Today we had an exclusive chance to interview aspiring rapper Dutch 3Times.
What is your stage name and how did you come up with it?
My stage name is Dutch 3Times. Simple answer would be that my friends called me “Dutch” growing up, because I was always known to keep some Dutch Masters around. A name that grew on to me as I begin rapping. Now the mystery is what does the “3Times” mean? First, guess one would awesome crime because I’m a black man; that being 3 felonies, 3 robberies, 3 murders, etc. take your pick. Although, my name is none of the above. My name comes from the fact I have 3 beautiful children whom are a part of me, these are the ones I do it for and to see “3Times” next to my name is just having me times three. God forbid, but if anything were to happen to me a part of me times three would remain on this Earth.
Where are you from?
I’m from a small town in South Carolina, one of those towns where everybody knows everybody. Dillon, South Carolina where I was born and where I graduated high school. In high school I was one of the guys that had all the answers in class, but at the same time I was the guy that smoked weed everyday. Throughout school I also played the trumpet which is where my passion for music begin. I’m not great at producing beats, but the melody is where I like to have my voice live within the music. And I truly believe that is because I played the trumpet, and my ears are more connected with leading the song, versus being the percussion.
Talk me through your creative process.
For me the process of making a song can happen a few ways. I could either get a beat I really like from a producer and take my time writing to it, or I could write a song and then hear a beat months later and decide those lyrics sound like a good fit for that beat. But I have also had times where we wrote material on the spot and recorded, it a matter of situation. The idol situation would be me in a secluded area with plenty of marijuana and a night and I will have a song I can record and make a reference track the next morning. Some reference tracks I take to get mixed and mastered immediately and other reference tracks I still have to this day.
Do you remember the first rhyme you wrote?
I can remember my first rhyme like yesterday. I was in high school I believe around sophomore year and my best friend made the instrumental for me. He is the one that inspired me to start rapping in the first place. He had the MPK beat machine, an old record player, and an old desktop computer and he chopped up the samples and made a beat as he would always do. And I thought and my head was if he can make the beats I can rap on it. And that’s exactly what I did took his beats to my house and recorded on Audacity with the generic desktop computer mic. I burnt the song to a cd on one of my “Del from the Dale” mixtapes. This was back in 2005, where everyone wanted mixtapes and that’s what I did for my school.
What would you have done differently if you knew then what you know now?
I would have released music years ago if I had just took a leap. Instead of releasing to only my high school friends, I should have been releasing to the world.
What’s your latest release?
My latest release ‘Fire on Fire’ is a get up out the house for the summer kind of vibe. Everyone has been locked up all 2020 and now that year is passed maybe we can have a little fun. Although, Covid is as real as it is, mostly its the fatigue and stress of being on lockdown. And we know the party is only temporary because winter is coming, therefore my upcoming release is something more chill kind of vibe with your mate.
What’s your best advice for handling criticism?
Fuck criticism, people will always talk regardless. Rather its the best song or the worse song people will always have something to say. So I just say Fuck criticism and do what you want to do as an artist. Somebody might like it as much as you do and then and again maybe they won’t, but if you like what you doing Fuck what they talking about.
What surprising lessons have you learned along the way?
To become successful is much work for one man it takes a strong support system or hell of lot of money. Anyone can beat their self in the face about it or they can keep striving, have a lot of determination and resilience.
How do you currently feel about the state of Hip-hop in general?
I love Hip-Hop in general it is forever changing it’s for the young hearted, the ones who are young forever. And I am very young spirited. Hip-Hop to me is about being yourself and not letting NOBODY tell you differently. And if they do you talk yo shit.
If you could only listen to 3 albums for the rest of your life, what would they be?
Any three Jay-z Albums period. It wouldn’t even matter which ones. If I had to make the hard decision I would choose all three Blueprint albums.
Natalia is a Rap and Hip Hop enthusiast. After graduating from The New School of New York’s Public Relations Program and taking a course in Journalism at Michigan State University, she decided to dedicate her life to the music publishing business and to the discovery of new talent. She helps new artists gain exposure to the masses via online marketing and publications.
