A Side B Side Podcast: Episode 024 - Drew The Recluse Interview

Today's episode of A-Side B-Side Podcast features an exclusive interview with Drew The Recluse.

shot by: @madskillzmorgan

Along with RamseySaidWHAT, they talk about his latest release, Suburbia EP and much more. Drew freestyles a gospel rendition of Jodeci, Strip club bops with character, being pro choice, the electoral college and how his take on the Asbury Music Scene draws an analogy with the Civil Rights Movement. He issues a challenge to women in the indie music scene and discusses the pushback he faces creating a platform for hip hop artists in Asbury Park while battling the diaspora of the Black Experience.

Sidebar: Beef is not supposed to be made well done. I'm just saying.

The Music in this episode is Everytime by Drew the Recluse featuring Solo Dolor.

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Album Review: Suburbia EP - @DrewTheRecluse

Drew the Recluse is a real life Swiss army knife and chameleon. He sings, he raps, he rages, and he books a lot of local shows. I often find myself asking the same question about artists who struggle identifying themselves and their sound:

I was checking out one of my favorite local R&B singers albums and they "sampled" of my favorite R&B records ever. I have one question:

Why does every R&B singer wanna rap and every rapper wanna sing?

— Jonathan C. Ramsey (@RamseySaidWHAT) August 6, 2019

The tweet was a complaint but not one about the Black Suburbia artist. We all know singers who rap and rappers who sing, but there's not many do both at the SAME clip. When you see a set from Drew you may see him sing more of his R&B, Pop or Alternative songs but I've also heard Drew bars that have made me make a stink face. Which route does Suburbia EP take? Let's get to it.

I won't be before you long as Drew has made my job easy today. Suburbia is only a ten minute listen. Four tracks and one of them is a 2.7 second intro. That introduction appeals to our senses with ambient natural sound of what I could imagine to be the cul-de-sac that is the album art. Pictures say a thousand words but the audio definite adds a thousand more. I enjoyed the mix because it crossfades into Survive so smoothly. I hate making artist comparisons but Survive sounds like a song Kid Cudi would sing if he were as good a vocalist as Drew. The feel of the music gets a little darker with the next track Everytime. After the trap 808s and hi-hats intro us in, Drew comes in with a more aggressive 16. 

"I've been accustomed to casual lust on a Sunday, I don't got time for no love."

Enter our only feature on the project, Solo Dolor. He really shines on this hook crooning to a former lover whose interests seem unrequited. This was well done. If you haven't yet you got to see this live. I was backstage jamming to this at NJ Live 3. I've been listening to the New Zealots Oath for awhile now since he gave me the early scoop. It still has that replay value after all this time.

Hip-Hop is so interesting. I wrote my senior thesis and soon to be book about its complexities using examples of how regional it is. If you listen to rap all over the country the flavor sounds different which isn't really something you can say for Rock, Country, or any other genre birthed in the United States. Drew dips and dabs in a lot of different hip-hop sounds let alone singing other genres of music. That's what makes him special. I lock in with him on the messaging and identification. Black Suburbia, that is the life for a lot of us and the goal of our parents and the generations before them. Growing up in Ocean then moving to Neptune, my experiences align with Drew's scope and appreciate hearing it in audio form from a person a little less nerdy but just as artistic as Donald Glover (although I love his full discography too).

Word from Drew is there's another EP in the works then a full length album. There was another bonus track titled Sometimes that didn't make the cut in this listen. I'm curious to see if we'll see it later on. Drew the Recluse has been working. You see why we told you to look out for him this year. Do yourself a favor: Check out Suburbia - EP on your favorite streaming platform by CLICKING HERE. I need you to feel this.

WTM's Nine Jersey Acts to watch in 2019

Nine Acts, All musicians from New Jersey that are about to blow. You need to keep up with them now. This list isn't in any specific order. It's genre bending and frankly these are the people making noise that go unnoticed. Eyes and ears open ladies and gentlemen

By way of Jackson and Freehold, Drew the Recluse is a budding name in music around the Jersey Shore. These days you'll catch him playing The Saint, House of Independents, and the Stone Pony. You can also catch him at the Asbury Park Music Foundation working with the kids. The Singer-Emcee is one of the more talented guys from around the way incorporating multiple styles of music expression from Rap to Pop and Blues to Metal. If you ever get the chance go see him, Miles Nxbxdy, and the rest of Black Suburbia live. He's a true showman and I'm not sure I know anyone who loves the culture more. He's even been booking shows for a plethora of artists around the way. Look out for his project dropping soon but listen to his single, Drive below.



Sadé Emoni is a vocal powerhouse. In 30 years I'd put her up with all the R&B divas you know and love. I'm talking Patti, Beyoncé, Aretha, and Chaka. Difference is with that powerful of a R&B voice she mixes in her own modern sound. You can tell when a vocalist grew up in church. Without ever asking I'm sure that's where it all started. She was even on American Idol Season 10. The Jersey City by way of Woodbridge songstress is next up. Doin' the Most is her latest single, I'm sure a project may be on the way shortly after.

Circle of Life LP is one of those projects I think will be timeless. Jon Crawford is such a storyteller and Circle of Life is such a story. It's going to be interesting to see what comes after the coming of age tale of college, parenthood, and family. The follow up is coming very very soon, and so is my sit down interview with the Camden emcee. Look out for that, I think it's going to be special.

I call Mista Encore one of the hardest working artists in Jersey for a reason. The Long Branch artist has been bubbling not just in the area but nationally as he's appeared on Shade 45's Sway in the Morning. Earlier this year he dropped his latest EP, The Cleanse but it's what he's been doing on a day to day that's really caught my eye, or ears for that matter. The rapper-producer has been been doing a daily beat challenge this year releasing a new beat every day of the year. That's what I call a grind and I'm not gonna hold you, the tracks are too hard. Even the one co-produced by his toddler daughter is fire. To keep up with the beat challenge, follow him on instagram here!

Here's an act new on WTM radar. This past fall I caught Quincy Mumford playing at Blackbird Presents during Asbury Underground. The lead singer of The Reason Why is an Asbury Park native and is a true representation of the word, crossover. His blend of funk, and jazz meets hip-hop and R&B. He's a multi-instrumentalist and labels D'Angelo and Al Green as his greatest influencers. We certainly can hear it in his music. Check out a single he dropped last month, Cruisin'.

It's been a bit since we've heard from Cin. The last I've written about her was her debut tape, Just Til I Make it back in 2016. She did drop a tape last summer titled 7/10. To this day I still she made the hardest Jersey anthem with Straight Outta Jersey respectively. Cin has the most upside of every artist on this list. Her island roots give her a chance to dabble in the Caribbean inspired sound that is trendy today without it sounding corny. We all know when it's natural. She has a great singing voice so she doesn't have to ask for many assists for hooks. At the same time she's a better emcee than most of the boys too. 2019 can be the year she breaks. Check out her last project, 7/10 on Apple Music.

Mike Sav at FEELS LIKE R&B (shot by David Alexander for We Are Jersey)

Above Art Studios, House of Independents (twice), The Brooklyn Bowl. Those are a few establishments that have been shut down courtesy Mike Sav and that's just 3 months into 2019. He's been working with cover band Remember Jones, Shiitbagg, and a bunch of artists in the shore but his versatility will be the reason he doesn't stay in the shore. Mike is a talented singer as well as a gritty emcee with an ear for production. He's probably the most seasoned artist who isn't afraid to change and adapt. Pay close attention, he's up to something.

Making a Man is going to need a follow up. Marcus Ariah has one of the most mobilized fan bases behind him and he's bringing heat. We've already got a new single with, Big Baaa. The Newark emcee has collaborated with Casanova, Shotgun Suge and more. He's ready and hungry. He describes himself as an artist that can reminisce a 90's flow and switch up to a modern sound. I say it all the time, Ariah is a expert songwriter. It comes easy.

Let me tell you something. If you like to see a show, OFFTOPKILLS will give you one. You're slippin' if you don't ever get the chance to catch them live. Parker Caexar, Ice Cream Eric, Gnarly Nonsense, and Matty Green make up the high energy rap group reppin' Monmouth County. Musically you can do a lot with them. Headbanging and Moshing meets boom-bap and trap. They're pretty versatile and frankly they can all spit. I've only got to catch these guys live twice and I hosted one of the shows. Seeing them from the front row and backstage has given me perspective. I think they hold their fate in their own hands. They're only one or two chess moves from doing something really special. Recently the members have all been dropping their own music but here's Lost Boys from the collective.