Not Your Average Joe: An Interview with Ayindé

We all know at least one aspiring rapper. They’re usually trying to get you to check out their latest music, and being the good friend that you are, you check it out, bop your head for a second or two, give some criticism and keep it moving.

Now if that rapper was Ayindé, you would do more than bop your head, you'd be asking to hear more! And after sitting down with Ayindé for an interview, you'd be happy to know that you won't have to wait much longer. Here's your elleELLEeye fix on this awesome artist know as Ayindé.

elleELLEeye:How do you start your day?Ayindé: That's a wonderful question. First I hop up out the bed, turn my swag on…I usually wake up to my grandma knocking on the door so I can drive her to the bank. Then I brush my teeth, sit back in bed and watch cartoons. Then I hit up Mark & Tonye for our musical endeavors, check out music sites and blogs like elleELLEeye. Then I make beats or start writing, “I have no life.”

elleELLEeye: Besides being good at it, why do you rap?Ayindé: Because I can’t play sports. I’m too skinny for football and too lazy to run to play soccer. I don’t like arguing so I don’t want to be a lawyer and I don’t want to be a doctor because that’s too much school.

elleELLEeye: If you could compare yourself to any character - out of a book, off of a TV show, etc. - who would it be and why?Ayindé: Bugs Bunny, because he’s witty and slick. My first rap name was actually Young Bugz.

elleELLEeye: What makes Ayinde different?Ayindé: Ayindé doesn’t care. For me it's not for fame, it’s my passion, it's what I love to do. I do music for me, not to get on the radio – that’s what I’m here for. “I’m not just a rapper.” I play piano, drums and I have a leather sock line coming out…

elleELLEeye: "Bump you coochie butt haters ya’ll can do whatever. I don’t curse so sorry I couldn’t do it better." - Ayindé Why don’t you curse in your music?Ayindé: When I started in ReKon with Kemizt I lived in a household where you didn’t curse. Also, my nieces and nephews are my biggest fans. But now, it’s just because I don’t do it. I also want parents to like me. LOL "Hi Leona." ;-)

elleELEeye: As you may know, the entertainment industry can get you caught up in a number of lifestyles. In your verse on “Run This Town” you said that you would never sell soul for a fortune and that your purpose is to tell people who your God is – why is that?Ayindé: Because ni**as die – don’t put my chain in a casket. Kanye West did one song – “Jesus Walks”, but since it’s my life, I’m gonna tell you about my beliefs. People are scared to say Jesus.

elleELLEeye: Although you are an aspiring artist, you do have a nice buzz. How do you stay grounded and focused?Ayindé: I have a slew of big sisters, brothers and family that won’t mind reminding me of where I came from. And honestly I’m sick of being broke. That’s whack juice!

elleELLEeye: Who’s your favorite rapper?Ayindé: Phonté from Little Brother, Kemizt, myself, Royce 5'9 (the whole Slaughterhouse), Slum Village, Drake, J. Cole, Wiz Khalif, you can throw Blu in there...Nas, Soulja Boy Tell Em, T-Pain, Vanilla Ice...ten minutes later…

elleELLEeye: As an artist, who would you compare yourself to that’s established in the industry now?Ayindé: Unless there’s a time machine and I can go in the future and compare myself to me, there is no one. I would say that I’m a mix between Phonté, Drake, J. Cole and Lady Tiff.

elleELLEeye: What’s one thing you can’t do that you wish you could?Ayindé: See my family more, nah that’s whack…teleport!

elleELLEeye: If no form of music existed, what do you think you would be doing?Ayindé: Selling crack (LOL). Utilizing my degree in progress. But honestly I’d probably be in a gang and not on the right track.

Three things Ayindé loves:
1. Jesus
2. Food, nah that’s too cliché…music.
3. A good cartoon

Three things Ayindé lives by:
1. Put God first
2. Stay persistent
3. Know when to relax

Three things that inspire Ayindé:
1. Good instrumentation
2. Conversation
3. Looking around and looking at buildings and what’s going on around me.

elleELLEeye: How do you relax?Ayindé: I take naps, listen to music and talk to my grandma and she tells me a bunch of old stories.

elleELLEeye: If sky was the limit, what would be your dream performance?Ayindé: MSG (Madison Square Garden) – Sold out! Imma have my circle of friends there, Little Brother open, Jay-Z introduce me, I’d sing “We Are The World” with Earth, Wind & Fire and VOS (Voices of Serenity Gospel Choir)! During intermission people will be able to buy chicken.

elleELLEeye: What do you want the world to know about you?Ayindé: That I make music better than ni**as, and that I’m a Christian.

What’s next for Ayinde?Finishing my mixtape “Financial Aid”(changed to "No Slices"), trying to get a nice Internet buzz, shirts, elleELLEeye leather socks, do some shows, get feedback from fans and some money in my pocket!


Isn't he the bomb?! Even on paper you can tell that Ayindé has a great personality. Oh, and he's talented too. Check out what happened when we made a stop in the NYC Subway with Ayinde.

eyeRap: Subway Series featuring Ayindé


Keep up with Ayindé on MySpace.
and follow him on Twitter.

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