Beginning his music journey nearly 2 decades ago, Bearded Legend is an artist who is rightful of the term ‘musician’. Always creating, the East Coast native is ½ of the duo BLDG, member of GRXM MAFIA, and has an astounding amount of content available. Years of progress, workshopping different sounds, and experimenting with different types of content have given him vast knowledge of the industry, and how to balance creation and self care. With an undeniable work ethic, and an eye set on success, Bearded Legend’s time in the limelight is coming. While his musical talent is apparent, he can also be recognized for his intelligence; able to ignore the distractions of the industry that have rid others of success that could have been. We got to ask Bearded Legend 20 questions, highlighting on his new project SIGNS, the origins of BLDG & GRXM MAFIA, and what his persona means to him.
Question 1: So you’re from New York, right? Does that affect your music at all? Do you think that the obsession with ‘coasts’ in rap music is dead, or is it still a factor?
Yeah I’m from New York. I’d say it doesn’t really affect my music specifically. But I definitely have heard that I kind of have that “New York attitude” sometimes, so that might add a certain flare to some songs depending on the mood I’m going for. I don’t think the whole coast battle is dead but it definitely isn’t how it was back in the day, which is good. It’s better to just see people from wherever showing support to each other.
Question 2: When did you officially start making music?
I don’t even know. I guess like in elementary school, to be honest. I used to write songs all the time even before I had any instruments to play or anything. I used to play drums as a kid, then went on to playing guitar as a teenager. Then got into piano and production and whatever. So yeah, I don’t really know. I started to become consistent and most passionate though in 2015 for sure. 2015 was when I decided that I really wanted to make a career out of it.
Question 3: You have a significant amount of full projects on your SoundCloud. The differences between HEAR ME OUT and OWL EYES to SIGNS now are insane. We see a lot of artist deleting their older music with a different sound than they’re currently creating. Why do you choose to keep all your old music up?
I’ve actually spoken to other artists about this before. I leave my older music up because I want aspiring artists to see the journey and understand that you won’t have your sound exactly figured out right from the start. Sometimes when these artists go deleting their old stuff, fans and aspiring artists will think, “Damn, this dude only has dope shit up. My stuff is nowhere close to this.” Even though that is almost always never the case. Everyone has to start somewhere and just because you may not sound as good as you want doesn’t mean you won’t find yourself and figure it out down the road. And it’s good for people to see that.
Question 4: So, tell us about the origin of your stage name. How long have you been growing the beard? Would you ever have it?
I’ve been growing it on and off since I’ve been able to grow it, so like since I was 18 I guess. I’ve shaved it plenty of times *laughs* It doesn’t take a long time to grow back. But even besides that, the meaning of my name really has nothing to do with my physical appearance so if I feel like shaving it again at some point, I will. And I’ll still have the same name. Some people think that I’ll be stuck in some dilemma if I’m named Bearded Legend without a beard, but for 2015 and 2016 I didn’t even have one *laughs* Let me just insert this explanation of my name as well: To me, the name Bearded Legend is just a generic term for god. But I’m not saying I’m specifically a god, or putting myself above anyone. Throughout history people have viewed powerful gods as bearded men in the sky, but since no one has ever seen one of these gods, or has been able to prove their existence…they are seen as just myths and legends – hence the term bearded legend. If any gods do exist, they can technically look like anyone or be anything, so from my point of view, anyone is or can be bearded legend. We all have the capabilities to become uniquely powerful and inspirational beings in our own right. It’s not limited to anyone specific, myself included. The name goes deeper than most people think, and really has nothing to do with my outward appearance.
Question 5: You’re 27, correct? How do you feel about the pressure in the underground of blowing up young? Why is that ideal flawed?
Yeah, I’m gonna be 28 this year. I think the pressure to blow up young is stupid as fuck. I originally started rapping in 2010-11 and I used to pressure myself on blowing up young, and after shit didn’t take off that first year…I began panicking about my future and gave up. But I came to realize that this type of pressure from our peers in music, and society in general, is completely stupid and unnecessary, so in 2015 when I turned 25 I decided, “Fuck it, I know what I wanna do so I’m gonna do it.” It’s such a dream killer for so many people. The way I see it is – my journey was supposed to go this exact way all along. I wasn’t ready to blow up as a teenager, or in my early 20s, or even at this point last year. In my opinion, it’s way better to grow up and make your mistakes and learn shit as a broke ass average person outside of the spotlight, this way you have way less to lose, rather than be in the spotlight and have your whole career and life to fuck up by making a common mistake. Now, as I’m finally starting to get a little recognition, I have much more life experience than I did when I was 21, or like I said before, even 26. If you would’ve given me the money and attention at 18, I would’ve been getting into trouble and doing drugs and being an asshole, not giving a shit about anything. But now, since I’ve lost people throughout the years since then, I’ve become sober as fuck, and I’ve become more at peace with myself and the world around me after dealing with a lot of personal shit – I feel I’d handle the type of pressure and responsibility that fame brings way better. People just have to appreciate the journey and never stop growing.
Question 6: How did you choose where to go with your vocal stylings, and what influenced your sound?
I really just go with the voices I’m most comfortable with, and the ones that pair with my moods the best. I’ve heard people compare my voice to many artists from the past and present. But I’d say out of all the comparisons, the ones that could be seen as true influences could probably be Bone Thugs and Ozzy Osbourne, since I actually listen to them and have been listening to them since I was a kid. But I really feel that, all in all, there’s a uniqueness to the way I use my voice. Everything is mainly just based off of how I feel.
Question 7: You produce as well. Are there any differences in your creative process for writing lyrics versus producing a beat?
Not really, it all starts with something basic. When I write lyrics I just think of a basic word or subject to start with. And when I make beats, I’ll usually just lay down a drum beat at a random tempo and then go from there, and make any changes as I go along. And of course it all just goes with whatever my mood is at the time, so it all can change.
Question 8: How does self production versus working on a beat someone else has produced affect your music, if at all?
Self-production can help you make a song that sounds exactly as you imagine. But it can also slow the process of it all as you try to achieve that. I love making songs over my beats, as well as other people’s beats. It is much easier to just go off of the mood provided by another person’s beat. In my eyes, half the work is already done for you like that. But when I make my own beats, I’m pondering a million different directions the song can go in because I know I have the power to change any part of it that I want.
Question 9: You’ve formed a duo with fellow GRXM Mafia member Doug G The Night Child. Tell me about that relationship; why did you start working together?
We started a group as soon as I decided to pursue music as a real career in 2015. We’re from the same area in NY and we’re both just pretty chill dudes with some similar views on things, so it was clear that we should just form a duo and work together. Then in the Autumn of 2016 I began talking to Torchfvce and we all built a relationship from there.
Question 10: You’re a member of GRXM Mafia. Tell me about this collective and how you became involved. Why was it formed, and what are your collective missions?
GRXM MAFIA was originally an idea presented to me by my homie Torchfvce. He was in Graveyardboyz at the time, while my homie Doug G and I had BLDG, and he just asked me if I thought it would be a cool idea to bring us all together into one collective and I said yeah. So from there we started making and selling clothes as well, and since the start we’ve just been trying to push a better message in the underground. Our mission is to put a bigger focus on positivity and integrity and things of that sort in the underground. There’s a lot of scammers and shit, as well as people just pushing unhealthy lifestyles. People can do whatever they want, though, but we just wanted to show other artists that you don’t have to be a certain way to do good with your music. You don’t have to be all about the typical stuff that you see everyone else doing. And if you are, that’s fine too. We just couldn’t really find a place for us to fit in with the majority of other artists when it comes to the choices some make, so we carved out our own little group.
Question 11: How did you end up working with your affiliates? Did you find them online, similar to most partnerships in the scene, or organically?
Like I said with Doug, we’re from the same area. However, when I decided to get serious with music, a mutual friend of ours suggested that I show Doug my shit and try to work with him, as he had already been rapping and doing shows for a long time. So I did that and we clicked. And he actually got me to do my first show ever *laughs* That was one of the biggest reasons I had avoided really pursuing a career in music. I used to be so scared of performing in front of people up until I was 25. And now we both have different strengths so we help each other still to find a balance. Mostly everyone else I’ve worked with has been a result of networking through social media. I first started talking to Torchfvce on Instagram. And even though him and Graveyardboyz had been known way more than me at the time, they fucked with my music and started working with me and quickly became my homies. But in general, I don’t go out a lot at all, so while I was always home making music, I’d also be messaging people online to see if they’d be interested in working. And now I still do the same thing to an extent, though more people have been hitting me up on their own since I’ve been earning a little more acknowledgement in the underground.
Question 12: What’s your secret to keeping your head in this industry? How do you avoid distractions, and dedicate yourself to the music?
Stay humble. I meditate every day. I don’t drink or smoke or do any drugs. I exercise 3-5 times a week and drink plenty of water and try to eat good. I don’t have many friends and I haven’t had a girlfriend in years. And for the most part, this is how I’ve really been for a lot of my life, though mostly in my 20s. Even when I was working a 9-5 and not doing music I was usually just doing my own thing. It just so happens that it works well with the pursuit of a music career *laughs* I’m my own biggest distraction in the first place, though. So I’m really just always trying to keep growing and become better in whatever ways I can and naturally manage the problems I have with anxiety and depression and all the other shit. It also helps to not compare yourself to others. I try to just focus on myself and wish everyone else the best.
Question 13: So you have everything from covers, collabs with very recognizable names, production, and a ton more in your discography. Do you do it all to try it all, or is mixing content intentional for your supporters?
I do it all to try it all, and to satisfy my wants as a person and an artist. If people end up liking it all, then that’s a cool bonus. But in order to translate all of my emotions through music, I have to switch things up. All of my feelings can’t be translated through any specific genre.
Question 14: Do you ever feel like creating music has become a job for you? Does creating the amount of content you create ever wear on you, and how do you combat that?
There have been times where I put unnecessary pressure on myself to get things done, but not so much anymore. I combat it by reminding myself that one of the reasons I wanted to do this as a career in the first place was to feel better and be able to do things on my own terms. The only way it feels like a job is that now, as I’m getting busier, I have more places to be and more people to work with, so I have to work on a little schedule. Also, being able to make some money now makes it feel more and more like a job, but in the good way *laughs*
Question 15: When creating a project, do you create the tracks with a story in mind, or does each song complete its own?
All of my songs are connected in one way or another. All of my music is just one big story in general. I draw most of my influence from my own life and feelings, which is what connects all of the music. I will also put some clear similarities in songs and instrumentals that I make to see if anyone can pick up on it, because you can see some of the connections when you pay close attention.
Question 16: So, you recently released your EP, SIGNS. How does this project differ from previous ones and why does it stand out?
SIGNS was made to represent a new stage of my life, for the new year of 2018. This stage of my life is one where I’m finally making my dreams come true by recognizing the signs all around me, and I’m becoming more in tune with my surroundings. With each new project, through both the quality of music and the messages in the lyrics themselves, people should be able to tell I’m becoming more sure of myself and more comfortable with the way things are, and the way they go. So if anything makes a new project of mine stand out, it should be a sense of less and less doubt, with more and more positivity. Though I’ll still sprinkle in a track like “BLACK HOLE” to show that while I’m doing better, there can still be those off days. Hopefully that all made sense and answered your question to an extent *laughs*
Question 17: One of the stand out tracks is inspired by model turned actress who is a household name. Why Cara Delevingne? Tell me about this song and what it means to you.
The song “Cara Delevingne” is literally about a dream I had *laughs* Prior to that dream there had been no plans on making a song about her or anything. One night I had a dream about her and I woke up feeling really good, so I went to write about it in my journal and wrote down the words, “last night I had a dream about Cara Delevingne,” and it just sounded really catchy. So I made an entire song about my dream. It was a really plain dream too *laughs* It just made me feel good.
Question 18: I believe you have some performances coming up very soon. How do you feel about performing? Do you have any personal rituals you follow when preparing for a show?
I have a show coming up in Los Angeles on February 9th with OmenXIII, GVLLOW, JGRXXN, BLVC SVND and some others including my GRXM brothers TORCHFVCE and NVTVS. It’s gonna be my first time out there so I’m really anxious and excited. I love performing. Of course I get nervous, I don’t really know why though. I don’t really care about looking like an idiot or messing up or anything. To be honest, I always gotta take a shit before a show *laughs* Sorry if that’s too much information, but it’s true. I also don’t like to eat too soon before a show. Having a full stomach, plus having to shit, while screaming into a microphone doesn’t really work for me. I try to also stretch before I hit the stage because I move around a lot and might get a little crazy. And I always gotta have 2 bottles of water with the squirt caps so I can just squirt that shit in my mouth between songs. I guess that’s really it though. Also, to anyone who tries talking to me right before I perform…sorry if I seem distant, or if it seems like I’m not paying attention or whatever. My head is just thinking of the performance. It’s probably better to talk to me after I perform when my head is more clear *laughs*
Question 19: What is one piece of advice you offer to anyone who wants to start making music?
First of all, just have fun. Whether you’re doing it as a hobby or trying to pursue it as a career, have fun with it. For the people who want to do it as a career, just really be on top of your shit. Work hard and try to learn as much as you can on your own. Put yourself out there, believe in yourself, be reliable, be supportive, be persistent and patient. Learn to take constructive criticism, but also learn to ignore hate from people with nothing better to do. Learn from your failures instead of letting them discourage you. Don’t pay so much attention to where other people are at in their journeys, because that can discourage you as well – we all have our own paths to follow. There are so many more things I can say right now *laughs* In general, just have fun, believe in yourself and don’t be a shitty person.
Question 20: Is there anything else you would like your supporters to know about you? Do you have anyone you’d like to shout out?
I would just like my true supporters to know that I appreciate them and have so much love for them. I just want people to be good to each other and to be happy and succeed in life. Shoutout to all the people who have been continuously showing me love through the past couple of years. Much love to my family for always giving me the most love and support out of everyone. Love to my hometown friends. Love to my GRXM brothers for participating in this journey with me. Love to you, Meg, for hitting me up to do this interview. Love to everyone spreading the word and buying my merch, music, etc. because y’all really make it possible for me to do more and more with all this shit. Special shoutouts to Mikey the Magician, OmenXIII and Trillphonk for showing me love and support while I’m on this come up. Just love to all the good people out there and all my fellow artists working hard to make something of themselves through their art. There are many more people I could specifically name but they should know who they are. I’m extremely grateful for it all.
