Former HipHopDX Features Editor Andre Grant said in his “Defense Of The Struggle Rapper” editorial, “Out of all the things the Hip Hop web has vilified, the “struggle rapper” might be the least deserving of all that ridicule.” Before Kendrick Lamar became big enough for Barack Obama to sing his praises or Drake found himself making deals with Apple, they were artists without a significantly large fanbase attempting what seemed like the impossible. Hitting the top of the charts became a distant goal to making past one hundred streams of a song possibly made within the confines of their bedroom walls and gaining likes, re-post or anything else that would reach someone. Providing a weekly outlet for those getting their feet wet in the sometimes brutal sport of Hip Hop, allow us to give readers a look into tomorrow’s possibilities through “Up NeXt.”
27-Year-Old Hopes To Make The Next Great World Hip Hop Project
Inspiration For Career
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“My father was a political leader in Bangladesh. I grew up watching him recite speeches and moving hundreds of people. Between that and growing up in Queens listening to Nas, I got inspired to become an artist. I remember the first time I got my hands on a rap tape was DMX “It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot.” Here I am at this Bengali grocery store and within the midst of all these foreign cassettes, there’s DMX. I ended up buying it for like two dollars because the foreigners didn’t know what it was worth (sorry X) and never looked back since.”
Do you believe you have a shot at stardom?
“I don’t care about stardom. I think it’s more important for my music to touch people across the world and bridge the gap between different cultures than to be the next big rap star. I want to bring people together with my music. If that brings stardom, then cool but I’m not doing this to become a celebrity.”
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Project(s)
“I am working on a new project now that I will be putting out late summer, early fall. I have been working with producers from Benin, Australia, Portugal, Jamaica, and the Netherlands. Using the worldly influences I grew up around and creating something that’s specific to who I am.”
Twitter: @AnikKhan_
Instagram: @AnikKhan_
