Photo by WillPower Unorthodox, yet universally endorsed, music is celebrated for its array of redemptive properties. Creativity embedded into the double helix, an organically gifted musician, like Selasi Duse, can easily twist words and sounds to summon wondrous art. Chronicling his life, the African-bred Duse has realized the American dream. Investing into his education and pursuing his passion, Selasi is reinforcing his calling. Everything from affliction to joy is offered by, The African Kid; the authenticity is what resonates with a global audience. When humility meets honesty life music is created; this is  Selasi’s signature.  AllHipHop.com was the first publication to congratulate Selasi on “Call the Police” premiering on MTV Iggy. Since then the video’s popularity has demanded it be placed in regular rotation on mtvU. Within this exclusive learn more about  Selasi as he opens up about everything from his celebrity-status to cancer. AllHipHop.com: Even before appearing on the popular Bravo TV show, The Kandi Factory, your producing acumen has earned platinum success. You’ve worked with artists ranging from the GS Boyz to Nas. With the spotlight’s glare, how are you learning to e#### boundaries, allowing accessibility to emerging artists and established professional relationships, while maintaining your personal privacy?  Selasi: Well, I own a studio in Atlanta, GA. So, I do production; I manage my artists, and myself. In Atlanta, my studio doors are always open to working with new talents. That’s something that I’ve always done; because, I like to see, new talented artists come up. That being said, I guess with the celebrity stuff, that’s still new to me. Sometimes I’ll walk up the street to the store—I was in Kroger this morning and the guard was like, ‘Oh, I saw you.’—it’s like, still new to me; it hasn’t really registered. So, I’m still learning how to deal with that part. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIYJH92byLA&w=560&h=315] AllHipHop.com: If Coming To America paid homage to the film of the same name, to Hip-Hop and Reggae, in what ways does your latest EP Shades of Gray deliver both refreshing creativity and artistic growth?  Selasi: Coming To America was more of my first mixtape here [In America].  It was more of me playing a spoof of it. But, Shades of Gray is more of me. As in, my childhood impressions and what happened. I’m West African; so, my musical influences range from African music, Afro-beats, to Hip-Hop, to R&B, to Reggae. So, Shades of Grey is who I am. Musically, the sound that exists isn’t Hip-Hop, it’s not R&B, it’s not Afro-beats either; it exists in a shaded area. It’s not typically Reggae, not typically Hip-Hop, or that African sound; it’s in the middle. I look at Shades of Gray as more of who I am. Musically, it’s me. AllHipHop.com: Having earned your degree in international business, in what ways if any, do you use your foundation of knowledge to assist you with your artistic endeavors, concerning both your business and your brand? Selasi: Well, it helped me look at what I do as a product. The way I look at it is everything we do in this world is about demand or supply.  From a business standpoint, If I’m an artist and I’m coming up with material — this is my music, but I still have to market it to my demographic. I have to make sure it’s accessible to my demographic. At the same time, it’s fine-tuning everything to what the fan-base likes.  So, it’s me giving them more of myself—at the same time, trying to reach them at different channels. Putting out music is one thing, but getting the music out to the fan-bases is where the work lies.  You set up to market it, and advertise it, [using] forums such as magazines to get the word out; all that’s part of marketing. So, I just look at it from a business standpoint. Yeah, I’m the artist, but they taught me how to detach myself from being the artist and being the businessman. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEgPcSs2RYg&w=420&h=315] AllHipHop.com: Many of your formative years were spent living throughout different African countries, you’ve been blessed to enjoy a worldly perspective, in relation to relocating from Africa to Atlanta, what political, social, and cultural aspects were the most challenging to encounter? Selasi: Moving from one African country to another, the foundation of the cultural beliefs in Africa is the same. It’s all about family; it’s very family-orientated. So, in Africa, if you’re moving from Cameroon or to Malawi, everything is centered around family. Moving from there to here, where society is more like go-go-go-go, everything is moving fast and there’s no time for anything. Back home, my dad goes to work. He takes an hour lunch break and goes home. Then he goes back to work. But here it’s different. You’re working; during lunchtime, you grab something real quick and you go back to work. The pace of this society is more of a shock—things are moving really fast over here. Of course, musically, it’s different too.  When I came here, in mind I had a demo that I planned to shop [around]. After I heard that music here [I knew] I had to revamp it to bring myself up to par with the industry. So, that’s when I really got into sound-crafting and getting my music up to par. There was a difference musically as well as socially. For me, the biggest difference was the social difference. The respect level that people have for the elders—say I meet an elder in the street—and he’s older than me. Even now, it’s hard for me to disrespect him, just ‘cause. Back home, if you did something disrespectful, then my teachers or my neighbor could whop my ass. Then they would come home and tell my mom about it. Then my mom would whop my ass, too. You were raised by more than one person; you were raised by a community. So, the respect factor is higher. Here it’s not the same. The one thing that was […]