“Just be you most importantly, and never let anyone take that away,” ZACKTAYLOR said.
Meet independent, upcoming artist ZACKTAYLOR from Riverside, California — an artist with a mission to “preserve the art of hip hop.”
ZACKTAYLOR is a newcomer to the scene, but he already has a few projects under his belt and is eager to make his voice heard. With a creative lyrical flow and the ability to rap over a smooth beat, the artist has a promising future that is destined to position him as the true force that he is.
He uses his witty lyrics in every track, and truly makes the audience ponder about the meaning behind a song.
In a recent interview with Remixd Magazine, the artist discussed some of his main influences, his inspirations, and talked about his newest single titled “Bad Mamacita.” He revealed that the new song is an “ode to beautiful women,” and showcases ZACKTAYLOR’s skills as an artist.
Keep reading to learn more about ZACKTAYLOR.
What city are you based in?I was born in San Bernardino but moved around quite a lot in my childhood but have resided in Riverside county for 10 years. More specifically I stay in Mead Valley.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? I created my own music from ground up since I was 16 but but did not take it as serious as I do now until I released my BLKRNGR (name inspired by the black power ranger) mixtape in late 2017. I did my own production, engineering, marketing and performed shows at various venues. I wanted people to see true skill and talent with lyricism as well as banging beats.
Describe what it was like growing up in your town? How have your experiences shaped your sound today? I didn’t really come from a family of money, so I always had the need to hustle a little more than your average kid to get the things we needed. I was really big on making a sound that is heard in every setting as well as being suitable for the kids since they pick up things quickly. I haven’t completely let go of that sound, but some of my new work can be explicit.
For those who are not familiar with you or your sound, how would you describe it?I am an advocate on hard-hitting delivery with punchlines, word play, and actual story telling. At the same time, my sound is not corny or boring, and it contains a great deal of hard-hitting beats. So I would say that my music can be similar to that of Big Sean, Belly, and CyHi the Prynce.
Why did you choose to pursue a career in music?It may sound a little “tooting my own horn-ish,” but I believe I bring some of the best lyricism people can look for. I don’t use bland word play and nursery rhyme styles when I write. I like my listeners and fellow artists to have to think a bit. I just imagine the looks on people’s faces when they understand my lines.
What’s one reason you are passionate about music and what inspires you?I have always been on a mission of preservation when it comes to rap and hip hop. I think we have unfortunately have become heavily saturated with tunes that do not contribute to our art, nor does it compliment our style. We are not taken seriously in the world of music, and I want to get the respect our genre and culture deserves.
Who are some of your main musical influences?My main influences consist of Big Sean, CyHi, Larry June, Nipsey, and Hit-Boy
What are some of your music career goals for the future? My goals are to stay independent to further support the idea of being your own boss and owning your art. I want to flush out the harmful looks and actions in our culture and help get hip hop back to its pure state. Of course, like many, I look forward to getting a great fortune for my family and generations after me. More importantly I want to show the entire world that our genre and culture has a lot of greatness inside.
Tell us about your latest single, “Bad Mamacita.” What is it about?I just released a single called “Bad Mamacita” featuring one of my bros Wavy Carl. Its an ode to the beautiful woman you had your eye on as soon as you step on the scene. The single is for my upcoming album Rugged Bandit that will be releasing soon. The concept around the album is that a wild-western tone with a protagonist that vows to take the culture back from the poachers and give it back to our people. There is so much more to say, I even had a script for each chapter lol.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects we should be on the lookout for?I am currently working on my Rugged Bandit album and would love to get videos going for several tracks. I’ve been investing in equipment to make that happen, but we shall see. I originally wanted to drop Rugged Bandit on June 18 for Nat Love’s birthday, but honestly no exact date just yet.
What message do you hope fans ultimately take away from your music?I just want fans to see that lyricism is still very much alive and will definitely add more to your listening experience. Just be you most importantly, and never let anyone take that away.
You can follow ZACKTAYLOR on social media @__ZackTaylor, and listen to his latest song “Bad Mamacita,” below.
