, art and stuff like that. But we definitely have started planning a lot more things and trying to spread different vibes and stuff like that. Just. Just connect people and. Yeah. See where it goes from there.
03:03
DJ Whatsherface
So is everybody on the showcase on Saturday involved in TSA?
03:08
Newman
No, but they're definitely like the homies. You know, we know Ace for a long time, and Chloe we've known through other people and we all just started hanging out recently and a lot of our homies put us on the Cloudy stuff and it's definitely dope. So, yeah, we just want to connect the people who we think are dope, and especially people from North Carolina. And, yeah, we just. We just love doing the creative thing. So that's what we're really on. We're really about.
03:41
DJ Whatsherface
Awesome. So we're going to play some of Yalls music later on in the show. Is there anything you could describe about the other artists? Cloud Nueve and Chloe the God? I actually hadn't heard of either of them until I saw this lineup.
03:56
Newman
Yeah, Chloe, she's a singer, first of all. She has more like a R B vibe, like kind of scissor vibes, and Cloudy does more like what you say, like rap trap type of stuff.
04:10
Benny Okoto
I think it's more like. I think it's more like just like wavy stuff. Really, like good vibes.
04:19
Newman
Melodic type?
04:20
Benny Okoto
Yeah, very melodic.
04:22
DJ Whatsherface
Awesome. So I noticed that this showcase has, like a Grand Prix theme. Where'd that come from?
04:31
Newman
I mean, were just kind of inspired by. By a recent trip we took out in Italy. And, yeah, were just trying to get a little bit creative on how to present that. So, yeah, it's really based off of Formula one racing, and we just kind of set that up so the experience at Kings will hopefully reflect that. You know, it's not just going to be a. That open mic vibe. It's like we're trying to make it a, you know, put it in a different place.
05:01
Benny Okoto
So, yeah, to make it feel like.
05:04
Newman
You're actually.
05:06
Benny Okoto
There at the San Marino Grand Prix.
05:09
Newman
At the race.
05:09
Benny Okoto
At the race, definitely.
05:11
DJ Whatsherface
So I'm curious, what was your trip to Italy like? Did you get to see a race or is it just kind of a big part of their culture there?
05:18
Newman
I didn't get to see a race, unfortunately. But, no, it was just. Just being there was just inspiring. And that was just kind of something that I felt like could. Could be a slight nod to that trip and. And do it in a fun way. But the trip itself was just. Was just really awesome. Just being out there and went to Florence too, and.
05:42
Benny Okoto
Yeah, and Venice.
05:44
Newman
Venice, too, yeah. So, yeah.
05:47
DJ Whatsherface
Was it just the two, y' all.
05:48
Newman
Know, with some other friends, Some other TSA homies? Yeah.
05:51
DJ Whatsherface
Oh, wow, that's awesome.
05:54
Newman
Playing some stuff.
05:55
DJ Whatsherface
Worldwide trips with your friends.
05:58
Benny Okoto
Definitely.
05:59
DJ Whatsherface
Yeah. And if the listeners didn't know, y' all are Brothers. I just found that out today.
06:03
Newman
We are.
06:05
DJ Whatsherface
Do you all ever collaborate together since you're so close?
06:08
Newman
Oh, yeah, we do. Like I said, it started out with just a group of our friends just rapping and making tracks and stuff. So, yeah, we've been doing that for a minute. And you drop some today, right?
06:20
Benny Okoto
Yeah, actually dropped album, my debut album, Drugs in the Movies. Yeah, it took me a little minute to. To come with that together, so I'm definitely proud of it.
06:33
DJ Whatsherface
And that was dropped today. So where can our listeners find that if they want to listen to it?
06:37
Benny Okoto
If you guys want to listen to it is currently on SoundCloud and it will hit all of the online streaming stores such as Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, coming up later this week.
06:50
DJ Whatsherface
Awesome. I feel like that's a great segue. You sent one of those songs, right?
06:56
Benny Okoto
Yeah, there's actually a couple.
06:57
DJ Whatsherface
Sweet. How about we play one of those? While we're on the topic, what do you want to start out with?
07:04
Benny Okoto
Let's start with stupid.
07:05
DJ Whatsherface
Okay. This is Stupid by Benny Onodo. Okoto.
07:10
Benny Okoto
Yes, Okoto.
07:11
DJ Whatsherface
Okoto. And they're playing a show this Saturday, so we're going to talk more about that after the so. 88.1 WKNC. This is D.J. What's your face? And you are just listening to a track by Benny Okoto off of his album that just dropped today. What's that called again, Benny?
07:52
Benny Okoto
It's called Drugs in the Movies.
07:54
DJ Whatsherface
Drugs in the Movies. I like that name. And that was stupid. So I guess let's just focus on you for a second since this is a pretty big deal. What do you use to make your music? This album in particular,
08:11
Benny Okoto
Honestly, it came from just different. I pulled from a bunch of different inspirations to come up with this project. I did watch a lot of movies and between the time I was making it and kind of like formulated my own sort of movie within the project and then kind of took concepts that I see in movies and overlayed them in the songs.
08:42
DJ Whatsherface
So is this kind of like a conceptual album?
08:45
Benny Okoto
Yeah, I'd say so.
08:47
DJ Whatsherface
What are some of the concepts?
08:50
Benny Okoto
It kind of plays on the idea of like, love and anxiety and just trying to find yourself knowing or trying to find yourself with finding yourself in, like, love or in and out of love and stuff like that.
09:10
DJ Whatsherface
Like, that's something a lot of people can relate to you. So just out of curiosity, what were some of those movies that you were watching and sort of inspired the concept of this album?
09:23
Benny Okoto
I watched definitely Dr. Strange was definitely a movie That I can point to recent memory. That was a huge inspiration for it. If anyone's seen, like, the last scene of it, I think that's kind of where, you know, I kind of came up with the concept.
09:44
DJ Whatsherface
So is the show on Saturday going to be the first time you're performing some of these songs, or are they kind of songs you've been performing and finally have been able to, I guess, put in a physical format?
09:56
Benny Okoto
We actually just started a tour. We've been going to a couple different places along the east coast. The San Marino Grand Prix Tour, and I just started performing this material.
10:10
DJ Whatsherface
So what are some of those places you've been on tour? Is that an ongoing thing?
10:15
Benny Okoto
Yeah, we've been to Chapel Hill, Asheville, Blacksburg, Virginia, and we got the show coming up as part of the tour in Raleigh. So it's still ongoing. And we have more dates to be announced.
10:33
Newman
Durham as well.
10:34
Benny Okoto
Durham as well.
10:36
Newman
In New York as well.
10:37
Benny Okoto
And New York as well, yeah.
10:39
DJ Whatsherface
Wow. That's pretty solid lineup. Congratulations on dropping the album and going on your first tour with it. So how about have you or do you have anything in the works, Newman?
10:53
Newman
Yeah, I actually have this project called From Elmina. It's actually the first time I'm saying.
11:00
DJ Whatsherface
That, but saying it on air or.
11:03
Newman
Ever to anyone outside of my little friend group.
11:07
DJ Whatsherface
Wow.
11:07
Newman
Yeah. But, yeah, From Elmina. Wrapping it up right now. Just got the masters, so, yeah, very soon.
11:15
DJ Whatsherface
Do you got a date for that or is it kind of like in the works?
11:19
Newman
Definitely next month. Next month.
11:21
DJ Whatsherface
Sweet.
11:22
Newman
Yeah. Sorry, track or two, if you want to play that later.
11:25
DJ Whatsherface
Oh, yeah, totally. Is that, like, separate from your project, Newman?
11:31
Newman
Yeah, yeah, this is a. It's actually my first, like, project for. That I put out for a long time, actually.
11:38
DJ Whatsherface
So how long have you been rapping as Newman?
11:42
Newman
I've been rapping as newman since, like, 2011. Like, since high school. Really? And my last thing I kind of put out was, like, 2015 called the Trip. But this is my first body of work since then.
11:56
DJ Whatsherface
So would you say it's kind of like a rebranding? Has your style changed at all?
12:00
Newman
Oh, definitely. There's a lot of songs on there that, you know, were kind of started. I kind of started making them a couple years ago. So it kind of does cover a large span of time. I say, you know, that I went through some things and learned some things through. So, yeah.
12:19
DJ Whatsherface
Awesome. Well, excited to hear more of that.
12:22
Newman
Thank you.
12:23
DJ Whatsherface
Will those be some tracks you'll be playing at the show on Saturday as Well. Or are you gonna kind of focus on your old stuff until you hash out, I guess, the kinks?
12:33
Newman
I mean, I'll definitely preview some things at the show. So, yeah, I definitely recommend people to come through.
12:42
DJ Whatsherface
Yeah. And once again, that's this Saturday, the 21st, and it's gonna be with Ace Henderson, who we actually played him at the start of this interview. I don't think I mentioned that. That was you and Ace Henderson.
12:57
Newman
Shout Out Ace.
12:59
DJ Whatsherface
And then also Chlo the God and Cloud Nueve. So it should be a good time. Kings is a lovely venue. Have you all played at Kings before?
13:07
Newman
Yeah, we've been there a couple times. Most recently was last summer with Ultra Psychic.
13:13
DJ Whatsherface
Oh, yeah. I think they just started. Started that back up for the year.
13:18
Newman
Right, right. Yeah, yeah, they did.
13:20
DJ Whatsherface
Yeah.
13:21
Newman
Yeah. So shout out. Shout out to them, too.
13:23
DJ Whatsherface
Sweet. So how about we play one of those tracks you were mentioning?
13:30
Newman
Sure. You got ends.
13:33
DJ Whatsherface
Yes. And what was the name of that project again?
13:35
Newman
Project is From Elmina.
13:38
DJ Whatsherface
From Elmina. And it'll be dropped in next month.
13:40
Newman
Next month.
13:41
DJ Whatsherface
Sweet. So keep it locked. We are going to continue this interview after the song. 88.1. WKNC, this is D.J. What's your face. And you are just listening to ends by From Almina. And that is a project that Newman, who is here right now, is working on, will be out next month. And yeah, we've been here for the last half hour or so talking about a show that's going on this Saturday over at Kings. It's gonna be Newman, Benny Okoto, both who are here. Ace Henderson, Cloud Nueve, and Chlo the God. So it's a pretty. Pretty decent stack of people. They're gonna be out at Kings on Saturday. So I guess let's touch a little bit more on the other people playing. How do y' all know them?
15:01
Newman
Like I said, Ace we've known for a long time since even before we was rapping. Really?
15:10
DJ Whatsherface
And are y' all like high school friends or.
15:14
Benny Okoto
Actually even earlier.
15:16
DJ Whatsherface
Oh, really?
15:17
Newman
Loki was on the same.
15:18
Benny Okoto
Yeah, were on the same basketball.
15:21
Newman
Back in the day, but. But yeah, yes, the homies. It's definitely good to see his growth too, as an artist.
15:28
DJ Whatsherface
Did you all kind of influence each other to work on music or.
15:32
Newman
I mean, I would say, like, he definitely had his thing going on. And, you know, we was with our home studio as well, but we. We worked on things, you know, throughout the. The past and up till now. And like I said, he was on Placentia earlier, so. Yeah, like that's definitely the homie. And Chloe. We recently met Chloe through one of our friends, and so that's pretty recent, but we knew she'd be like, a doe for fittest show, and she's definitely doing some dope things on her own too. So we just thought it'd be really cool for us to all kind of showcase that. And like I said, Claudia, it was some other homies who put us on. Put us on to him. And he's. He's. He's doing his thing too, so. Yeah, I just think it's gonna be a really dope show.
16:23
Newman
It's a lot of different elements and a lot of different styles, so. Yeah, man, y' all should. Y' all don't wanna. I don't think I want to miss this.
16:29
DJ Whatsherface
I think it's been pretty good. Are all these people from Raleigh?
16:33
Newman
Yeah.
16:34
DJ Whatsherface
Triangle.
16:34
Benny Okoto
Yeah.
16:35
Newman
Yeah, I think close from Fayetteville.
16:37
DJ Whatsherface
Oh, wow.
16:38
Benny Okoto
Yeah. Yeah.
16:39
Newman
But she's staying in. In Greensboro? I believe so. Yeah. But it's mostly like a Triangle thing.
16:45
DJ Whatsherface
Mm. I mean, I still consider, you know, faithful and all them local.
16:50
Newman
Oh, yeah.
16:51
DJ Whatsherface
Gotta. Gotta bridge the gap.
16:52
Newman
There you go.
16:53
DJ Whatsherface
Bring them in. So how do you. Do you guys feel like the Triangle music scene has grown a lot or is really getting recognized outside of nc?
17:02
Newman
I do. Yeah.
17:04
Benny Okoto
I say it is. I think you have a wide spectrum of artists, and I think they're helping to cultivate a North Carolina sound. So in the next couple years or so, you'll definitely see North Carolina in the forefront of hip hop and music in general.
17:26
Newman
Yeah, I think it's a lot of things that's been kind of, like, bubbling over the last couple of years.
17:30
DJ Whatsherface
Yeah.
17:32
Newman
And it's been cool to see, like, a lot of different faces coming up, and I know there's some established acts that have. That have really started gaining recognition.
17:42
DJ Whatsherface
I don't know if y'all…Did y' all watch Rhapsody's documentary on Netflix?
17:45
Newman
I heard about it, but I haven't got a chance.
17:47
DJ Whatsherface
She was shouting out to Raleigh a lot, and I was like, that's dope.
17:52
Newman
It was crazy, though. Yeah, I was definitely bumping that.
17:54
Benny Okoto
I think I saw her live a couple years ago, Packapalooza.
17:58
DJ Whatsherface
Oh, really?
17:59
Newman
Yeah, yeah.
18:00
DJ Whatsherface
Oh, because she went to NC State.
18:02
Newman
Yeah, I didn't notice that.
18:03
DJ Whatsherface
Yeah, she's an alumni.
18:06
Newman
That's tight. No, but there's a lot going on, though. For real. Like. Like you said. I definitely believe, like, the next couple years, North Carolina as A whole. It's going to be a whole new wave. For real.
18:18
DJ Whatsherface
Do you feel like it's going to be up there with cities like Atlanta or. I've also noticed, like, it seems like some people have been moving out of Raleigh like once they kind of make it big and I don't know how I feel about that.
18:30
Newman
Yeah, I mean, I feel like everybody has a different way of, you know, going about it, but I definitely think it could be similar to something like Atlanta just because I feel there's like a lot of different styles. Like I was saying, I don't know if there's a specifically a NC sound like that yet, but yeah, I feel like it's blended a whole. A whole bunch of different things. So I feel like out of that will come something that's, you know, a lot more original as far as the movement is concerned. And. Yeah, no, I think people should definitely stay tuned. Yep.
19:06
DJ Whatsherface
Who are some of your, I guess, favorite local people out here? I know that's kind of a. That's kind of a favorites kind of question. I don't know if that's a good question to ask.
19:18
Newman
I mean, it's cool too, because, like, for me personally, I. Like I said I was in Virginia earlier, so I feel like all this stuff is kind of just now, like, you know, catching my eye as I've come back.
19:28
DJ Whatsherface
Oh, yeah. What was it like? I guess, living in Raleigh? You lived in Raleigh, right?
19:33
Newman
Yeah, yeah.
19:34
DJ Whatsherface
Living in Raleigh, going to school for four years and then coming back to.
19:37
Newman
This scene that was very interesting. I mean, I feel like Virginia is just. Is definitely completely different, especially the part of Virginia I was in, because I was up in the mountains and whatnot. So, like, you have to come back. And I feel like Raleigh as a whole kind of has evolved, you know, from when I was younger. But I mean, I was still here, like, just coming, you know, back and.
20:00
DJ Whatsherface
Forth, you know, come back for Thanksgiving or whatever. Right, right.
20:03
Newman
Every so often. But I'm sorry, I kind of forgot the main question again.
20:08
DJ Whatsherface
Oh, what was it like? I guess living in Raleigh and experiencing, you know, whatever was going on here and then leaving for four years and then coming back to the scene.
20:18
Newman
Yeah, I think for me it was kind of like going between two different places. So I felt connected and separate at the same time, you know, just based on my experiences. And so, yeah, I don't know a lot of the guys out in the scene like that, but I've seen. I do know a couple of them as I've Come back and as we kind of started working more. But I think it's just dope, you know, because I feel like kind of seen it from angle that was like, you know, separate from myself, but at the same time, like, I still am from here. You know, I spent most of my life here and I was still coming in and out, you know, through that. Through that time in Virginia. So. So, yeah, I mean, I'm. I'm very thankful for my experiences. So that's me.
21:04
Newman
Well, he was out here. He was out too. He was in Texas mostly.
21:07
Benny Okoto
Yeah, I was out in Texas for the last three to four years.
21:12
DJ Whatsherface
So you just came back recently?
21:14
Benny Okoto
Yeah, pretty much. Actually. I was actually out in Pennsylvania first, and then I relocated to Texas and stayed out there for like three to four years.
21:27
DJ Whatsherface
Did you just feel like you wanted to? I guess, you know, when you graduate high school, you're like, I want to go somewhere new and fun. Is that kind of what you're going through or like.
21:36
Benny Okoto
I mean. Yeah, I've always had that kind of plan to, like, just see a whole bunch of different things as much as I can, while I can. And yeah, I think that was always the plan.
21:49
Newman
I think for me too, it was kind of like, you know, going out there for a little bit and then coming back. It kind of. It does give it a fresh new sense, like, you know, just being here again.
22:00
DJ Whatsherface
So are you able to, like, appreciate it more, like, growing up here?
22:03
Newman
Yeah, like, I had some friends come through from Virginia the other week and they were like, they really like Raleigh a lot, and it was interesting to see it from, like, their lens. But at the same time, you know, I was still kind of coming to a couple spots that I hadn't really been around a lot, you know, myself. So. Yeah, it's just like a cool new perspective on it.
22:22
Benny Okoto
Yeah, I think on that idea. It's like going away or like losing your sense of what you know is normal, what you've become accustomed to losing it. And then, you know, coming back to it, you're greater, your appreciation becomes greater and your perspective, first and foremost, becomes greater, which allows. Which allows your appreciation and your love for it to become greater.
22:52
DJ Whatsherface
I could agree with that. I feel that. Do you think it's like, easier to be a musician in a scene that's like a little more. I feel like the scene here is very, like, close knit. Like, everybody knows each other and supports each other, whereas, like, you know, in really big cities, you can't really have that kind of network. Do you think it's more beneficial. Whereas, like, I guess the benefit of being in a bigger city is, like, just more opportunity.
23:22
Newman
Right, right. I feel like there's pros and cons to both, and I feel like there is that thing that, you know, being in a bigger place, like, there's so many people trying to do that maybe could be over saturated. But I like what you're saying, too, as far as, like, somewhere here where there's a lot of fresh new ideas, you know, and people are trying to really make it in and try new things. I feel like, you know, being able to cultivate a whole new kind of. Kind of wave is a dope. A dope idea, too. And like I said before, we just about trying to. Just creating and supporting what we think is dope.
23:58
Newman
So that's why stuff like this show on Saturday is dope to me, because all the artists want to, like, you know, I mess with the vision that they got too. So. Yeah, I just think. Not just with this show, but just in North Carolina in general is on that right now, for the most part, I think. And I think it can only get better, too. So I think it's heading in the right direction.
24:22
DJ Whatsherface
Does TSA have any more showcases like this lined up or planning on doing them in the future?
24:28
Newman
Definitely want to do we actually.
24:30
Benny Okoto
Yeah, we definitely do. And I think that's what we're trying to do with the first couple strings of tourists is being able to cultivate these. These kind of atmospheres in different regions, not only in North Carolina, but outside of the state as well.
24:49
DJ Whatsherface
So is your tour gonna be like, just you two, or like, you're gonna bring a bunch of friends as well to sort of, like, introduce them to places you've been as well?
24:59
Newman
Yeah, I think it's a little bit of both. Like, some dates, it is just us, but dates like these, you know, I wanna do way more of. Even when I was in Virginia, we would kind of do, you know, similar things where we would just kind of showcase the dope talent that's just around. Yeah. People we knew that was, you know, doing their own thing. So. Yeah, like. Yeah, to answer your question, I would definitely love to do more and just. Just keep creating. Really.
25:30
DJ Whatsherface
Have y' all ever toured together before? Is this kind of like a new thing?
25:34
Newman
This is the first time we've done this.
25:36
DJ Whatsherface
Oh, awesome.
25:36
Newman
We've been doing shows here and there over the years, but this is the first time we kind of try to string it together. And. And like I said, the. The kind of the San Marino thing just inspired us to. To kind of put. Put that together so it makes sense.
25:54
DJ Whatsherface
So did y' all book your own tour or.
25:57
Newman
Yeah, yeah. For the most part, we. We kind of put it together ourselves, but there was some shows like the one in Blacksburg. They reached out to us and. As well as.
26:06
DJ Whatsherface
Oh, really?
26:07
Newman
Yeah.
26:08
DJ Whatsherface
That's awesome.
26:08
Newman
There's actually another show, actually the day before this one in Durham with a private. Durham. I'm not. I don't know if you're familiar with them, but What.
26:17
DJ Whatsherface
What kind of place is that?
26:19
Newman
They're a collective. I think they. They throw shows out there, mostly like dance shows, but we're doing that as well as Runaway. I don't know if you're familiar with them. Yeah, I think they're involved as well, but. Yeah.
26:34
DJ Whatsherface
Where's that gonna be?
26:35
Newman
That would be at the Pinhook.
26:36
DJ Whatsherface
Okay.
26:39
Newman
It's cool. Actually, that's my first time, like, performing.
26:42
DJ Whatsherface
There, but it's a really cool venue.
26:44
Newman
Yeah. Yeah.
26:45
DJ Whatsherface
Very artsy place.
26:46
Newman
Oh, yeah.
26:48
DJ Whatsherface
Sweet. Well, how about we play another track about. For the.
26:56
Newman
Let's do it.
26:56
DJ Whatsherface
Yeah.
26:57
Newman
You got one for Drugs in the Movies.
26:59
Benny Okoto
Let's go with. You Might.
27:01
Newman
That's actually one of my favorites on there.
27:04
DJ Whatsherface
Sweet.
[Intermission]
27:30
DJ Whatsherface
88.1 WKNC. You are. I keep on wanting to say the local beat, because that's, like, my show, but you're not listening to the local beat. But I'm here with Newman and Benny Okoto, and you just heard one of his tracks that was You Might, right?
27:47
Benny Okoto
Yep.
27:48
DJ Whatsherface
And that's off your album that just dropped today.
27:51
Benny Okoto
Yep. Drugs in the Movies. Go check it out if you can.
27:53
DJ Whatsherface
Sweet. So let's talk a little bit more about what kind of show you guys are gonna put on Saturday. And, like, what's your performance style like?
28:07
Newman
Yeah, I would say, for me, I'm. I would. I would say, I like, you know, lyrics first and foremost, so I just really try to, like, get into the lyrics of it. So, yeah, hopefully you know, you be. Listen to what I'm actually saying. But if not, you know, I think the beats will be. Will be, you know, a vibe or whatever you want to call it. I feel like the whole night really is just gonna be a party. Also, shout out to DJ Husa from. He's from. He's a DJ from Virginia from a group called mplb, and that stands for no Party Left Behind. So hopefully that'll give you an idea of what's going down.
28:47
DJ Whatsherface
I think that tells a Lot.
28:49
Newman
Yeah. But as far as me, yeah, it might be a little intense. So. Yeah, I just hope people listen to what I'm saying first and foremost. But even if you drowning what I'm saying out, just get loose, man. Expect it to be a good one.
29:10
Benny Okoto
Yep, definitely.
29:12
DJ Whatsherface
What kind of topics do you like touch on in your songs?
29:17
Newman
Wide ranging? I guess I'll touch on Elmina, since that's coming up. But without giving up too much, I would say for the. For this. For this project, I kind of wanted to focus on the contrast between. Between freedom and kind of entrapment. So I know that's kind of vague, but I just kind of try to pick things in my life that kind of represent those, you know, whether that be relationships or my views on certain educational systems, you know, good and bad. But yeah, I think I like touch on a wide range of things and try to give a little inspiration too, you know.
30:04
DJ Whatsherface
So like, when you have a project, do you kind of choose a concept or is it kind of like the concept comes to you, if that makes sense?
30:13
Newman
I definitely think the concept comes to me and it kind of manifests over time. Like I said, this is my first project since about 2014, 15. Partly because I like scrapped a lot of other projects, but pieces of each kind of just manifested into this one.
30:32
DJ Whatsherface
Why'd you scrap them? Just like it wasn't going the direction you wanted it to, or like you weren't in the zone or whatever.
30:40
Newman
Definitely different reasons. I feel like partly when I was still in school, I kind of didn't want to put another project out while I was going through that.
30:48
DJ Whatsherface
So, yeah, it's hard to focus on.
30:51
Newman
Yeah.
30:52
DJ Whatsherface
But the other things you like to do in life when you're in school,
30:55
Newman
I was definitely still creating the whole time, but I didn't want to finish that until I was done with that. So it was kind of like a trial. Like, you know, it was just cuts along the way. And a lot of stuff just kept not making it until I just kind of brought it to where it is now. I guess this might be the first and last time I speak on it. But in relation to that freedom thing, I'll just say Elmina was. If people don't know, it's actually a slave castle in Ghana, where my family's from. Not from Elmina, but from Ghana. And a lot of what I was talking about plays off of like I was saying that freedom versus in entrapment. And, you know, obviously I'm not in that specific situation, but ways that showed up in my life.
31:44
Newman
So that is definitely a heavy part of the inspiration where I'm at right now.
31:51
DJ Whatsherface
So as far as Newman goes, do you feel like it was a little less personal or the kind of music you were putting out with Newman, or it was just like a different time in your life?
32:00
Newman
Yeah, I think everything between that project and this one was still me kind of experimenting and figuring out different things. And, I mean, for me, personally, like I said, I like lyrics and such like that, so I still feel like I still have a lot to get off my chest that may not be as focused as this particular project. But, yeah, I was still just. Just, you know, working and figuring things out.
32:28
DJ Whatsherface
So you said that you work in a lab, you studied biology.
32:32
Newman
Yeah.
32:32
DJ Whatsherface
So I was wondering, when you are in the lab pipetting and as you do, what do you listen to if I assume you're worthless. You have headphones?
32:41
Newman
Oh, yeah, we do.
32:42
DJ Whatsherface
Yeah.
32:43
Newman
Mostly not to sound like that, but mostly myself, just, you know, different drafts and trying to just make.
32:51
DJ Whatsherface
So you're kind of like, working while at work? Oh, yeah, Definitely working both jobs at the same time. Priorities one stone.
32:58
Newman
But musically, I mean, I really like a lot of different stuff, so it kind of depends. You mean, like recently or.
33:08
DJ Whatsherface
Yeah, or, you know, recently or overall, what bands or artists like, you always go back to.
33:16
Newman
Right.
33:16
DJ Whatsherface
However you want to take it.
33:18
Newman
Oh. Not sound cliche, but as far as bands, I always do like Little Beach House, you know, depending on how it's going.
33:26
DJ Whatsherface
I feel like that's a good thing to, like, no matter what you're doing, just, like, stick it in the background because it's like, oh, yeah, it's kind of there, but it's not like.
33:33
Newman
Right.
33:34
DJ Whatsherface
I don't know.
33:35
Newman
No, I get what you mean for sure. But, yes, things come. I try to. I do keep up with what's going on for the most part. So, you know, I'll check things out just to. Just to hear it out. I'm also in the podcast a lot, though, so.
33:49
DJ Whatsherface
Oh, yeah?
33:50
Newman
Yeah.
33:50
DJ Whatsherface
Those definitely get you through the work day.
33:52
Newman
Oh, yeah.
33:53
DJ Whatsherface
What are some podcasts you've been listening to?
33:57
Newman
Not gonna lie to the Joke Butter podcast. Kind of fire. It's kind of fire. My friend just put me onto this other one called the Daily Zeitgeist.
34:05
DJ Whatsherface
I haven't heard of that.
34:06
Newman
And then also, Black Men Can't Jump in Hollywood. That's a really dope one sometimes. Brilliant idiots, too, but yeah.
34:16
DJ Whatsherface
What about you, Benny? What have you been listening to?
34:20
Benny Okoto
I Mean, I really like what I always go back to and what I find myself listening to. It's like that old psychedelic rock.
34:30
DJ Whatsherface
Oh, really?
34:31
Benny Okoto
Some Pink Floyd and some Fleetwood Mac. I really like those. The sounds that they were able to come up with back then. They still like work today.
34:42
DJ Whatsherface
That's interesting. I only recently like my. I grew up, I guess, like listening to, you know, the river or whatever in my mom's band and I was like. I don't know. As a kid I always thought of. So annoying.
34:55
Newman
But like, why you say that?
34:56
DJ Whatsherface
I don't know, it was just like, you know, mom music or whatever. But recently like my roommate got all these old vinyls and she was like playing some Fleetwood back and I was like, this is actually like really great.
35:08
Newman
That's what's up.
35:09
Benny Okoto
Yeah. Oddly enough my mom like she's saying my mom put me on to that because I mean, at first she didn't really like us, you know, listening to hip hop. So that's. That's all that would be played.
35:21
DJ Whatsherface
So how did you all get into hip hop? Just like your friends or whatever? Well, I guess nobody really grows up. Listen well, gets. What's the word? Nobody listens to their parents music their whole life. Yeah, most people anyways.
35:39
Newman
Yeah.
35:39
DJ Whatsherface
No respect.
35:40
Newman
I mean, well, for me it was late registration started it anyway.
35:46
Benny Okoto
For me, yeah, on that it's like Lupe fiasco around that time in 2006 and then.
35:52
Newman
Oh yeah, definitely some lupe.
35:54
Benny Okoto
All the Southern like when I was in, you know, middle school growing up, the southern music was just, you know, dope back then. So I found myself listening a lot to that.
36:07
DJ Whatsherface
I feel like nowadays there's like more hip hop on the radio than ever.
36:11
Newman
Oh yeah.
36:12
DJ Whatsherface
Like, I feel like, I don't know, when I was a kid it was mostly just like, you know, very pop centric stuff on the radio. And now it's like there's indie rock, there's hip hop, there's rap. It's like, it's kind of cool.
36:25
Newman
Yeah, it's weird to see his projectory,
36:27
DJ Whatsherface
But yeah, and it's like top 40 music too, you know? Yeah, like even rappers are in top 40, which, like, I don't know, there wasn't too many people doing that when I was young.
36:37
Newman
Winning pull surprises and whatnot.
36:39
DJ Whatsherface
Yeah, yeah.
36:39
Benny Okoto
I think a lot of like new rappers, especially this show coming up on the 21st at Kings. A lot of these artists have very eclectic music taste and you know, songs. So I think it's a thing where that Kind of thing of like pop and different elements of rock and all that have been incorporated in hip hop. And I think it's a very cool thing because the genre is evolving.
37:10
DJ Whatsherface
Yeah.
37:11
Benny Okoto
Even till this day.
37:12
DJ Whatsherface
And everyone on this lineup has, I guess, something a little different to offer, it seems like.
37:16
Newman
Oh, right.
37:17
DJ Whatsherface
Yeah. Sweet. How about we play another song that might be featured at the show tomorrow? Not Saturday. It's not Friday yet. Get ahead of myself.
37:30
Benny Okoto
It's almost Friday.
37:31
DJ Whatsherface
We're almost there.
37:32
Newman
Inspect.
37:33
DJ Whatsherface
Cool. What do you wanna.
37:35
Newman
Maybe we should play a Corridor. I think that'll be. Yeah. Might be the first one I'll put out off of from Elmina.
37:42
DJ Whatsherface
Sweet. And if you're just tuning in, I'm joined by Newman and Benny Okoto, and we've been talking for the last 45 minutes or so about a show that they'll be playing at Kings they this Saturday with Ace Henderson, Cloud Nueve and Shadow of the God. And is presented by us, WKNC as well as tsa. So, yeah, keep it locked. We will continue after this song. 88.1 WKNC, this is D.J. What's her face. And I'm here with Newman and Benny Okoto. You just heard track off. Newman's new project that's coming out next month is from Almina with Corridor. So time is running out. But, yeah, let's just give a little overview of what the show on Saturday is gonna be like since that's what we're here for.
38:49
Benny Okoto
All right.
38:49
Newman
Yeah. The show is the San Marino grand prix, presented by TSA and WKNC. That's gonna be this Saturday, April 21, and it's gonna be me, Newman, Benny Okoto, Ace Henderson, Cloudy Nueve and Khloe the God. And yeah, I just hope y' all expecting an experience. We're gonna have live visuals by Betchel's Test,
39:15
Benny Okoto
DJ Husa from no Party.
39:18
Newman
Yeah.
39:18
Benny Okoto
Left Behind.
39:19
Newman
No Party Left Behind. Spending on the ones and twos. So, yeah, it's gonna be a big party, man. Y' all should come out and party with us again. That's this Saturday, April 21st.
39:29
Benny Okoto
Doors open at 8pm show starts at 9.
39:33
DJ Whatsherface
Where can people find tickets for the show?
39:36
Newman
You can find tickets on King's website. That's kingsrally.com if you happen to see a flyer, we got QR codes on them, so you can scan it if you. If you come across one of those.
39:49
DJ Whatsherface
How do people do you have to, like, download an app to do that.
39:51
Newman
Or you just need a camera actually.
39:53
DJ Whatsherface
On your phone and it just pops up.
39:55
Newman
You can even do it on Snapchat, too.
39:57
DJ Whatsherface
Yeah, I'm about to try that. I've, like, heard of QR codes, so I never knew how they work.
40:01
Newman
Yeah, I thought you needed an app, too, but now it's a quick boom, and there you go.
40:05
Benny Okoto
Yeah, there's a bunch of apps already installed on the iPhone. Like, if you want to use the wallet app as well, you can do that as well.
40:14
DJ Whatsherface
Awesome.
40:16
Newman
Yep.
40:16
DJ Whatsherface
Sweet. So where can people find your music?
40:20
Newman
Find me online anywhere. NewmanTSA. So SoundCloud, Apple Music, Spotify, all that stuff.
40:32
Benny Okoto
Yeah, you can find me anywhere online. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook. Benny Okoto. That's B E N N Y O K O T O. I just dropped a project called Drugs in the Movies that's out right now on my soundcloud.com/bennyokoto and it will be hitting online stores very soon. So check it out, please.
40:58
DJ Whatsherface
Sweet. Well, thank you all so much for coming in. I'm looking forward to the show on Saturday.
41:03
Newman
Thank you. Thanks for having us.
41:05
Benny Okoto
Thank you so much.
41:06
DJ Whatsherface
Let's close this off with one last song.
41:09
Newman
Let's do it.
41:13
DJ Whatsherface
Was it Make a Movie?
41:14
Benny Okoto
Yeah.
41:15
DJ Whatsherface
Awesome.