Libsey on the Rise: A New Bedford Artist You Need to Hear

We got a chance to catch up with Libsey who is a Hip Hop artist from New Bedford, MA on the rise. Not only is Libsey known to perform at various events across New England but he also hosts showcases and opportunities for other local artists looking for some time to share their craft. His sound is unique and he is also a producer/ rapper with over a decade experience in the music scene.

Below is a Brief Question and Answer with Libsey, we encourage you read through it to get to know a little more about him and his music career.

What first inspired you to start making music?

A: “Funny enough, it was a combination of things: from having family involved in music, to me just being bored with what I was hearing in the mainstream at the time lol. I've always been a creative person, and I've always loved music, so it seemed like a natural direction to create my own.”

Can you tell us a little about your upbringing in New Bedford and how the city shaped your music?

A: “So when I was growing up, I heavily into skateboarding. I got to see a lot of different sights and experience different things just being out in the city all the time. And the thing skateboarding celebrates the most is individuality, and being able to be yourself, while participating in a community of like-minded individuals. And with that individuality, I've always tried to translate that into my music. Like I'm not gang-affiliated, I'm not in the club poppin' bottles and shit, ya know? So I'm not rapping about that stuff. I'm rapping about nerdy shit and making it make sense lmao.”

Who were your earliest musical influences growing up?

A: “Jim Morrison of The Doors, Mac Miller, & Lil Wayne have always been big influences for me musically.”

How would you describe your sound to someone who’s never heard your music before?

A: “Umm....huh.... I guess the best (and most frequently heard) way to describe my music to someone who's never heard of me would be: That one local white boy who's says he can rap, but you don't believe him until you hear him, and you're like "oh shit, he's pretty good"

Do you draw inspiration more from personal experiences or from what you see happening around you?

A: “I realistically draw inspiration from all over. It doesn't matter where it comes from, as long as quality music is being made, and pushing the culture, from those ideas.”

What challenges have you faced as an independent artist in New England, and how have you pushed through them?

A: “Pay-To-Play shows are the scourge of the independent/local hip-hop scene. I could go on and on about it, but to simplify it: why the fuck is the entertainment PAYING to entertain? That makes 0 sense. Now in order to combat that, I started the Secret City Smoke Show in New Bedford. It's the first cannabis-friendly hip-hop event in New Bedford with the purpose of paying all of the artists to perform, and advocating for cannabis reform, all while maintaining a safe event for all attendees.”

How important is it for you to represent your hometown in your music?

A: “That's VERY important to me in so many ways to be honest. For starters, there is SO MANY talented artists in New Bedford, but we often get overlooked because of Boston and other cities. But make no mistake: New Bedford is the SECRET CITY for a reason, and it's due to all of our hidden talent. I could go on about the history of the city, being the richest whaling port in the world at one point, and the significant role New Bedford played in multiple parts of US history, but thats a story for another day lol.”

What message do you hope listeners take away from your songs?

A: “Just be yourself. I don't really make any songs with specific messages, its really rare for me to do that. But realistically just be your true self, don't let anyone bring you down to their lower vibrations.”

Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations fans should be excited for?

A: “So the next album is currently in the works. It's a follow-up to last year's The Album Formerly Known As DOOM. This'll be my 8th studio album, dropping sometime around December/January. I've got a couple of music videos already shot and ready to release, the first of them being Gelato, dropping on Halloween. The song for that drops a week prior on the 24th. Other than that, just going to be setting up some more Smoke Show events, thinkin about a New Year's bash “