For Dope TAF's life, music has been an unwavering companion since the cradle, an enduring love affair that has withstood the changing tides of his surroundings. Melodies and beats wrapped themselves around his existence, a legacy inherited from a family deeply embedded in the music industry's roots. With a grandmother who once harmonized as a background singer for icons like Whitney Houston and MJ, and an uncle who was an older Hip Hop producer who grew up around acts like De La Soul, Dope TAF's musical DNA runs deep. For him, music isn't merely a passion; it's a language, a universal dialect that transcends boundaries. Refusing to be confined to a singular sonic identity, Dope TAF effortlessly navigates between genres, demonstrating an innate ability to freestyle with finesse and craft poignant, profound lyrics. As a devoted student of the musical art form, he stands at the intersection of tradition and innovation, poised to carve his own story. Brace yourselves, as Dope TAF is on the verge of gracing every playlist with his versatile and magnetic sound, a testament to a true star in the making. Continue reading our interview below to learn more.
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RIPDAYDREAM: I would like to think over the years I have developed a special talent for picking out music that genuinely has something unique or distinct to offer. I mean it when I say you have something remarkable to share with the industry. I want to chat more about your music but first would love to give you the opportunity to share who Dope Taf is so our readers can become your new fans.
Dope TAF: TAF is a lover of Hip Hop, and a Hip Hop enthusiast, I’m a 23 year old student of the game man. Born in California, but starting my upbringing in New York, just to be thrown out to Huntsville, Alabama, I’ve loved and been around music since I was a baby. My mom was a singer herself, singing at my uncle Donnie McClurkin's (famous gospel singer and preacher, won multiple awards) church and lending vocals for projects they would work on, playing her solo music back to back to back to the point me and my sisters knew her songs and still to this day I hear it in my head. My grandmother was a background singer who worked for artists like Whitney Houston, MJ, and more. While my Uncle Tony is an older Hip Hop producer graffiti artist/ DJ who grew up around acts like De La Soul, always forcing real music and lyricism on me, teaching me the beginning of Hip Hop. So music has always been a part of my life and my path, every type of genre. I’ve always been intrigued by it because for my family it was how we expressed our feelings and spirituality, our love for God. And I’ve carried that ever since.
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RIPDAYDREAM: You have heard probably 1000 times people say "That's hard" or "Damn that is fire", and it tends to go out of style or lose meaning. The thing is though for your music I can not think of anything else to say except "It's so hard!". It's crazy you have the skill to go from a song like 'For Fun Freestyle' to a song like '1Day'. I am so tired of artists thinking they have to stick to a niche and if you want to have longevity this is the key. Does having this range just come easily to you or did you develop the talent?
Dope TAF: I’ll say it’s a mixture of both; I have the mindset you’ll get boring quickly and become a one trick pony if you only focus on one sound, and people will only expect one thing of you. But I also always had an ear for music in general, not any one style just MUSIC, so I definitely think it’s a talent. I used to go from rapping every Joey Bada$$ line and lyric, to listening to childish Gambino sing his soul out or Drake sing about some girl, then bump Chief Keef😂 so it definitely comes easy to me cause that’s always how I absorbed and took in music, and it reflects in my music. I can’t be tied down to one sound man.
RIPDAYDREAM: I am curious about the Alabama music scene. I can think of Gucci Mane and YBN Nahmir out of there, but curious about your thoughts on it and the direction it is going.
Dope TAF: To be honest, I’ve always felt kind of like an outsider when it came to Alabama music. I moved out here from Amityville, Long Island out in New York when I was 8, so I kinda had a late start as far as listening to Gucci, Jeezy, and all the southern style music they listened to out here. I was on Lil Wayne at most, but we listened to like old school Biggie, Jhene Aiko cause of my mom, Kanye West, and 50 Cent. So coming around kids who loved TI, or Jeezy, or Gucci Mane, It was a huge culture switch for me but also I feel like helped musically too, just bouncing back and forth from Alabama to Long Island, back home in NY, and seeing the difference in lingo, beat selection, delivery. But I think specifically Alabama is actually starting to open up the floodgates and realize you don’t have to be a super gangsta to be a good artist. From Flomilli to JK Mac, to NoCap, Yhapojj, NMFO, Rylo Rodriguez, and Erik Cain we have a steady crop of talent just bubbling and we’re all different types of artists so it’s kinda intriguing to watch.
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RIPDAYDREAM: In your Spotify bio you talk about crisp lyricism and that's something I am curious about. There is this big debate from old heads to new rising artists that you shouldn't freestyle everything. What are your thoughts on this?
Dope TAF: I’m down the middle with it, I think being great at both is a great benefit for artists, writing, and freestyling. I think freestyling is great for records that are energetic, flow driven, or melodic because most of the time melody is based on feeling. But then we have some records that are really sentimental, have a lot of depth, and might be more from the heart, for me that’s when I settle down in a dark room, and let a beat play on replay while I write every thought I have. But being great at both to me is what made me raw in all honesty, because there are certain patterns and cadences I use in my freestyling that literally developed from me writing nonstop and getting used to approaching that pocket. So it all can go hand in hand it’s just about being consistent at both.
RIPDAYDREAM: Can you give us a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or collaborations you're working on?
Dope TAF: After the release of WORLD WAR $WANK, my trap filled mixtape is next. I'm releasing sort of a Dance/Hip Hop R&B project with my producer/engineer Q. Cole, who engineered everything from 1Day, to While We Wait, to For Fun Freestyle.