By Chox-Mak
Hip-HopVibe.com Staff Writer
Suddenly, there’s been a lot of talk about the future of R&B. A little over a decade ago, Hip Hop Is Dead was the leading discussion topic. The truth of the matter is that R&B hasn’t produced a long-lasting star since the Chris Brown debut, in 2005.
Sure, some singers have come and gone, since then, but they’ve all been one hit wonders. Then, when it comes to groups, Day26 was the last one of note, and even they have a reunion tour planned. So, where does that leave the game?
Brand Nu has the answer, as he has taken in all kinds of music for inspiration. Two of his biggest influences are Robert Glasper and Tank, but he has created a sound all of his own. When he spoke to Hip-HopVibe.com, for the On The Rise segment, he spoke on his growing career.
Read the entire interview below:
Why do you feel there have been a lack of successful male R&B artists to emerge, over the past few years? I personally feel that R&B is becoming a dying genre. With Hip-Hop taking over the charts, it seems like it’s not cool to be an R&B singer anymore. If you do sing, you either have to call a rapper to get a hit song, or change your style to fit what’s trending. Changing your sound and crossing over seems to be the thing to do if you want to get a hit record now. I believe that R&B artists need a better work ethic also. Look how Cardi B and Migos consistently drop music.
They don’t give you a chance to forget about them because they stay in your face. R&B artists need to have the same drive as rappers and keep R&B music alive.
Can you tell us more about your “Smoked Me Out” single? “Smoked Me Out” was really something I did as a personal release. It’s actually an old song I played with when I was first getting into the music scene. I don’t take it that serious (lol). The message of the song is to always keep your head up and stay bossed up, no matter what someone does to you. If your heart was in the right place, you’ll always come out on top. They’ll be crawling back when they see how happy you are. Happiness and success is the best revenge.
What should people expect from you, in 2018? People should expect to see/hear a lot of amazing things from me in 2018. My single “Ooh Wee” was just the start. I’m currently working on releasing another single and video from my upcoming EP, Helluva Nite, and shortly after that I’ll be dropping my full EP. People should definitely stay tuned.
Are you confident in the “Ooh Wee” single also becoming a big hit? I am definitely confident in my single, “Ooh Wee,” becoming a big hit. In my opinion, it is a big hit. The fact that the video pulled in 15,000 views in a matter of a week and a half, and was also featured on The Source, showed me that people are feeling the song. That’s so amazing with me being an underground artist. I think “Ooh Wee” will be a big door opener for me.
Who would you cite as your biggest musical influence? To be honest, I don’t have just one musical influence. So many different artists and genres of music heavily influence me. From artists like Robert Glasper, who gives you so many different elements of Jazz, to Tank who makes great R&B music, and even gospel artists play a role in my creation of music.
You cite Tank as an influence, how do you feel about his 2017-2018 success? I think that Tank had an amazing 2017-2018. He is one of the most consistent and underrated artists in the game. From the release of his album Savage, to his incredible performance at the 2017 Soul Train Awards, he really is a pillar in the R&B genre. He keeps male R&B artistry alive and shows the world that R&B is here to stay.
Where can fans connect with you on social media? Fans can connect with me on Instagram, Twitter, and hear new music on Soundcloud @brandnu4real.
Watch “Ooh Wee” by Brand Nu below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACO9VdXUnts
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