Local listen music chronicle
Pablo Blackwell, a sophomore at Durham School of the Arts, spends his free time producing and rapping under the alias, Mr. Blackwell. Although Blackwell has only released one album, his new single, Hot Topic, shows the progress and growth he has been working for since his debut. Taking cues from versatile hip-hop artists like Tyler, the Creator or Childish Gambino, Blackwell explores different sides of a genre and mixes many styles into a single song. As he continues his journey, Blackwell took a moment to discuss his music-making, influences, and future plans with The Gallery.
Q: How did you get into making music?
Blackwell: My neighbor taught me the basics of how to produce the first summer of the pandemic and kinda just told me to keep teaching myself. So I did. At first I tried singing. After like two months of trying that I just gave up and got other people to sing or rap for me. No one could really create the sound that I was looking for so I just started rapping myself.
Q: Who are your inspirations?
Blackwell: I have so many inspirations ranging from Tyler, the Creator to Isaiah Rashad to The Neptunes all blending hip-hop and pop. Inspirations also come from everyone around me and their creative minds.
Q: What do you think is your strongest area in music making?
Blackwell: I think producing has always been the best outlet for my thoughts and I think it’ll always be. I have dozens of songs that are purely instrumental that I’m never gonna release.
Q: Which area do you hope to improve in the most?
Blackwell: I absolutely hate my voice rapping. That’s why I try to add distortion or pitch changes when I can so I don’t have to listen to myself raw. I've been working on my songwriting to get my thoughts out in a less literal way than saying “I kind of like you” or “you suck”.
Q: Do you often collaborate with others, or mostly work alone?
Blackwell: I love working with people and my friends that have different tastes because they provide totally different perspectives on music. I’ll be working on a song with a YBN Nahmir stan and someone who listens to nothing but The Clash for five hours straight in the same room. And it's great. They’ll be explaining an idea or playing along with my track and that gives me ideas and the entire time I’m just like “Yeah this is everything I love about music”.
Q: Do you have plans for a new album?
Blackwell: I’m not sure if I’ll make another album soon. Creatively Challenged was kind’ve just me dumping all of my emotions at the time into songs. All I know is that I want to make a more coherent conceptual album that makes people feel what I feel. I also want way more talented kids and their sounds from school on my next project. I still haven't found my sound yet and honestly I have no idea what my sound is.
Q: How do you plan to expand your audience and your image?
Blackwell: I hate shameless and constant promotion. Most people listen to my music through word of mouth and I’m okay with that. I don’t need to hit 50k streams on every song. I just think it's cool to have my own little corner of the world that's my space.
Q: How did you get into making music?
Blackwell: My neighbor taught me the basics of how to produce the first summer of the pandemic and kinda just told me to keep teaching myself. So I did. At first I tried singing. After like two months of trying that I just gave up and got other people to sing or rap for me. No one could really create the sound that I was looking for so I just started rapping myself.
Q: Who are your inspirations?
Blackwell: I have so many inspirations ranging from Tyler, the Creator to Isaiah Rashad to The Neptunes all blending hip-hop and pop. Inspirations also come from everyone around me and their creative minds.
Q: What do you think is your strongest area in music making?
Blackwell: I think producing has always been the best outlet for my thoughts and I think it’ll always be. I have dozens of songs that are purely instrumental that I’m never gonna release.
Q: Which area do you hope to improve in the most?
Blackwell: I absolutely hate my voice rapping. That’s why I try to add distortion or pitch changes when I can so I don’t have to listen to myself raw. I've been working on my songwriting to get my thoughts out in a less literal way than saying “I kind of like you” or “you suck”.
Q: Do you often collaborate with others, or mostly work alone?
Blackwell: I love working with people and my friends that have different tastes because they provide totally different perspectives on music. I’ll be working on a song with a YBN Nahmir stan and someone who listens to nothing but The Clash for five hours straight in the same room. And it's great. They’ll be explaining an idea or playing along with my track and that gives me ideas and the entire time I’m just like “Yeah this is everything I love about music”.
Q: Do you have plans for a new album?
Blackwell: I’m not sure if I’ll make another album soon. Creatively Challenged was kind’ve just me dumping all of my emotions at the time into songs. All I know is that I want to make a more coherent conceptual album that makes people feel what I feel. I also want way more talented kids and their sounds from school on my next project. I still haven't found my sound yet and honestly I have no idea what my sound is.
Q: How do you plan to expand your audience and your image?
Blackwell: I hate shameless and constant promotion. Most people listen to my music through word of mouth and I’m okay with that. I don’t need to hit 50k streams on every song. I just think it's cool to have my own little corner of the world that's my space.
