Although he appeared on NEW LEASE MUSIC a few times last year, Ryan Lamar Alexander – aka Atlanta-based hip-hop rapper 5TASH – was never formally introduced to you guys. Well I finally caught up with him to discuss his latest EP, ‘I, 5tash Bank$’. I asked him about his inspiration behind the popping set and whether he had any challenges during the production process due to the Covid pandemic.
It was an absolute pleasure virtually meeting this fiery upriser…and I hope you guys enjoy his company too…check him out below…
NLM: Hey, thank you for taking part in an interview with NEW LEASE MUSIC. How is 2021 treating you so far?
5B: Thank you for having me, 2021 has been great to be honest, a lot better than last year so far. Money up, family doing great despite the case I’m currently fighting but I finally released my long awaited Debut EP, I, 5tash Bank$ now out on all DSP’s everywhere. So Life’s good, yu already snow.
NLM: You released your album ‘I, 5tash Bank$” last month. What is the public perception on the project so far?
5B: Based on the numbers, people are eating it it up! I’m up over 7,000 streams in just under 10 days on Spotify alone. I’ve started gain a growing fan base overseas in Holland, Australia and The Netherlands to name a few, which is pretty dope!! Right now , “Trvpbunkin” + & “RLA+” seem the fan favorites so far.
NLM: What inspired you to produce the album?
5B: I have been a working on the album for over two years now teasing my fans all the way since late 2018 through 2019 & this year, with early singles off the project like as “Benjii Frenzy” featuring Dionta Sullivan a.k.a. “Yung Caf”, and “ADAYGO” featuring Pluggy Simmons, and Philly Redface of the Formula Gang.
“I, 5TASH BANK$”, in my opinion, may go down as one of my best projects when it’s all said and done but only time will be able to tell. The project highlights n captures a unique and yet complex sound not quite heard or seen by the likes of anyone ever before. The entire EP is riddled with distinct flows, unorthodox cadences, and clever / beyond whit bars; the kind you have to play back a few times to catch; over an array of gritty beats meshed with a multitude of smooth sounds all to the very “Low” key that is “5tash”, pun intended. Executive Produced by my boy, Joshua Branden Welch aka Brutus The Melodist, & the Atlanta southside’s very own, Annie O, the EP consists of 15 original records and I feel like I definitely out did myself with this one and came thru with some major heat to start up and kick off 2021 in a strong way.
The EP is a masterpiece, content & production-wise to say the absolute least. The very distinct and familiar Intros to each song definitely give the project character and are reminiscent of another DMV Native, Wale’s More About Nothing, Series. Im sure this will be the project that separates me from the rest and what I need to gain the attention of the real industry heavy hitters & send me on my way to true stardom. With an assorted cast of production on the album from the likes of Princeamgn, Lito, Purls, Yung Glizzy, Guierrmo, 183realchance and of course his seemingly go to guys as of late, RXKZ & Brutus the Melodist.
NLM: What is/are your favourite single(s) from the album and why?
5B: ‘Personally it would be a tie between “ADDVICE+” & “Benjii Frenzy”. The energy on this Benjii is definitely crazy as always wen my bro Yung Caf gets on a record. But the subject matter and overall vibe of ADDVICE+ are “IT” for me and easily why I chose both to shoot visuals to first. My runner ups would have to be my lead single “No Hoe$” & “ ‘13 Durk” for sure. but I love all the songs on the album and had a very hard time not only selecting which ones, but even harder time deciding n locking in the final track order. The projects doormat record and first song on tracklist, “The FLORIST +” is definitely a personal favorite of mines b/c of the features, my boys Devon Burch aka Fly Von, Yung Caf & Meraki all came through with heat to pop the project off more than properly.
NLM: So how would you describe the album’s sound to potential fans?
5B: The overall Sound of “I, 5tash Bank$” can be described as a compilation of the different flavors of me and my different musical personalities all in one introduction project. I felt I had to give them a piece of all my different sides to display my range. It’s a blend of my older and newer sounds. Strong bars, distinct flows and unforgettable memories some familiar, but mostly unforeseen before. My tamber, tone and deep voice are something they haven’t heard the likes of since Devin the Dude & Nate Dogg. The EP is an overall vibe jammed packed with back to back lit singles that stand just as strong alone as they do assembled on the project.
NLM: If you had to feature one mainstream artist on the album, who would it be and why?
5B: ‘That’s definitely a great question and one I haven’t been asked yet so far in my press run. But to answer it simply I don’t think I would really want to feature any mainstream artist on my debut project because I wouldn’t want the weight of their name to be the reason people tune in. I felt that it was one of the best projects I could assemble without any major features however if I was to realistically reach out to someone to remix or possibly feature on the 2nd installation of the I, 5tash Banks trilogy series, it would have to be another artist with a similar complementing sound and weirdly enough but more importantly to me would have to have another “money-related” name like I do. For instance I would definitely consider reaching out to Moneybagg Yo’s team especially to tap in to that Memphis market. I would also strongly consider reaching out to Roddy Ricch’s team for a feature from as well, as I definitely do enjoy his work.
7) Did the Covid pandemic presented any drawbacks in the production of your album?
5B: COVID definitely threw a pretty big wrench in things for me as I’m sure it did for all of us, whether they’d like to admit it or not. From a production stand point, pretty much everything was unfortunately haulted when the lockdowns/shutdowns began. So I was left to try and work my magic in personal studios for the time being. I ended up linking up with a lot of my contacts here in Atlanta personally to get the project finished in home studios which was a pretty dope experience.
8) Do you have other project(s) for 2021?
5B: Yes I definitely do. In 2021 I plan to release an onslaught of new music and clear out the “5tash” as I’ve been sitting on a whole lot of music that I’m finally ready to package and deliver to the masses. My next project will be “I, The MELODIST” dropping tentatively in February. This will be for lack of better words, “a Side B” project to “I, 5TASH BANK$”, and display my vocal range as the artist formerly known as “The Melodist”. After that the onslaught continues with my 3rd studio project, “The Luxury of Abundance” and the 2nd installment of the “I, 5TASH BANK$”, trilogy series by the end of the year with a couple collab projects with my fellow Greenfolkz! artists sprinkled in between.
NLM: How can potential fan find you?
5B: You can find me and the entire gang on all Streaming platforms under 5tash or Greenfolkz! Where ever music is found you can find us!
Twitter: @5tash
IG: @5tash_
NLM: Finally, any special shoutouts to those involved in the production of ‘‘I, 5tash Bank$’’?
5B: MAJOR SHOUTOUTS to the producers on the project Princeamgn, Lito, Purls, Yung Glizzy, Guierrmo, 183realchance and of course my go to guys as of late, RXKZ & Joshua Branden Welch aka Brutus the Melodist, & the Atlanta southside’s very own, Annie O, who Executive Produced the project along with myself.
HUGE SHOUTOUTS to all the featured artists on the project, Dionta Sullivan a.k.a. “Yung Caf”, Pluggy Simmons, Redface & Tsunami of the Formula Gang. Not to mention Fly Von, Merkai, XLG OFFICIAL & Jigga Flames. Last but not least my entire GVNG, Yoxay”- Joseph Allen, also from Prince George’s County, Maryland, “Odashow”- Oluseyi Olaore, Outta Cincinnati, Ohio, of “MT!“-Marcus Thomas, a native ATLien, “LunLun”- Lunden White, “Glorious Queen“- Carolyn Simpson, “Steffany Saffire”- Ehime Sadoh and Producers “Brutus The Melodist“,-Joshua Branden Welch, another native ATLien, “Yung Swizx“, Brian Hardwick of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania & “knykeys”, Kenneth Reyes, from Guatemala.
And even bigger shoutout to my family, my mother & father who have always believed in me regardless my endeavors, my beautiful daughter. To Prince George’s County, and the whole DMV area that raised me and to myself to be honest. Me, Ryan Lamar Alexander, made a lot of sacrifices so that “5tash” could exist and I have to take the time give my self my flowers if you will.
Finally to you New Lease Music for the continued love and support. Thank you all for your time.
5Tash Banks’ EP is now available on various DSPs. Be sure to look out for the official video for his track, ‘Big 5tash Bank$’ coming soon on the blog…
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