The Future Pulse of Rap, Carlos St. John By: Lyric Dysin

The first word that came to mind after hearing Carlos St. John rip a verse from his highly anticipated debut album, “The St. John Project,” was…FINALLY. Oddly there were no words of description that immediately filled my head. No eloquent metaphors to describe the way his deep routed lyrics moved my spirit as if they were alive; stretching and tangling around my mind like veins meant to pull me into the complex world of this gifted, creative, and ever so ambitious, Brooklyn native. There were no words of dislike or disbelief, no comparisons made between him and rappers that came before him. No flaws tacked themselves to the back of my mind. No thoughts of “decline,” “wanna-be,” “can’t,” or “will never be,” echoed after he rhymed. In the end, there was just…FINALLY.

It was a replica of an exhale. In fact, the moment that I said it, “Finally”, my entire body and mind felt at ease. After listening to St. John’s ill-gotten lyrics, I felt no more on edge from the theory that authentic rap would die on the shoulders of its all-star vets, but that it might live, and even thrive, with new blood grabbing hold of the mic. After the first time hearing this future icon, I began to foresee how rap may have a legitimate chance of surviving this futile stage that it has settled in. When most rap artists now perceive it as more of a hustle than an art-form, as their commitment to shine gleams more from their teeth and wrist than the polishing of their lyrical skills, Carlos St. John proves to be the exception.


Pseudonym
CSJ: I’m Brooklyn’s James Bond.

He says it with a certain confidence in his voice. Immediately, I can see how the pseudonym fits. The Brotha is that smooth, as are his lyrics and sense of style. With the looks of a ladies’ man and the hunger of a hustler, this quick slick rapper is no vanishing act. In fact, his skills proclaim that he’s eternal, classic, since the day he first put a pen to the pad. Whether draped in jeans, a hoody, and fresh kicks or decked out in designer linen, on the stage, Carlos St. John is Mr. oo7. I tell you, he’s that smooth.

Universe
CSJ: It spins on ambition, the good people in my life, and the music.

When Carlos was barely a teenager, expressing himself through rhyme, without a thought of ever making a living out of it, his universe went from living in a group home on the rough streets of BK to being ushered to Manhattan to stand in front of an executive model scout. From there, he was booked---not that this natural born lyricist could be satisfied on stage without a mic in his hand. Consequently, he returned to the humble life; surviving practically on the dreams in his head. Living in a quaint space, tucked away in a poet’s corner, writing rhymes while working to defy the odds of becoming a statistic. For most anyone else, the backpedal would be considered a setback. But for Carlos, the sacrifice only pumped a desperation into his veins that set him up to be that much better and that much more determined to be the prominent emcee he was born to be.

Leader
CSJ: Never been a follower, and don’t intend to start now.

There is no doubt that Carlos takes his own route in life, moving forward and upward. His growing number of fans follow him for one simple reason: they sense that he won’t steer them wrong.

Stepping Stone
CSJ: Each day I spend grinding out the business to get to the top. I’m nowhere near where I want to me.

He makes it very clear that every day of his life is served as a stepping stone for the next. Just by listening to him speak, I can hear his drive. An unstoppable force, Mr. St. John appears to be, as he relentlessly works to perfect his talents. Nevertheless, if the truth be told, it may very well be Carlos’ business mindset that will guarantee his incline.

Entourage
CSJ: No need [for an entourage]. True skills can stand alone.

You’ve never seen it, and I doubt that you will ever hear of Carlos St. John being represented by an entourage. When it has become a fad for today’s musical artist to define themselves by their crew, flashing them in videos as if the audience will buy their music based on association than individual appeal, Carlos has chosen to allow his lyrics to represent him.

Just listen to the St. John Project and soon you’ll realize, as I did, the possibility of there being a worthy alternative to Jay-z----one who personifies more than a gutter man’s hustle and flow, but a unique entanglement of talent, vision, and hypnotic swagger. Inevitably, you will come to grips with the reality that rap has finally birthed a descendent of the Greats------a lyricist, who, unlike most of his new age competitors, had not wildly crafted his lyrics to conveniently hold space between a seller hook (which would have made it best served as an instrumental). Instead, Carlos’ album drops hard, delivering healing and hope to the ears of rap lovers that yearn for deliverance.