Death, incarceration, and redemption the soundtrack of New York emcee Charlie Hustle’s life. Rocking stages with Wu-Tang Clan to Big Pun by the age of thirteen to securing record deals Charlie Hustle was next to blow. Just when things were about to propel, life got in the way bringing it all to a halt. Now he’s back and his focus is razor-sharp. Say hello to the nice guy, Charlie Hustle.
AllHipHop.com: Since you were younger, you’ve been performing around hip-hop greats. Do you feel like starting off so young helped you get to the situation you’re in today?
Charlie Hustle: I would say starting off younger makes me well-rounded. Being that young and involved in hip hop already it’s a good thing. When I was younger I actually had deals but I had situations that I had to deal with in my life. It put my life on hold. I grew up on a lot of different hip hop so I think I’m a lot different from other artists and I have more experience. I would say it’s a good thing.
AllHipHop.com: I know you’re from New York how do you feel like it’s affected you as an artist and as a man?
Charlie Hustle: New York influenced me a lot with rap, because I remember growing up you had to be so nice and everybody was so hard on each other. I would say it made me a really good artist. My life experiences in New York, a lot of it’s in my music. Being from New York I remember growing up like you just gotta have some crazy skills, so that also helped me to be a real good artist with a combination of everything I been through.
AllHipHop.com: Do you feel like your incarceration had any positive effects on the person you are today?
Charlie Hustle: Definitely, I got my GED in there, went to college, I learned how to deal with my aggression. I learned to deal with things in a different way. Being in that situation made me appreciate myself and life more, and think about my whole life in a positive way rather than a negative way. While I was there I was trying to figure out how to turn my life into something positive. It affected my rap skills because I was in Louisiana for 2 years, before the south was really big I was already involved in ciphers and rapping with people from the south. I knew they were really talented and I liked their music a lot. I’m pretty much influenced by all types of music. When you grow up and you find your mother dead from an OD she dies in front of you, and your grandmother a year later, you start to look at things a little different. Even though prison sucks it made me a better person. I’m here I want to make something out of myself.
AllHipHop.com: Let’s talk about your mix-tape Say Hello to the Nice Guy, who’s featured on it?
Charlie Hustle: It’s doing really good, it got me in rotation; bringing me attention and hopefully it will land me a deal soon. I have 3 features with Rick Ross, two features with French Montana. It’s spreading out all the way to NC and NY. I’m an independent artist so; Waleed Coyote hooked up with me. I got this record featuring French Montana and Rick Ross called “Ballin’” and the record is up to like 200 spins per week on its own organically.
AllHipHop.com: What’s your definition of a good artist?
Charlie Hustle: A little bit of everything. Lyrical ability, crazy flow, know how to switch it up, melodies, a lot of hooks, a combination of those three things. Energy, emotion, a lot of other rappers lack that. My style is me, it’s my life and what I been through. I’ve been through a lot of things. It depends on what kind of mood I’m in and the way I’m attacking it style. I couldn’t really compare myself to anyone. I’m in my own lane I’m not a typical rapper.
On the road to redemption Charlie Hustle faced adversity; he’s got a positive outlook on life and genuinely cares about what’s going on. Now he’s ready to reclaim his spot in the hip hop game. Check out his latest mixtape with Evil Empire on datpiff.com
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