Andre DiJuan Daniels, better known by his stage name Add-2, is an American rapper from Chicago, Illinois. He first gained popularity after the release of his second mixtape, A Tale of Two's City: Volume 2. In 2009, his single "Luxury" was featured on MTV,MtvU's top 5 freshman and Vh1 respectively. "Luxury" is part of Add-2's third mixtape, "Tale of Two's City Vol. 3: The Rise and Fall." Add-2 has also worked with Grammy award winning music producer 9th Wonder along with Kendrick Lamar,The Roots and Gerald Walker.
He currently impressed the ear of super producer 9th Wonder which led to him and his Jamla record label to sign Add. With his first collab project with Krysis out, Add-2 is an artist to watch out for in the future.
OK-Tho:
Where does your name come from, how did you come up with Add-2?
Add-2:
My rap name comes from my initials which is A.D.D and I was the 2nd of 3 kids so I put it together as Add-2. My father gave us those initials because he taught us ‘add to’ whatever we had as far as legacy or progress goes. We always build and become greater, never go backwards or take away.
OK-Tho:
What was the local hip hop scene like growing up in Chicago?
Add-2:
Growing up in the scene when I came up was inspiring cause it was like a new time in Chicago. Kanye had really started making waves and changed the sound of the city, then Common was back and a few years later we had the emergence of Lupe. For me as a young artist it was amazing to see and hear so much dope music that was connected to Chicago. We had our outlets to perform like the US Beer Co or SubT and I would be hitting up whatever open mics doing both rap and poetry just to make a name for myself. It was tough sometimes because there were so many artists but I was determined to work hard and get to the level of the artists I admired.
OK-Tho:
At what point in your life did you decide that you wanted to make music your career?
Add-2:
After High School. I think that’s when it set in that this was the one thing I loved to do even if no one paid me and was something I felt constantly challenged me. You can master parts of rap but it feels like you will always have room to get better and I loved that. So the whole time I was in college I was planning a life around music and not my degree.
OK-Tho:
What artists were your inspiration in becoming an emcee?
Add-2:
Jay-z, Nas, Common, Kanye, Lupe, DMX, Kweli and so many others.
OK-Tho:
You had a very big two years, 2012's Save.Our.Souls with LRG clothing, linking up with 9th, 2013's More Missed Calls as well as signing with Jamla and dropping Between Heaven and Hell with Khrysis. Between all that, was there ever a time where you felt down or scared that you couldn't get to where you are now, a signed artist?
Add-2:
YES, actually right before I became a signed artist. It happened right when I was getting frustrated with the process of it cause I was feeling like I may not have been as good as I thought. I had all these accolades but I couldn’t find the proper situation that fit me. All I wanted was stability but it was looking out of reach. I was getting older, got bills, got debt and real life was knocking at my door kind of hard. So when this opportunity came it was like God answered my prayers.
OK:Tho:
How did signing to Jamla come about?
Add-2:
I had been cool with 9th Wonder and the Jamla family for a few years and we always had a good relationship. If they were in Chicago I would kick it with them and I would come to NC to record with them etc. But when I came down there to work on the Between Heaven And Hell EP that’s when we talked it over and made it official.
OK-Tho:
Me personally, I think that Jamla is the perfect fit for you. Would signing to any other label have changed your way of making music and being the emcee you are do you believe?
Add-2:
I believe being with another label would have had an impact because some labels don’t understand who the artist really is. They may only see the side they can exploit the most but most don’t see the full spectrum of who an artist is. 9th understands who I am, what I do, why I do it, what I stand for and wants me to do what I do best. That’s one of the most important things to have with a label is that understanding.
OK-Tho:
Over the years I've seen so many artists come out as a dope original styled rapper then once they get a little shine and buzz they pretty much follow the norm. Why do you think that?
Add-2:
I’ve seen the same thing too and a part of me feels like its mainly because they get introduced to another side. That other side may come with new fans who aren’t die hard fans or the media who only care about hype or they may have to answer to other people who see them going in a different direction. When they succumb to things like that its hard to maintain your original base because they feel betrayed that you’ve changed in some way. Those artists tend to lose everything trying to get everyone to love them.
OK-Tho:
Obviously Common and Kanye are the most known artists to come out of Chicago. But out of every rapper, who would you say gets the most respect in Chi town, in hip hop?
Add-2:
I still think Kanye is the king but I used to always say one of the most respected Chicago rappers I’ve ever known was Bump J.
OK:
Wow I forgot about that dude. He disappeared after his music was in a McDonalds commercial. So whats your take on Kanye and his last album and this whole ranting shit going on?
Add-2:
I think Kanye is in a place no other rapper has been but you can definitely see that being on top has put a lot of pressure on his shoulders. I don’t think there is a rapper more popular and at the same time under as much scrutiny as him. Even though I didn’t like the last album I still hope he keeps progressing hip hop forward cause we’re not meant to keep making the same album over and over. As much as I would love another College Dropout or Graduation I know that those albums are special because the others don’t sound like them. As far as the ranting goes, it’s entertaining but if I’m at a show I’d much rather him perform a classic joint than go off for 10mins.
OK:
You started releasing music in 2008 with your Tale Of Two Cities volumes. From then til now, how have you progressed artisticly and lyrically wise?
Add-2:
I became a better songwriter. At first I wanted to be the dopest with punchlines and metaphors or word flips but now I’ve learned that the most important thing is to make the song enjoyable for the listener and to find ways to evoke the emotion I want as opposed to making them say “that’s a dope line”.
OK:
Are you a sports fan? What teams do you like?
Add-2:
Yeah of course. Chicago teams are always going to be my favorites especially Bulls and Bears.
OK:
Figured that lol. Whats your take on Derek Rose's new injury and being out for a whole season again?
Add-2:
I kind of knew it was coming. Originally I was hoping he was going to change his style of play to focus more on shooting instead of driving because it’s tough to maintain your body going through that type of wear and tear every night of the season. My hope is for him to fully heal and have long lasting career cause it would be tragic if his career never takes off the way we all see it could.
OK:
True, I'm a Knick fan and I was let down at first when Iman Shumpert returned and wasn't driving the ball and dunking like he used to but I understood that you can't go hard especially after coming back from a surgery. So does hip hop and sports in Chicago go hand in hand?
Add-2:
They are similar cause it’s a tough game and you may not have all the tools you need to succeed but you still have to play and do your best. Our teams lost some of their best players but they still go out and play their best and in order to compete in hip hop you got to have heart. Otherwise this game will leave you on the side of the road and replace you with the next “up and coming” rapper.
OK:
Name 5 albums that you can not live without?
Add-2:
Reasonable Doubt, Kweli and Hi Tek Reflection Eternal Train Of Thought, Common Be, Kanye College Dropout and Illmatic.
OK:
Great selection! What producers would you like to work with in the future?
Add-2:
Whoever can make the type of song that will be played when I’m no longer alive. That’s who I want to work with. People who make songs that will be my legacy.
OK:
I find you to be one of the dopest lyrical emcee's coming out today. How hard is it for you to write and stay in that clever wordplay rhyming tip?
Add-2:
Honestly it is tough, I know most emcees wouldn’t say it but it is. Trying to stay inspired, say things your haven’t said before or keeping the lines strong is a job in of itself especially if there isn’t as many emcee’s who can keep you sharp. So I try to listen to emcee’s who still give me that competitive feeling. I also like watch rap battles. They are the most lyrical emcee’s right now.
OK:
What 2013 albums are you feeling so far?
Add-2:
Drake’s album was pretty dope. I liked J Cole’s Born Sinner. Of course Rapsody’s She Got Game, the homey Chance’s Acid Rap, Antman Wonder and Skyzoos Ode To Reasonable Doubt and my homey Slot-A’s POI. That’s pretty much whats been getting burn in the headphones.
OK:
Are there any up coming artists that you are feeling now a days?
Add-2:
Real T@lk is really dope, The WHOevers, Save Money, Clear Soul Forces, Nitty Scott, Vic Mensa and Lili K.
OK:
Dope bro! So I love your Club Church single, would you categorize yourself as kind of a gospel hip hop artist?
Add-2:
HAHA definitely not
OK:
Puma's, Nike's or Adidas?
Add-2:
Nike’s all day.
OK:
De La Soul or A Tribe Called Quest?
Add-2:
Tribe but still mad love for De La
OK:
Whats the future looking like for you, what can fans expect in 2014 and beyond?
Add-2:
Just working on the Add-2 album on Jamla Records
Add-2 links:
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