Westleaf Staff
What's up Leafers? Welcome to the latest edition of On the Rise where we interview upcoming hip hop talent. Today's guest is rapper, Tristen Davis. Davis is an artist with a penchant for writing infectious tunes and relatable narratives. The North Carolina MC has been on our radar for a while so we had to tap in with him! Check out the interview below.
Westleaf Staff: What's up, Tristen? Your style is dope. When did you start making music?
Tristen Davies: I started writing music when I was 10 years old in 2012. I started recording in 2018 during my sophmore year of high school.
Westleaf Staff: That's dope! What city do you represent?
Tristen Davies: I am from Raleigh North Carolina, raised partly in Monrovia, Liberia.
Westleaf Staff: Shout out to Liberia and NC! So how did you create your stage name?
Tristen Davies: My stage name is my real name, i can be no one but myself and refuse to, so Tristen Davies all the way.
Westleaf Staff: I love that. I think it's dope that you're staying true. to yourself. So how did your early life shape your interest in music?
Tristen Davies: I had a weird childhood, my mother passed when I was 2, so I was rasied with my mother's side of the family, who are from Liberia west africa. that's me, my grandmother and grandfather, 3 uncles, a cousin and a aunt living in a 3 bedroom maybe 4 house. i grew up going to Liberia every summer so I experienced life from both sides of the earth, living in a palace when I'm in Africa and food stamps in America is a pretty cool observation of life now that I reflect, I started actually listening and rapping in Africa, we used to share songs through Bluetooth and because that side of the world is in the 3rd world, my first love of music was 2000s, late 90s music such as Tupac, Eminem, Biggie, Jay Z etc. Drake and Lil Wayne were the only current artist I heard constantly over that.
Westleaf Staff: Dope. So who is your biggest Musical influence?
Tristen Davies: My biggest in rap at least has to be Dr.Dre. I've admired everything about him from his work ethic to his business deals and he really is responsible for 60 percent of our favorite artists in my opinion. My favorite rappers of all time are Tupac and Eminem.
Westleaf Staff: Dope! Dre is a legend! What's been the defining moment in your music career thus far?
Tristen Davies: Probably getting a shoutout on Twitter from Denzel Curry my first year of recording. I look forward to actually meeting the people that bump my music though, so far that's a nice one.
Westleaf Staff: So cool! Salute for getting that shoutout. So what makes you a unique artist?
Tristen Davies: I don't characterize myself as anything. I let others do that. I just appreciate my versatility and vulnerability in an age where being tough and gangster is the meaning of a man. I bump anything from John Williams to Glorilla and I go through shit all the time, that's all I can say.
Westleaf Staff: Much respect for your transparency. So what does art mean to you?
Boogie Woods: Art means everything in the world to me. It's expression of the internal. What you can't have a 40 page essay on can be told in 3 minutes on a beat and notes on your iPhone. I feel like art is the language of god, we can speak English, Spanish. and French but if you put on human nature by MJ, we all understand the feeling. but in short it's everything to me, I feel like art isn't respected enough especially in rap and peoples motives today are plainly for attention or clout. As an artist my job is to form the art, put it out and excuse myself out the room.
Westleaf Staff: That's deep! Where do you see your music career going over the next few years?
Tristen Davies: I see my fanbase growing to its full potential: tours, awards, nationally and internationally. Everything an artist wants, but my main goal is to make a classic album in hip hop where my name will live forever.
Westleaf Staff: I wish you much success! Before we go, describe music in three words.
Tristen Davies: Love, pain, and relation.
Follow Tristen Davies:
Instagram - @tristenadavies
Twitter - @tristendaviess
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@TristenDavies
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