“I’ve always dabbled with music,” said Shid Latta (pronounced Sheed), 29 year old Baltimore-based rapper. “It was definitely always a hobby, but now I see the potential in it as actually becoming a career.” In the past few years, he’s created 3 separate projects to represent his life through art and launched a unique clothing line.
Shid established his creativity at a young age. He explained his first time recording as a child:
“Snoop Dogg got a song at the end of his Doggy Style CD called ‘Pump Pump’ or something like that. I had a tape single of The Brat ‘Funktified.’ I think the B-side was the instrumental. I literally took the snoop song [and] learned the words to it [then] reworded it to my own sayings and recorded it to The Brat beat.”
From there he continued to listen and practice. “I used to be around a lot of rappers. It’s been times I’ve rapped for 2 or 3 hours straight just cuz my homie was just like ‘make a song for us right quick.’” His music is aggressive and hard hitting. It pulls from various genres to produce a unique mixture of style. “I try to listen to different types of music to put me in a different mindset…I love Rock music and Heavy Metal and things like that. I almost try to come with a type of Heavy Metal kind of delivery. It’s just getting to the point and getting the point across.” Shid added, “I use certain colorful language to put all that together [because] the music should paint a portrait for someone who’s never met me.”
Legendary Hip-Hop artists such as Biggie Smalls, Tupac, and Kool G Rap inspired Shid to develop his skill; though, he insisted that some of today’s artists motivate him. “I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Starlito. He’s an independent artist. Not only does he make good music. He has a strong business ethic behind it.” Through today’s artists Shid learned that artists can have a distinct brand without topping the billboards. “If you just work and be dedicated to your craft and you’re true to your self and the people around you, it’ll pay off.”
His clothing line IV.II.0, pronounced “Eye-Vee-O started in May of 2014 and has grown since. “I wanted to create a brand for independent thinkers. When you see somebody with one of my shirts on you know they’re an individual. They have the mindset and sense of self to know what they like and get what they like.” According to Shid there is a lack of brands that stand for something. “There’s a lot of hype brands.” That motivated him to create IV.II.0. His brand’s motto is “Lifted, Gifted, Better.” It is for individuals with an enlightened sense of self, who realize they have something unique to offer society beyond the norm.
Shid is currently in the process of creating new websites for his clothing line and himself, which will be found at IVIIOCC.COM and SHIDLATTA.NET.
Shid wanted to close the interview with the following:
“If you aren’t living your life for you and the people around you. You aren’t fully living, you’re just maintaining and surviving. Everybody has something special within them. Life is about being the best you for you and the people around you.”
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Original article appeared at Dreamer Loop. Reprinted with permission.
Photo credit: Dreamer Loop