Today we’d like to introduce you to Eligh.
Eligh, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I fell in love with hip hop in the 1st grade. By the time I was 13, I was writing my own raps and looping samples on my dual cassette boom box in my room. That same age is when I rapped out loud, in front of my peers for the 1st time, and from that point, my grades began to slip, as I honed in on my true passion. Nothing else mattered to me after that. Hence, dropping out of high school in the 11th grade, which eventually led me to getting booted after not getting a job, as my mom demanded. By the time I was 16, I recorded an album with my crew of misfits “Log Cabin,” and did my first show with them, in Santa Monica. Soon after, I ended up hitching a ride to the Bay Area, with my cousin, to move in with my Aunt and Uncle, to try a shot at the job world up north, with my favorite cousins as roommates. Needless to say, no one would hire a skinny, baggy pants dressed, dread headed shy kid from LA. Through my cousin’s then-boyfriend, I met The Grouch. He was a couple of years older than me, and his first album was out back then ( 1995 ) as well, which I thought was brilliant. Once we connected, there began the saga of the Living Legends. My eight-man crew, which at one point, all lived together in a giant warehouse loft in the middle of East Oakland. Sunspot, Luckiam, Murs, The Grouch, Scarub, Bicasso, Aesop, me, and sometimes our Japanese comrade, Arata, made up our crazy brotherhood.
We toured the world, made tons of albums, solo, inter group-groups, and as a collective. This was before the internet. Before one could drop a song online, and instantly be seen around the world. We were underground kids, and our tapes were reaching people around the world. During this crazy ride, I soon discovered there was no drug I’d ever tried, that I didn’t like. But besides weed and cigarettes, there wasn’t one drug I did every day until I discovered pain killers in about 2001. From there, long story short, I went up to the ladder from Vicodin, and in the end, China white heroin, in a four-year binge. I was so strung out in the end, the thing I loved the most, music, was nothing but a secondary thought, to my first concern, how do I get high, and stay high, so I dont feel sick. In that chaos and darkness, I had a moment of clarity, which was either I get help, or I end up dead. I reached out to my Legends group mate Lucky, and he found Music Cares, which helped me find a rehab, and paid for my treatment. Without Music Cares, I may not be alive today.
Since the day I woke up in rehab, after walking myself in, on October 13th, 2005, Ive been clean from all drugs and alcohol, with the love and support of Narcotics Anonymous. A program I continue to be active in to this day, and god willing, for the rest of my days. Since I got clean, my message, my music took on a slightly different tone. My music has always been personal, so its no surprise that recovery began to come through in my lyrics, and those who needed to hear it, heard it, and still do, which began a change in my listeners, from people tossing drugs on stage while I perform, to people throwing 30 day chips at my feet. Sober kids, Giving me hugs at the merch booth.
My love for creation has only deepened in the last few years, with scoring film becoming a yearning I can’t control. I want to score film so badly! Just waiting for someone to give me my chance, and I know once that chance comes, I won’t let go. I love producing, maybe more than writing and rapping. It’s my #1 love. I draw for people as well. ALL the time. Its become a side business for me. And now, Patreon has become a big part of how I survive as a truly independent artist in this streaming world, where if you’re not Drake, good luck making a living as an artist.
So here I am, 41 years old, with fire in my belly to keep moving up the mountain. I dont make music for money. Im alive, on this planet, to make music, and to create. I’ll do it until I’m physically unable. And when that day comes, it may be time to go.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I produce, alternative, underground hip hop, I create film scores, I make anything I want. Im a nerd when it comes to drum sounds, hard-hitting bass, and melodic, moody soundscapes. I rap, choppy, fast, abstract, moody as well. I love to sing, even though Im still getting over the fear of actually singing on stage! Haha. People have compared me to Andre 3k over the years, to which Im so honored, but couldn’t accept, knowing he’s one of my favorite rappers, and I could never be him. My message is always one of listening to your intuition, speak your mind, and the universe will provide. You’re never alone in your feelings, anxiety, depression. Space, and time, and amazing abstract concepts are always part of my music world. Recovery, and letting people know there is a way to get clean and stay clean, is my message as well. You should know that once you give my music a chance, or even just my art in general, I think you’ll leave feeling something. And if I can make you feel something, you won’t forget to check for me and stay connected.
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
I’d say staying relevant in this fast-moving, over-saturated landscape of voices all trying to be heard. It’s crazy! It’s also beautiful and amazing. But being heard, and making a living off of music, when artists get paid a fraction of a penny per stream, is becoming harder and harder.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Patreon.com/eligh is the best way to support me and my art. I found Patreon last year, and knew it was the way for me! Its the artist, connecting directly to those who love and support that artist the most. I offer everyone involved with my Patreon, exclusive music, art pieces, video chats, phone calls, a podcast, soon to be exclusive physical merch, and much much more. Its the future, and if Im to survive doing what I do, Patreon is the way. Besides Patreon, the regular avenues of social media are all good too.
Contact Info:
- Website: Patreon.com/eligh
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @therealeligh
- Twitter: @eligh
Image Credit:
Pictures taken by Enkrypt, Snap Jackson, Stephen Brooks, and Stian Rasmussen
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