Exclusive Interview with Enrichment

Today we had an exclusive chance to interview Rich Obetz, also known as Enrichment:

Who would you say inspired you the most, as an artist?

I’ve been inspired by all genres of music. I definitely have an affinity towards 60’s/70’s rock & R&B and 90’s hip hop and R&B but I don’t shy away from anything, older or current. I give everything a chance. As a musician myself, I have a understanding that though the average song is 3 to 4 minutes in length, the creation of that song could’ve taken days, weeks, months, maybe even years. So to give any artist a few minutes of your time vs the amount of hours they put into the product is a fair exchange, I think. You might like it, you might not, but you should still respect the process. I once read Jay-Z said the hardest album to do was his debut (“Reasonable Doubt”) and that’s because he was trying to condense the first 20 some odd years of his life into one body of work. 

Have you heard the theory that some musicians write their best music while they’re depressed or going through a bad time?

The theory is accurate. Marvin Gaye did a album called “Here, My Dear” which was considered a commercial & critical failure upon its release but it’s grown to be viewed as one of his best pieces. The whole album was inspired by his divorce from his first wife, Anna. Even she grew to appreciate the record as the years progressed. As for myself, a little more than 2 years ago, I was in a bad accident, but even prior to that I’ve dealt with anxiety and depression for many years. All of the above things are recipes to being a headache on the day to day but could also serve as a catalyst to creativity. My album has received a lot of praise & though it took going through/still somewhat going through a bad time, I’m satisfied with the results & glad that the work is being appreciated.

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

I strive to make music that evokes emotions whether it be happiness, sadness, motivation, aggression, etc. I prefer a mixed bag approach instead of being typical or predictable. A good friend of mine just posted a song I did & told everyone if they’re into hip-hop + working out he recommends they check out the song “Time To Kill” I did featuring Kuniva of D12 & KXNG Crooked. Another friend told me the last song on my album has helped him get through some of his own situations recently. So people viewing my music as both something that could get in shape to or as a form of escapism I feel as if I’ve contributed something to the world.

What’s your best advice for handling criticism?

If you can’t handle criticism you should be nowhere near the music business. Especially not in this day and age. People are ruthless on social media. Whether they mean what they say or they’re just trolling is hard to decipher at times. The funny part is when you click on 90% of these people’s profiles, they’re aspiring artists themselves. Knocking the next man will not advance you in this business or in life in general. The same amount of time you take to type a insult you could leave a compliment, or you can just adhere to that old saying “if you don’t have anything nice to say, keep it to yourself.”

What’s your latest release?

An album called “Different” which I produced & arranged in its entirety. I’m also rapping on every song as well. I have features on the project from Redman, Kuniva of D12, KXNG Crooked, Sheek Louch, John Creasy, Termanology, Chris Rivers, DJ Tray, RJ Payne, the singer Emanny, HiDefinition, Skyzoo, the singer Rell (formerly of Roc-A-Fella Records) and my Father even made a guest appearance on the last song. I always liked how Common had his Father end off his albums so I definitely took a page from his book with that.

How do you currently feel about the state of Hip-hop in general?

There’s some things that aren’t my cup of tea but even in the 80’s/90’s era I as well as others all love to look back on there was nonsense back then too. The way we consume music today is different. We used to rely on magazines, radio, video shows etc to provide us content. Good music is still being made it just doesn’t necessarily reside on the platforms of yesteryear, you have to look for it now. I’m a huge fan of Griselda, J. Cole, Coast Contra, Ransom, Millyz, The LOX is still putting it down & even some of my favorite MC’s from growing up like Method Man & Nas are sounding sharper than ever.  

Who would you most like to collaborate with?

I banged out a decent amount of my wish list on my recent album but I’d love to produce a track or 2 for Royce Da 5’9″, Lupe Fiasco, Black Thought, Raekwon, J. Cole, the list goes on. Any MC’s, or singers, who not only have superb technical ability but also have things to say.

What’s the best part about being an artist?

You’re your own boss which has its pros and cons. Your own hours which you can take lightly and put in a few hours here and there but in order for results, this should be treated as any other gig, with possibly more overtime than a standard 9 to 5. Artistry also breeds accountability. In the event you succeed at something, job well done, but hold off on celebrating, keep the momentum going. When mistakes are made, there’s no one to point fingers at. Your triumphs & blunders are on you.

Is there anyone you would like to thank, any shout outs?

My parents, my family, period. Growing up, some kids weren’t even allowed to listen to hip-hop in their home, let alone work on it all times of day & night. No one in my household ever complained about “the noise” and were always encouraging when it just was a hobby to when it transpired into a career. One of the greatest Christmas gifts I ever received was one of those old school metronomes from my Father. The thing probably costed $20, if that. It was more symbolic than what it was monetary, it showed me his support, acknowledgement & approval of what it is I do. To all the websites who have covered the album, to you and your site for taking the time out to speak, the DJ’s like Statik Selektah, Lord Sear, PF Cuttin who have played my songs recently & last but definitely not least my friends who have always been avid supporters & have told me for years what people on the internet are saying now. 

Where can people find the album?

They can get it directly from me at enrichment.bandcamp.com. The digital version + CD’s on there. For the streamers, it’s everywhere, all platforms carry it.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/enrichmentnj

Twitter: https://twitter.com/enrichmentnj

Youtube: https://youtube.com/enrichmenttv

Bandcamp: https://enrichment.bandcamp.com