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THE ONE SUN LION RA
"Philly Speaks" “When I say Hip Hop, y’all say I love, Hip Hop!” This is the phrase that Hip Hop heads are chanting. The One Sun Lion Ra is the responsible for the irresistible words about the rising culture. “Real Hip Hop for Real Hip Hop heads”, is his credo. The Philly based artist has performed all over the east and west coasts as well as overseas exhibiting his skills in the art of emceeing, beat-boxing, and performing spoken word poetry. He is definitely in his own league with a unique sound that is sure to big him much attention and respect. He highlights social issues and praises women. The son of Lou Wilson eldest of the four Wilson brothers from the group Mandrill, this is an artist that is here to stay. Philly Speaks through The One Sun Lion Ra, inspiring all those who come in contact with his lyrics, this is what he shared when he sat down with B-E-M:
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B-E-M: How do you define Healthy Living?
OS: In general, eating healthy, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of rest. Keeping a clean body both inside and out. Keeping a positive mind and maintaining a thirst for knowledge, fun and love. Having great sex (safe sex). Maintaining an open mind for new things, and respect for the Earth and Universe and Karma.
B-E-M: What are some things you do to keep yourself healthy?
OS: I try to eat healthy (especially morning and night). I exercise at least 3 times a week. I keep a positive outlook on life, and if that doesn’t work right away I use comedy or good music to lift my spirits. I surround myself with beautiful positive people who are wiser than I am in some area or another. I take time to relax.
B-E-M: How long have you been an MC and performing in general?
I’ve been rapping since I was 8 years old. and performing since I was 17.
B-E-M: What community service projects are you involved in?
OS: The Peace and Love Movement (Philadelphia, PA) Founded By Rochelle Lampkin. We talk to children of many different ages about choosing better ways of handling stress and anger besides violence. Philly has a horribly high death rate so many organizations have formed to try and stem the violence by talking to the youth in hopes that by the time they become adults they’ll be on point. And Philllywood Entertainment, they go to correctional facilities and prisons to talk to those who are incarcerated and soon to be released on up to those who will never be released about trying to live a peaceful life.
B-E-M: What projects would like to see in your community?
OS: I would like to see real push to clean up and revitalize a lot of these dilapidated neighborhoods and have cleanliness laws installed so that someone would have to be accountable for the littering and dumping of trash all around the city.
B-E-M: Who are your influences?
OS: Mandrill, Roy Ayers, Stevie Wonder, Big Daddy Kane, Pharoahe Monch, Jill Scott, Kool G Rap, Busta Rhymes, The Mighty Sparrow, Chaka Khan, Chubb Rock, Peedi Crakk, The Native Tongues Crew, Toni Tony Tone’, Raphael Saadiq, Method Man, The GZA, Pete Rock, Black Star, Common Sense, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, James Brown, The Winans Family, Dave Chappelle, Morgan Freeman, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, RUN DMC, Bob James, John Mayer, Erykah Badu, Dead Prez, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, The Beatles, Martin Lawrence, Quincy Jones, Tito Puente,Bob Marley, Beenie Man, Shabba Ranks, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, The Roots, KRS-ONE, 50 Cent, OutKast, DAS EFX, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Curtis Mayfield, James Earl Jones, Muhammad Ali, Celia Cruz, La India, Marc Anthony, Chuck Mangione, Patti LaBelle, The Rebirth, Incognito, Prince...I’ll stop there.
B-E-M: What advice would you give upcoming artists?
OS: Keep your imagination vivid and your mind open and give up on your art. Allow yourself to be criticized by those who don’t love you or know you. Test your talent in arenas with other talented people. If you can, get honest, anonymous opinions about your level of skill. Also, live life to the fullest, spread peace and love throughout your travels.
B-E-M: Your Song “Hip Hop Changed the World” is interesting, why did you write this piece??
OS: It started with the piano melody. I began to feel a rush of nostalgia, thinking about a lot of my influences and how Hip Hop is so diverse. I began to think about how Hip Hop has touched and transformed everything in the world. How Black culture (specifically the culture African-American Youth) made being Black more acceptable if not the thing to be.
B-E-M: Where do you think Positive Rap is going in the future?
OS: I think it’s going to reign again for a time and then fall and then come back...but never like we think it will. I believe that Hip Hop has crests and troughs or waves to put it better. It has solidified itself as a viable genre that probably won’t be going anywhere for a very long time because Hip Hop’s revolution is usually upon itself.
B-E-M: What can we expect from you in the future?
OS: Love in the form of powerful music.
OS: In general, eating healthy, exercising regularly, and getting plenty of rest. Keeping a clean body both inside and out. Keeping a positive mind and maintaining a thirst for knowledge, fun and love. Having great sex (safe sex). Maintaining an open mind for new things, and respect for the Earth and Universe and Karma.
B-E-M: What are some things you do to keep yourself healthy?
OS: I try to eat healthy (especially morning and night). I exercise at least 3 times a week. I keep a positive outlook on life, and if that doesn’t work right away I use comedy or good music to lift my spirits. I surround myself with beautiful positive people who are wiser than I am in some area or another. I take time to relax.
B-E-M: How long have you been an MC and performing in general?
I’ve been rapping since I was 8 years old. and performing since I was 17.
B-E-M: What community service projects are you involved in?
OS: The Peace and Love Movement (Philadelphia, PA) Founded By Rochelle Lampkin. We talk to children of many different ages about choosing better ways of handling stress and anger besides violence. Philly has a horribly high death rate so many organizations have formed to try and stem the violence by talking to the youth in hopes that by the time they become adults they’ll be on point. And Philllywood Entertainment, they go to correctional facilities and prisons to talk to those who are incarcerated and soon to be released on up to those who will never be released about trying to live a peaceful life.
B-E-M: What projects would like to see in your community?
OS: I would like to see real push to clean up and revitalize a lot of these dilapidated neighborhoods and have cleanliness laws installed so that someone would have to be accountable for the littering and dumping of trash all around the city.
B-E-M: Who are your influences?
OS: Mandrill, Roy Ayers, Stevie Wonder, Big Daddy Kane, Pharoahe Monch, Jill Scott, Kool G Rap, Busta Rhymes, The Mighty Sparrow, Chaka Khan, Chubb Rock, Peedi Crakk, The Native Tongues Crew, Toni Tony Tone’, Raphael Saadiq, Method Man, The GZA, Pete Rock, Black Star, Common Sense, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, James Brown, The Winans Family, Dave Chappelle, Morgan Freeman, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, RUN DMC, Bob James, John Mayer, Erykah Badu, Dead Prez, Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, The Beatles, Martin Lawrence, Quincy Jones, Tito Puente,Bob Marley, Beenie Man, Shabba Ranks, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, The Roots, KRS-ONE, 50 Cent, OutKast, DAS EFX, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Curtis Mayfield, James Earl Jones, Muhammad Ali, Celia Cruz, La India, Marc Anthony, Chuck Mangione, Patti LaBelle, The Rebirth, Incognito, Prince...I’ll stop there.
B-E-M: What advice would you give upcoming artists?
OS: Keep your imagination vivid and your mind open and give up on your art. Allow yourself to be criticized by those who don’t love you or know you. Test your talent in arenas with other talented people. If you can, get honest, anonymous opinions about your level of skill. Also, live life to the fullest, spread peace and love throughout your travels.
B-E-M: Your Song “Hip Hop Changed the World” is interesting, why did you write this piece??
OS: It started with the piano melody. I began to feel a rush of nostalgia, thinking about a lot of my influences and how Hip Hop is so diverse. I began to think about how Hip Hop has touched and transformed everything in the world. How Black culture (specifically the culture African-American Youth) made being Black more acceptable if not the thing to be.
B-E-M: Where do you think Positive Rap is going in the future?
OS: I think it’s going to reign again for a time and then fall and then come back...but never like we think it will. I believe that Hip Hop has crests and troughs or waves to put it better. It has solidified itself as a viable genre that probably won’t be going anywhere for a very long time because Hip Hop’s revolution is usually upon itself.
B-E-M: What can we expect from you in the future?
OS: Love in the form of powerful music.
