The Dark Album is Watzreal’s 4th album. This project takes a much more introspective look at Watzreal life, his mental health, and societal issues at large. During the 12 track album we see Watzreal explore his his darkness through his depression, drinking and self doubt, as he struggles to find light in the form of hope, confidence, and self love. With some of his sharpest lyricism, his most sonically cohesive project blending dark, soulful and inspirational production, and his incredible levels of emotional honest, we see Watzreal in his prime as The Dark Album proves to be his magnum opus.
Watzreal opens the album with a chill boom bap flow with light hearted themes and witty humor. Our favorite bar is when he talks about wanting to be Keanu Reaves stunt double. He glides over a laid-back production with a welcoming tone. He continues a similar theme into his next track using this chill flow to let his audience know this is a track to relax and meditate on. While he has his listeners attention, he quickly dives deeper into more pressing matters. The transition is rapid where he then goes into detail on social issues and the faults of political structures. He deploys complementary features that add to his message of empowerment and vindication for those oppressed by the system.
From this point the album essentially gets much darker. While it’s instrumentals remain meditative and relaxed, his tropes wrestle with existentialism. He compares the scientific study of dark matter to the fallen world we live in. These two pillars both invisible yet totally real, are seemingly complementary in his mind. One cannot exist without the other. He struggles to gain optimism in a universe that is inevitably caving in on itself. He laments on his past relationships and trauma. He uses these experiences to relate to his listeners and unify them in life’s struggle.
However, Watzreal bounces back on the closing track of the project ebbing and flowing much like the wave on his album cover. He drifts back-and-forth between past and present and comes to the edge of acceptance. It’s an album about life’s ups and downs, stills and swells. He reminds us to remain present and to enjoy what we have while it’s still here and for that we are thankful.
Bro!!!! I would personally like to thank you for rocking with our BLOG and most importantly pushing dope real Hip Hop! The Bay-Area is personally very influential for me (me being an LA kid), being a huge fan of Dre Dog/Andre & Equipto and others cut from that cloth! That being said, listening to you definitely brings me back to those great years back in the day! Let me ask you how long have you been a Hip Hop artist? What specific area are you from? Alos, how did you get you emcee name?
It’s been a pleasure rocking with y’all. I’ve always felt UGHHBlog had been such a solid blog and one of the few that’s still accessible to the underground community that’s still really underground.
I’ve only been rapping for about 13 years total but I’ve only really taken my career seriously for about 4-5 years. Growing up in Berkeley, I went to Berkeley High and happened to go to school with G-Eazy. Seeing how hard he worked and seeing make it made me feel it was possible. I know he gets a lot of hate from the heads in the hip hop community but I probably wouldn’t be rapping today if it wasn’t for him.
Regarding my name, I chose the name Watzreal to be accountable to myself because I knew it’d be tempting to fabricate my story in order to make my music more, “mainstream.” Watzreal is a promise to myself and to my fans that’ll always be real to who I truly am and be as authentic as possible.
Its funny how when I first heard you, I instantly knew you were from the Bay!” Bay Area Hip Hop has always gave off a certain style and sound of Hip Hop! Help me figure that out!? Is this something you can relate too? How has your area influenced your sound, or maybe us real Hip Hop heads are just trippin…LOL
Lol you hip hop heads ain’t tripping. I think there’s a certain smoothness in our flow that comes from the fact that people are a lot more laid back in the Bay Area compared to people in places like LA and New York. There’s also not as many, “big artists, from the Bay Area so I feel like a lot us grow up listening to a lot of the same local music from artists like E-40, Too $hort, Mac Dre, Mistah Fab, Zion I, Hiero which influenced our styles.
We notice your style is super original and very creative. Let us know how your style if different than all the rap artists out there!
In terms of my style it can be hard for me to pinpoint because I try to always challenge myself to try something different. I’d say what’s consistent is focusing on lyrical content and speaking from a place of emotional honesty while making positive music. My music is my therapy. I’m always in my own mind and have a hard time telling people about when struggling or feeling depressed unless it’s through music. My musics the only thing that keeps from imploding on myself. I don’t what I’d do without it.
Bro, you new album is absolute FIRE in my book!!! Please breakdown the creative process behind “Itz All Love”…
All the internal dialogue is what lead to my latest release, “Itz All Love.” I had a relationship end unfavorably and this album allowed me to process my emotions and what I went through from begging to end. But I didn’t want to make a traditional love album or breakup album where I was just complaining about her and making her seem like the villain in the relationship. I wanted to show i understood her perspective and struggles while acknowledging my own . And while things didn’t work out, I wanted to know there’s no hard feeling and that, “Itz All Love.”
How does social media playing a role in your success? How are fans/supporters helping your movement?
Social media’s been huge for me! I set up a lot of my tours through Facebook by simply asking if someone could help me with a show in different areas. Since I already had a good amount of traction, and at the time was able to trade off shows for people, I was able to put things together incredibly fast. It’s also been incredibly useful to stay in touch with my fans.
With this being an underground hip hop site, we always ask this important question. What is your definition of “underground hip hop”?
I feel like underground hip hop is really independent hip hop. Independent from labels, rules, and restrictions that generally waters down the final product when you listen to something mainstream. Underground hip hop is generally pure and honest. People confuse popular music for good music, but to me, the best music is almost always underground!
Where can people find you on the Internet? Drop all the vital links.
Shout out to my Grandma and the rest of my family. Shout to the homies at BRL (Beats Rhymes And Life), ROTC (Return Of The Cypher), HH4C (Hip Hop For Change), the homie Unlearn The World who recorded the last two albums and mentored me through the process , the homie Zeke for mixing and mastering everything down to sound professional and for producing 1/3 of the album and all the fans that’d had my back. I wouldn’t be anywhere without the fans. And lastly shout to to the Bay Area. I wouldn’t be me without the Bay.
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All I got to say is “WOW”…. Possibly one of the most well-rounded MC’s in the underground Hip Hop game for the year of 2019! Break out San Francisco, CA based underground Hip Hop artist Watzreal truly makes history as he releases his 3rd album titled “Itz All Love”! This 9-Track project outs out a perfect balance of dope Hip Hop, with a twist or romance and the realities of relationship issues, whether its good or bad, theres no way you can’t relate with this dude right here! Unless your a self-described hopeless romantic who hates life, then clearly this album will depress you…LOL. Watzreal embraces that authentic Bay-Area sound in his Hip Hop that I’m really familiar with, yet his sound is extremely refreshing and original! Being a huge fan of Mac Dre and Equipto myself, I immediately thought of these emcees when I was listening to this project! I love the simplicity in his lyrics, full of substance with a solid story-telling delivery, he makes it sound so effortless, so lets dive right into this album and break down his most vulnerable work to date!
The intro to this album jumps right into the story of “Lucy Liu & Keanu Reeves”, being curious about the correlation, I researched on google and not sure if their a couple or not, regardless its a pretty cool love song! Track 2 “Better” has to be one of his standout songs, hitting me with that dope chorus/melody, along with giving me some solid pointers on how to treat my future special someone! As the album continues with “Go!”, the high energy track that gives an expansive feel along with the banging production. The concept of the song is showing how good music puts the psyche in a trance hints the term “go”. This is a certified club banger to get the party engaged, I can envision this cut in the club causing a very dynamic setting. So far this album is really coming off as an instant Bay Area Hip Hop classic! The magic continues with “Life Iz Love, Love Iz War” & “New Addition” which either of these tracks can be considered the anthem to this project! By this point, I really envy Watzreal’s romance game, dude probably pulls in more girls then any other bay area rapper!
As usual, I pay heavy attention to the production brought to you by Curtiss King, Tope, 80Seven, Tone Jonez and JD Beatz! The beats on this album are all dope, well mixed and really sets the perfect mood throughout the album! From beginning to end, Watzreal pretty much delivers a full bible on true romance and love in relationships, at the same time dropping what he considers some of his best work yet! When was the last time we came across an album like this? Its rare to say the least, especially coming out of the bay-area, when the majority of rappers are pushing the complete opposite in subject matter. I have already recommended a few of my friends to check out the album. Its well put together and worth listening to, music lovers will eat this up and become instant fans. Looking forward to what more he has to deliver in 2019!
This 9 track album talks about Watzreal’s personal dealings with relationships in a way that’s relatable, introspective, and genuine! While relationships are the focal point of each song, Watzreal finds a way to beautifully balance raps about romance with sharp and witty lyricism.
Rising San Francisco based underground Hip Hop artist Watzreal delivers his most vulnerable work to date on his third album, “Itz All Love.” Production by Curtiss King, Tope, 80Seven, Tone Jonez and JD Beatz.
This 9 track album talks about Watzreal’s personal dealings with relationships in a way that’s relatable, introspective, and genuine! While relationships are the focal point of each song, Watzreal finds a way to beautifully balance raps about romance with sharp and witty lyricism.
