Liotta Keeps Rap Vintage

Hip-hop is a tough genre to be accepted in. With so many rap artists doing the same thing, it's tough to do something different while getting noticed. Chicagoland rapper Liotta approaches the dilemma head on, using vinyl samples and lyricism to shape his tracks and create something a little more unique. As his own producer, he also has more control over the sound of the tracks, making Liotta stand out from the crowd.

 

But where did it all begin? Although he was writing and rapping throughout junior high and high school, it wasn't until his first mixtape with the late SoLo Tha Ghost in 2007 entitled The TrueFlows Mixtape that Liotta took the craft seriously.

Turning to rappers like AZ, Canibus, Ras Kass and others for inspiration, the rapper put in his work learning the hustle. "(I've learned) the process of writing, producing, recording, mixing and such over the years. Pressing up and handing out CDs. Going to shows and jumping into cyphers," says Liotta. "I lived in New Jersey for a year and learned a lot about performing and east coast styles."

More recently, the south suburban Chicago rapper dropped his album, Rap Music Heaven is an Emcee's Hell. "I bought a bunch of old, early 90s samplers and sequencers and did all the production with hardware and vinyl sampling to give it that vintage feel and character," explained the rapper. "(The album) is pretty much about me. Different sides to my personality. Juggling the good and the bad. The up and the down. Overall, its about upliftment."

Liotta is currently working on an album with his rap crew, Deadly Substance, a 5-piece rap collaborative out of the south suburbs. He's also working on a project with New Jersey emcee, Poe Pro, called Duality. You can catch Liotta networking with Chicagoland artists and trying to put together some projects and shows this summer.

Be sure to check out his YouTube and Soundcloud and be sure to get his album now!