A boy is born in hard time Mississippi………………
I’m a huge music lover but it’s nothing like discovering new music by artists from my home state. Mississippi is known for a lot of things, but one thing in particular is for birthing musical talent.
Singer, songwriter, and rapper David Horton grew up in Columbus, Mississippi. Horton describes his hometown as tough, cut-throat and demanding, but he also takes pride in his city for being the reason he will be the best to ever do it as an artist. Columbus sparked his desire to change the world. When I listened to his music for the first time he put me in the mindset of Andre 3000. It’s a comparison David says he gets on a daily basis but he doesn’t mind because in his book 3 Stacks is one of the greats in music, and the only artist his parents allowed him to listen to before Kanye’s College Dropout. When he reached out to let us know his newest project Sessions 3 was in the works I had to go back and catch up on Sessions 1 and 2.
Horton is definitely a lyricist and a storyteller, and in a lot of ways a teacher. He puts his heart and soul into what he creates. You can’t just skim through a D. Horton track, you have to let the music marinate. It’s elevation music……. It’s mind changing music. For Sessions 3 he linked up with 3 different producers: New Message (Atlanta,GA), Joe Dent (Columbus, MS) and KT (Birmingham, Al). The 15 track album was released in 3 parts on separate dates, and each part shows the different vibes of the producers involved. David feels this is the best music he has ever created in his life.
Check out our interview below.
Ashley E: When did you realize that you had a gift for writing and a passion for creating music?
DH: The writing love happened early on. From the first time I can remember writing. I think it initially came from people’s admiration of how advanced a writer I was at a young age. My passion for music was early, as well. But creating it happened late. I never considered it because I never thought my parents would go for it. My life changed when I decided to though. I finally knew what I was put here to do.
Ashley E: Do you remember when you decided to really pursue music as a career? Did you have support from your family or did they want you to pursue something more traditional and stable?
DH: It was January 11th, 2011 when I recorded my first song. I dropped my first project May 10th, 2012. Somewhere in that time frame I decided to take it serious. My family is still a work in progress. They had such high expectations for me and I blew it by deciding to tap out of all things. Probably not what they expected when my ACT scores came home but they love me, nonetheless. They’re fans though. I can tell.
Ashley E: Who are some of your favorite artists?
DH: Of all time? J. Cole, 3000, Langston Hughes, John Mayer, John Legend, Lauryn Hill, Tupac, Sisqo, Q-Tip, Erykah, Aaliyah. No order.
Ashley E: How do you feel you’ve evolved as an artist from your earlier work to your most recent?
DH: I have an identity. Initially I just imitated what I liked. Now I sound like me and I think that’s a process all real artists must endure. Someone influenced you, taught you, guided you. Eventually, you have to create your own flavor.
Ashley E: You mention your grandma a lot in your music. How influential was she in your life?
DH: Everything I ever knew about love, and giving, and helping others, I learned from her. The greatest human to walk Earth. She is still saving my life everyday. I know she’s proud that I ain’t back down, ya know? Real love.
Ashley E: In the intro of “Play With Em” you say that to taste success you have to fail. Was there a point in your career when you felt like you were failing or had failed?
DH: There’s a point, right after I released my last album The Sessions 2, where I went through a serious depression because I felt, still feel, like there weren’t many rap albums that have dropped, over the last decade maybe, that are better. It’s response wasn’t reflecting that the way I desired. I took it personal. I felt like God was telling me to let it go. I did let it go. Then I had no identity. Clearly He/She was saying something else. I’ll get back to you when I figure that out.
Ashley E: There are a lot of spiritual and conscious elements in your music. Do you feel like that type of content or message is overshadowed by mainstream rap or do you feel like it’s in a lane of its own and more people are gravitating towards it now?
DH: It’s the new wave. Kendrick, Cole, Chance, Krit, and Sean are my current top 5 and it’s no way you can deny the spiritual element of their music. This isn’t new though. All my favorite rap albums, College Dropout, GKMC, ATLiens, Friday Night Lights, etc. The labels are losing control, that’s the only reason it seems more prevalent than when Nas and Pac were speaking about God.
Ashley E: How do you want to be remembered as an artist?
DH: Greatest to ever do it. People’s champ. Think Ali meets Maya Angelou. I’m their grand spirit.
Listen to Sessions 3 here.
