The artist, digital strategist and producer spoke to the Buzz about what’s it like working with Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj, his newest work Boom Boom Clap, being verified on Social Media and Howard University.
Here’s our conversation…
Tommy: Fuze, what’s been up.
Fuze: What’s up?
Tommy: What has it been like since you won the HBCU Buzz 2012 Artist of the Year award?
Fuze: Man where do I start? So much to be honest. Been doing a lot of work with the Blueprint Group and Young Money on the digital side. Oh yeah, and trying to graduate from Howard. (LOL)
Tommy: Your raps inspires social change and explores issues in the black community. Why take the route less traveled?
Fuze: I mean really it’s not so much of active choice as a lot of people think it is. I don’t go into the booth and say “I’m going to make a record about social change”. I normally just listen to the music and talk about what comes to mind. I’m really hyper in tune with what’s going around me for better or worse. It just seems lately it has been a lot social issues arising in all communities—not just black. That’s where my head as been so it comes through my music…
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJWFkKbzwjU]
Tommy: Why Howard and not the “Real HU” Hampton, or Harvard University?
Fuze: Howard gave me a scholarship my freshman year so that was really the deciding factor but I didn’t even apply to Hampton or Harvard they never really interested me. I knew everyone in the music industry eventually steps foot on to Howard’s campus or knows someone who has. I wanted to be there when they got there.
Tommy: In your song ‘The Road Until’ you described how you found your calling. Can you tell us more?
Fuze: My calling is a little complicated but I think I’m here to lead people into better place than where they are.
Tommy: Really?
Fuze: It’s funny, as a kid I was pretty shy outside basketball so when I first realized I was meant to be a leader I kind of didn’t embrace it. Over the last year I’ve just came to grips with that and learning how to deal with what that entails. I just want to let people into where my mind is and let them pick it apart critique, disagree, agree, etc. and find out they’re truth and passion. Because I feel no matter what their opinions are on what I think, that critical thinking can be beneficial in shaping themselves and figuring out who they are. If I talk about my feelings towards institutions predisposing individuals to economic enslavement whether you agree or disagree at least you’re taking the time to form an opinion on that. To me that means something.
Tommy: You’re verified on Twitter… Are you something like a “celebrity” on The Yard?
Fuze: Well on the yard at Howard it’s not really an issue.
Tommy: —does it matter to have a fan base/supporters?
Fuze: I have a lot of fans on Howard’s campus, but everyone is doing something and no one really wants to have public displays of their affection for an artist or really anyone for that matter. It’s kind of frowned upon unfortunately. Maybe it’s the competitive nature I’m not sure. And it definitely matters. The biggest thing that has changed since I got a good fan base together is the confidence in the decisions I make. When there’s no one cheering you on, it’s easy to question whether you’re making the right choices or not and second guess yourself. When you have a fan base it’s like “Ok what do they think, Are they riding with it? Then that’s all that matters, let’s do it.”
