Music Review: @Translee – Culture Junky + Exclusive Interview

For better or worse, Translee is an emcee’s emcee. Planting himself firmly in the southern region of the U.S., he is creating a buzz from his wordplay. Yet, the Huntsville, AL representative hasn’t received is proper shine. Still, he toils on to make meaningful music with the use of well thought out raps and concepts. Culture Junky is a culmination of everything, good or bad, that Translee values in written form.

What is interesting, and impressive, about Culture Junky is Translee’s approach to making sense of the world through his own eyes. On “Somebody’s Girl (Take It Off)”, he references the background of strippers while he entices them to “take it off” for whatever cash he may/may not possess. The Marian Mereba featured “3H” mentions the three vices that keep him level (hookahs, hoes, and Hennessey). And the ever infectious “Cold” lets him and Sy Ari Da Kid get loose over SBR’s cosmic rider music. Thus, Translee keeps it honest through showing his darker habits and situations.

Yet, when he decides to shine light and illuminate minds, Translee becomes even more inspiring. “COTN”, a song that should be an anthem for any Black person, reminds many that “just because you the color of the night/it don’t mean you ain’t bright”. “Everything Ain’t The Same” allows him to explain that he doesn’t pose while smoking because he’s not “trying to pave the road/for drug abusing eight year olds”. By the time the album ends with “The Return”, we can see that Translee easily navigates through positive themes with both dynamic lyrics and authentic themes. In short, Translee feels right at home when he talks about “something that means something”.

Translee has made an album (albeit free) that actually shows a lot of vibrant words and evocative subjects. He spends a lot of time observing his own existence and the presence of society as a whole. What is more refreshing is his conscious take on his own sins and darker habits. Regardless, he takes the time to see the bigger picture. The bigger picture for Translee is that, beyond anything, making the most of a cultural situation will never relegate one to the status of anybody’s junky.

During a recent visit to Atlanta’s Battleground Mondays indie artist showcase, STACKS Magazine caught up with Translee to get his thoughts on Alabama hip-hop, Doe B, and more. Check out our exclusive interview below:

On the state of Alabama hip-hop and its change since the 1990’s…

I think it’s change. But, I don’t think it’s changed a lot simply because it hasn’t been an influx of artists that has gotten that far. [referring to groups like Dirty, Deuce Comrades, etc]

 

You can definitely say Rich Boy changed the game. But, Rich Boy was in an era kinda all by himself when he was popping. Then after that, it was Doe B. I think Doe B was definitely a street artist, but he represented something new and fresh that had never been seen before by Alabama. I definitely respect Doe B style. I think my style of music…I think this is the first time Alabama has seen anything like it since the Commodores. So, I feel like it’s transitioning with me. But, it’s not really too much to say because there hasn’t been many Alabama artists that’s emerged like that.

 

It’s a very short conversation whenever you are talking about Alabama artists. I think we will have to see what happens in the future. And shout out Doe B. We were all behind Doe B. R.I.P. Doe B. He was changing the perception of Alabama artist big time. But, I don’t think it’s transitioned yet because nobody has taken it to that level.

 

On if there’s a curse on Alabama music/artists…

I think a lot of times we do it to ourselves. It’s a lot of haters in Alabama that don’t like to see you succeed. Just because they been doing it for so long. It’s a lot of artists in Alabama that’s been rapping for 15, 20 years. And it’s almost like they get angry when someone new is coming out. I think that’s digressive in some ways. It’s a lot of old blood that circulate in Alabama that I think it needs to get flushed out so that we can get some new fresh things going on.

 

I’m analyzing what I’m saying. I feel like I’m bad mouthing Alabama. I don’t want to make it seem like that. I love my state, but it’s a lot of things I want to see changed so that we can get to that level. So we can make Alabama that destination where people want to come there. It’s known now for just people getting shot in clubs and dirt roads. When we go to the clubs in Alabama, we be having to go deep because we don’t know what’s going on in our hometown. So, it’s not really a curse but I think we do it to ourselves a whole lot of times. But, I’m definitely trying to change that perception.

On how he’s been able to transition his music out of Alabama…

Well, whenever I moved from Alabama to Atlanta, me and my manager [Chris Hunter] we actually met Mr. Collipark. He let us come and intern with him. So, we were able to come down here [Atlanta] on a whole other plane as far as being able to network and meet people. People met us in a different light because we were with Mr. Collipark. This was at the time when there was Soulja Boy and everybody was blazing. He was like “Jay-Z” around here. So, we got to come in on a different plane and meet people on a different level. We learned a lot from him. When we got here and we interned, it was like these guys were millionaires and was up at 8 o’clock in the morning like “Yo, what we doing? We working.” So, that taught us how to get out here and work. That’s why we’ve been kind of busting our a** ever since then, just trying to get it [the music] out here.

 

I think you don’t get to that point until you see somebody else doing it.  I think a lot of people stay in Alabama and never branch out and see the world and see how other people operate. People that be really doing it, how they operate. And they never kind of get that mindset. You know, I’m a firm believer in leaving the state. Going and taking the state and taking the movement to another area and letting it trickle back down into the state. People like to stay in there. And you’re around the same people, around the same vibes, the same energy and it’s not good for you. In Alabama, it isn’t really much to do there. But, I love my state. [laughs]

 

On his Culture Junky movement…

Culture Junky is actually the name of the project. But, it is also the movement. It’s all about being yourself no matter what in any culture you are around. You can indulge in it and still be yourself. That’s what I want people to do. If you listen to the project you’ll kind of get that from me. I’m kind of the guy that…I smoke weed but I also get up and go to church. I indulge in a whole lot of things. And I think that’s a big group of people that aren’t just one type of person. So, I want to represent that type of person. That’s Culture Junky. That’s the movement.

 

You can check out Translee’s music projects and more on www.KnowTranslee.com.