If you consider yourself a fan of Chicago hip hop or are anything like me, then you have witnessed Taylor Bennett’s come up since he was still a teenager. He has grown as an artist in countless amounts of ways, but the way his music has evolved is probably the most evident. He’s one of those artists where it seems like whenever he drops some new material, it’s always better than his last release. I truly mean that when I say it, I have considered myself a fan of the young Chicago native ever since he dropped “Dear Daddy” over an old Kanye beat back in 2012, and I am extremely happy to say that I have witnessed his come up. That track was off of his project titled The Taylor Bennett Show, and here we are over five years later, as we impatiently await his forthcoming project titled “The Recruitment 2.” The idea based around this project is that Taylor has never done a mixtape before, and that it’s something that he’s always wanted to do in order to showcase another side of himself that listeners haven’t got the opportunity to see yet. Taylor put it into words best by saying: “I haven’t really gotten a chance to drop a mixtape, and after dropping Broad Shoulders and Restoration Of An American Idol, I’m ready to do something fun and do something different.” We are still some time away from receiving the mixtape, but lucky for you he is making his return today with the premiere of his brand new remix of Kendrick Lamar’s record titled “Feel”, and I must say that although I liked the original, I damn near like this version more. There was just something about the hunger in his cadence that was contagious, the energy was enough to leave anyone in awe. I’m sure you already rushed to listen to the new offering and honestly, I don’t blame you. Go ahead and take a few minutes of your time to stream this new song and read up on what Taylor has been up to in the Q&A below!
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EM: What inspired you to create this remix to Feel?
TB: I think it inspired me because I’m a big fan of Kendrick and he’s obviously a great guy, and when it comes to his music it’s basically untouchable and everybody basically knows that. But the thing that I liked about FEEL is that it’s so emotional, it was one of my favorite tracks on the album for sure and when you hear it, it’s real writing and I wanted to kind of instill the same thing. I wanted to talk about some subjects I don’t really get to talk about that much based on the idea that I’m trying to merk it myself, to fans, or based on the fact that I’m always trying to make songs and come out and talk and make music that’s really about myself. I haven’t really got to remix any music and I haven’t rapped like this since I was 15 so it was a good opportunity and I’m so glad I took it.
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EM: You have always been relatable to your fans, and this release is no different. Do you take pride in helping your supporters through their own struggle by speaking on yours?
TB: Yeah definitely, I think one of the biggest things an artist can do is humble down and talk about the problems in their life and things they’re going through. I think a lot of people look at celebrities and say “Their life’s perfect” but when it comes down to it, everybody has trials and tribulations in their life, we all go through them and when you speak on them in your music, (1) it makes fans feel like they can respect you more, and (2) it shows that everyone goes through their own struggles, and if you can relate to your fans through your music, it makes it way more relatable for them to be able to relate to you.
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EM: One line that stuck out to me in this new offering was “Chained down but speak up when Star Spangled”, can you elaborate on this?
TB: At one point I said, “lifesavers, degrading, sheep labels, fake fathers” which is basically saying that a lot of these guys sign to a label and try to act as if they’re family and try to act like they’re there and they’re backing you, but they kind of try to put you inside of a child position where they become in charge. And then I say “Darth Vaders, Archangels,” and archangels is supposed to be the pop-angel of the religion like the person people follow. I’m basically talking about the Kanye Wests, the Jay-Z’s, the Beyoncés when I say “archangels.” Then I say “blind eyes, held beneath deep chambers” which is the record label sh*t, which is talking about the idea that a lot of successful and famous artists can’t speak their minds or feel like they can’t voice a lot of things that we want to hear which is why I made this song FEEL for my fans. I wanted them to know that I also go through problems and there are things that I feel like I can’t speak about. And I even say that in the song constantly, I say “I feel like I can’t speak, I feel like I can’t speak.” I then say “chained down, speak up when star spangled” which is basically where they feel like they can’t say anything but when they got their chains, they have their fury and their victory they’re feeling these things, and they’re “star spangled” when they’re showing the glow of who they are. And then it says “from all angles, we laugh at our danger” that is a play on words of realizing all of the pain which is something we’ve got in our community whether its violence or any of those things, and when it comes to comedians like Kevin Hart or Katt Williams any of those guys, we kind of make the joke about us living in poverty and practically killing each other and laughing at our own situation. Finally, I say it again (“chained down, speak up when star spangled”) and I feel like that’s when you’ve achieved a certain amount of success, and you finally feel like you can say these things that people want to hear but they only speak up when they’re “star-spangled.”
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EM: Your family seems to be a huge focal point in your music, how big of an influence do that have on you and your music?
TB: I think that I try to be as 100% and as genuine as possible in terms of my music and who I am as a person. That’s the reason why I chose Taylor Bennett to be my rap name, because everything that adds to my personal life will reflect who I am as an artist, I just want people to know that it’s 100%. I think that my family had a huge input on me growing up, my brother, my mom & my dad and I think in my music as well in terms of morals and the things that I stand for and speak on is a reflection of them.
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EM: I know that you love the city of Chicago and are an active member in improving the community. Do you have anything planned for this summer or the rest of the year?
TB: Yeah, we’re doing an after-Lollapalooza show on August 4th which is a big deal. It’s going to be at Reggie’s which is a place I used to run around the city for months trying to pass out flyers for. This one sold out in like 40 minutes, I posted it one time and it just sold out so I was pretty happy about that. We’re planning on doing some other big Chicago shows that are going to be coming up soon as well that’ll be bigger than the ones I’ve typically done. Then I’m also doing spot dates and all types of stuff outside of the city but besides that just working on music man. Homeless youth is always a big focus for me, we’re always trying to empower that community. We’re going to definitely try and work closer with shelters in Chicago, we just had the Homeless Youth Summit 2-3 weeks ago and we’re just going to keep trying to push for that and keep trying to push to make this city shine because it’s such a great city and I’m so happy to be from here.
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EM: You have branched off into acting a little bit within the past year in Lone Springs, will we be continuing seeing Taylor Bennett on the big screen?
TB: Yeah definitely! I always say you can’t run around on the stage for like 40 years. I would love to venture out to become an actor or venture out to doing fashion or things like that that I love. I loved acting in Broad Shoulders, I liked working in Cole’s movie (Lone Springs,) and as opportunities present themselves I want to keep doing more of that and when I feel comfortable enough to just finally do it I’ll definitely make sure to pop-up and do more acting.
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EM: You recently did a collaboration with Urban Outfitters. How did that come about?
TB: It was just a great opportunity to work with the LGBTQ community. 100% of the profits go to Glisten which is an amazing organization that helps with bullying in schools with LGBTQ kids. It was lucky to knock down two birds with one stone, because it’s good to work with Urban Outfitters, and I’m even happier that major corporations are finally taking the LGBTQ community seriously.
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EM: What is some advice that you would tell to your younger self?
TB: I would tell him to keep going. I would tell him not to focus on all the things that come along with trying to be a rapper, and trying to focus more on being a rapper that you can be. I might tell him stop smoking weed a little bit earlier than I did. I would just tell him to focus and that anything is possible because I never imagined I’d do anything or my brother would do anything like this, anything is possible.
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EM: What can our readers expect from Taylor Bennett for the rest of 2017?
TB: A lot more local work in the city. Hopefully working with Lyrical Lemonade a lot more, I’m working on an album right now, more shows, and more opportunities to be in front of my fans and greet them as a person and not just internet tracks on iTunes or SoundCloud.