Lee Da Rhymin' Master

“Old school Hip Hop with an infusion of social commentary”.
“Intelligent lyricism over truly dope beats”.
“Big city mentality with a hometown vibe”.
“The voice of poverty”.
“Potential on the verge of realization”.
“Great Music”.
All of the above are fair representations of the music of Lee Da Rhymin’ Master. But as with any gifted artist, there’s more. Let’s journey deep into the past, present, and future of the one they call Lee.
Born Michael Lee Whiting on October 13th 1986 in Louisville Kentucky, Lee was raised in an era where Hip Hop was just beginning to make a name for itself, and was yet to enter into the mainstream consciousness as the multi-billion dollar industry it is today. This was a simpler time when emcees would rock street corner crowds and on the rare occasion that the radio did play someone rapping over a beat, it was good.
At the age of four Lee’s mother made a purchasing decision that would forever alter her young son’s life. She presented him with a copy of the LL Cool J’s sophomore album, “BAD”.
“As soon as I heard ‘Ahhhhhhhhh, no rapper can rap quite like I can…’ it was on”, Lee remembers.
But it would take years and a growing appreciation for other genres of music before Lee would decide his destiny.
“What a lot of people don’t know is that, while I loved rap from the first time I heard it, there was a time in my childhood when I mostly listened to country. I don’t hide or try to deny that fact at all. It certainly helped me to recognize good music as I grew regardless of the style. Now I’m able to see through genres to the heart of a song and determine very fast whether or not its bullshit”.
But when Lee’s focus and attention shifted primarily to Hip Hop, he discovered audio treasures that would embark him on a journey that would last the rest of his life.
“Elementary school was an incredible time for me. It was there that I was really turned on to people like Run DMC, Rakim, The Beastie Boys, and so many other Hip Hoppers from the 80s”.
It was at that same time that Lee began writing his own rhymes. The 80s Def Jam era sound is still present in his music to this day.
“A lot of people will say to me, ‘you’re an old school rapper’. And I’m fine with that; it’s what I was raised on. Honestly, when I hear a lot of music out today, I wonder what they were listening to when they were coming up. It definitely wasn’t the same shit I heard as a kid”.
As Lee grew and acquired knowledge about the world around him, he matured and so did his lyrics.
“Sure, I started out rapping about money and girls, but this was when I was 11. I grew out of it, but obviously not everyone else did. When I was in my teenage years, I got really into 2pac and The Beatles…Mainly, John Lennon”.
Looking at the lives of his newly found heroes he realized that a musician could use music for so much more than a means to make money. That it could be a tool, better yet a weapon against oppression and hopelessness.
“No doubt, I come from an environment where a lot of people have the same story. Born poor, live poor, go to jail or make nothing of yourself, then die poor. But I’m too smart for that, plus I had a better support system. Between my friends, my family, and great music, I’ve always known there was more out there for anyone that was willing to work to get it. I’ve never had a delusion that anything is easy. I believe the hell out of sayings like ‘If it’s worth having, it’s worth working for’. I watch people like Pac and Lennon be born into shitty situations and use their music and personal strength to overcome all adversity, and then turn around and tell others they can do the same. Not to mention they were incredible songwriters with other brilliant messages. Lots of contradictions, but at the same time, always the same conclusion. I want to live my life and make my music in that same vein”.
Currently, Lee strives for the musical perfection he feels has only been achieved by one band in history, The Beatles.
“I know, it’s probably not going to happen, but that’s not going to stop me from trying. If I weren’t down to take on impossible odds, I wouldn’t even consider trying music as a career.”
But its through his songwriting, guitar playing, drumming, and production skills that Lee forges his way forward in the world of independent underground Hip Hop.
“In the future, I want to make my production company, La Vie iLL Soul (a anagram of ‘Louisville’, which translate roughly into ‘The Life of Ill Soul’”) a full multi artists record label with the ability and means to produce, promote, and distribute our artists to both a national and international fan base, via recorded sound, internet, and live shows”.
It is with this mentality and these goals in mind that Lee releases his long awaited and finely honed debut album, “Young. Poor. Black. Artistic.”.
“All I can do at this point is work my ass off and make my dreams come true because I know nobody’s going to do it for me”.
Spoken like a true master.
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