Richmond - Wise minds once said you can assess the potential of an individual within five minutes of conversation with them.  After this writer spent time with Aspect, an up-and-coming rap artist, it’s no secret that he possesses the creativity and drive to lasso the moon if he so desired.

Set aside your copy of Tha Carter III and accept this invitation into the mind of one of the few solid rap talents in the industry.  Aspect (A Simple Perspective Enhancing Common Thought) offers a complex swirl of thought-provoking lyrics and deliciously raw production work.

Expecting a sound similar to 50 Cent or Soulja Boy?  Don’t count on it, because Aspect presents man’s struggle with life and relationships while pursuing the l ove of music which, he believes, is the essence of hip-hop.

“Most of these joints nowadays are like the ‘fast food’ of hip-hop,” he said.  “Mainstream artists come forth with a lot of filler meant for a quick fix, and I’m offering steakhouse-quality audio cuisine.”

Those already hungry for gourmet rap have the opportunity to sample Aspect’s rhymes with the release of his first mixtape Arts & Craft late last year.  Think of it as personal, life-long retrospective of the trials and tribulations he has experienced.  Whether indulg ing listeners on family and relationships (“Smile” and “Cinnamon”), loss of loved ones, or internal and external obstacles (“Finish Line” and “However Long It Takes”), his rhymes are razor sharp and slash through the speakers down to an impeccable freestyle over Young Jeezy’s “Go Crazy” instrumental.

Meshed in between those subjects are hints about his love for comic books and their corresponding superheroes, culminated well with his Spiderman tattoo.  Aspect is not your typical hard-edged rapper because he also digs old video games and other laid-back hobbies. 

“I also try to curse as little as possible on my tracks because a rapper uses them as a distraction and as filler from developing substantial lyrics,” he said.

Most people don’t experience success overnight, which is right up Aspect’s alley.  He persevered through a difficult childhood growing up in Queens, New York, with his mother and relatives.  Because of surrounding circumstances, he and his mother eventually moved to Richmond in the late 1990s, a challenging transition for him.

“It was tough having to leave my family and begin a new chapter of my life in an entirely new environment,” he said.

Although Aspect expressed an extensive interest in artists like Michael Jackson growing up, his hip-hop blood didn’t begin to boil until high school when he began exchanging bars with a group called the Foot Soldiers.  He said they eventually asked him to include a verse of his own for their performance, which was well-received.

“It was such a source of motivation to hear how much they dug my music, that’s when I really began to pursue a rap career.”

He continued to perform throughout high school until he was 20 years old, when his son Amiri was born.  Afterward, hiatus of single fatherhood, in-and-out custody battles and full-time job status kept him obligatorily preoccupied for the next three years of his life.

“Nothing comes before my son and my relationship with him - that’s why I wanted him to grow up in an environment where I would be around to take care of him,” he said.

Despite a nearly packed weekly schedule, Aspect was eventually able to collect his thoughts and begin developing his debut release, but once again it was an uphill battle.  The loss of his grandfather and timing constraints affected the quality of Arts.

“I was forced to release the mixtape without it being completely finished,” he said.  “Some of the tracks have gritty intros/outros because it was never mixed properly.”

No worries, Aspect!  The profound truth lies in the lyrics, and it pulsates with emotion held up with well-constructed metaphors, which he says is his specialty.

Nearly one year since its release, the circulation of Arts is only the beginning to Aspect’s professional business approach.  He has been quite busy performing at various freestyle events and promoting his sound on WHAN 1490, as well as working with his new manager Jamal Engram at J Global Entertainment LLC and working on his first full-length album The Gallery.

“Things have been moving really quick but that’s the way I like it,” he said.  “I’m starting to put my name out there and get this thing poppin’.”

Although he wants to keep his new project a secret, Aspect did shed a little light on the subject.  He plans on promoting his sound from a more casual listening experience to a more up-tempo blast to the eardrums.  Also, he’s pulling production teams from across the country to develop Gallery so that each track will have a unique, stand-alone feel from the next.

“Life After Death is one of my favorite albums, and Biggie designed every track to satisfy a wide array of rap listeners,” he said. “I’m trying to model my album in a similar way.”

One production team is housed in Richmond, Da 88ightz, managed by Will Feaster, a longtime collaborator with Aspect.  Feaster describes himself as a musical director who likes to compose a full and live sound.

“We’ve known each other for a while and have been talking about working together, but didn’t actually begin grindin’ until the mixtape was finished,” he said.  “We’re planning on developing 3 to 4 tracks for the new album.”

In the meantime, Aspect will continue to perform at Richmond’s the Camel in October, as well as at a collective live event at Florida A&M University later in the year.

“I’m still going to keep it real and make solid, substantial music,” he said.  “Even though this is a career, too many artists make it about money and fame and let the passion slip through the cracks.  Hip-hop is love, and I love where I’m at in this point of my life.”

Those who are interested can check out Aspect’s music at MySpace.com/Aspect1Eye. 

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