Eclectic Hip-Hop artist P2dahi (pronounced “P to da hi”), is on a mission to bring hope and dope music to an industry overly-saturated with manufactured stars and cookie-cutter flows. No gimmicks or games whatsoever, P2 has a story to tell and the streets are not only watching but they’re listening too. Pull up a chair.
(more after the jump)
Hailing from the city of Lansing, Michigan, P2dahi is a true-to-heart independent artist to the core handling his business solo-dolo from writing, recording, and editing music to setting up his own shows and promoting projects. His grind to the top is one of effort and grace as he travels abroad all while representing his hometown and creating unity within it.
A rebel with a cause, not to mention an exclusive member of the world renowned Blat! Pack, P2 is offering good music with a message to those looking for a healthy dose of real Hip-Hop. StreetLogik is one of those seekers and we caught up with the young emcee to get a better view inside his world. Let’s go.
P2dahi: The changes from Philthy to P2dahi happened while I was in South Africa and it became an idea a little before that. I had a chance to get some licensing with a very big department store but they turned me down because my name wasn’t {Insert Department Stores name here} friendly.
But what was the deciding factor is I saw that there were a lot of Philthys in music and I didn’t want to get into trade marking troubles and things of that matter so it just made sense. P2dahi is just an abbreviation of Philthy.
P2dahi: The scene is doing okay. We’re working on getting it back to how it used to be and starting to bring more people here for shows. We just relaunched the monthly show we have here called RE:Definition so hopefully we will get more national acts and make Lansing a more frequent tour stop.
P2dahi: I mean of course me and my team the BLAT! Pack are holding it down but there’s definitely other artists who are making moves like The Specktators, The Green Skeem, Big Perm, Sincere, and our transplants from the West Coast Sareem Poems, and Othello.
P2dahi: How much time do we have? (laughs) My musical influences are Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, David Bowie, The Smiths, Led Zepplin, Tupac, Kanye West, Lauryn Hill, Lupe Fiasco, Cam’ron, Fabolous, Mos Def, One Be Lo, Buff-1, Othello, and there’s so much more but I’ll leave it at that.
P2dahi: Africa was amazing, I actually get reminded of lessons I learned there every day. It was a real eye-opening experience and an opportunity for a lot of self reflection and growth that I still need to work on now. I definitely was inspired a lot musically while I was there. I had a lot of opportunities to write so I did a whole lot of that. I think one thing I can incorporate from my trip in music is realizing the power you have with music.
On one of the days, a child in the community had passed away and instead of going to the house and just saying sorry to hear the bad news, the volunteers and the children went to the house of the mourning family and sang songs to help lift their spirits. Stuff like that reminds me of the powerful tool music really is and that we should never take this ability for granted.
P2dahi: The Blat! Pack is my musical family and the most talented individuals I have ever met. The Blat! Pack started with the homies Will Ketchum, JYoung, Nathan Cole, and I all feeling like we were always those guys at every social event that got it poppin’. JYoung eventually pointed out that we were kind of like the black Rat Pack so that’s how it all started.
Eventually, what happened is we expanded and now have people of different racial ethnic groups as well such as the homey Red Pill and The Amature. So were not just a black Rat Pack but a conglomerate that expands past that. The Blat! Pack, that’s my family, we’re just a tight knit collection of artists all working to perfect our craft and make moves out here and create the music that the world will love too.
P2dahi: My main goal with my music is to be able to provide for my family with this and just continue to create music I believe in and that people love and enjoy. I want to be able to use this power to impact as many lives as I can with the time I have.
There are no specific people really I just want to reach everyone. I want the niggas in the hood to bang my music as well as the struggling college students, the preacher’s kids, and the stripper on the way to work. I want to make music for the everyday person. I feel if you aim for one audience you will stigmatize someone and my music is very inclusive.
P2dahi: I’m actually working on a lot of stuff. I’m not sure exactly what I can talk about because here at the BLAT! Pack, we follow the 90% rule so I can just say you will be hearing a lot of new music from P2dahi in 2011.
P2dahi: Wow um…that I love talking to supporters of the music so don’t be afraid to ever holla at me online or in person no matter if it looks like I’m busy or not in the mood because I appreciate all of my supporters and I’m nothing without them.
P2dahi: Shout outs to God, my family, The BLAT! Pack, and everyone who creates or believes in dope music.
For more info on P2dahi, visit his official blog and follow him on Twitter at: @P2dahi
