When we look back on 2022, we’ll remember a year that challenged our resourcefulness, emotions, unity, and finances. In the face of these obstacles, we learned the infinite value of togetherness. In THIS INTERVIEW we revisit the last 12 months from the perspective of acclaimed Hip Hop producer and MC Newselph.
Known for capturing the raw and the refined in a single beat, The Boom Bap Weapon Alpha is as much a throwback as he is futuristic. Pulling in listeners with his magnetic concoctions, Newselph reps and rhymes with poignant creative direction.
His ’22 LP If It Ain’t Broke, Remix It revisits and flips the constructs of songs from his Illect Records labelmates, including Rel McCoy, Sojourn, Ozay Moore, and Sareem Poems.
Newselph took time out of his busy schedule to share some of his thoughts with us, answering THIS questionnaire about his life in 2022 and what to expect from him in 2023. THIS is for YOU!
How would you summarize 2022?
2022 was a lot. It was great, stressful, full of learning and business.
What was the best song, album, television show, movie, and podcast of the year?
Best Song: Way too hard to choose.
Best Album: Also hard to choose just one, but here are a few…
The Return by Peace586 & DSTL
Cheat Codes by Black Thought & Danger Mouse
Zhigeist by Elzhi & Georgia Anne Muldrow
Marlowe 3 by L’Orange & Solemn Brigham
TV Show: Tough to choose just one, but I’ll go with MO on Netflix.
Movie: NOPE was really good. Wakanda Forever was also pretty great.
Podcast: “The Modern Music Pro”. Shoutout to my man Wes!
Did you read anything inspiring or influential that you would recommend to others?
Other than work-related reading, I mostly read childrens books with my kids! That being said, Words by Christoph Neimann is not only a great kids book to learn words but is inspiring when you think about the creativity and work that goes into illustration and communicating ideas visually. Christoph does great work!
What’s something you did to help someone in need, whether you knew them or not?
[I’m] never sure how to answer these kinds of questions. Whatever I may or may not have done, was it really for them, or for me? So maybe I’ll just answer with my kids. They need me for various things at various times, and hopefully [I came through] for them.
Recall for us the most surprising thing you heard all year.
The answer to this is a little too intense to [say] here! [Laughs]
How did you celebrate your birthday?
To be perfectly honest, I don’t even remember what I did that day. I know we had an ice-cream cake, though!
Why is it important to live every moment of your life to the fullest?
As cliche as it sounds, it’s important because you don’t know how many moments you have! That being said, living each moment to the fullest doesn’t necessarily mean filling every moment with something, but being a good steward of each moment, whatever it may look like.
Were you able to achieve the goals you set?
Yes and no. I have lots of work to do both professionally and personally. As seems to be the case no matter who you are, I tend to make slow and less than steady progress. Life is busy, and oftentimes the things given to us to manage can be heavy, uncertain, and even difficult to understand. Yet, slow progress is still progress. We roll with it and keep moving forward!
Which of your blessings would you say was the biggest?
Watching my children welcome and care for their newest little sibling.
Tell us how you evolved over the last 12 months.
Honestly, I’m not sure if I did! Hopefully, though, I’ve started to shed some bad habits that I got into during the height of COVID.
Did you experience a defining moment?
The answer to this might be the same answer to the most surprising thing I heard from the past year – in which case, still too real to include here! [Laughs]
What can we expect from you in 2023?
It’s tough to know for sure, but I’ve been working on a lot of music. Like, a LOT. I think next year, and a couple years afterwards as well, are going to be full of solo and collaborative releases! | THIS ENT
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
