Harlem rapper S’natra represents the perfect trifecta of patience, quality and craft. His debut Subject To Change was one of the most underrated hip-hop projects of 2018. 10 tracks brimming with clever wordplay, razor sharps flows, and engrossing storytelling, all over incredible Brasstracks production. While it may not have been a Billboard topping breakout, it showed those who were lucky enough to listen just how much promise S’natra possessed. Never one to be discouraged, S’natra has maintained the “marathon not a sprint” mentality to continue to hone his talents, from learning to produce, to perfecting flows and crafting more refined songs. The Harlem artist’s evolution is on full display with his 4 track EP We Was Kids.
The EP sees S’natra connecting with Brasstracks once again for the first three cuts while Evince Beats blesses ‘Roley Roley.’ The project is part nostalgic, part forward-looking. It’s the portrait of an artist and man at a crossroads; reminiscing on the freedom and fun of unspoiled youth, while looking towards a bright and promising future ahead. The work of a gifted lyricist, We Was Kids proves more impressive with each listen as you catch new bars on every spin. Check out the full project and be sure to read our interview with S’natra below. We spoke about his foray into production, the inspiration behind the EP, what he misses most about being a kid, being an independent artist vs. signing a deal and more.
when Neo wakes up from getting bodied in part 1 and he can see The Matrix and what the shit all means, yeah that’s what rapping and producing feel like.
When we last spoke you were learning how to produce. How’s that been going? Has it had any impact on your rapping?
Producing been dope man. I been learning a lot this past year just trying different shit you know it’s all trial and error. Linking up with other producers recently also was a big help cause it’s a different energy when you in the room with people, seeing their process, trading sounds, asking questions – all that shit is mad inspiring and builds up the creative process so much it’s a good space to be in. It’s had an impact on my rapping and songwriting too cause it helps me see the space I have on a song a little clearer now in my head before I start piecing things together. Like when Neo wakes up from getting bodied in part 1 and he can see The Matrix and what the shit all means, yeah that’s what rapping and producing feel like.
What made you want to drop an EP vs. an album?
I’m always working on new music but I think it’s easy to get into the habit of recording shit and thinking it’s “too good” to put out now or saving shit for a future project but you never really know what happens with that. I had these 4 songs and they sounded dope together, the energy was right and it was time I came with some new shit for everybody that’s been rocking with me this year.
It’s me going back to being a kid. Before I ran outta time. Before I had to hustle. Before I had to deal with the heavy shit that life throws at you.
The new project is entitled We Was Kids can you speak to what inspired this?
It took shape organically honestly. I felt like the direction made sense because my last project was all about where I was in life, in that moment. We Was Kids is kinda like the prequel to Subject to Change. It’s me going back to being a kid. Before I ran outta time. Before I had to hustle. Before I had to deal with the heavy shit that life throws at you.
What do you miss most about being a kid?
Man I grew up with a big family. My uncle owned a couple buildings on my block so a lot of my family came from DR and I was raised around a lot of my brothers and sisters and cousins. We’d be outside every day, every night, gettin’ into trouble and laughing bout the shit right after. It was good times.
Brasstracks once again produced the bulk of the project. What do you enjoy most about working with them? How crucial are they to the S’natra sound?
Working with Brasstracks is just organic those are my brothers. We been working on music together for a long time and they understand what I’m trying to do while at the same time pushing me to try new shit so I’m not stagnant. At the end of the day, you want people that’s gonna help you get better and motivate you. That’s the vibe that we all get when we in the studio.
You just launched a new clothing which is also called ‘We Was Kids.’ Can you tell us a little bit about the endeavor?
Shout out Brooklyn Cloth. They hit me up and gave me the opportunity to bring my vision to something I could share with people in addition to the music. I always wanted to make apparel too and the fact that it happened through music is a beautiful thing.
If there’s one bar or line of the album that you want people to truly hear, what would it be?
It’s crazy because I think this line might be slept on but it’s on the first track ‘Assignments’ and the line is “reality grabbin me hard to see what i ain’t know/and gravity askin me where ima be when it let me go”. That’s one of my favorite lines cause it’s about life hittin’ you too fast and you tryna grow up faster than you supposed to. The second part of that line is about going with the flow of certain things in your life, and then one day opening your eyes and realizing where that’s brought you.
The goal isn’t just get a deal and relax…
You’ve been doing everything independently, do you have any desire to sign with a label?
It’s all about how right the deal is; for me and my team. The goal isn’t just get a deal and relax. There’s a lot of people that I plan to give opportunities to so it gotta be the start of a bigger picture for me and circle to turn that around into something for ours and their community and keep that energy going as long as we can.
You seem to be deeply committed to your art and staying true to yourself. Have you ever felt the pull to try to sell-out or make music to keep up with trends?
Absolutely. It’s hard to escape that “pull” cause it’s everywhere we look – on social media, fashion, music, etc. but I never felt like I had to change my approach to making music or switch up what I was doing. I had to adapt though – adapting to the business of it all from release plans to marketing to promo and all that.
It’s hard to escape that “pull” cause it’s everywhere we look – on social media, fashion, music, etc. but I never felt like I had to change my approach to making music…
What’s the last rap project that truly inspired you? What about it impacted you?
So I got two answers for this question really. One of them is Saba’s Care For Me. I heard Care For Me first, before I went back and heard Bucket List/Comfort Zone and realized I was sleep, but yo when I heard that I was like damn this shit is crazy. The production, the bars, the storytelling, everything was amazing. The second project was Katori Walker’s Stubborn EP. He’s another dude that can really rap and the messages on that project are all real life situations. He sounds like he’s just talking to you telling you about his family, friends, what he did right and where he fucked up. The common thread between both of these projects is the honesty that they use to deliver their message. That’s the type of shit that I strive for when I create and it makes me keep listening to their older stuff and look forward to what’s next.
You recently tweeted “GOT SOME CRAZY NEWS TODAY AW MAN IM GOIN CRAZY THIS YEAR,” can you tell us a little bit about what you have in store?
Man I wish I could. All I know is that it’s one of the craziest things that’s happened to me and I can’t wait to share it with everybody.
