About Artist
BaZ hails from the bullet riddled, crack capsules strewn streets of
Flatbush Brooklyn. As a juvenile, he ran wild in these streets and got
into trouble with several local law enforcement agencies which
eventually landed him in detention centers, group homes, Riker Island
and finally prison. Although Hip Hop had always been a part of BaZ's
life and a friend of his had often encouraged him to write ryhmes, it
wasn't until he found himself in a cell in Elmira's reception that he
wrote his first ryhme. And even then, he only did so to escape the
deafening noises coming from the cells of his fellow inmates as they
screamed, hollered and shouted to one another, which he reasoned within
himself was only their way of keeping themselves from hearing what
their minds was really trying to tell them.
When BaZ was released, he continued writing rhymes and constructing rap
songs that he would let only a few people close to him hear as he spit
over instumentals of hit songs until a very influential friend of his
heard him spit and without BaZ's knowledge subsequentlly booked him
some studio time. Armed with a three song demo BaZ went out and
performed at several clubs: The Demerara, The Flamigo and a string of
other local clubs in the West Village. As a result, a promoter Veronica
took
notice of him and started to work with him. But before anything
could really develop career wise with BaZ and Veronica. BaZ was
arrested on a gun charge and sent to prison for a year and a half.
BaZ spent most of his time on that bid writing songs and perfecting his
craft. His musical influences were Rakim, Nas, Biggie Smalls and Tupac.
When He got out of prison from that bid, he continued to pursue his
musical career, recording songs and performing at several venues until
his little brother was murdered. Then he lost focused and got caught up
in the vices of the streets again til he was arrested. He spent 7 years
in state prisons and was released in 2007, and in 2008 through a mutual
friend BaZ was introduce to RDB Productions where he is currently
recording various songs in an effort to get his career off the ground
and to secure a record deal with Orpheus Music Group.
BaZ was asked once, "what, if anything, did he learn from his
experiences with the street life and from the time he's done in the
penal system?" He answered, " I learned that sometimes you have to go
through hell in order to come out right and that it takes a hard
message to get through a hard head." Because of what BaZ has been
through in his own life, he believes that his music is highly relevant
to the youth today, for he can personally identify with most of the
perils that confront the youth (especially y
oung black males) on a
daily basis in the hood as well as with the hard choices they have to
make in order to navigate those harsh realities and survive. He knows
that the youth can only hear you when you speak to them in a language
they understand and he possesses the skills to do so in an entertaining
way.
