“I was rapping to a mixed crowd,” he says. “I could actually hear people’s responses to my performance. That’s when I said to myself that this music is actually going to affect people.”
“Carbon Copy Man” is one of six songs featured on Braxton’s latest EP, “Category 6ix,” which hits digital retailer Spinrilla on Friday, Aug. 28. Raised in west Jackson, Braxton recalls always feeling different in school, an element that eventually carried over into his musical pursuits.
#“I grew up in an Afro-centric home,” he says. “I used to draw a lot, but I didn’t really get into lyricism until I was in the sixth grade. I was never really one of the rappers who rapped about what people refer to as ‘thug’ stuff.”
His socially conscious writing style and southern feel shouldn’t be a surprise to listeners, given his creative inspirations, which include hip-hop legends Biggie Smalls, KRS-One and his favorite lyricists of all time, Rakim.
#“Rakim was one of the coldest emcees ever,” Braxton says. “He was teaching people how to do math and rap at the same time. Once I learned you could do that, that’s when I decided to really pursue rap.”