Pony Boy -- A Legend

What is music? By definition, music is vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion. Music is sonic masterpieces. It's the combination of harmony (the brush), melody (the paint), and rhythm (the stroke.) All off these things combined make a masterpiece like Starry Nights or Beethoven's 5th. It is a form of expression and a way to communicate.

Now with that being said what do you think when you think about rap music? Maybe you think of some hard beats, and boom bat hip-hop lyrics or maybe a catchy hook followed by a crazy flow.

Well, whatever it is just throw it all away right now. Yeah.. I just want you to completely let go of your previous preferences when it comes to rap music and apply your un-influence mind to TJ Pompous.

TJ is an up and coming Atlanta-based artist and member of the collective Apex which consist of himself, Elithagod, Kennedy, and EMPHASiS. He’s only 19 and already has an EP out called PonyBoy and a very popular single on SoundCloud called “I Wrote this on a Beach” with 30k listens.

There are so many things I want to talk about when discussing this artist because there is so much to be said. TJ Pompous has an energy and a focus, unlike any artist I've interviewed. Just by talking to him you can feel his passion and you can see his mind working. He’s a creative genius and I mean that. I have a lot of confidence in this artist and his abilities. The things he is going to do will change the face of rap and he will be famous. I mean that with my whole heart. TJ isn’t your regular artist this guy is a revolutionary. You might think I'm over exaggerating but believe me when I say I DO NOT say that shit often. Before you claim I’m just boosting this artist let me explain why I have so much faith in him.

You see the thing about this artist that I can appreciate is his love for music. As TJ explains "I like sounds. I appreciate sound and I appreciate music to the point where if I like something I'm going to figure out why I like it and imma take why I like it and turn it into my music." TJ studies music the same way a boxer might study Ali. He figures out why people like something or a certain sound and uses that. To him that's the way music works and because of this mindset, he takes inspiration from everywhere. He doesn't limit himself to one genre, culture, or feel he just goes with whatever sounds good to him.

You will see this in his newest project “Diamond Kid” where he is literally taking sounds from different genres such as trap, house, and Vaporwave (yes I said vaporwave) and putting it into his album. I feel like this is an important key and the "why I think he's going to be really successful" argument. Rap music often limits itself to one sound. I'm not saying that having our own individual sound is a problem because it's not, it's just few rap artist break the genre wall. TJ is throwing the genre concept away and embracing something that will put him on a wide variety of platforms. I think this is an important move for rap music as a whole. Artist like TJ tear down a wall that so few hip-hop artist break and take rap music beyond the thug and violent stereotypes that plague it.

TJ got his start in middle school. At first ,inspired by icons like Michel Jackson, he wanted to be a singer but was drawn into rap by just listening to it. "I'm one of those people who sees something and wants to try it. I though rap was fun, it sounded cool...I started focusing on what rappers were saying, I thought it was cool how they rhythm words and I wanted to see if I could do it." He listened to a lot Wayne,Eminem, and 90s rap groups like a Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, and Outkast. He was also heavily inspired by his father who was also a rapper. He started off making 90's rap music because that's what he was raised on, that's where the skill was , and that's what he thought people wanted to hear. It wasn't until his father told him "Don't make music you think people want to hear, make music you want to hear." that he switched up his sound. Since then he's been he's been making some pretty indescribable shit.

On the PonyBoy EP (titled after PonyBoy from the movie The Outsiders) TJ truly shows his talents and his sound. Songs like Cherry Lover and Rumble are straight bangers that have some beautiful iconic beats produced by TJ himself.

Even some of his singles show how versatile he is as an artist. For example, on his single Simple Math, there is this cool electronic/pop beat with these very soulful 90s r&b boy band harmonies. Or I cheated with a sweet almost indescribable 50s inspired beat that slick gives off this Gym Class Heros vibe.

TJ kinda reminds of a young Cudi type; he's determined, original and isn't going to limit himself to anything, he makes what he wants. He also reminds me of Kanye; he is very protective and serious about his craft. He builds on support from his audience while at the same time distancing himself from "trends". He's an artist like Picasso. He's not painting the picture he thinks people wants to see, he's just putting out art he hoping you like.

Music to him is expression and the way TJ is expressing himself will forever change the game.

You can follow TJ on soundcloud here and on instagram here