Battle Tested: Exclusive V2 Interview with PYU

From Major tours with known artist, to behind the glass of the vocal booth. Pyu gives his life to good music. His hardships formed his hustle and left a boy to grow into a man in the most unforgiving business. Welcome to the exclusive interview only at V2

#1 -Tell us who is Pyu and what does that name mean?

I was born and raised in Memphis, TN. Music was a part of my life as a young child, from singing in church, to listening to my father’s record collection. I was introduced to Hip-Hop when my mom bought me & my brother “8^th Wonder” by Sugar Hill Gang when I was like 3 or 4. My name comes from the musical term più which means “to add more” or “plus”. Because of my abilities in different areas of music, I felt that it defined who I am artistically.

#2 -So you started off in a R&B group?

Yes. A friend of mine, Jerroll “J Chris” Christopher came to me with the idea of starting a group. The group was called Adagio. We did radio drops for WHRK K-97, performed in a regional ad campaign for McDonald’s, and got a chance to travel and open up for plenty of well known artists.

#3- If the Pyu now could give the 17year old Pyu on the road touring some advice what would it be?

Ask for the money up front, lol. Seriously, I would say to him to stay focused and know the business for yourself.

#4- You dealt with your parents divorcing around that time, how did that shape your music and relationships?

A home where parents are not getting along isn’t all that uncommon. But when I didn’t know why my parents weren’t getting along, and I’m 16, I felt abandoned. Music filled that void for me. I could go to school and skip every class, except Music class. Once they were divorced, I no longer wanted to be home. I planned to travel, and music was gonna take me where I wanted to go.

#5-Do you blame your father for the divorce of your parents, how is your relationship with him now?

I did blame him and my mother for awhile. But I realized that God doesn’t make mistakes, and that was something that had to happen for me to become who I am. But we get along great now, no resentment.

#6- So when was the intial switch from R&B to MC?

After the group split in the early 2000s, I decided to explore Hip-Hop more, but mainly as a producer. I never wanted to be a solo artist. I did a demo record with a friend from high school, Damon Hampton, which our friends felt we would sound great together as a group. So we started B.U.R.N. Unit, and signed with Longboy Entertainment in 2002. We recorded an album, but due to circumstances beyond our control, never saw light of day.

#7- So tell us about your music, style and what you plan to bring to the game?

I’m a no frills artist, meaning I don’t have a particular style. I love to be versatile and try different things. I don’t believe in being boxed into one thing musically. I’ve always admired Stevie Wonder for his versatility and substance, and in Hip-Hop that’s what I want to represent.

#8- How do you feel about the divide in the Memphis Music scene?

I think we have to learn to respect the divide. When Hip-Hop started in New York, you had artists who made fun music, you had artists that made conscience music, and artists that made street music. When it got to the West Coast, you had the same thing. But the difference is in other cities, the artists, no matter what style of the art they do, have a great deal of respect for each other. However in Memphis, it’s a totally different ball game. Some of the die-hard, grassroots Hip-Hop artists consider the club, trap, and hood artist wack for their lack of lyricism and desire to be commercial. And some of the artist from the hood, trap, and club side consider the pure Hip-Hop artists wack for being too lyrical, and fake for trying to sound like they’re from somewhere they’re not. But at the end of the day, we all have a common goal to showcase great music out of the Memphis. By respecting the divide, we will see more artists from different sides of the spectrum working together more.

#9- So you are starting up a label with Co-Ceo J CHRIS?

Me and J-Chris started SPEAK-rRr-FREAK, Ent in 2008 on the grounds of our experience and our friendship which goes back to our high school days. I began working on a solo project around this time and he was making a transition from recording R&B to Rock music. He felt confident in my music and artistry; I felt the same about what he was doing. He presented the name he had in mind, and it just felt right. So we stocked our label up with 4 artists; myself, R&B artist EvaClear, the rock band Harvest Mill, and Hip-Hop artist J. Omega.

#10- Wait a minute you have signed a rock group to an urban label?

That’s the thing. We’re not an “Urban” label. Speak-rRr-Freak is a record label that just so happens to produce urban artists, as well as, Rock, R&B, Gospel and Dance artists. Guys like Parker Strafer, Ghostchild, and EvaClear have played a tremendous part in making that happen for us as well.

#11- Do you believe the 5 Elements of Hiphop are the same as they once was?

1. Bboying
2. MCing
3. Graffiti
4. DJing
5. Knowledge, Culture and Overstanding

All the elements of Hip-Hop have seemed to evolve in a great direction over the years except for the Knowledge. I believe that the industry is mostly the blame for the lack of knowledge in today’s Hip-Hop society. The flow of information is controlled by Corporate America, which means, they set the trends that our society (mainly our youth) follow. When the corporate world got in tune with Hip-Hop, the Knowledge piece began fizzle out. The artists in the industry who could represent it properly, were being made irrelevant before the jewels of wisdom could be passed down. Today’s society only get’s a piece of that history thru some tribute on an award show. I don’t know if it can be restored into the minds of the masses but all we can do is try.

#12- Which side do you prefer more behind the curtains or behind of the Mic?

At this point, I get a rush from both. I love performing and I also love the business, for what it worth.

#13- For acts that are trying to get signed what are you looking for?

I personally like to be wowed from the first few bars of vocals. No matter if they are singing or rapping, some artists have a natural command in their voice that draws people in to listen. That’s where the true gift lies. I want you keep my attention and make feel like if I walk away, I might miss something good. That’s the kind of artist I look for.