Small Eyez has been regarded as a “rare artist” whose “soul just keeps pouring out the speakers” (RapReviews, 2007). With a past like the one Small Eyez, born Emman Twe, had, it’s not surprising that his music can be appreciated by many.
Small Eyez was born with a birth defect that left him with one arm. Quite the odd man out, Small Eyez found sanity and comfort by burying himself in books and music. Reading the likes of “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” and exaggerated tales of comic books, Small Eyez found solace in himself. He was molded by music, books, and education--all of which played a large part in his development and has become evident in the tales he weaves with his own music.
In 2006, as a junior in college he released his debut EP, Vipassana, a gritty project fueled by both his raw talent and his hard-won optimism. Perceptive beyond his 21 years, the release quickly gained the attention of hip-hop heads, earning him kudos from coveted sites like Okayplayer. But, the project also placed him in a box. He was a “conscious” emcee with long dreds, a flow that mirrored the intensity of Pharoahe Monch, the self-deprecation of Kanye West and the creativity of Mos Def.
“Working on Vipassana was a great experience,” Eyez says. “To see an idea you have in your mind go from a sheet of paper to a physical product that sits on a shelf in a cd store is an amazing feeling. Especially when you released, designed, and promoted it yourself.” Eager to keep recording, he quickly followed up with 2Morrow in 2007, a collaboration with fellow Morehouse student, Soul Stirrer. Filled with Soul Stirrer’s jazzy, Pete Rock-esque production, the effort again, garnered him attention, and led to him opening for acts like Monica, Dead Prez, Young Jeezy and Talib Kweli. It also established him as a force in the other-ground Atlanta rap scene that was beginning to bubble at the time.
“Music is feeling,” he says. “It is heart. It’s those tears that swell up every time you hear a song that reminds you of a loved one, or lost love, or what compels you to get motivated, and do more. It is the flame of life, motivating and powering the heart. I decided to follow my bliss for better or worse.” His upcoming project, From The Sol will feature production from innovative jazz group, Jaspects on the samba-inspired “Soak It Up”, Supa Dave West, Illastrate & DJ Applecjac. Bottom line: his sound is more open than it’s ever been, and what’s more, it signals a fresh direction and sound for hip-hop.
