If you know anything about Lyrical Lemonade, then you surely know that $ike The Drug has been featured on our pages for years now, so I made it a point to make sure he was the latest guest featured in our Q&A segment. $ike is one of the most talented and underrated artist from Chicago in my opinion, he creates some of the most ear pleasing music that I have ever heard, in large part thanks to his ability to create attention grabbing melodies at an alarming rate. I first met $ike about three years ago, and his growth as an artist since that point has been inspiring to say the least, I’m very excited to see where he takes it from here. Take a few minutes of your time to learn a thing or two about him below, and be sure to keep up with his movement by giving him a follow here!
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EM: Before we dive into the questions, give our readers that may not be familiar with you a brief introduction of yourself
$ike: I’m $ike and I just turned 19 a few days ago I’m from the westside of Chicago but I be all around the city I went to grade school up north and high school out south
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EM: When did you first start creating music?
$ike: I first started getting into rap music specifically when I got into highschool not a lot of people know but I played violin from 4 years old to freshman year
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EM: On a scale from 1-10, how raw were you at playing violin?
$ike: Probably a 5 or 6 lmao average at best main reason I don’t don’t play anymore
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EM: How much would someone have to pay you to do a 15 minute violon set at a show?
$ike: Lol that might be a grip
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EM: How would you describe your music to someone who has never listened before?
$ike: It’s like a trip I want people to really feel my music I want to tap into the same feelings I get when I first hear the beat that’s usually how I dicide the direction I want to take a track
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EM: Who are your top five biggest influences musically?
$ike: Chance the rapper right off bat there would be no $ike without chance, from the open Mics to having 7
Grammy nominations he has consistently set the standard for artist throughout the city. my homie satchel stokes was also a big factor as to why I started making music other artist like Travis scott A$ap Rocky Kanye of course all have influenced me in different ways
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EM: What are your top 5 favorite albums of all time?
$ike: This is a very hard question to answer but in no order
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EM: Top five favorite mixtapes of all time?
$ike: Acid rap and ten day I listened to both faithfully days before the rodeo alter ego by Andre 3000
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EM: What was the first album you ever purchased?
$ike:To keep it a hundred with you none lol I was born in the age of the Internet
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EM: Thats real, so who are some of the local Chicago rappers you have been rocking with?
$ike: been rocking with people like saba, lucki, supa bigbodyfifji, but whole gang all around me has been going crazy in their own way Warhol.ss had a huge year lnothing but support for bro. brentrambo and uglyfriend my brothers not exactly “rappers” but still going crazy on the production side femdot is super cold with it too its also people like sammy L’s and komla that are instantly going to go up this year you heard it from me first.
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EM: If you could collab with one person dead or alive who would it be?
$ike: If I could work with anyone dead or alive it would probably be Pharrell whole time
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EM: Who are some Chicago artists that you’ve been listening to?
$ike: LUCKI, warhol , adot & freako going crazy roo$ki too
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EM: Who are some bigger name Chicago artists that you want to work with in the future?
$ike: Definitely gonna work with my brother warhol more in the future I’m honestly down to work with anyone when it’s good music being made
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EM: The National Anthem or The International Players Anthem?
$ike: ugk and outkast were definitely on to something with that one but I’m picking damn near anything over the national anthem
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EM: What’s your favorite music video ever?
$ike: A director I’ve been fucking with heavy lastly brthr. It’s these two dudes from Brooklyn they shot the goosebumps & butterfly effect video for Travis and the in the night & party monster for The Weeknd
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EM: What is your favorite song that you have created so far?
$ike: New to me or all day
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EM: What can our readers expect from you for the rest of 2017?
$ike: Just gonna keep Applying pressure maybe a ep. More videos shows and music forsure
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EM: Last question, where do you see yourself in five years?
$ike: I see myself creating idk wherever god takes me i jus to I will be putting. Y all I. Whatever I’m doing
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