May 27, 2007
Track for track Dallas praised hip hop MC Versatile engages in verbal science, creating everything from club anthems, to trunk rattling hits, to songs of inspiration and hope through up tempo beats and introspective lyrics the rapper chronicles real life issues including women struggles, domestic violence, eating disorders and homelessness painted in vivid detail on his debut Versus the World also featuring soul crooner Carmen Rodgers who according to Dallas media has vocally joined the ranks of other notable local artists including N'Dambi and Erykah Badu. Set to dominate the masses, Versatile is determined to create the blueprint and be the contemporary voice of Dallas, giving the city a distinctive sound and claim its spot on the hip hop map
Despite Houston, Texas’ long and exceptional musical history, Dallas still remains an unknown in the hip-hop world; that is until now. Born in California, but raised all over the globe, southern rapper Versatile lives up to his name both personally and professionally. Catching the music bug as a teenager in South Carolina, the former athlete began writing rhymes in his spare time as well as free-styling at the high school lunch table, all of which set the tone for his passion in hip hop culture. The grit and grain in Versatile’s voice transmits his messages with truth and sincerity that is the equivalent of hearing Jay-Z or Nas take to the microphone.
“Versatile is a humble artist. That meaning he has learned and is willing to learn how to make his craft in rap work for him in the long run. Granted are his skills in story and glory telling, but his ability to figure out how his words and actions move the crowd is something that has come with hard work and understanding. It was a pleasure seeing him open up for us on the 57th Public Enemy Tour, as well as handling the road itself. Versatile is a 'man' in hip hop, and record companies today don't develop many of those willing to be.” Chuck D, Public Enemy
"Verse represents a new and refreshing voice in our Dallas music community." Erykah Badu
Making the crossover from being in a group (Virus) to working as a solo artist, in addition to leaving a major deal (Warner Brothers) to seek creative solace with another label (DM Records/DEG), the hungry MC is positioning himself to be one of the most potent personas in hip hop. “I add a different element to the south in general and the fact that I’ve lived on every coast in the states and spent time in Germany, I’m representing spots from everywhere and you can hear the influences.”
With the ability to capture both the streets and the charts, Versatile’s debut album Versus The World, chronicles real-life issues such as domestic violence, eating disorders and homelessness in vivid detail yet he also speaks on radically different fare such as strip club tales and hood anthems. “I’ve got depth on most of my tracks but I’ve also got party songs and I think I’ve covered the world. Once people hear the project in its entirety, they’re really going to understand the versatility of the album.”
"Versatile wanted to make the right impression with his debut solo mixtape, and on opening track "Pass the Bottle," he doesn't just leave an impression, he leaves a mark as strong as if he had punched you in the face. The tracks Eastern, RZA-leaning beat throws sitar, bongos, record scratches and booming bass at Versatile's unique pimp ready voice and the head nodding production certainly doesn't sound like cheap, tacked on illegal sampling. Anyone who bumps a stereo while cruising on weekends needs this disc. No question." The Dallas Observer
For two years, Versatile was part of the major label machine and it was during that time that the young wordsmith experienced firsthand the inner workings of the industry, as well as the process of making a record. Having received tracks and worked alongside music royalty such as Kanye West (song “The Sky Will Be Clear”), LT Hutton (TI, Death Row Records, 2 Pac, Bone, Thugs & Harmony) and Bad Boy producers Nissan Stewart and Megahertz (song “Tropical & Watch Out”), Versatile has created an underground buzz in Dallas that is soon to be a universal explosion. “From that whole label situation, I learned the concept of writing records that people will enjoy. And when I started working on this album, I definitely put myself into the record but I also wrote with the thought of my audience in mind and how the lyrics made me feel as an artist.” With musical influences such as Nas, Nice & Smooth, Jay-Z, Ludacris, Redman (“I think he has a lot of personality”) and Scarface (“He’s very lyrical and thought provoking”), Versatile epitomizes street-level hip hop with mainstream sensibilities.
“Versatile has a gifted flow which is an amalgam of Southern hospitality and nostalgic classic hip hop sound. He strikes a chord as a gifted lyricist with empowering content and represents the futurism of hip hop.” Cee-Lo, Gnarls Barkley
After a brief hiatus creating new material, Versatile delivers 14 solid tracks on Versus The World, that are equal parts reality and fantasy. Track for track, Versatile engages in verbal science, creating everything from club anthems, to trunk rattling hits, to songs of inspiration and hope. The album titled intro sets the tone for this standout project, with the addictive lead single, “On the Rocks,” being an up-tempo jam with a breezy vibe, that showcases just how versatile the young MC is. While the song “Homeless in Hollywood”, deals with some people catching their big break in the ‘lights, camera, action’ city and others are left out in the cold without a master plan, the introspective track, “The Way It Should Be,” finds the rapper brilliantly delivering the stories of three women’s struggles: a victim of domestic violence, an anorexia sufferer and a woman in a self-destructive relationship. Listeners get a taste of Versatile’s artistic and political imagination on the track, “Dream,” featuring groundbreaking Dallas soul crooner Carmen Rodgers who according to Dallas media has vocally joined the ranks of other notable local artists including N’Dambi and Erykah Badu. The song places the self-described “Jekyll and Hyde” rhymester in an era where African-Americans were fighting for their rights and also touches on the topic’s current state; and with “Touch”, the bouncy, bass-heavy southern party-rocking anthem and its catchy hook, Versatile has created a rewarding album that makes it an instant hip hop classic.
Through clever wordplay, futuristic beats and lyrically balanced themes of soul searching and bravado, Versatile’s verbal prowess rise above any musical limitations. “I think my style is original and my rhymes have substance. I’m not a follower, I prefer to go against the grain. I am giving the industry some of what they want, but I also feel like I’m giving the people as a whole some of what they need. I actually think I’m going to have to force feed the industry some of the music that they need but don’t know it yet.”
From the studio to the stage, Versatile has a vast understanding of how important the music must translate from recorded sound to visual entertainment. This was quite evident when the young rapper was presented with the opportunity to open for the legendary hip-hop group, Public Enemy as they embarked on their 57th Tour across North America. The experience proved to be educational on and off the stage.
The Houston rap scene has cemented its place in hip-hop history (UGK, Paul Wall, Chamillionaire, Mike Jones, Slim Thug); now Dallas has begun laying its mark as the new hot bed for talent in Texas. Verse the World is set to push the boundary of today’s regional hip-hop sound and translate it worldwide. Versatile is just the artist to deliver this; “I’m going to be able to set a trend as far as music in this area and set myself apart. Music for me is not necessarily about the fame, I just love the art.”
Set to dominate the masses, Versatile is determined to create the blueprint and be the voice of Dallas, giving the city a distinctive sound and claim its spot on the hip hop map. “I’m going to be able to set a trend as far as music in this area and set myself apart. I’m a laid back person; definitely not the one that just has to be in the limelight. Music for me is not necessarily about the fame, I just love the art.”
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