A rapper in a rebellion

Del is a New York based rapper and lyricist, hoping to make waves in the international music scene. We talk to the talented youngster about his latest releases, future aspirations, and more.

Tell us about your latest project, "Breathless".

As we faced the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States, certain domestic issues started to manifest themselves in unprecedented measures. Police Brutality was widespread, agenda based politics emerged stronger than ever. Ultra-nationalism and racial supremacy ran rampant. "Breathless" encapsulates the various themes associated with the American experience, from the perspective of the persecuted.

We tried to bring attention to important topics, using our unique skill sets, poetry, melodies, and visual imagery. The name is meant to be an homage to the George Floyd incident, which sparked a wave of retaliation against unjustified police brutality.

What defines you as a musician?

For me, music starts with the words. I always pay important attention to the content, the metaphors, the word play, and most importantly the central theme. The flow or the delivery is often dictated by the complexity of the instrumentation and the pacing of the lyrics. I would say my style is most similar to that of traditional New York Rappers.

Who are your inspirations in music?

My interest in rap stemmed from discovering Lil Wayne. The Carter III is my favorite rap album. Alongside other great artists, my music is heavily influenced by Jay-Z, Eminem, Kanye West, and Drake.

Would you like to collaborate with a Bangladeshi rapper in the future?

There's a lot of exciting music adoption happening in Bangladesh, both in the Hip-Hop category and outside of it. It is great to see the level of skill and dedication some of these artists exhibit. I definitely see myself collaborating with Bangladeshi rappers and artists in the future, specifically those who focus on storytelling.

 Tell us about your current projects.

Our management team, EPB Records, is currently finalizing the procedures for a 20-track mixtape titled "Sunnyside Stories" set to release at the end of 2021. I am very excited to focus my efforts on a more comprehensive project, that will allow me to explore various genres and collaborate with some amazing people. I want to define myself as an artist in this compilation; I want to experiment with all genres of music.