Sam Stan
Sam Stan is yet another member of the Freshman 15 who calls Florida home.
The hip-hop artist came out of nowhere last month to drop his debut project Happy Camper
Rapzilla: When did you decide that you wanted to pursue music?
Sam Stan: I decided to pursue music the summer going into my sophomore year of high school. Around that time, I was studying and honing my craft. And I released my first song during my senior year.
RZ: What has been the most memorable moment of your career thus far?
SS: So far, I cannot narrow down one particular moment of my career. However, the times I spent building with Social Club and working with Marty can be easily placed on the top of my list.
RZ: What should fans be on the lookout for musically from you in 2015?
SS: I’m really excited about this year. Fans should be on lookout for my debut LP.
Tony Ri’chard
Tony Ri’chard, a hip-hop artist from Houston, is another name who came out of nowhere to release a project this past year.
In October, he released his debut album Dead oto Society, which also featured John Givez.
Rapzilla: When did you decide that you wanted to pursue music?
Tony Ri’chard: To tell the truth, I never wanted to rap because I understood the possible weight that came with it and the accountability that came with it. However, I realized this was a part of my purpose right before I decided to move back to Houston in December of 2013.
RZ: What has been the most memorable moment of your career thus far?
TR: I really have two. The day my album was finished and we gathered money from nowhere to finish it was also the day I lost my job. Secondly, the first time I performed “Thorn in My Flesh,” the entire sum of the people just began to walk up to the stage. It was then I knew for sure I had to continue rapping.
RZ: What should fans be on the lookout for musically from you in 2015?
TR: I can’t see what God has planned, but we have already began working on the next album, a few features here and there and a mini documentary.
Tres Carter
Tres Carter, a hip-hop artist from Columbus, Ohio, built anticipation for his December release Tres Will Survive with his single “Dance Like Carlton.”
The new name has already collaborated with Collision Records’ Christon Gray and Wit.
Rapzilla: When did you decide that you wanted to pursue music?
Tres Carter: I’ve been writing poetry and telling stories since about six years old. It wasn’t until I was about 12 or 13 when I heard Jay-Z’s “Stop” on the Blueprint 2.1 produced by Swizz Beats that I was like, “Man, my stories need to go over dope beats like this one!” I didn’t have any recording equipment, so I would dial my house number on speaker and let it go to voicemail. Then I’d play a beat from my computer and deliver my “messages” over beats. Later I would call the house number again, check the voice messages and listen to myself spittin’. It was in those moments that I knew music was what I wanted to pursue.
RZ: What has been the most memorable moment of your career thus far?
TC: That’s tough. A lot of firsts have been happening so everything is special and memorable. I would have to say what tops them all is when I released my first solo mixtape Rap Will Survive three years ago. A female friend of mine gave it to her co-worker “Jane,” and Jane played it for her son who was around my age. As the story has been told to me, they were in a car and, by the end of track No. 2, Jane’s son was looking out the window because he didn’t want his mom to see him crying. He reached out to me on social media, and I invited him to my church where he surrendered his life to God and is still serving God to this day. Since then he’s become a good friend of mine.
RZ: What should fans be on the lookout for musically from you in 2015?
TC: I started out 2015 paying homage to my city with a joint called “OH-” featuring Christon Gray and produced by Wit. We’ll be dropping a music video for that record. I also released my Tres Will Survive EP at the end of 2014, so I’m looking to get out on the road and perform those records, continue to build relationships with producers and artists and, out of those relationships, release a lot of good music for the people.
