2019 Gumbo final - Book - Page 13
Changing the Flow
Local Artist breaks the norm of
the rap world
endric Luhmont, more commonly known as “The
LuhMont” or just “LuhMont,” is breaking the stigma
behind young, modern rappers by staying focused,
keeping away from drugs and challenging himself to
test other genres.
He wrote the majority of his latest album “Still on Fire” in just one
day. “Still on Fire” is made of 10 songs that shouldn’t flow, but
manage to mesh together well. LuhMont spent hours crafting the
lyrics for seven of the album’s songs that day.
“The lyrics all have meaning to me. There isn’t a song that I’ve put
out that isn’t a part of me,” LuhMont said.
The first song, “Meditate,” kicks the album off on a mellow beat
with surprisingly intense lyrics: “Will I fail or prevail, will I end up
dead or in jail?”
LuhMont said he is inspired by Nas and Tupac, who are both
known for songs that speak on real world topics like violence and
white privilege. LuhMont said he wants to bring emotion back into
the rap world instead of just talking about drugs and guns.
LuhMont is trying to break the stereotype that rappers need to be
associated with gangs, drugs and other criminal activity, but that
isn’t to say he’ll never rap about it. He has personal experience
with the violence that can come from guns. He has seen friends
shot and has consequences, which makes his raps even more
personal.
“Guns can look cool, but I don’t want young kids who listen to my
music to think that I just hang around with guns all day. That isn’t
me,” LuhMont said.
His most recent music video for his single “Rollin’” features several
guns, so LuhMont is considering taking it down.
“It’s a good video, but it’s just not what I envisioned for the song,”
LuhMont said. “The more I watch it the more I realize that it isn’t
me.”
“The idea came to me in my sleep in the middle of the night,”
LuhMont said.
He woke all of his friends up and made the video in one night. The
video is completely different from “Rollin.’” It is more of LuhMont’s
true style, which is slow yet meaningful and simple. He doesn’t
need guns or cash to make his videos flow with his music and
lyrics, which he writes completely by himself.
“I started writing when I was in middle school,” LuhMont said. “I
liked to write poems and that slowly turned into me writing raps.”
His poetry and writing helped him transition into his rapping career,
and he first recorded himself rapping when he was 17. He prefers
recording himself with his own equipment rather than in a studio
so he can have more control of his style.
LuhMont’s said his favorite tape is “XTape,” which he made in
honor of his ex-girlfriend. It is titled “XTape” because it is about the
unknown. He uses effects like a gun shooting at the end of one of
his tracks to make the listeners experience more than just a song.
He makes his songs with his own equipment, but the results are
professional-grade. He wants his music to be completely his, which
is why he isn’t rushing to sign to any labels. He makes his own art,
write his own lyrics and is interested in making his own videos.
“I want people to feel something more than just a beat, though the
beat is important,” LuhMont said.
LuhMont records himself alone and makes everyone leave the
room, even his best friend, who goes by the stage name Germx.
Germx and LuhMont have been friends since school at Lafayette
High School and are still going strong.
LuhMont recently launched his own website with links to his music
videos. He plans on producing more music and videos in the
next few months which can be found on his Instagram account, @
theluhmont. His ultimate goal is to reach a wider audience and
expand his brand to cater to different genres, he said.
LuhMont produced his own music video for his song “Boom Bye”
Jan. 2018.
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