By Josephine Lee–
Alex Crum, better known by stage name A.C., is a Louisville native and graduate of Saint Xavier High School. He’s been in the music scene for about three years. What started out as free styling for friends has grown into the production of the mix tape known as “Halfway to Hollywood.” Crum plans on building a larger music project.
Q: What’s some of the inspiration behind your lyrics?
A: Eminem is my biggest influence in terms of the intricacy of rhyme schemes and things of that nature; multiple syllable rhyming and things like that. As far as lyrical content, I just like to rap about things that I do. I’m not trying to make my life seem like something that it’s not.
Q: Besides Eminem, do you have any other musical influences?
A: I like all kinds of music. I pride myself on trying to bring in different aspects into my music. I like Jack Johnson and a lot of acoustic stuff, My Morning Jacket from Louisville, a lot of electronic as well. Right now, Skrillex is probably my biggest influence. It’s really cool how he’s reshaped digital remix.
Q: What about rap draws you to it?
A: It has to do with telling a story. It’s a lot easier with spoken word and people can relate to it more often when you’re speaking to them, and I feel like people just really listen to rappers.
Q: If you could open for any artist, who would it be and why?
A: Eminem, just because he’s my biggest musical influence growing up.
Q: What kind support have you received thus far?
A: I’ve learned a lot from my mistakes in terms of marketing and from that I realized I have a huge support system. My parents support me a ton and all my friends and everyone I meet… They’re all like “we support you” and “we’ll help you out any way we can.”
Q: What makes your mix tape different from other rapper’s mix tapes?
A: “Halfway to Hollywood” is an all-original production. On normal rapper’s mix tapes, you’ll have beats on there that you can go online and download. But I had my own producer make every single beat so if I wanted to sell it, I could have. I didn’t do that just because I don’t think making a couple grand is going to support my plan, which is reaching more people.
Q: Are you working on anything now?
A: I’m in the planning stages now. I want this next album to be a full project with music videos. The last mix tape, I think it’s good and I like it, but it was kind of thrown together in a couple months, and that’s not what I want to do with my next album. I want to be able to set up shows and videos for it.
Q: What’s been your favorite experience so far?
A: Meeting new people and having them believe in me. And connecting with people through music despite all the differences we may have, that’s one of the most rewarding things ever.
Follow A.C. on Twitter at @Acdottweetme, like him on Facebook at Facebook.com/ACdotmusic and find and download the free mix tape at Datpiff.com.
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Photo courtesy A.C.
