[piano intro] - [Announcer] "Shaped by Sound" is a co-production of PBS North Carolina and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The series is presented by "Come Hear, North Carolina."

[gentle music] [pleasant electronica music] - I'm James Mieczkowski, and this is "Shaped by Sound."

As a young boy in Charlotte, North Carolina, Reuben Vincent dreamed that one day he would be a rapper.

That dream became a reality when he was discovered by legendary hip hop producer 9th Wonder at the age of 13.

And he hasn't looked back since.

Today on "Shaped By Sound," performing within a set inspired by his home and heritage and in conversation with me, this is Reuben Vincent.

[upbeat music] ♪ Yeah ♪ [mellow jazz music] ♪ PBS NC ♪ ♪ I go by the name Rueben Vincent ♪ ♪ And welcome to my "Shaped by Sound" episode ♪ ♪ Like Biggie said, it was all a dream ♪ ♪ It used to be a dream layin' in my bed ♪ ♪ Lookin' at the posters on my wall, starin' at the ceilin' ♪ ♪ Like one day, can we turn this dream into reality ♪ ♪ And now I'm here to share that with y'all ♪ ♪ Share my story ♪ ♪ Share my journey ♪ ♪ Okay okay ♪ ♪ Looks just like a, looks just like a dream ♪ ♪ What ♪ ♪ Look in my eyes, and you'll see what I see ♪ ♪ I tell ya ♪ ♪ Look in my eyes ♪ ♪ You can see what I see, yeah yeah ♪ ♪ Uh, yeah yeah ♪ ♪ Huh, I say look in my eyes to see what I see ♪ ♪ Okay, look at my huh ♪ ♪ In the village, dreams occur ♪ ♪ Path's differ ♪ ♪ And as long as brothers gettin' they bag ♪ ♪ I ain't mad at yer ♪ ♪ CP3, the in the past, remain the same though ♪ ♪ Teams be switchin' the mission, it still remains ♪ ♪ Family in the kitchen, my wrist has been on a mission ♪ ♪ You know a brother hungry, he hungry to get a milli' ♪ ♪ It's deeper than the money, the money ♪ ♪ Though that can change it ♪ ♪ Listen, people scrapin' for pennies the harder ways ♪ ♪ Look, I was sensin' the signs ♪ ♪ Observin' the leeches, yeah, protectin' my tribe ♪ ♪ I talked to my preacher, man ♪ ♪ He told me to strive ♪ ♪ Just hustle and re-up, yeah ♪ ♪ And let the soul drive you like it's a Kia ♪ ♪ Could you imagine ♪ ♪ I'm California, palm trees rollin' ♪ ♪ Country brother, back roads all he knowin' ♪ ♪ Can I be the one to take it far ♪ ♪ Three times the charm, from the four, this was all a dream ♪ ♪ It's just like a, it's just like a dream ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ I say look in my eyes ♪ ♪ Did you see what I see ♪ ♪ Okay, look in my eyes ♪ ♪ Did you see what I see ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah uh ♪ ♪ Yeah uh huh ♪ ♪ Yeah uh huh ♪ ♪ Yeah uh huh ♪ ♪ I say, look in my eyes ♪ ♪ Did you see what I see ♪ ♪ Okay, look in my eyes ♪ ♪ Did you see what I see ♪ ♪ Uh uh ♪ ♪ The grass is greener where you water it ♪ ♪ You plant your seeds, you eventually see a garden, just ♪ ♪ Just bloom, what's the sound in the room ♪ ♪ A gunshot at the ceilin' made the whole club swoon ♪ ♪ The hood need a feelin', uh ♪ ♪ The streets need a milli', uh ♪ ♪ The babies need the fathers, babies havin' the children ♪ ♪ The teachers ain't taught us nothin' ♪ ♪ Add up in the physics ♪ ♪ Preachers teachin' us peace ♪ ♪ We ride around and conceal it ♪ ♪ Well, I live for the rights ♪ ♪ For love, the fuss, the fight, the love all night ♪ ♪ Touch the mic and touch your soul ♪ ♪ Hold you close and dance real slow ♪ ♪ Heat you up when hands are cold ♪ ♪ Live for highs and rise through lows, that's all I know ♪ ♪ I knew I'd be rich, they call me broke ♪ ♪ They all be out of pocket ♪ ♪ They talkin', stop the gossip ♪ ♪ Message, read about it ♪ ♪ Uh, brother, you got it ♪ ♪ Meanwhile I'm gettin' profit ♪ ♪ But, brother, I am a prophet, a dream ♪ ♪ Looks just like a, looks just like a dream ♪ ♪ I say look in my eyes ♪ ♪ Did you see what I see ♪ ♪ Okay, look in my eyes just to see what I see ♪ ♪ Yeah yeah huh ♪ ♪ Yeah uh huh ♪ ♪ Yeah yeah, yeah yeah ♪ ♪ I say look in my eyes just to see what I see ♪ ♪ Okay, look in my eyes to see what I see ♪ ♪ Yeah yeah ♪ ♪ Do your dance, do your dance, do your dance ♪ ♪ I say look in my eyes ♪ ♪ You can see what I see ♪ ♪ Okay, look at my eyes just to see what I see ♪ ♪ Yeah yeah ♪ ♪ Do your dance, do your dance, do your dance ♪ ♪ I say look in my eyes just to see what I see ♪ ♪ Okay, look in my eyes just to see what I see ♪ ♪ Yeah yeah huh ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ I say look in my eyes just to see what I see ♪ ♪ Okay, look in my eyes just to see what I see ♪ ♪ Yeah yeah ♪ - Reuben Vincent from Charlotte, North Carolina, is that right?

- Yes sir.

- Man.

- Charlotte, born and raised.

- I am so pumped to have you on this show.

- [Reuben] Likewise, thank you.

- Thank you for being here, man.

Let's, if we could, I'd like to start off with Charlotte.

So you were born and raised in Charlotte, is that right?

- Yes, yes, born and raised in Charlotte on the east side of Charlotte to be exact.

- Yeah, what was it like growin' up there for you?

- It was pretty, I feel like I had a pretty cool childhood.

You know what I'm sayin'?

I feel like I have, you know, we all, as teenagers, kids, we have the experiences of growth, whether it's on like the side of like, hey, everything is fun.

But then you also have the things that every teenager goes through, which is like anxiety, peer pressure, all the extras, which I feel like I had a pretty common childhood, but also unique in a way of like, I grew up in a African home.

My mom didn't grow up in America.

Well, she grew up in Liberia and then moved to Maryland when she was 16.

- Okay.

- And then my father didn't.

He grew up in West Africa, period.

So I was, I'm first generation.

- Right.

- You know what I mean?

So, just being a first generation African American growing up in the South, I had a weird dynamic of like, yo, I'm an, and it's weird 'cause it's like, yo, I'm African American for real.

And I think, you know, the set kind of shows that of like the duality because it's like, I go home.

I go to school, and I'm thinkin' I'm just like y'all, but then y'all like, no, you're African.

You know what I'm sayin'?

And it's like, your mom acts a different way, or y'all eat different foods.

So, it was like a split in culture, but then it's like I grew up a hip hop kid.

I grew up a kid who loves sneakers.

I grew up a kid who loved basketball.

I grew up a kid who loves the same things you guys like.

You know what I'm sayin'?

And I live here.

I was born here.

- Yeah.

- You know what I mean?

I don't think no human is one dimensional.

- Yeah.

- So, you know, all these dimensions make me Reuben Vincent.

- Absolutely, yeah, I was gonna ask you about that.

Does that sort of mix of things, like how does that influence you with your music?

- Yeah, I think that's a big priority now for me in my music is to showcase that duality, showcase who I am as a person.

"Big Bank" to me is a song where I'm asserting myself in a way of like, I'm here.

I'm here, and I'm not playin' around no more.

You know what I mean?

I'm not playin' around about my culture.

I'm not playin' around about who I am.

Like I'm standing here, and I'm standing firm.

And you know, that's why the song connects both of my cultures.

You hear the southern drums at one point, but then you also hear the African rhythms.

You know what I mean?

And that's what "Big Bank" was for me was affirmation again as well with like, I'm not takin' nothin' smaller than the big levels that I'm supposed to be at.

♪ Right, right, okay ♪ ♪ Right, right, right, here it goes ♪ ♪ Three, two, three, two, one, go ♪ ♪ Huh, frontline bussin' for the backend ♪ ♪ I'm on Mike Jones, wasn't on me back then, huh ♪ ♪ Parkin' lot pimpin' whip backed in, huh ♪ ♪ Pockets be deep, Toni Braxton ♪ ♪ Yo, ridin' 'round town in the big body Jeep ♪ ♪ Peanut butter seats, gotta spread out the bread in there ♪ ♪ Play with me, I'ma let out the lead in there ♪ ♪ She give top because heavy the head out there ♪ ♪ Okay, now Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ha ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ha ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ I got plenty demand, we must chop ♪ ♪ The residuals in no small talk ♪ ♪ Ha, Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ Finger itchin' on a band, need Benadryl ♪ ♪ Been sick, think my need penicillin ♪ ♪ Doomed to either die a hero, live to be the villain ♪ ♪ Growin' up, I used to wanna be like P Miller ♪ ♪ No limit on my tank, ten toes in it ♪ ♪ And dudes that's afraid to lose never know winnin' ♪ ♪ And dudes who ask for the girl don't get no girls in it ♪ ♪ And dudes who don't know code they be code switchin' ♪ ♪ Be like the more on my mind I get more business ♪ ♪ More Mamba, on momma, I'm so centered ♪ ♪ Seen prospects turned into gorillas ♪ ♪ Still shoot from elbow but it's no Lillard ♪ ♪ No fitted, five star, grown up boy momma hard head son ♪ ♪ No abide by law, Mr.

Officer ♪ ♪ Tried to divide and come conquer ♪ ♪ But I'm probably liable to off your head ♪ ♪ From the bottom to the top was the target ♪ ♪ Box swing Tarzan, it is not an option, huh ♪ ♪ Strike like Pele, Tim Weah, George Weah ♪ ♪ On my Ballon huh ♪ ♪ Goals and F the foes, I don't fear evil ♪ ♪ Black like Don Cheadle, no face defeat ♪ ♪ The fact any demon demolish they made me a monster ♪ ♪ General off the huh, can't slow down ♪ ♪ Frontline bussin' for the backend ♪ ♪ I'm on Mike Jones, wasn't on me back then, huh ♪ ♪ Parkin' lot pimpin' whip backed in ♪ ♪ Now the pockets be deep as Toni Braxton, huh ♪ ♪ Yo, ridin' 'round town in that big body ♪ ♪ Jeep ♪ ♪ Peanut butter ♪ ♪ Seats ♪ ♪ Spread out the ♪ ♪ Bread in this ♪ ♪ Play with me, I'ma let out the ♪ ♪ Lead in this ♪ ♪ She give top because heavy the head out this ♪ ♪ Okay ♪ ♪ A Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ Say what ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ I got plenty demand, we must chop ♪ ♪ The residuals here no small talk ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ What ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ Okay now, ponder on problems, African proverbs ♪ ♪ Rats play possum, the concrete rose blossom ♪ ♪ Bars in the bank said the bar ♪ ♪ I'll never bargain like a ram ♪ ♪ How I charged, and I can't be Charmin ♪ ♪ Blame it on my blood, my genetic code ♪ ♪ That boy kinetic, got motion like Rosetta Stone ♪ ♪ Teach you my language ♪ ♪ Chasin' the chicken from neck and bone ♪ ♪ Business been mindin' my diamond like it's Sierra Leone ♪ ♪ Public enemy in it, welcome to the terror dome ♪ ♪ Heaven knows that a brother's seen hell at home ♪ ♪ Many halos, many angels, what's the antidote ♪ ♪ Kru Man, my ancestors, couldn't stand the boat ♪ ♪ So they jump so I dump no Ewing with the pump ♪ ♪ To prevail to the cowboy ♪ ♪ Got wounds from the womb from the war scars ♪ ♪ Gotta crawl 'fore you walk, and I just got hold up ♪ ♪ Frontline bussin' for the backend ♪ ♪ I'm on Mike Jones, wasn't on me ♪ ♪ Back then, huh ♪ ♪ Parkin' lot pimpin' whip ♪ ♪ Backed in, huh ♪ ♪ Now the pockets be deep as Toni Braxton ♪ ♪ Yo, ridin' 'round town in the big body Jeep ♪ ♪ Peanut butter ♪ ♪ Seats ♪ ♪ Spread out the ♪ ♪ Bread in this ♪ ♪ Play with me, i'ma let out the ♪ ♪ Lead in this here ♪ ♪ She give top because heavy the head out of this ♪ ♪ Okay ♪ ♪ Okay ♪ ♪ Now, Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ Say what ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ Say what ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ I got plenty demand, we must chop ♪ ♪ The residuals was in no small talk ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ What ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ Let's go ♪ ♪ Bruh, bruh, bruh, bruh, bruh ♪ ♪ Huh, Big Bank don't take Boa Boa, huh ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa, huh ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ Let's go ♪ ♪ Bruh, bruh, bruh, bruh, bruh ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa, huh ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa, what ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa, huh ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa, what ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ Oh yeah ♪ ♪ Bruh, bruh, bruh, bruh ♪ ♪ Big Bank ♪ ♪ Big Bank ♪ ♪ What ♪ ♪ Big Bank ♪ ♪ What ♪ ♪ Big Bank, what ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ Let's go ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Okay ♪ ♪ PBS ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ What ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ What ♪ ♪ Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ What, Big Bank don't take Boa Boa ♪ ♪ Let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go ♪ - At first my mom didn't understand.

You know, when people used to tell her like, oh, your kid can rap, she just like, all right, like whatever.

- Yeah.

- You know what I mean?

My mom's an African mother.

You're gonna be a doctor or a lawyer.

You know what I'm sayin' like?

But one day my uncle came to the house, and he was like, no, like he can really rap.

And he played the song that I did at the studio, and she was just like, oh wow.

And she was like, "Reuben, you have a gift."

Like, don't run away from that.

And she was like, "Nah, just continue."

So, and then she bought me a microphone for Christmas, and I ended up starting to record at home.

And then I started to like go on the internet, and realize like, okay this is the blog era of like mix tapes and all that stuff.

- Yeah.

- And I wish I still had 'em up, but I was like 12, 13 putting mix tapes up.

And there is still one up that ended up getting me the recognition from 9th Wonder.

- Well, so can we take a step back for a little bit?

- [Reuben] Yeah.

- I want everybody to understand like how big of a deal it is to be working with 9th Wonder.

- Yes, 9th Wonder is a pillar in hip hop in general.

A legend, one of the top, one of the greatest producers to ever do it in hip hop but also a pillar to North Carolina's music.

Grammy Award-winning producer.

Right after the Little Brother album, he got a placement from Jay-Z, which then trickled into Destiny's Child.

- [James] Right.

- Which then trickled into Mary J. Blige, which trickled into Erykah Badu, and then Kendrick Lamar, even Drake, even Wale, you know all of these names, Mac Miller.

He's very, very special in hip hop, and it's just very special in what North Carolina music is.

For him, like I just feel like it's so divine for me to meet him at 13, and then him to be like the mentor, or the person that's kind of helped me and ushered me into the game.

- He just saw your talent.

- Yeah.

- Yeah.

- And 9th just so happened to be on Twitter, and was like, I don't.

The dude was like, I don't know this kid.

That's how he started off.

He was like, I don't know this kid, but I think you guys need to check him out.

- [James] Yeah.

- Like, you know, so it's like a confirmation that what I'm doing, like little moments like that I feel like is like a wink from God.

♪ Tell 'em business is business ♪ ♪ What is you talkin', just give me the digits ♪ ♪ On God, wow ♪ ♪ I put that on my baba, my old mama, my tribe, all them ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Huh ♪ ♪ Momma, they told me that I wouldn't make it ♪ ♪ Well, look at me now ♪ ♪ Okay, Baba, they told me that I'll be the greatest ♪ ♪ Ain't too much around ♪ ♪ Okay, okay ♪ ♪ I been outside all summer, tryna grind all summer ♪ ♪ 'Cause the mula won't make it ♪ ♪ I been with the tribe all summer, can't divide ♪ ♪ Gotta make it multiply, gotta bring back ♪ ♪ Bukoo ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I gotta bring back Bukoo ♪ ♪ Okay, Bukoo huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I gotta bring back Bukoo ♪ ♪ Yo, when I stand on stage, hope your hand is raised ♪ ♪ Ain't from Atlanta, ♪ ♪ But you know I'm from the land of the brave ♪ ♪ Troubled, stubborn, rebuttal let a man behave ♪ ♪ Chasin' cake on my plate 'til I'm Annie Mae ♪ ♪ Excuse my French, Wu Tang, Creme Brulee ♪ ♪ Before the rise, many men had to amputate ♪ ♪ I'm animal, Lion, can't withstand the cage ♪ ♪ I'm from the jungle where they can't relate, okay ♪ ♪ Rise in the East with ♪ ♪ The sun ♪ ♪ I am one with the solar beam straight out the ♪ ♪ Gun ♪ ♪ At the bottom, it's dark, but I cannot ♪ ♪ Succumb ♪ ♪ I'm the light, I'm the spark on the strain on the ♪ ♪ Blunt ♪ ♪ Momma your boaboa like bluffin' bidness ♪ ♪ What you send over truth ♪ ♪ Pot now boilin', I'm tryna bring up the village ♪ ♪ Runnin' up the digits, tell 'em ♪ ♪ Give me the cash, cash, cash, cash ♪ ♪ Give me the cash, cash, cash, cash ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Momma, your boaboa like bluffin' bidness ♪ ♪ When your general troops gonna cut the uh ♪ ♪ Buck the system, buck forgiveness ♪ ♪ It's vendetta, they'll never destruct the mission ♪ ♪ Momma, they told me that I wouldn't make it ♪ ♪ But look at me now ♪ ♪ Okay ♪ ♪ Baba, they told me that I'll be the greatest ♪ ♪ Ain't too much around ♪ ♪ Okay ♪ ♪ I been outside all summer, tryna grind all summer ♪ ♪ 'Cause the mula won't make it ♪ ♪ I been with the tribe all summer ♪ ♪ Can't divide, gotta make it multiply ♪ ♪ Gotta bring back ♪ ♪ Bukoo, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I gotta bring back Bukoo ♪ ♪ Okay ♪ ♪ Bukoo, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I gotta bring back Buckoo ♪ ♪ Right here ♪ ♪ Bruh, bruh, bruh, bruh, bruh ♪ ♪ Huh, I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I gotta bring back Bukoo like yeah ♪ ♪ Bruh, bruh, bruh, bruh, bruh ♪ ♪ Huh, I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I gotta bring back Bukoo ♪ ♪ I will ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Whoa whoa ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I put my hand in that fufu, huh ♪ ♪ I gotta bring back Bukoo, Bukoo ♪ - So, I wanna also talk to you about, like where do your songs come from?

- Life.

- Yeah?

- Yeah, I mean my life.

They come from my life.

They come from my experiences or experiences adjacent to me.

Sometimes they come from me already havin' a clear, precise vision on where I want it to go.

Or I might just let my pen flow.

You know what I mean?

And just see where it takes me, but you know, I try to write from a very authentic place.

So, all I can do is broadcast my life, or let this be a diary to what I experience, or talk about my experience.

I can't talk about your experience better than you can.

I can't talk about his experience, y'all experiences, you know what I'm sayin'?

Like I can probably write a song about it, but it's not gonna feel as authentic better than you could.

You know what I mean?

So, I think, you know, a lot of my music now has been, at least these that last couple years, has been trying to be authentic to who I am at my core.

I think my experience was unique when I started to realize that when I started to put out songs that necessarily was tailored to who I was as a person, and I had people comin' up like, yo, I grew up just like that.

So, it's like your life isn't boring.

You know what I'm sayin'?

Like, there's somebody who relates to your story.

- Yeah.

- It's just about how you convey it.

So, I think me just being more comfortable in that, it's allowed the music to like just be more, sound like me.

♪ I be riding 'round in my town with my ♪ ♪ Top off ♪ ♪ Game has been absent from the soul, now I'm the ♪ ♪ Top dog ♪ ♪ Kids I know that's only 17 that smoke like ♪ ♪ Snoop Dogg ♪ ♪ Told it like they bishop and movin' like a ♪ ♪ Uhaul ♪ ♪ Menace to society, but I'm more like ♪ ♪ Caine ♪ ♪ Brother, I'm like LL ♪ ♪ Runnin' with the Kangol ♪ ♪ Cop the whip and new chain, now you're like Django ♪ ♪ They say we some new slaves, not as bad as Ye though ♪ ♪ I been on a new wave ♪ ♪ Drill like brothers in the UK ♪ ♪ Yo, these dudes really softer than some souffle ♪ ♪ Sweeter than some Kool-aid ♪ ♪ Also they be two-faced, but I cannot give two ♪ ♪ Not tomorrow ♪ ♪ Or today ♪ ♪ So I gotta keep my eyes focused on what's ahead of me ♪ ♪ If my dogs stay loyal to me ♪ ♪ They gonna get some pedigree ♪ ♪ Man, I need my pockets fat ♪ ♪ And all so wifey thinks its had to be ♪ ♪ Prolly this it's makin' me or holy as the heavens be ♪ ♪ Did some things you never seen ♪ ♪ Uh huh ♪ ♪ I got bigger dreams ♪ ♪ Uh huh ♪ ♪ I'm as bad as a toddler with ♪ ♪ Some silver teeth ♪ ♪ I been stackin' my dollars tryin' to get the cream ♪ ♪ The chambers that I entered ♪ ♪ Some things that you ain't never seen ♪ ♪ Makin' shorty say Wu like ♪ ♪ ODB ♪ ♪ Shame on a brother if he thinkin' ♪ ♪ I ain't gettin' cream ♪ ♪ Ain't had no silver spoons, now we on the TV screen ♪ ♪ Watchin' Martin 'til I doze off ♪ ♪ It was all a dream ♪ ♪ I be on my own, yeah brother super ♪ ♪ Told 'em I'm a king, now they say I'm Martin ♪ ♪ Reuther ♪ ♪ Vanessa in my bed though ♪ ♪ Love my Mister ♪ ♪ Cooper ♪ ♪ Was a warrior, now I'm about to school ya ♪ ♪ Boy, I'm the gift that keep givin' like ♪ ♪ Babushka ♪ ♪ Won't stop until my pockets ♪ ♪ Fatter than Respusha ♪ ♪ You or brothers see ya shinin' more than usual ♪ ♪ All up in your party tryin' to be what Uncle Luke was ♪ ♪ 2 Live ♪ ♪ Brothers, gotta strive some more ♪ ♪ Look at yours and my life, you'll see mines the law ♪ ♪ Minds galore ♪ ♪ I gotta praise God, my Lord ♪ ♪ I ain't religious, but he cover our lives of course ♪ ♪ Whether you X or praisin' Allah of course ♪ ♪ It's some logic that's gonna come ♪ ♪ And just surprise your boy ♪ ♪ It's just betrayal ♪ ♪ But I'mma stay down with my brothers ♪ ♪ Couple grands in my pocket, ride around with my ♪ ♪ Boys ♪ ♪ And shorty steady flocking 'cause she see I got ♪ ♪ A couple no ♪ ♪ She just wanna love me ♪ ♪ She don't wanna be ♪ ♪ A couple no ♪ ♪ Put your hands high for the Lamborghini double doors ♪ ♪ Butterfly all up in the sky, let the gun explode ♪ ♪ Bam, bam, bam, bam, bam ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Bam, bam ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Bam ♪ - Responsibility is attached to purpose.

And I feel like the purpose I'm fulfilling, I have to be mindful of my responsibility and being a pillar of Charlotte's hip hop and how I maneuver through that.

- That's a lot of pressure.

- Yeah.

- [laughing] You're like, I know, dude.

- Yeah, yeah, but pressure make diamonds, right?

I'm startin' to think like, is it really pressure if that's what you're meant to do?

It's scary.

It's definitely scary.

On the other side of fear is freedom, right?

- [James] Mm hm.

- So, it's like, why, like anything, purpose is never going to be easy.

Anybody fulfilling a purpose because there's gonna be tests.

It's gonna be like, the universe is going to work against you to see how strong you are and challenge you into like.

Nobody's ever born that has a purpose, and it's like, all right, I just like skipped to my purpose.

It's like, no, on the way to that journey to reach my purpose, there was pit stops.

There was, you know.

I might gotta go fill up the tank.

My car might break down.

You know, I might go realign the wheels.

You know what I'm sayin'?

Like all of these things happen on that journey to your purpose.

It comes with with the territory almost.

You know what I mean?

Just like my field and your field, there's gonna be pressures, but those pressures are only there to make us better.

[gentle music] And now for my last record, I would like to take you guys to the Third World Jazz Club.

Can I get some jazz?

♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Pray fore I sleep, sow what I reap ♪ ♪ Rose from the Crete ♪ ♪ I need all flowers fore I leave ♪ ♪ I need protection, power, and the peace ♪ ♪ Don't be afraid, you created a G.O.D.

♪ ♪ My dudes ain't know what I seen ♪ ♪ Dudes ain't know what to think when they saw it was me ♪ ♪ Hoppin' out the gray Jeep ♪ ♪ Grand Cherry, it's sweet ♪ ♪ The taste of revenge, the way we go spin ♪ ♪ No makin' amends ♪ ♪ No pops at home still made me a man ♪ ♪ Ain't how it start, it's about how it ends ♪ ♪ So where and whenever that day come ♪ ♪ And they say I'm gone with the wind ♪ ♪ Stand over me and kiss my cheek ♪ ♪ Hug my friends through the grave with grace ♪ ♪ Hope the bonds don't bend ♪ ♪ As I palm this herb ♪ ♪ Roll my herb and wash my sins ♪ ♪ Swig of tequila and an ounce of gin ♪ ♪ Treat it just like it was oxygen ♪ ♪ How the heck you gonna breathe ♪ ♪ When you drownin' inside, my brother ♪ ♪ You gonna sink or swim ♪ ♪ All of this pressure and pain trying to carry the weight ♪ ♪ Brother told me to stay in the gym ♪ ♪ Ain't no participation award for the way that we war ♪ ♪ We came here to win ♪ ♪ Learned in this game all skinfolk ain't kinfolk ♪ ♪ Dudes is crabs, they Kims, meanin' they uh ♪ ♪ Word to my uh ♪ ♪ I'm on a mission, won't stop 'til I'm finished ♪ ♪ I don't like gossip, get off on my line ♪ ♪ About what brothers doin' ♪ ♪ I'm mindin' my business ♪ ♪ Shh, tell 'em shut up when you get in my ride ♪ ♪ Know you can't hear my system ♪ ♪ Hit the highway, I'm back in my city ♪ ♪ Brothers they hate 'cause they can't get with me ♪ ♪ I just called my ♪ ♪ Brother up ♪ ♪ And he like he never met you, huh ♪ ♪ And you claimin' you know folk ♪ ♪ Guess they say my name to feel special here ♪ ♪ Live off passion, it's precious ♪ ♪ Get paid for passion, it's priceless ♪ ♪ No matter the cost we got it ♪ ♪ And still would be happy without it ♪ ♪ You can't be afraid of the heights ♪ ♪ If you wanna see heaven, you gotta be 'bout it ♪ ♪ But first gotta walk through hell ♪ ♪ It's havoc but F it, we mobbin' ♪ ♪ It's habit, I pray fore I sleep, sow what I reap ♪ ♪ Rose from the Crete ♪ ♪ I need all flowers fore I leave ♪ ♪ I need protection, power, and the peace ♪ ♪ Don't be afraid, you created a ♪ ♪ G.O.D.

♪ ♪ My dudes ain't know what I seen ♪ ♪ Dudes don't know what to think when they saw it was me ♪ ♪ Hoppin' out the gray Jeep ♪ ♪ Grand Cherry, it's sweet ♪ ♪ The taste of revenge, the way we gonna spin ♪ ♪ No makin' amends ♪ ♪ No pops at home still made me a man ♪ ♪ Ain't how it start, it's about how it ends ♪ ♪ So, where or whenever that ♪ ♪ Day come ♪ ♪ And they say I'm gone with the wind ♪ ♪ Stand over me and kiss my cheek ♪ ♪ Hug my friends until we meet again ♪ ♪ Bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam ♪ ♪ Yeah huh ♪ ♪ Until we meet again, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah yeah yeah yeah ♪ ♪ Until we meet again ♪ PBS NC "Shaped by Sound."

I go by the name Reuben Vincent.

And this right here is my band.

We got my brother Soul on the keys.

We got DJ Jonny Kaine.

We got Ayrun on the drums right now.

We got Mrgroovology on the bass.

And once again, I'm Reuben Vincent representin' Third World.

PBS NC, we appreciate all of y'all watchin'.

♪ Huh, until we meet again ♪ [mellow jazz music] ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Until we meet again ♪ ♪ Changed, now they say I'm cinema ♪ - [James] Thanks for joining us on "Shaped by Sound."

If you'd like to hear more of our discussion from today, you can find it over on our website at pbsnc.org/shapedbysound.

Or you can find 'em on our PBS North Carolina YouTube channel.

♪ Burnin' the sage ♪ ♪ It's time that I flip that page, whoa ♪ ♪ Turn your face and catch the light ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ The light from inside is shinin' bright all over you ♪ ♪ Judge from the side, I'm lookin' past point of views ♪ ♪ I was burned out to burn through ♪ ♪ Hear the voices inside you ♪ ♪ Only way is to shine through ♪ ♪ Uh yeah ♪ ♪ Give dudes an inch, they take a yard ♪ ♪ For one that's on yards, my advice if find God ♪ ♪ Vices I fought ♪ ♪ Priceless when you speak on the life that I bought ♪ ♪ Don't move without thought ♪ ♪ I sought before I crossed the river ♪ ♪ Ain't walk on water, my water was off my brother, uh ♪ ♪ You can't call this given, I took it ♪ ♪ The works in the puddin' ♪ - [Announcer] "Shaped by Sound" is a co-production of PBS North Carolina and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The series is presented by "Come Hear, North Carolina."

[gentle music]