(Photo By Ron Slyda)
After receiving such endearing feedback from his features on the site, Ron Slyda reached out to clue readers in a bit more on himself and his music. He gave up the goods on a wide range of subjects including: the creation of his stage name, his musical influences, his upcoming project Blue Summer: Recollections Of A Poetic Drunk, and the list goes on. Check out the exclusive Q&A below.
The Illixer: What made you decide to call yourself Ron Slyda?
Ron Slyda: I always wanted my rap moniker to reflect my music. I consider my sound an oxymoron or unpredictable to say the least, so a name so simple (which includes part of my real name Theorun) to reflect a sound so deep, complicated, and natural really resonated with me. Slyda is a term in Miami that describes a lot of things: a person constantly moving, tearing s–t up, when something sound good we’d say it’s sliding, etc. So it all fits.
TI: Who were some of your musical influences growing up?
RS: I grew up on a multitude of musicians. My mama always had The S.O.S. Band, The Gap Band, Tyrone Davis, Al Green, Bobby Womack, and others playing through the house. That’s where I got my love for music and the perception that music should be honest and soul baring. In Hip-Hop my biggest influences were: Tupac, NWA, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Poison Clan, 8Ball & MJG, Biggie Smalls, DJ Quik, and Juvenile. I got the rebellious spirit from them.
TI: Your bio states that your friends encouraged you to get into music. But what appealed to you personally about Hip-Hop?
RS: I fell in love with the fact that a voice from my community and generation could travel all around the world and be held in high regard.
TI: If a stranger asked you to describe your music, what would your response be?
RS: I definitely don’t like comparing myself to anybody; though classic my sound is original. But I would say I have elements from a wide span of artists that capture and captivate. Tupac’s depth and versatility, 8Ball & MJG’s southern pride, Bone Thugs N Harmony’s creativity, Bobby Womack’s commentaries; and I could go on. All in all, I’m just a melting pot of good music.
TI: Miami is a pretty major city for Hip-Hop. What do you think has made you so successful over other up-and-coming artists in the city?
RS: Honestly it’s the belief in myself and the confident yet humble aura I possess. I know my music is good so it’s not hard for me to network with taste-makers on any level that will help get my music heard. I never feel I’m too good for any venue if I gain one fan it was worth it. My hunger won’t let me feel I don’t have to reach out and reaching out is what most Miami underground artists feel they’re not supposed to do. Thinking being nice and appreciative of every fan, you can tarnish or take away from your “star image” which is bulls—t. I also learned don’t be into the gossip and beef mill. Let your mouth be a beacon of positivity and progress. And I grind everyday 25/8.
TI: Where do you feel you would have ended up if you hadn’t started rapping?
RS: I hate to think about it. Rapping has not only given me a new lease on life; it blessed me with many people, lessons, and environments I don’t think I could live without right now.
TI: Where did you come up with the name for your upcoming project, Blue Summer: Recollections Of A Poetic Drunk?
RS: I’m always writing. I always want my music to be a picture in time even when I spit from the drug dealer / gun toting perspective. People could see it as a time in my life. I’m not trying to glorify anything but my skills and creativity as an artist. So as I grabbed beats and wrote and drank and drove and performed and celebrated and mourned and f–ked up and learned from it; a soundtrack was coming out of me piece by piece in the summer of 2011 when I really began to get noticed locally. I took those raw materials and molded it into a more solid and branded sound. No longer a novice, I knew the technical and ethical mistakes I made prior. I’m deep, so blue is a color that reflects the vast depth like the ocean or sky. It represents my somber thoughtful recollections as a poetic drunk.
TI: What sets Blue Summer: Recollections Of A Poetic Drunk apart from your two previous mixtapes?
RS: Blue Summer is 100% me. Every beat was thought over, sought out, and hand selected. The sound will reflect my brand a lot more. I can afford better studios and know the importance of organizing so quality will be a lot higher. Though they were dope and the talent was evident I was not as much of a perfectionist as I am now.
TI: When does Blue Summer: Recollections Of A Poetic Drunk drop and what’s in the works after it is released?
RS: There is still no official date but we’re looking at late March hopefully. Marketing and promotion must be executed correctly. I want to do more shows outside of Florida and link with more taste-makers from my region and spread my brand. The first singles I’ve released have gained more and more acclaim with every drop so the anticipation is definitely building. So I plan on getting more visuals and street promo done. Blue Summer is actually the first installment of the Recollections Of A Poetic Drunk series so after this it’s on to Red Winter: Recollections Of A Poetic Drunk (Volume 2).
TI: Your bio ends by stating that you are “destined to be on top.” Define what being “on top” means to you and share what it would take for you to feel like you’ve reached that destination?
RS: To me there’s no better feeling then getting paid. I mean to be able to provide for your family doing something you truly love that’s heaven on earth. That’s when I’ll be on top.
**My Two Cents: This interview was pleasant. There were some very intriguing parts in the second half of the Q&A. I’m glad that Ron Slyda was willing to take time out of his schedule to share a bit with us. Salute to him and the Slyda Music Group camp. Be sure to follow both via their respective Twitter accounts. -MinM
