Clear Mind

Clear Mind remembers his initial foray into hip-hop well.

"I started back at age 20; I couldn't stIt was truly a solo endeavor, as he handled all aspects, from the wordplay to creating and producing his own beats. But after a year or two on the local circuit, Mind struggled to find acknowledgement as an MC and considered abandoning his dream.

"When I first started, it was really difficult to get myself out there and get heard," Mind said. "It came to a point where I stopped rapping and just making beats."

It was truly a solo endeavor, as he handled all aspects, from the wordplay to creating and producing his own beats. But after a year or two on the local circuit, Mind struggled to find acknowledgement as an MC and considered abandoning his dream.

"When I first started, it was really difficult to get myself out there and get heard," Mind said. "It came to a point where I stopped rapping and just making beats."

It wasn't until friend and eventual manager DJ Siroc reached out to him about enjoying his skills as a lyricist that he returned to verse.

People were not very supportive," he said, "(but) he kept expressing to me I should go back to this and get known."

Developmentally, Siroc's encouragement helped him put in the work to "finally start finding myself as an artist.

"Everyone has their own style and voice," he stated. Mind describes his own as "versed, extremely versatile" and takes pride in his willingness and skill at mixing it up across the many styles of hip-hop.

"I can rap over any beat normally," Mind said, affirming his ability to "branch, do something to trap, a boom-bap song."

When it comes to creating, Clear Mind (aka Shi-Rahn Maeweather) looks for two things: the energy of the beat and cadence.

"Normally for me, most songs start with the hook; they're the summary of the song," Mind explained. "For the song itself, it has to make me feel some type of way and really make you think, 'Oh my God, what did I just listen to?' "

When it comes to his lyrics, Mind focuses on his own life and what's going on around him. Lately, his new material is filling what he sees as a void in 518 rap by taking on a sociopolitical tone.

"Some of my recent songs are about politics, violence in the community, police brutality," he said. "It's (politically charged music) one thing that's missing in the local hip-hop scene, and as artists we're the voice of the community and people."

Now that he's settled into his artistic groove, Clear Mind is looking to build his brand. He recently had a logo designed, is developing branded swag and is copyrighting his artist name. These are essential brand-building items, so Mind is acting cautiously to ensure he gets them right.

"I want to start branding myself as an artist," he said. "I'm taking it a step at a time so I won't get sued for anything. I want to do it the right way."

He's also copyrighting the words and beat for a forthcoming single. Mind hopes to release it this year if he can get sample clearance, but thinks it'll likely drop in early spring. Regardless, he's enthusiastic about the reaction it has received thus far and looks forward to releasing it.

Right now, I'm working on a single called 'Beginning of an Era,' " Mind said. "It's really easy to follow along to, not super lyrical, but it's a fun song, a song people are going to want to listen to on a daily basis.

"This is going to the one that's going to get my foot in the door," he raved. "It's gone over big live. It's a good feeling for me."

There's a pretty good chance he'll be playing it on Black Friday at Pauly's Hotel as part of an event dubbed "Madness on the Mic." Mind will be sharing the stage with local luminaries and friends like Ozymandias, Promise the Unbreakable, Word the Third Eye and J. Till. With the wide range of artists and their respective fans, the show is a great opportunity to help grow the scene.

"I just want everyone to have a good time," Mind said of the show. "At local shows, for local artists you just want to try to get people's voices heard. The more people come out (to perform or attend) and it helps everyone." - Timesunion.com

IHH: What got you started in hip hop?
I was introduced to hip hop as a child through my mom and my uncle. My uncle is a DJ and my mom used to sing, but she loved listening to hip hop. One day I heard DMX’s Ruff Ryder’s Anthem and that’s when I found my true love for hip hop

Who were some of your influences starting out?
A lot of my influences stemed from my mom, my uncle, DMX, Busta Rhymes, Nas, Crooked I, Eminem, Mobb Deep etc…

How has being from the East Coast affected your journey to become known as a hip hop artist?
The east coast has affected me as a hip hop artist in the sense of the fact that it’s shown me I have to go harder than anyone else. There’s so many different voids I can enter and I don’t like to limit myself to a particular flow or sound but majority of people on the east coast don’t want to hesr anything BUT east coast type hip hop. I can do it ALL and I love east coast hip hop, I do east coast hip hop but I don’t want to limit myself to just that. Especially when I am able to do so much more as an artist creavitely.

How long have you been working on your new project, Swords, Metaphors, & Pressure Points and what’s the theme behind it?
I literally only worked on Swords, Metaphors & Pressure Points for about 3 weeks. I self produced half of the project and wrote it all in its entirety. My producer GRAND produced the other 5 beats making it a 10 track project. It was definitely fun to do for me lyrically because I was able to see what I am truly able to do with my pen. It showed me that my lyrical prowess is higher than I actually thought it to be. It helped me in my journey and my continued growth as an artist. The theme behind it was that the lyrically ability is supposed to express the physical capabilities of a samurai in written form. I’m a huge nerd and I love the Japanese culture. Samurai’s also happen to be my favorite warriors in history, and I feel like I am a modern day samurai.

What are your views on the current state of hip hop?
I definitely feel like hip hop has taken a different turn. It’s definitely not like it was back in the 90s when I found my love for it but nothing stays the same forever. Someone is always trying to do something different to change and/or elevate the game. I definitely think that I bring some new elements to the table that will also change the course of the path in which hip hop has taken. But as of right now I think its great, artists are having a lot more fun with it musically. Everything does not always have to be serious, depressing or about life. In todays world people just want to have fun to forget about things they might have going on in life and I happen to not see anything wrong with that.

Any shoutouts or mentions you want to give?
I wanna give a shout out to my mother and my uncle for introducing me to hip hop, I want to shout out my fiance for sticking by my side along this journey I’ve been on, I want to shout out my brother/DJ/Manager Rakim Le Monier aka DJ Siroc for being on this journey with me, and last but not least the fans for supporting me - Imdiehiphop.net

Considered a diamond in the rough, Clear Mind is by far one of the more promising MCs on the Upstate New York Hip Hop scene. A resident of Albany, New York Clear Mind has established himself as a hard-working talent worthy of a push and attention from not only the media but lovers of true Hip Hop. Able to cover all sounds, from trap to boom bap and Hip-pop as he calls it, Clear Mind displays the flexibility necessary to garner main stream acceptance as well as underground praise. Killing live shows in his area, Clear Mind has planted his feet at the forefront of upstate Hip Hop and looks to ring the bell of notoriety in other locations outside the Capital District. As a matter of introduction, we offer one of his dopest tracks and the accompanying visual. Rap Phenomenon is available below: - TheHypeMagazine.com

From Hip Hop, to trap, even pop anthems Albany resident and Capital District heavyweight Clear Mind has listeners covered. One of the bright spots on a low-radar seen, Clear Mind is looking to change or define for that matter the face of Albany area Hip Hop one dope beat and verse at a time. Lauded for his live show, Clear Mind is now setting his sights on a media campaign which will allow for him to puque interest outside of his local dominance. Need a dose of what you can expect. Check out his Rap Phenomenon remake and visual below: - PostMyFresh.com

Altimate Rapper

Clear Mind
Clear Mind may be young but his flow is stunningly mature. We expect big things from Clear Mind in the coming years. - Thealt.com

Another MC from Albany that is contributing to the local scene not only lyrically but also with the beats he produces is Clear Mind (pictured above.) With beats that encompass a variety of styles from boom bap to trap, Clear Mind’s lyrics flow effortlessly between verbally beating down whack MC’s to self reflection. Clear Mind describes his music as moving in different zones.

“There are so many different zones I can enter and it cannot be classified as just one category,” said Clear Mind whose “Clear State of Mind,” EP was released last year . “I feel as a hip-hop artist, the genre may be hip-hop, but as far as content and creativity mine is all over the place. Whatever beat I produce I generally just go off of that.” - Thealt.com

Albany native Clear Mind is on a course to take his Capital District buzz and introduce the rest of the world to his skill set, and work ethic. How to get the ball rolling ? the release of his Swords, Metaphors and Pressure Points mixtape. - wazzuptonight.com

Residing in Albany, New York is up and coming local artist by the name of Clear Mind. With a large grass root fan base, he is on his way to claim fame outside of the Tri-State area as evidenced by mass media footage, live events, showcases, and radio airplay. I was shockingly impressed when I caught wind to his newly released mixtape “Swords, Metaphors, & Pressure Points”, which is predominately self-produced by Clear Mind. I was also astonished by his level of excellence and execution with lyricism, versatility, and beat selection. Not one track is repetitive in flow, rhyme, sound, or message. He gives listeners something real to grasp, embrace and relate to especially with tracks “Fire at my Feet”, “Legend”, “Walk with Me” and the most heartfelt track “Freestylin’ Under Influence”. This mixtape also illuminates a fusion of Hip Hop, Jazz, Soul, and personal scriptures which define Clear Mind as artist and man, from struggles to confidence, and with the certainty of becoming a legend in his own right. Clear Mind has the ability and conviction to create timeless and extraordinary music. - 1212mag.com

Residing in Albany, New York is up and coming local artist by the name of Clear Mind. With a large grass root fan base, he is on his way to claim fame outside of the Tri-State area as evidenced by mass media footage, live events, showcases, and radio airplay. I was shockingly impressed when I caught wind to his newly released mixtape “Swords, Metaphors, & Pressure Points”, which is predominately self-produced by Clear Mind. I was also astonished by his level of excellence and execution with lyricism, versatility, and beat selection. Not one track is repetitive in flow, rhyme, sound, or message. He gives listeners something real to grasp, embrace and relate to especially with tracks “Fire at my Feet”, “Legend”, “Walk with Me” and the most heartfelt track “Freestylin’ Under Influence”. This mixtape also illuminates a fusion of Hip Hop, Jazz, Soul, and personal scriptures which define Clear Mind as artist and man, from struggles to confidence, and with the certainty of becoming a legend in his own right. Clear Mind has the ability and conviction to create timeless and extraordinary music. - Iamhiphopmagazine.com

Rugged and poignant; thought provoking and visceral, hailing from Upstate New York, Conscious Rapper Clear Mind is a pragmatic storyteller, focused on revealing the truth of life through his gritty descriptions and elastic word flow. “The Clear State of Mind Mixtape” is this young artist’s latest creation and across it’s 3 unreleased tracks and 2 freestyles, this captivating young mind explores many unique stories, emotions and sides to life. This uplifting and positive elevation of Hip Hop culture, though draped in the aesthetics of the modern era, is very much indebted to earlier artists who championed messages of hope through poetry, rhymes and raps. In this way, Clear Mind stands as a provocative and innovative artist, dedicated to his craft and moving his culture forward by utilizing rap as a profound vehicle for creative expression.

“The Clear State of Mind Mixtape” is a complex and nuanced collection of tracks which explore many unique subjects and areas of life. Clear Mind is a passionate and multidimimensional artist who is committed to crafting thought provoking, fun urban music driven by lyricism, intellectual content and accessible analysis about modern life. Across the “The Clear State of Mind Mixtape” this young and talented artist announces his presence on the world stage as a thought leader and dynamic champion, someone who can inspire, raise awareness and captivate international audiences. Clear Mind has the lyrical prowess and insight to enrich his community, offering all of himself in every rhyme and through every emotive element of his narrative storytelling, this young MC is poised to be a messenger for this generation.

“The Clear State of Mind Mixtape” will appeal to anyone who enjoys ruggedly persuasive Hip Hop. This collection of tracks contain a vibrant self awareness which is sure to attract fans around the world. Inspired by legendary and contemporary artists such as: Rakim, KRS 1, DMX, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and J Cole, Clear Mind is ready to advance his culture and community forward. Music with purpose, delivered with passion, “The Clear State of Mind Mixtape” is music to bring people together.

Self-Released, “The Clear State of Mind Mixtape” is a point of entry for an artist destined to spread conscious, lyrical hip hop to all corners of the globe. An engaging and powerful live performer, Clear Mind will be continuing to develop his skills on the microphone on and off stage. Uncontent to be a passive observer in life, this bold and dynamic creator is primed and ready for greatness.

Be sure to check out “The Clear State of Mind Mixtape” and catch Clear Mind performing in 2016! - Jammerzine

“The Clear State of Mind Mixtape” is a complex and nuanced collection of tracks which explore many unique subjects and areas of life. Clear Mind is a passionate and multidimimensional artist who is committed to crafting thought provoking, fun urban music driven by lyricism, intellectual content and accessible analysis about modern life. Across the “The Clear State of Mind Mixtape” this young and talented artist announces his presence on the world stage as a thought leader and dynamic champion, someone who can inspire, raise awareness and captivate international audiences. Clear Mind has the lyrical prowess and insight to enrich his community, offering all of himself in every rhyme and through every emotive element of his narrative storytelling, this young MC is poised to be a messenger for this generation.
“The Clear State of Mind Mixtape” will appeal to anyone who enjoys ruggedly persuasive Hip Hop. This collection of tracks contain a vibrant self awareness which is sure to attract fans around the world. Inspired by legendary and contemporary artists such as: Rakim, KRS 1, DMX, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar and J Cole, Clear Mind is ready to advance his culture and community forward. Music with purpose, delivered with passion, “The Clear State of Mind Mixtape” is music to bring people together.
Self-Released, “The Clear State of Mind Mixtape” is a point of entry for an artist destined to spread conscious, lyrical hip hop to all corners of the globe. An engaging and powerful live performer, Clear Mind will be continuing to develop his skills on the microphone on and off stage. Uncontent to be a passive observer in life, this bold and dynamic creator is primed and ready for greatness. - Urbandubz

The more Wavy and Mercy performed, the larger the crowd got, with audience members even asking for an encore. This energy cleared the path for Clear Mind, who also drew a large following. He released his project, “Swords, Metaphors & Pressure Points,” in November of 2017, which included instrumental production by himself as well as a variety of others.
He, Wavy Cunningham, and DJ Mercy, all set a tone with their common charismatic approach to the stage — their futures as performers, locally and beyond, carry promise. erformed, the larger the crowd got, with audience members even asking for an encore. This energy cleared the path for Clear Mind, who also drew a large following. He released his project, “Swords, Metaphors & Pressure Points,” in November of 2017, which included instrumental production by himself as well as a variety of others. - NYSmusic.com