Published: Wednesday - May 28, 2008
Words by Ronnie Gamble
Tha Advocate (Photo: via Myspace)
Ever since Eminem burst onto the scene in 1999, record labels and A&Rs have scoured the country for that "next" white rapper. Today, white rappers are a dime a dozen, just like rappers of any color or race. Everybody's trying to make it, but how many have talent?
Let us introduce you to Tha Advocate, a white rapper hailing from New Jersey, whose unique style, vast array of skills and conviction in his voice lured us in. Now, you're reading about him.
A fan of music since his infant years, Advocate moved around the East Coast as a child before finally landing back in his birthplace of New Jersey. As a kid, in the late 90s, he and his friends freestyled for fun, and as most do, fell in the love with the artform.
"Around '98, I started freestyling with the homies for fun, but after a while, what started as a hobby turned into my life," the rapper says. "From there, it was a snowball effect... from rapping to producing, from producing to arranging, from arranging to recording, [and] now I wear many hats, and I really don't have to depend on anyone to get my music done."
It's true, what started out as a hobby turned serious, prompting the New Jersey rapper into learning everything he could about the craft. He's learned to make beats, create music from the ground up, and today, his mixtapes are like albums, boasting original production, choruses and bars. This didn't happen overnight though; it's taken years of practice. But no matter how much you practice, you're never there. He knows this and maintains a driven mentality.
"When a lot of my boys was going out or doing whatever, I stayed inside and worked on music non stop," recalls Advocate. "My work ethic is insane. Even today I'll ditch the club to write a song if I am in the zone. I'll be on the net or out and about handling biz when most cats are spending their time, spending their cash."
It's not just hard work that rappers have to worry about, it's also the progression of their craft and evolving from where you started. Advo prides himself in his uniqueness.
"I would say my style is unique, no matter if it's fast or slow I can adapt my flow," explains Advocate. "I am definitely amped and intense a lot, and I would say my style is unique overall."
As for inspiration, the rapper looks at the past and its artists as a pre-requisite for the future. In short, he's not feelin' the music of today, compared to how it was in the past. "Ten years ago, music was better. Artists were artists, not puppets," he explains. "Now the game has changed so much. To get a record deal is almost a sign that you are garbage. I want to contribute to bringing that real pain music, that super lyrical sh** back, that real hood sh**, that mood music... that Pac type sh** back to the masses."
Since going full force with music in 2005, Advo has been making progress. Last year, industry magazine Music Connection listed him at no. 5 for top demos of the year, and he has received press all across the net. His mixtape series, Mic Check, has also gained an underground following, which has continued to give the rapper hope for the future.
Tha Advocate is currently working on his debut album, titled Designed To Be Signed, which has been in the works for quite some time. Until then, though, his freestyles and original music works will be readily available via his mixtape series and online.
Scouting Report
One thing we noticed when initially checking out Tha Advocate's music is that he has a conviction in his voice, similar to that of a hungry, unsigned Eminem. While his style and content is very different from the great white phenom, he's a little more polished then Em was around the same point in his career.
Advocate is close to being a complete package. Not only can he rhyme, but he can write and structure songs, and produce and mix music. While there is still much room for improvement, he's definitely on the right path.
If he continues to development, there's no reason why he shouldn't be on the next "white" rappers to make it. However, will major labels recognize this untapped talent or is destined to remain independent and/or remain unknown?
Only time will tell, so keep an eye out.
Music
Download Flash
"What U Wanna Do" - Tha Advocate (press play to hear the track)
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