Rushah Davis interviewed by Stephen Easley
Steven Easley (00:03): The date is July 14th-
Rushah Davis (00:06): 14th it is, it's the 14th.
Steven Easley (00:08): 14. Nice Friday. Hot-
Rushah Davis (00:10): It's beautiful.
Steven Easley (00:11): ... warm.
Rushah Davis (00:11): Wonderful, excellent.
Steven Easley (00:12): 2023.
Rushah Davis (00:13): 90,000 degree Friday.
Steven Easley (00:14): Here we are in Mohawk Correctional Facility. And with me today I have Hollowed B.
Rushah Davis (00:20): (laughs) Hi, how doing, man?
Steven Easley (00:21): I'm all right. How are you today?
Rushah Davis (00:23): I'm all right.
Steven Easley (00:23): All right, we got a few questions for you today that we're gonna ask. Um, when did you start music?
Rushah Davis (00:29): Oh man, I've been doing music ever since... a kid. I got started as a hobby-
Steven Easley (00:34): Mm-hmm.
Rushah Davis (00:34): ... and I started off as... in a boxing group. And then part of the boxing group, we used to have like a DJ room and a studio set up in there-
Steven Easley (00:42): Okay.
Rushah Davis (00:42): ... and then that transformed to, like, poetry society in school, that's turned into concerts and stuff, and I've been hooked ever since.
Steven Easley (00:49): All right, all right. So, you could sa- safely say music is your passion.
Rushah Davis (00:54): Yeah, definitely. The only thing I'm really passionate about... well, one of the only things (laughs).
Steven Easley (00:59): Okay, okay. So, um, how would you describe yourself as an artist?
Rushah Davis (01:04): I would describe myself as an artist as... unconventional. Like, unique. Like, I- every song I do, I try to do it differently than a song I did before-
Steven Easley (01:14): Mm-hmm.
Rushah Davis (01:14): ... and I'm not afraid to try new things, and explore new areas for... and I don't know, I just want to be an artist, not an individual genre person, I want to be known for music, period.
Steven Easley (01:28): Yeah, so as you describe that... I know your new hit She's So Hot-
Rushah Davis (01:31): (laughs)
Steven Easley (01:32): You try to take a country route, so you try to expand your audience, I see you.
Rushah Davis (01:36): Yeah.
Steven Easley (01:37): Um, when you take that leap, are you nervous?
Rushah Davis (01:41): Mm... not really. And the song's called Don't Rain On Me. And, like, I write music any genre, so like, it is a little nerve-wracking sometimes to record other than like R&B and rap, cause that's my- main two, two main ones. But other than that, I- I just love music.
Steven Easley (01:57): Okay, so we got a lot to look for in the future. Okay. Um, how did being in this class make you feel?
Rushah Davis (02:05): Uh, it made- it- it felt good to get back and still be able to, uh, focus on what I love, which is music, and be able to create and learn new techniques and skills that's gonna help me in the future to still create music.
(02:14):
So it felt good to at least escape the everyday nonsense of this facility, because (laughs) it's entirely too much everyday nonsense in this facility.
Steven Easley (02:25): Everyday. Since today, being late.
Rushah Davis (02:28): Right.
Steven Easley (02:29): So, um, quick question, uh, did you ever think in prison you would be able to record music?
Rushah Davis (02:36): Never. Never would that ever even been a thought. Although, I have, like, been in a band before, so like-
Steven Easley (02:42): Mm-hmm.
Rushah Davis (02:44): ... everywhere I go I'm always gonna be interested in music and find a way to be involved in it-
Steven Easley (02:48): Yeah.
Rushah Davis (02:48): ... but to be able to record it, and possibly be able to send it home and stuff like that? That was never an- an idea or a thought.
Steven Easley (02:54): So this is a great program.
Rushah Davis (02:56): Great program, great program.
Steven Easley (02:57): Okay. So I wanna ask, how did you experience in the class-
Rushah Davis (03:01): Sorry, I was distracted temporarily.
Steven Easley (03:06): Sorry (laughs).
Rushah Davis (03:08): Don't laugh at that, that's not funny, I'm sitting here just (laughs)...
Steven Easley (03:08): I'm sorry (laughs).
Rushah Davis (03:09): (laughs) This is recording, I'm just telling you right now...
Steven Easley (03:10): (laughs) All right.
Rushah Davis (03:10): (laughs)
Steven Easley (03:12): Stick to the script, your day is won.
Rushah Davis (03:13): That's what I'm trying to tell you (laughs).
Steven Easley (03:16): How did your experience in this class compare to what you expected?
Rushah Davis (03:19): S- still distracted. Uh, I- my experience (laughs) in this class was fucking... I- I enjoyed it. I enjoyed being here. I wish I could have did a few more things, like I wish I could come back for the next class and do more stuff-
Steven Easley (03:31): Yeah.
Rushah Davis (03:31): ... because, like, there... like, when I record stuff, I would wanna record meaningful stuff, where I feel like I could have recorded more stuff that when released would have been a little bit more meaningful, for messages that I want to give out to people.
(03:44):
But other than that, I had a great time here, I met some interesting people who love music, learned some interesting techniques that's gonna help me in the future with creating this music...
Steven Easley (03:51): Mm-hmm.
Rushah Davis (03:52): And, yeah, I'm just... Hopefully I could find somebody to buy some of these damn songs we writing.
Steven Easley (03:56): (laughs) So, um, uh, where that you at, music on JPay?
Rushah Davis (03:59): Oh, yeah, I got music on JPay Kiosk, check it out whenever you get a chance, under Hollowed B. H-O-L-L-O-W-E-D, space, B, period. I got... They finally just put my whole album up there too, now, so-
Steven Easley (04:09): Nice.
Rushah Davis (04:10): ... The Juice is up there, check that out. And I got- I- just love music, I do it everywhere, if you ever look up Hallowed B. anywhere, you'll find my music all over.
Steven Easley (04:19): And, The Juice, your album-
Rushah Davis (04:21): Mm-hmm.
Steven Easley (04:21): When did you drop this album?
Rushah Davis (04:22): I dropped The Juice the album in... July of... this year, actually- no, July of last year.
Steven Easley (04:30): 2022.
Rushah Davis (04:31): So '22, and I dropped it while still incarcerated and then it- it surprisingly blew up pretty nicely.
Steven Easley (04:38): Nice.
Rushah Davis (04:38): So that's pretty cool.
Steven Easley (04:39): Nice. If you do further your music, which I believe you would, do you believe in performing live, or just stick to recording?
Rushah Davis (04:46): Oh, I love- I love recording, I love performing, I love the shows, I love the videos, I love everything that has to do with the music, the creating, the meeting new people... Like, it's kinda like a way of life for me, so this is always gonna be my go-to.
Steven Easley (04:59): So we should have some shows to look forward to.
Rushah Davis (05:01): Man, hopefully. Y'all gonna have to wait a little while though (laughs).
Steven Easley (05:05): (laughs)
Rushah Davis (05:05): Got a little time to do.
Steven Easley (05:06): Well, I'm aware that you got one of them coming up July 28th.
Rushah Davis (05:10): Oh, yeah. We- we're doing a- we're doing a concert here at the, um, the jail. I guess we're putting on a show for the staff here, too, so that's gonna be pretty damn cool.
Steven Easley (05:18): Are you excited for that?
Rushah Davis (05:19): Yeah. Super excited, I can't wait.
Steven Easley (05:21): Are you nervous?
Rushah Davis (05:23): Mm... not really nervous. I just wanna- I'm interested to see how we're gonna do that, though, how that's actually gonna work out, and-
Steven Easley (05:28): Yeah.
Rushah Davis (05:28): ... who we're gonna be doing it for. That's interesting to know.
Steven Easley (05:31): On the competitive tip, do you think you will outperform or outshine your fellow classmates?
Rushah Davis (05:39): Man, we're- I think everybody's talented in their own way. I never... like, for me it's never been a competition thing, it's always just been... like, I think I'm just int- I may enjoy it more than the rest of them (laughs).
Steven Easley (05:48): Okay, okay, good way you put it. Nice, nice.
Rushah Davis (05:51): 'Cause I love it. Mm. What other questions you got for me over there, man?
Steven Easley (05:59): I got a lot more, I got a lot more. Um, let's talk about your day-to-day life.
Rushah Davis (06:05): Aw, man. You know. It's real hard in here, you know, trying to stay sucker-free in a land full of lollipops.
Steven Easley (06:10): I hear that.
Rushah Davis (06:10): (laughs) My knees get real tired from doing all the ducking down, sucker-ducking all these people.
Steven Easley (06:16): I hear you, I hear you.
Rushah Davis (06:18): Again, this place- this place will drive you crazy, but it's good to have a nice outlet to m- make it less crazy.
Steven Easley (06:26): So if-
Rushah Davis (06:27): ... And distractions, like... distractions.
Steven Easley (06:29): Hmm. I understand. If you could come to this class everyday, would you?
Rushah Davis (06:39): Mm... everyday? Hell yeah. I would fucking do my whole bit here.
Steven Easley (06:42): (laughs)
Rushah Davis (06:42): And just keep recording. I be dropping album after album, they be tired of me.
Steven Easley (06:45): (laughs)
Rushah Davis (06:47): (laughs) I'd record one every week.
(06:52):
Oh, man, you- you wanna- now you got two minutes, man, what you want to talk about for these last two minutes?
Steven Easley (06:55): Two minutes? Man, listen. I got longer than two minutes.
Rushah Davis (06:59): All right, okay.
Steven Easley (06:59): (laughs)
Rushah Davis (06:59): (laughs)
Steven Easley (07:01): I be here for a while.
Rushah Davis (07:03): Okay, talk that shit, talk that shit (laughs). Oh, you didn't bring any soda for everybody else (laughs).
Steven Easley (07:08): What, if anything, did you learn from the course that you just completed?
Rushah Davis (07:12): Uh, the- one of the main pickup things that I picked up from this place is the, uh, the ability to- to write out almost, like, music-wise, like... designing beats and how to put it together, and to get my idea and my thought process and to transform it into paper to where other people will be able to see and read and understand where I'm going with it, so that recording process can be a lot easier.
Steven Easley (07:35): Okay, okay.
Rushah Davis (07:36): Like, a lot easier. That's what I hope.
Steven Easley (07:38): So, to all the inspiring artists-
Rushah Davis (07:41): Uh-huh.
Steven Easley (07:42): ... what's your best advice?
Rushah Davis (07:44): Mm... Keep going. Um, write, everyday, get out and write some more, every chance you can, write more. You wanna record, record more. You get an idea, follow that idea. Don't give up on anything you wanna do, or anything you dream about. Anything you got in your mind that you think is achievable, i- if you believe you can or you can't, you're absolutely right. That's my advice.
Steven Easley (08:04): Good inspiration. Well, I enjoyed this interview, I hope you did, too.
Rushah Davis (08:08): I enjoyed this interview as well.
Steven Easley (08:10): Ah, well, um-
Rushah Davis (08:11): I can't wait til we interview you (laughs).
Steven Easley (08:11) (laughs)
Rushah Davis (08:11): I got some questions for your ass.
Steven Easley (08:14): Well, this is Shoddy B with the file.
Rushah Davis (08:15): (laughs)
Steven Easley (08:17): And we have-
Rushah Davis (08:18): Well, and uh, remember that on the rainy days, if you pray, you could probably stop the rain, you know? Especially if she's hot, God may look out for you and just keep it- keep it nice and calm for you. And it's time to switch, guys.
Steven Easley (08:32): Switch.