PHOTOS BY: SHAHANAH SHIVJI
Dimemond Mentality would like to formally introduce you to RawJ.
Wait, who's RawJ though?
RawJ, a 22 year old Vancity based urban artist, is an individual Dimemond Mentality has most recently become more acquainted with. Everything we have come to learn more and more about RawJ, has always been authentic, honest, and most of all a raw impression!
When first hearing RawJ's name and sound, it came from the collaborative track off of Dimemond's Very Own and 2506 affiliate, Swisslizz's project earlier in the year, Tales From 25, where RawJ was featured with Swiss on "No Hands".
If you read our sit down exclusive with Swiss about this particular track, it's a track where it catches the listener right from the first second. What was more catchy, was the featured artists' verse. Swiss managed to produce a 'bay like' sound, meant for the ATL strip clubs, assisted with RawJ's South Central LA flow characteristic and sound; it's an anthem no questions asked.
Since then, the 2506 Sound affiliate and supporter has always caught DM's attention whether it was a track, a social media post or a project.
KUSH GOD
Kush God cover
Kush God is the most recent and newest drop from Mr. RawJers aka RawJ. It's a 17 track compilation of tracks he's had in the vault, and decided to drop because it needs to be heard and shared and frankly from the Dimemond point of view, it is a top notch introduction to who RawJ is for new listeners, as well for fellow Vancouver residers. RawJ encompasses a new unique sound, twisted lyrics and as well as a very honest personality. He has managed to open Dimemond to some new sound art, and really setting his own bar and scale in his OWN lane.
“i don’t classify myself, i don’t have a sound yet.”
Considering this project does include 17 tracks, which is nothing for RawJ. Mostly to all his projects average about 16 tracks! We really wanted to give a quality introduction for RawJ to our readers. We got RawJ to choose his top 6 tracks from the Kush God project, to further discuss the stories behind each track, as well as the processes, and why they are HIS tracks.
SAV SHIT. (produced by RawJ)
Sav Shit is one of RawJ's most recently produced tracks he's created.
He's described this particular track to be on a soulful tip, as the track has a foundation of a Kanye West sample and then reversed and reworked by RawJ himself.
It encompasses an emotional journey, where RawJ introduces more real life facts about himself as an individual, and as a starving artist within Vancouver.
“this beat was made for storytelling.”
ADDICTED. (produced by RawJ)
Addicted is a Bay Area meets an LA West coast beat for a Vancity summer season.
“The flow is amazing. It’s a fun track.”
As Swisslizz referred to his "No Hands" track in our sit down, as 'function music', RawJ draws inspiration from his co-2506er about Addicted, being very much a function music based track as well. By definition from 2506 Sound, function music is music or a sound with the pure purpose to be played at a positive function or environment; motivating the people in the space to turn up and enjoy themselves.
BEEN WAVEY. FEAT SWISSLIZZ, MONEEY, SPACEH (prod by Shah)
Been Wavey caught Dimemond's attention first off this project particularly because it's a close to perfect introduction to the 2506 Sound movement; as a collective community and group of individuals creating a certain wave of sound in Vancouver.
It's clearly demonstrated within the track that 2506 is a solidified and committed movement when a team comes into a studio, and puts in work, and fulfills their roles and parts with their voices, to unify into one, quality productive sound. It's a true collaboration with no egos, no hierarchy, just some artists wanting to do what they have passion for.
“it was a rare time to have the core 2506 artists in the same space. it was a rainy afternoon and it just happened! Shah is versatile with his beats. It’s Trap, turnt and grimey”
RawJ described the process of creating this track to be a very enjoyable experience, as he was able to be in the same room of their studio, at the same time, and throw down in one day.
WISHING WELL. FEAT GENRE (produced by RawJ)
The production on this particular track on the Kush God project withholds a really interesting story. RawJ whose younger brother, IQ Beats, needed a bit of motivation one day, RawJ decided to have a mini family creative competition. He simply said 'let's each make a beat in 15 minutes and see who does a better job'.
He successfully motivated his brother with the quick competition, and fortunately came out with a great produced sound. Low and behold the sound behind Wishing Well, is the winning creation behind his motivational and spontaneous big brother duties!
“it’s a very wet track; it’s splashy”
RawJ recruited Genre for this track, as he has always been a fan of his passionate work ethic in anything creative he does.
RawJ describes the track to be a very a fun track, as it plays on the idea of word play, and surrounding the idea of 'wetness' and 'fluidity'.
KKK. (produced by IQ Beats)
KKK can be categorized under a Turnt and/or Trap sound and vibe derived from Southern Trap you would mostly hear come from the Southern area of the States. Very similar to "Wishing Well", being a track that is motivated by word play, KKK is very similar in its formulation on the Kush God project.
The sound is inspired by the North Carolina sound tip, as RawJ has some personal experience(s) and journey he had as he ventured out to that area of the States in the last couple of years. His friends and family he was fortunate enough to visit and spend time with, served as the main inspiration for this track.
“i think a lot of people would be attracted to this track because it relates to the issues happening in current news. it’s about the respect of everyones opinion.”
PEEPHOLES. FEAT PRESSA (produced by IQ Beats)
PeepHoles is a particular track that RawJ remembers very well in detail, creating and recording. It was a monumental moment for him to link with fellow Canadian come up artist, Pressa, an urban artist coming out of Toronto. Pressa went through some major growth ranging from shooting some of his music videos right here in Vancouver with Genre Shoots, as well as having one of his biggest tracks thus far, "TBH" being played on the new OVO Sound Radio set on Beats1.
This particular collaboration was very unplanned but a very needed one, as RawJ always makes sure to stick to his mantra about being RAW in all in creative process when it comes to him being an artist within music.
He appreciates Pressa as a fellow artist, as he is just as raw and honest, as RawJ does remember just feeling Pressa's energy through his story telling, particularly about where he comes from in Toronto, Driftwood, and the experiences he has gone through his life so early in on.
“this song is relatable to the streets and reckless young hood rats, like the ones i witnessed growing up”
What's next for RawJ?
Coincidently, RawJ has just produced a new visual, for an absolutely new track, alongside this collaboration and feature on Dimemond Mentality for Kush God.
If you want to know what's next for the Kush God, check out his new quality visuals below for his track, "Distracted".
RawJ is making moves not only progressing in his writing, producing, and collaborating with more hyphy artists, but he is also taking his visuals for his tracks to another level as well!
Be on the lookout, for another feature and story with Dimemond and Mr. RawJers! Welcome to the Dimemond Roster RawJ!