Following on from the release of his highly-praised LP 'moonleaves' earlier this year, Virginia-based rapper Austin Fox 狐 is back at it once again as he drops his latest studio album 'Genkurō 源九郎'.
Bringing back more of that smooth and passionate hip-hop aesthetic he has been cultivating these last few years, this new nine-track collection makes for a brilliantly broad and diverse listen. With his smooth and driven flow riding across an eclectic and adventurous production from start to finish, he continues to cement himself as one of the more exciting names on the rise today.
So with the new record available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his background and influences over the years.
-
What was the first band or artist you fell in love with?
I really grew up on Kanye West’s College Dropout era; his first three albums were really groundbreaking for me. I was 10-13 years old and remember my English teacher talking about Gold Digger in class. Listened to a lot of Tupac growing up as well.
Did you ever form a band when you were younger and if so, what did they sound like?
Me and my boy Terrence (Caboose Winston) were a rap duo known as “SayTmanChance” ! Our other homie Sa’Von was in the group but didn’t rap back then. This was back in 2008 around freshman year of high school. We did traditional rap and remixed a lot of old Lil Wayne songs.
What has been your primary inspiration in writing music?
I just love writing. I was exposed to poetry at an early age in my after school program in elementary school. I also studied 6 years of Latin in high school and the last 3 years we studied Roman poets. Latin has elements in its grammar that don’t translate into English and introduced me to how language and the literal text can paint a picture. There is also this desire to establish an undeniable respect amongst the music world that hip hop in its core is poetry over instrumentation. That those at the highest level have an esteem with the pen that displays exquisite skill and value.
What is a song you wish you had written yourself?
This is a tough one, I will say that the Ignorant Shit remix with Drake and Lil Wayne I have memorized bar for bar.
If there was any moment in your career you could relive, what would it be?
When me and Caboose performed our first duo set with our collab EP One Time back in 2016 at a local bar and we spazzed. The crowd went berserk and the general atmosphere was great at an early stage of our career.
Which artist would you most love to share a stage with?
Kanye West would be fire, man is an artist / performer
And is there an artist you would love to collaborate with as well?
Modern day I would say Pusha T but all time I would say Tupac Shakur.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Another step closer to my refinement as a human but specific to music I see myself producing for myself and others.
-
Austin Fox 狐's new album 'Genkurō 源九郎' is available to stream now. Check it out below.
Comments