What is your name and where are you from?
My stage name is Diceman I also go by Mr. Snakeyes. There are artists out with the same stage name which has never bothered me because most of the ones I have listened to are very talented. Diceman is just a name and I won’t fight over who had the name first as long as you have skills I’m cool with it.
I’m originally from Detroit, MI but I have also lived in Canada, New Mexico, Florida, and Oregon. You can say I am like 2 Pac, “I Get Around.”
What drew you to the music industry?
Growing up in the 80’s & 90’s, there were plenty of artists that drew me into the art form. Artists like LL Cool J, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, 2 Pac, and Redman are some of the few artists who made an impact on my independent music career.
Who are you inspired by?
Being from Detroit of course Eminem and Royce da 59 are two artists I drew inspiration from. For me, the type of artists I am drawn to are very creative with words and rhyme schemes. I want to be wowed when I hear a song or even chuckle when I hear how a verse is constructed creatively. The artist also has to have some sort of substance to their music, in my eyes if you don’t have substance to make people think in hip-hop you are not creative. But that’s just my view.
Please explain your creative process What’s an average day like for you?
My creative process can vary depending on where I might be. I like to use things that I see as a challenge to see what I could do with it, I have always been that way. Once I get the idea I will sit back and figure out a way to make it flow and make sense. Do I want it to go over people’s heads? No. If it does then that shows I did a good job at creating a line, a verse, or a song.
Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music?
I always strive to have content in my music that has a hidden meaning. It can be buried in the way I use words or how I structure a track. If your music doesn’t have meaning then what are you doing it for? I do have music though that I just love to rap and put words together but it will still make sense when I do it.
Do you collaborate with others?
I have collaborated with a lot of independent artists during my time but no one major. It has always been a cool thought to have collaborated with well-known artists and how I would stack up against some of the best to ever do it. Maybe one day that will happen.
What is that process?
My goal every time I write a song is to outdo whoever I am featured with. That doesn’t mean I always succeed but every artist especially in hip-hop is wired that way. It is healthy competition unless you don’t like the artist. I stick to what has gotten me to where I am and throw in some curveballs. If I don’t outperform the artist I feature with then you better believe that I will be able to keep up.
Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans. What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? Why?
Interacting with fans has never been an issue with me, thank goodness I’ve never had any stalkers. Being an independent artist does have its advantages depending on how big you are. I always will do my best to respond to anyone who gives me kudos for the music I do.
My favorite part of the process is writing the music because that’s where the creativity happens and I get to show off what I can do. That is where you can either shine or fail on a song. Even though production is important it seems like the substance has been lost which is sad to see.
The one thing that started to wear on me was performing because of all of the practice you have to do before a performance. You don’t want to forget your words and putting together a performance set, choosing the songs, and the order can sometimes wear you out.
Have you ever dealt with performance anxiety or anxiety when you’re releasing new music?
Of course, I have dealt with performance anxiety but never with releasing music. You are performing in front of an audience and the key is to keep the people engaged with your music. People are looking at you so of course it can be nerve-wracking. One thing I have done in the past to help combat this is to wear sunglasses while I perform. That way I don’t feel too nervous and I can concentrate on the performance.
If you could give any tips to anyone trying to get started with music, what would you say?
Keep focused on your goal, not everyone wants what is best for you. Always be true to who you are but learn to evolve as an artist and person. You never want to look up 10 years into your career and you are still the same person you were when you first started. Manage your money well and don’t go broke trying to be flashy. Some of the richest people on this planet are not flashy at all and are smart with their money.
Never speak about things you have never done; if anyone finds out you are a fraud, you will get clowned. I never talk about gangster shit because that is not who I am. I never speak about drug sales because that is not me either. I am an artist who loves to be creative and have found a way to do that without resorting to street life.
