Wanna hear about a sick producer from Mt.Vernon, New York? Well, look no further.
I don't think I ever formally met Elijah Earl in person. We went to the same school for a second, and suddenly I was dming him months later about music. Before this interview I knew a few things about Elijah: he's into calisthenics, he goes to an HBCU called Morgan State, and he makes some cold beats. So, I dmed him for an interview and not even two hours later, we were chatting it up on the phone.
"It all started with Bob Marley"
Elijah credits Bob Marley as being someone who made him want to be a "righteous man in the 2nd grade." An ambitious kid. The list went on and on. He name dropped: Michael Jackson (because "if you're a man, you gotta love Michael Jackson")he then sai he wanted to dance and be like Usher, Prince (because he loves seeing "written & arranged by"/seeing someone who does it all), Paul McCartney (because "no one can tell me I'm not Paul McCartney")(I thought he was Elijah Earl, but guess not).
Being from NY has definitely given his style more oomph. He shouted out: Biggie, Nas, Wu-Tang, Ja Rule, Tupac etc. "If you're young & black you've been impacted by hiphop).
Then, he tells me something I didn't even consider. The man is from the suburbs. So, he went on to shout out bands/artists like: The Real Estate, Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, Phil Collins, etc. "All the t-shirts people wear and don't listen to..."
Having so many artists contribute to his sound and taste, means he's mad versatile. That's something you can already hear throughout Monk, his Soundcloud tape. Monk goes from a smooth/sleepy beat called, 'Flowers', to 'Z.T.,' the beat that makes you bump your head while skating round the block.
So, clearly Elijah knows his music and has a large range of influences. 90% of the interview was about him talking about who he listens to, who helped him developed his style, and saying one liners that you can't argue with, like--
"Stevie Wonder is (has) the greatest shit ever made. Stevie Wonder got the best albums. Stevie Wonder is better than everybody anybody listens to"
But, how did this 2nd grader end up becoming the grown man that produces music?
Elijah started listening to music and finding who he was. Once he reached the 8th grade, he decided to start making music. He wanted to rap though, but wanted to be his own producer too. He eventually stopped rapping, but continues to produce (clearly).
Him and his friends would get on Oovoo---yes Oovoo--and they'd rap back and forth.
Why did he stop rapping? The reason was because he was, "too afraid." Now I gotta hear him rap.
He says all he wants to be is a "fake ass, boot-legged Pete Rock." I hope it happens for him.
As of late, he is working on Fl Studios with his "bum ass" friend; in order to perfect his "bum ass" friend's mixtape. He's trying to produce something better than the best song he has ever made, "Brown Skin" in 2018.
But don't fret because you can still hit up his Soundcloud.
He shouted out: He said to listen to:
me, thank you Real Estate
his parents
his brother
his sister
Akeem
Morgan State
Juneteenth
Everyone on Insta ha!
He really wants people to REALLY UNDERSTAND WHITE SUPREMACY. THIS ISN'T A TREND. HE WANTS EVERYONE TO STUDY AND OPEN THEIR EYES.
To listen to his tape on Soundcloud click here:
To listen to full interview: click out and to the side you'll see "full interview" on the picture on Monk
(It was past 12 am and we were on the phone tired and chilling)
His Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.elijahshow/
My apologies to his friend, he told me to put "bum ass." Don't sue me.