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Brooklyn based rapper Von Buckss may be a young artist, but he inflects a musical maturity on his songs.
Imposing a sandpaper tone to instrumentals, Von who shares a name with deceased Chiraq rapper King Von, is a different breed of artist – he writes, produces and raps on his own beats which gives him a lethal 360 dynamic as an artist.
His latest release “10:00” is a cupid track that will have you instantly falling in love with the multifaceted artist as he gets openly comfortable with defying the macho hip hop is known for, as he opens up to a lover treating the song like a safe space for lovers to be vulnerable about how they truly feel.
We catch up with the burgeoning New York rapper, and find out why the rapper is big dog status right now, his reverence for Tupac Shakur, his latest single and upcoming projects. Check it out below:
What city are you from/ Where are you based now?
Growing up I lived in many places such as Brooklyn, Connecticut, and North Carolina. As I got older I stayed in the Brooklyn, New York area. Currently, I am based in Albany, NY completing my Bachelor’s degree. Whenever I get any breaks I travel between Albany and Brooklyn.
What is your artist’s name? What is your real name? How did you get your artist name?
My artist name is Von Buckss and my real name is Devon Ponds. Creating my artist name I got Von from shorting my actual name Devon. All my friends call me Von so that stuck. I am all about making money and playing basketball which is where I got Bucks from. However, when I went to make my Instagram account Bucks with one ‘S’ was taken. So I decided to use two s’s, as time passed and I started doing multiple things such as producing, writing, rapping, starting my business, etc. I realized that having 2 s’s fit perfectly because it indicates more than one. I am someone who does not like to limit myself to one thing.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
My sound brings a raw old-school vibe to the hip-hop genre. I like to produce my own beats
using a variety of genres and instruments. As an aspiring hip-hop/rap artist I want to bring a
mellow sound to rap mixed with a hard authentic old-school sound as well. In writing my music I use my personal experiences to bring my emotions to life. When I am in the creative process I like to incorporate a lot of freestyle into my writing to make it 100% me.
What’s one reason you are passionate about music and what inspires you?
Music is a universal language that connects everyone. There are unlimited paths that music can go through and thousands of people can be impacted by the same song. I am passionate about music because it allows for me to connect with people all over the world, there is always something new to learn, and the possibility for creativity is limitless. My parents both inspire me when it comes to music because they are both independent, hardworking, and multi-talented individuals who have been in the music industry. Growing up my parents exposed me to the creative process. They always reminded me to remember to have fun because if I didn’t love what I was doing, it wasn’t worth doing it. My parents continue to push me and inspire me to be my best and to give my craft everything that I have every single day.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
The main musical influence that I have is Tupac. His style of music is what I base a lot of my style off and his legacy is truly inspiring. In his 25 years of life, he accomplished an abundance of things in his music career. His family as well as he stood for a much bigger message, being the son of a black panther member he incorporated his desire to bring positive change through his music. I hope to do the same in my own style as well. Another musical influence that I have is Shorty Shorty. I base ideas that I get for my musical projects on what he has done and his style and aim for others to enjoy my music the way I enjoy his. My music is inspired by different artists like Tupac and Shorty Shorty but I incorporate my own personality into it and pour mine all into my craft.
Tell us the name of the project you are currently promoting? What inspired this project?
Currently, I am promoting the release of my second single, “10:00.” This song is a slow love song with a twist. I was listening to Shorty Shorty, one of my favorite artists and I wanted to write something that was similar to what he was rapping in his songs which was an ideal girl. I started playing around with the concept of the perfect girl and slowly but surely the song came together. I wanted to create a song that was catchy but also had a vibe that everyone can connect to.
The date that this project dropped or is set to drop?
The single, “10:00” dropped October 8th, 2021.
What is this project about in your own words?
This project is about putting my music out there and showing different sides to my style. It has a different sound from my first single and I feel like people will be able to relate to the song. The song “10:00” tells the story of finding that one girl who is beautiful, and has a fun energy to her but she has to decide if she is going to stay away or be with me. “I told her to pick a side, are you gonna go or you gonna stay.”
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects we should be on the
lookout for? Include some dates if you have them.
I am planning on dropping my music video for “10:00” in January. I am working on dropping at least 2 songs that have features before dropping my EP. I plan on working on this from October – January. I am excited to be collaborating with different artists and influencers!
10. What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from this project?
I want fans to be able to add my music to their playlist and vibe to it because it has an
old-school authentic sound that allows for different types of listeners to flow with the lyrics. I
want fans to hear the beat and get excited and sing along to the words. My music is not limited to one interpretation I hope fans take away their own interpretation of this project and connect it to their own experiences.
Where can we follow you on social media? Include links
Personal IG:
Professional IG:
Business Page SOL:
