By YRS Jerzy
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Hardcore Outlawz fans know Edidon by many names. But, the message always remains the same. Recently, Edidon released his new album, The Hope Dealer, Pt. 1, towards the end of 2015. This album comes after many high-profile Edidon appearances.
Edidon appeared on many Tupac classics, including “Tradin’ War Stories” on All Eyez On Me. Twenty years later, Edidon is in Atlanta filming Tupac’s biopic of the same name. Some feel as if this movie is a “quasi sequel” to Straight Outta Compton.
Last week, Edidon took time from filming All Eyez On Me in order to speak to Hip Hop Vibe. During the interview, he spoke on the movie and the memories of Tupac that it brought up. He also discussed his new music and what to expect from his latest album.
Read the entire interview below:
You’re currently in Atlanta filming for the Tupac bio, is this the first movie you’ve filmed? Actually, no, I’ve done a couple others that didn’t quite see the light of day.
Because of how things ended with Tupac, are you a little emotional when doing or watching certain scenes being filmed? It definitely is a bittersweet experience, to say the least.
Since you are reliving the moment, what are some of your fondest memories of the Death Row era? Man, just all the great music we were making and being in the studio around so many other talented individuals.
What is the best way to describe the relationship that you and Tupac had? I’ll do one better than that and give you one word. Brotherhood.
Can you share a word of advice or something Tupac did that has stuck with you to this day? Yep. One of the last things he told me was to get money and change the family’s lives, whatever you do, be in this game and make money.
In what ways did you benefit from knowing him that may surprise people? There’s so many different ways, I’d need to write a book to tell you about it. Actually, I am writing a book so stay on the lookout for that.
Outside of the Tupac movie, you just released your own new album, The Hope Dealer, what inspired that album title? Oh man, some of the things I was going through in my personal life. Sometimes, we all need a little hope and I decided to channel that emotion into my music for other people who need hope. Good music is always a good asset to have during trials and tribulations.
What can fans expect from this album that’s different from your other releases? Well, you definitely hear the growth from me, as an artist. This is my first solo project, so if you’ve heard me on the Tupac and Outlawz records over the years, you’ll see the growth. Also, the guests like Freddie Gibbs, Kurupt, and Gangsta Boo mix up the old and the new. The production is some of the best I’ve had since the early days and that’s a pleasant surprise for a lot of people. My selection of beats is different from what people hear right now. This is definitely something different for the fans, this is the 1990s era reborn, and it still sounds fresh.
Can you let the people know where they can purchase the album and connect with you on social media? The album is anywhere you can find music online, just search Edidon, O-4-L.com, and get a personally signed copy from me. Also, find me on Instagram and Twitter @Edidon. Like our Facebook page, Outlawz Official.
