Son of Tony is blessing mics on stages all year round with Rah Digga, Brother Ali, Pacewon and Young Zee, Cappadonna, Jadakiss and Big Fendi. Grimy scientific bars delivered over Wu Tang-inspired beats resonate with “trapped in the ’90s” Hip-Hop heads (such as myself).
“SND” reminds me of the ‘supply and demand’ concept for the Wallabees assembly line in the music video for “Apollo Kids” (Supreme Clientele) with the nostalgic soul beat produced by Crown (Grim Reaperz). Son of Tony holds it down with electrifying bars of street wisdom, followed by Brooklyn MC heavyweight Skyzoo.
… I WON’T LOSE / AIN’T A SUBSTANCE ON THIS PLANET EARTH THAT I CAN’T MOVE / THOUSAND $ SHOES, WATCH ME STEP ON DUDES / NI**AS WITH ATTITUDE AND MY KNUCKLES IS RUDE
– SON OF TONY
(bars from ‘Son is a Bastard’ on the way)
Raised on Buffalo, NY’s Westside, Son of Tony made his way through New York State prison where he eventually met DMX. A conversation with the late MC reppin School Street in Yonkers, NY, turned into what became the Grammy-nominated “Who We Be” anthem. DMX gave Son of Tony (known as Esso back then) a shout out on the record, featuring an emulation of the ‘I am Malcolm X’ Spike Lee-produced movie scene.
Son of Tony kept up the momentum, recording songs with some of the best MCs — past and present — from Wu-Tang’s Cappadonna and Inspectah Deck to Mickey Factz, Tish Hyman, Apollo Brown and more. I had a chance to build with the very lyrically gifted MC (thanks to music and video producer Casso Beats!).
Tasha Digital: What was it like coming up in the trenches? And how is the music you make influenced by those experiences?
Son of Tony: My father. My stage name is in honor of him. I’m Black. My culture influences me in different ways. Us as melanated people, we carry a lot of ingenuity and personality and creativity within us. We set trends and defy odds with flair and fire testimonies. I’m influenced by our rhythm and struggle and heritage and excellence.
TD: When did you start your career as an independent Hip-Hop music artist?
Son of Tony: About the end of 2016, early 2017. I didn’t know anything or anybody. I just made a conscious decision to elevate my life with the natural gift I have, instead of always looking outside of myself to make a living. I just really honed in on what I intrinsically had. I’ve always been Inspired to create music since I was little. It just took me a little longer to realize that I could have a great career with this. I’m one of those, later in life kind of success stories if that resonates? And poverty. I can’t neglect to mention that.
TD: How would you describe your distinct sound and approach to making music?
Son of Tony: Hardcore. Grimy. Boombap. Conscious. I be needing my listener’s to know I use my truth like a sword. Whether I’m falling on those truths or wielding them, they are mine. And I share my truths, flaws and all, because I know there are people out there that can relate and concur, and draw inspiration from. Topics change because I write with a worldly view. They’ll always change because we evolve and grow.
TD: What’s been your focus and mindset as an independent Hip-Hop artist?
Son of Tony: Definitely been trying to acquire fans. People have favorites and they generally stick with them. So, it really takes a lot to stand out and get people to understand your brand. Your message. Your vibes. Especially if the co-signs are not there. Or features. So it’s between that and staying consistent because when you’re at the bottom, the heights you need to climb to sometimes seem impossible. It’s been the perseverance that’s brought me thus far. That chip on my shoulder that I have that says: You can’t keep me out this game. You can’t stop me from changing my life. You can’t tell me I don’t belong or I can’t pump my work on your block. You have to prove it to me. Can’t nobody prove I don’t belong here. I’m still overcoming these areas. It’s still a process. But it’s more fans now than ever before. More shows. More connections. But this is what it is when you don’t skip steps or try to cheat the process.
TD: What is the vision you have for yourself – inside and outside of music?
Son of Tony: Ultimately, I’m striving to be a mogul in music and entertainment. Humanitarian towards the human condition. And a leader, in a era where we can now be silenced without a fair trial in a court of law, subject to public opinion, and made to believe that because of the harsh realities we talk about, we should be forced to no longer create it. Nobody is telling country music to not talk about heartbreak or suicide. And no, country artists may not commit crimes at the rate that Hip-Hop does, but all music deserves its own space and can co-exist. I make music because it feels right to me first. It’s because of the love I have for it. Wanting to continue the legacy that was laid out before me. My process is more or less just using my natural gift.
TD: How has your music evolved since you first started recording songs?
Son of Tony: A whole lot. You grow during each project. The depth, the rhyme schemes, the cadences. It all produces fruit the more you practice it. I ain’t know anything when I started. Now, the process is simple because I have a formula. Truth plus confidence equals fire. That’s my equation. The area’s I wouldn’t talk about before come easier now.
Listen to music by Son of Tony:
Apple | Spotify | Tidal | YouTube | Instagram | Twitter | sonoftony.com
