muzeONE

On the title track from his latest release Cold War, muzeONE proclaims “rising in my roots, growing as the soil lifts up / dust clears, new muze standin’ with his fists up”. This sentiment of a victorious rebirth is an idea that is now prevalent in the content and psyche of an emcee closing in on two decades worth of heartfelt hip hop. With past releases as a part of the underground crew Redeemed Thought along with a couple of independently released solo EPs under his belt, muzeONE is now solidifying himself as a respected veteran emcee with the release of his first proper full length Cold War, an album that bleeds with raw talent and a renewed sense of hope. Growing up in San Diego, muzeONE was drawn to his father’s love of funk, soul, and R&B music, which eventually lit a creative fire in his belly. Before long, a young muze found himself infatuated with the sample-laden style of hip hop in the early ‘90s and began writing his own rhymes. Over the years, muzeONE has used his time and talent wisely, cultivating his own sound while pushing himself as an artist, and although he’s stayed true to his own unique style, it’s clear he’s come a long way. “I think my style has stayed pretty much within the same vein it always has. However, I’ve seen my talent and skill grow tremendously – a fact I directly attribute to being in close relation with other really dope artists,” says muze. “As long as your skill set is continually developing, your music will always sound fresh.” Now living in Philadelphia, muzeONE has been able to draw influence from a variety of artists, whether it be the west coast sound of A Tribe Called Quest and The Pharcyde or the east coast bite of rappers like Nas and Rakim. Furthermore, his recent inclusion in hip hop super-group Scribbling Idiots has provided even more opportunities for inspiration and impact. However, even with such an expansive palette of influential artists at his fingertips, muzeONE finds that sometimes the most creative of ideas comes when you just get away from it all. “My creative process is heavily dependant on solitude,” says muze. “Not that I don’t ever reference what’s popular or what impresses me, it’s just that I often have to separate myself and just write what I feel in my heart, what I’ve learned from experiences, and most importantly, what I hear from God.” Teaming up with Illect Recordings has also been an important part of muze’s growth as an artist. No longer left to sail the open waters of the independent rapper, muzeONE has found that having a home presents a plethora of possibilities. “As an indie artist, I had to learn the ropes myself, often times more from mistakes than successes,” says muze. “Working with Illect has been a tremendous relief compared to working independently.” This year’s Cold War has proven itself to be a culmination of all of these things – a perfect storm of experience, life lessons, faith, and vision that explodes through the speakers in the form of purposeful hip hop. If life has any consistency, there’s certain to be battles ahead, but for now muzeONE stands on the other side of the Cold War victorious. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.