izzy strange

Introducing Izzy Strange! Check out this PA rapper's connection with Freddie Gibbs!

Check out this reggae inspired joint from Pennsylvania rapper Izzy Strange! Gibbs goes crazy on this one! Raised in the rural area of Scottdale, Pennsylvania, Izzy was still no stranger to Hip Hop; drawing inspiration from the culture and music early on in life. As an artist, Izzy Strange is no stranger on the scene - having opened up for the likes of Cory Gunz, K Camp, Chris Webby, Blu & Exile, and more.

Four years since releasing his debut album, "Dinner With My Enemies," the American rapper/songwriter closes out the year with the release of his Freddie Gibbs assisted single, "What You Tryna Do?" Produced by Nada, "What You Tryna Do?" finds Izzy and Freddie delivering melodic bars and rhymes over a Reggae inspired instrumental - with samples that asks, "When the violence goes down, what you tryna do?" - All Hip Hop

HipHopDX Premiere: Pennsylvania MC Izzy Strange has surfaced with his sixth and final release from his forthcoming project, A Good Day 2 B The Bad Guy. Titled “No One But Me,” the Nate Fox-produced track also features Chi-Town rep Mick Jenkins, who recently dropped his own solo album, The Healing Component. 
“No One But Me” centers on mustering up the motivation to change from within while touching on Izzy’s struggles and hardships over the years. The track comes from Izzy’s aforementioned album, which also features guest spots from from Eligh of Living Legends, Open Mike Eagle and Blu, and is expected to arrive on May 2. Listen above. - HipHopDX

Mick Jenkins, who just dropped a song with Goldlink (“Pressed For Time (Crossed My Mind)“), appears at the DopeHouse in consecutive days, this time on Pennsylvania rapper Izzy Strange’s “No One But Me,” which is produced by The Social Experiment’s Nate Fox.
“I believe in what I’m doing, but they ain’t convinced yet,” Strange sings on the hook as both he and Jenkins open up about being written off.
The song will land on Strange’s A Good Day 2 B The Bad Guy, which will have features from Blu, Open Mike Eagle and others. - 2DopeBoyz

2017 has been a great year for Izzy Strange. Coming off the heels of his most successful project to date, May’s “A Good Day 2 B The Bad Guy”, the upward trajectory for Izzy is clearly evident. The Pennsylvanian has seen praise from top publications like 2dopeboyz and others, further cementing his status as an artist to be watched. Now that the LP has had time to make it’s rounds, we at 1DF wanted to take some time to learn more about the process behind it and what Izzy may have lined up next to follow. Check out our full interview below.
To start off, could you tell the people a bit about who you are and how you got to the point you are now?
My names Izzy Strange. I’m from a small town outside of Pittsburgh, PA called Scottdale. I got to the point I’m at now by practice, dedication and persistence. They are the same ingredients I’ll use to keep me this thing going!
When did you decide to pursue music seriously? What was it that made you take the plunge?
I made the decision about 4 years ago. I realized there was nothing else I’d rather do. Up to that point, I wasn’t taking it as seriously as I should have been. I didn’t like the place I was in at at that point of life, so something had to change. I literally threw myself completely into pursuing music.
What do you feel it is about your music that sets you apart from others in the game?
For starters, my voice. Haha. I think that helps but really i’m just staying true to myself – telling my story and my views on the world.
I’m sure (and hope) that people can relate but no one else has lived my exact life or seen things exactly the way I do. I feel that’s the best way for anyone to set themselves apart, just be yourself – there’s only one you.
Your latest project, which we also reviewed, was received pretty well. Did it live up to the expectations you had set for yourself?
Most definitely and it’s only been out about 5 months. So I feel there is still a lot work to do in pushing this project to reach even more ears.
I can say that I got out exactly what was in my head when creating this but it also taught me how to approach projects going forward. So not only is this a project i’m proud of but it was great learning experience as well.

What was the mindset going into the forming the album? It’s a very personal project so I’m wondering if that was the aim originally or if it just kind of happened that way.
I kinda suck at conveying my emotions in real life, so I’ve kinda always used music to help me deal with things.
With this project in particular, I was trying to deal with the past while also looking into the future. The title “A Good Day 2 B The Bad Guy” isn’t exactly just about the bad things i may or may not have done. It’s more about a person chasing there dreams.
I feel like a lot people (especially in a small town) get looked down upon for not just doing the normal – school, job, family – life style. Dreams come with uncertainty, so fear places a big part in peoples decision to chase them. This project was just stating that i’m not afraid of chasing my dreams whether i succeed or fail. So therefore it’s “A Good Day 2 B The Bad Guy”.
What song in your catalog is your favorite one and why?
Hmm.. that’s a hard pick! Haha! I don’t know if I can pick out of the whole catalog but on the album it would either have to be “God’s Got A Gun” or “Run Em’ Thru The Sticks”.
I just really enjoy both songs sonically but “Run Em’ Thru The Sticks” I like more for the personal story of my hometown. There’s really not much for kids to do around here, so they end up getting fucked up and into trouble. I just wanted to capture the essence of what it was like for me growing up on small country type town.
“God’s Got A Gun” is a spiritual dilemma I have. It’s based off the saying “Everything happens for a reason”. I just believe there’s a lot of suffering and fucked up shit in this world that happens. Is there really a reason some little child would die of starvation or something much worse? So yeah, one of those both for the personal ties in each of them.
You have released quite a few visuals to support “A Good Day 2 B The Bad Guy”, the latest being “At Home”, featuring Blu. What’s your relationship like with Blu if you don’t mind me asking?
At first just some artists that worked together, but after going out there to shoot the video our relationship definitely developed into something more. I’m confident in saying the world can expect more collaborations from us in the future.

The video itself was pretty dope as well. Seems like you all had a great time filming it. Can you share more about how it all came together?

We just wanted to bring the human element into the creation process. Nowadays, it’s too easy for people to create something and not even be in the same room or ever meet. So I just reached out to him, he was down and we made it happen.
I know you are working on more music. Can we expect to get another video from AGD2BTBG or are you more so shifting your focus to what is to come next?
I have one more idea for a video. If I can make it happen soon, we’ll go through with it. But if it becomes too much trouble, I’ll probably just focus on the new stuff.
What details can you give us about what’s next in line musically?
I have a batch of tracks in the works with Eligh from Living Legends. Might drop that as an EP or just some singles. Haven’t decided yet.
I’m also already in the process of working on the follow up to AGD2BTBG. It’s gonna be called “The Die is Cast” and will feature some new faces as far as production goes, but thats really all i can say about that at this time.
Aside from the music itself what else do you have on the horizon in the near future that people should be aware of?
Right now I’m taking the next few months to finish working on new material as well as continue the promo for AGD2BTBG. After that, i’ll be hitting the road again to perform. But no dates are set as of now.
With the year dwindling down what goals, if any, do you have set for yourself for 2018?
I would like to have my next project ready to be recorded and out by this time next year. I want to collab with more artists and double my performance rates of this past year. Pretty much just keep up and expand the momentum I gained in 2017.
15 years down the line how do you want to be remembered both as a man and as an artist?
Someone who gave it their all and hopefully someone who helped other people get through similar situations and inspired them to not be afraid to take the risks to achieve what they want.
Is there anything else you would like to share before we conclude?
Keep listening to AGD2BTBG and share it with your friends. Also, thanks to everyone who supports the music! Can’t make this happen with out you. - 1st Day Fresh

Dropping 6 singles before the release of an album is unconventional at best. Pennsylvania’s Izzy Strange did it anyway. Why wouldn’t he with features from Blu, Mick Jenkins, and Nate Fox?
It all worked out as his sophomore album A Good Day 2 B The Bad Guy is flawless. Izzy sent me an apt description of the project which you can find below.
“AGD2BTBG represents the stigma that chasing your dreams brings. The project revolves around the obstacles of the pursuit and what comes along with it. It also serves as a statement to prove that even thru the doubts and struggles, I’m here to stay. Music is my sole calling and I’m willing to go to any lengths to prove that. It was time to finally tell my story and share it with the world. I hope listeners appreciate the music and take away just as much feeling as I put into making it.”
Although the promo singles were numerous, this is truly a project meant to be played from front to back. Netherfriends, Danny G, Red Pill, Tahlyn, Mike Incite and DJ Halo also lend a helping hand with the body of work, making it a family affair. Many are involved, but Izzy is the obvious star of the show.
AGD2BTBG’s bread and butter is Izzy’s honesty. Some of his most personal songs of his career are on here, making the 15 tracks a compelling listen. Stream above. - Flows For Days

We begin Izzy Strange‘s album A Good Day 2 B The Bad Guy with “Everybody Got a Story,” the perfect scene setter from the Scottdale, Pennsylvania MC. Sometimes where you’re from or the things you’ve had to go through in the past are what people judge you the most harshly on, rather than who you are right now. Even more so, people can write off the fact that you might have had any sort of struggle in your life. Everyone has a story to be told, even Izzy.

A Good Day 2 B The Bad Guy sounds very old school at its core. There’s a lot of jazz influence to be heard, along with some boom bap and rock. The production sounds like something you could hear on a Royce Da ‘5’9 track which, come to think of it, is a good comparison to Izzy stylistically when it comes to his music. This is heard on “On One” and “No Commercials,” where the latter features a good share of scratching, which some in hip-hop might consider to be a lost art. The nostalgia behind the scratching is powerful and enticing. AGD2BTBG runs for 15 tracks and holds seven features including the likes of Mick Jenkins and Open Mike Eagle. The first feature on the album comes from Blu on “At Home,” and he absolutely kills it. The contrast between Izzy’s deeper and raspier voice and Blu’s more nasally (in a good way) tone makes for a real nice back and forth as they trade bars.

Izzy is a traditional lyricist and he does a nice job at making effective rhymes. He’s clever with his wordplay in a way that isn’t corny. You take him seriously when you hear him rap. There’s something about his voice that makes you want to listen. The way Izzy uses inflections and tone changes is similar to that of Aesop Rock, where no matter what the track, you still want to hear what they have to say; they just straight up sound good over the beat. This is clear on “Fear Is The Leader” where the element that carries the track is definitely Izzy’s voice and his rapping ability. He busts out on a spree of raps where the hook becomes an afterthought. Not to say the hook is bad, either. It’s just that the rapping is so enjoyable.
The first issue that came to fruition on AGD2BTBG is one that isn’t even necessarily a problem. On track nine, “Real Love,” Izzy uses a feature from Tahlyn who’s voice is wonderful in so many ways. Then on track 10, “Run ’em’ thru the Sticks,” we get another Tahlyn feature. The latter however, uses her much more effectively. This isn’t because “Real Love” is bad, it’s more the fact that once we come to “Run ’em’ thru the Sticks” we get to really see what Tahlyn can do. This just leaves us wanting more on “Real Love,” as it’s a much smaller role for her. Spacing these tracks out might have prevented this, but the tracks do flow nicely into each other so you can’t fault that decision. It’s a good thing then that we actually do get three Tahlyn features though, as she comes back to close the album on the title track, and shines with some nice riffs in the background.
Izzy proves to us on the album that he is built with a lot of versatility. He sings hooks to back up his raps in a successful way, he is able to stand out on tracks with big name features, and every track doesn’t follow the same formula. Compare “Trap Musick” to “Rappers Say The Darnedest Things;” two very different tracks that both find their place and fit well on the album. “Trap Musick” seems to stem from some reggae inspirations, with a hook that sounds like it could have been made by Shwayze when they were “buzzin’” (pun intended). It’s a strong highlight that comes in right before the album’s end.


For his second album, A Good Day 2 B The Bad Guy is a strong effort. One that Izzy Strange is excited to finally present as he comes into his own. The album is an enjoyable listen and doesn’t even feel like 15 tracks. AGD2BTBG is a breeze and never seems to lull. Izzy is young but stays true to his roots by bringing his old soul into it which really helps tell the project’s story. Sometimes in life you are the bad guy whether you’re doing something bad or not. People are always looking to blame or judge someone, but now it seems Izzy can only be blamed for one thing: Making good music. - True Too

Back in May we had the honor or premiering a new track from Izzy Strange featuring Eligh of Living Legends. Now I have the honor of premiering the newest from Izzy Strange, the co-founder of Beasleys Corner Bodega. It’s entitled “Rappers Say the Darnedest Things” and features Hellfyre Club and Mello Music Group member Open Mike Eagle.

Izzy Strange is a very versatile hip hop artist. Easily able to switch up between rap styles, dialects and flows. Easily interchanging fast raps and sing songy hooks. I am super impressed with his growth as an artist and it really is just a matter of WHEN not if, he blows up. The press has started and I fully expect that to increase after this.

Open Mike Eagle is easily one of the most unique voices in the indie hip hop scene, with a very recognizable voice and an almost cult status following. Everything Mike touches is gold and he continuously flexes his skills. Did I mention this fire beat was produced by Netherfriends? Another knock out for them as well.

With an interesting introspective on hip hop, fans and rappers, Izzy has created a new track that is not only worth bumping in the whip, but also deserves several listens in a row just deciphering the messages behind it.



Take a listen to the new track below, make your interpretations and checkout Izzy Strange and Beasley’s Corner Bodega on Facebook:

**Also would love to acknowldege Dan Gensel of WDS Audio Lodge for mixing and mastering, and Zeus of Beasley’s Corner Bodega for cover art.** - KnowMore Music Blog

Though 2,447.5 miles apart, , Scottdale and Hollywood are interconnected. Thanks to two artist with native roots, Scottdale is beginning to attract more famous stars.

Scottdale native singer songwriter and producer, , Nate Fox signed an exclusive co publishing deal with Disney Music Group. Fox performed on Saturday Night Live with established artist Chance The Rapper, , but his passion is inspiring and mentoring new talent such as proud Scottdale native, Stephen Hernley.

Due to his team spirit, Hernley has been collaborating with established artists such as Nate Fox with his music. In fact, Fox often produces for Hernley. The two began a working relationship almost a decade ago.


“Steve is immensely dedicated to his craft which is crucial in any profession but specifically as a creative. The BCB collective has been hard at work since I can remember and they have grown as artists, as producers, and just as business owners.”

— Nate Fox


The BCB collective that Fox is referring to is Beasley's Corner Bodega, an independent collective of musicians, artists, film makers, promoters, and media who work together to put out uncompromising art as they envision it.
BCB features Hernley and another Scottdale native filmmaker, Joshua Thomas. Though he enjoys film making, he also excels at rapping.

Hernley known as Izzy Strange, and Thomas known as Zeus, pair up in a duo that they call 'Middle Name Danger'. MND has toured all over the country including a west coast tour last summer. Stephens younger brother Josh Hernley is also a talented rapper and rounding out the group is Scottdale native Michael Petersen who goes by the name J.Mike. J.Mike is a jack of all trades and will be on EDM's radar soon.

The BCB has more than just Nate Fox backing them. MND has opened up for many famous artist like RIITZ. They also interview plenty of celebrities on camera. They interviewed Toro Y Moi just weeks before he appeared on stage at FYF Fest. They often introduce new ideas that have helped them network their way across the country. Thomas wears many different hats as does Hernley. They are usually a few years ahead of the game in terms of original content. BCB is starting to become a recognizable national brand across the country and now because of Hernley's 'Izzy Strange' character they are about to impact the world.

"Izzy Strange is definitely a fitting name for such a wildly eccentric mc. Having spent a couple weeks in an RV with him touring the coast, I can pretty safely say the two of us will be lifelong friends. He bares it all on the track, and I find it impossible not to respect him both on and off the mic," said Chad Porras booking agent at the Facebook verified Deep Thinka Records.

Porras is also an artist that goes by the name of 'Skeptik' and he helped book the west coast tour that MND went on. His respect and admiration for the Scottdale gang went further. "Beasley's is essentially the East coast counterpart to my own crew, the Lobetrotters Collective. We're very similar when it comes to our outlook on music/art, and those similarities led to us (as in all members of both crews) gelling instantly and getting along great. I always wanted to take a trip out to Scottdale and see how the 'other half' lives. Other than that I've never really been focused on their location," said the California native.

Hernley has been getting offers in the movie business as a sound engineer. He also was a topic of discussion on the July 9th episode of the Artie Lange show last year. He has been fielding offers from other artists looking for him to either direct, produce, or rap. In October 2015, Netherfriends, a notoriously skilled artist from Chicago actually paid his own way to be able to do a show with Steve at The Smiling Moose in Southside on Carson street. Netherfriends has started working with Hernley as well.

Since that show, Izzy has been working with the brightest minds in the country and after he releases his newest project "Good day to be a bad guy" he's likely to become a widely recognized artistic talent. However, he does not forget the man who helped pave the way.


“Nate Fox is in the studio all the time, he is the hardest worker I know. He’s a studio junkie. He never sleeps.”

— Stephen Hernley



Hernley flew to LA twice and then to San Francisco to complete his 'Dinner With My Enemies' album. That album showcased Hernley's skills and with his music videos being directed by himself for the first time his talents blossomed.

Hernley will be the next big star out of Scottdale but he also gave credit to 22 year old Scottdale producer, Anthony Cornish.
"He is an up and coming producer with a lot of talent. Also a multi instrumentalist," said Hernley. He also credited the late Derek Bailey. Steve emphasized there would be no Scottdale hip hop without Derek Bailey. - Broadcast 65

Izzy Strange has the table set and keeps an open eye on his dinner guests on his latest EP, “Dinner With My Enemies”. Consisting of ten songs, the Pennsylvanian emcee/ producer gives new meaning to the term, “revenge is a dish best served cold” with guest appearances from fellow BCB members Zeus & Chuurch, Rachel Belneck, Mike Incite, Wise Crack The Scribe & dubldragon. DWME started off as a nineteen track project detailing the Scottdale artist’s life but with something missing from the project, a trip out to Los Angeles for a visit to hometown friend Nate Fox lead to a revamp of the album with added production, vocals and a trimming of the tracklist. At last, after three years of working effortlessly on DWME, Beasley’s Corner Bodega released the project on Bandcamp and GYBU decided it deserved a track by track review for all of our viewers out there.

Izzy clears the phlegm from his throat to provide harmonies alongside Rachel Belnick on “The Show’s Up” with a guest verse from Mike Incite, who also drops by for another appearance later in the EP. With subtle horns and piano plucks, Strange sets a strong tone for the remainder of the project. DWME then moves over to the intensely soulful “One Day”, which also earned the first visual from the project. The main focus here is not getting caught up in life’s past mishaps but instead focusing on the present and planning for the future. The beat is exceptional here with extensively layered horns and hard hitting drums. The rock guitar infused “Pay Our Bills” tells a tale of a troubled young man that’s learning to cope with what life has dealt him and standing all on his own. The lyrics on the hook basically sum up the attitude of this cut, “Your mother don’t pay our bills, I do and I can afford you too” .

“BCKWHN” to me has a hidden definition to it. If you listen closely to the beat itself, you can pick up an interpretation of a song from way back when from Kool & The Gang titled “Summertime Madness”. Izzy and Nate did an incredible job of sneaking that in without being too direct. This track is a great tune to jam with old friends to reminisce over cherished memories. “Birds Of A Feather” is a love based record that talks about the ups and downs of being involved in a relationship. I really appreciate the classic Hip Hop approach on all the tracks so far and the Chuck Ellis sample flip is sweet. “Take Em’ 2 Chuurch” gets the turntable treatment from Wisecrack the Scribe and in my opinion, has true Hip Hop written all over it. The beat is amazing and at some points, sounds as though it’s horns were sampled from the Nasir Jones song, “Life’s A Bitch”. The horn section at the tailend that Nas’ pops laid down. Regardless if that’s a fact or not, I love the feel of this record, one of my favorites from the EP. It’s just Izzy dropping knowledge concerning life.

We then are served up a healthy plate on “Time is Now” which features Zeus, who together with Izzy make up the duo Middle Name Danger and also gives a small taste of what listeners can expect from them. dubldragon. also helps provide to this new school styled version of Hip Hop. The beat has some Middle Eastern flare to it and the drums are fast & aggressive. Like the previous song, this is a purely Hip Hop driven track. “Dinner With My Enemies” than moves back into a concept driven realm with “When the Music’s Over”. I heard Slim Shady mentioned in the lyrics and “My Darling” automatically came to mind. The song tells a tale of two personalities at arms with each other and is another standout cut.

“What it Looks Like” brings the vibe back to a mellow one with some dope lyrics from Mike Incite and yet another soulful harmony from Izzy on the chorus line. The EP then concludes with “Head in the Clouds”. On this song, the production seems the fullest with the live guitar riffs, bell chimes and crispy drums. This is a very uplifting record, I love the instrumental variations, especially the one that crashes in at 1:41. This one has a strong straight rock influence to it. But wait, there’s more, a hidden eleventh track follows titled “Robbery”, which also has a video to accompany it. This is yet another standout record that features Butch Cassidy & blood brother Chuurch, who also is part of a duo with Izzy called Strangers With Candy. The song talks about how we sell ourselves out on a daily basis, one of the world’s biggest downfalls of all.

Izzy made a wise decision heading out to L.A. to work with Nate Fox on this album. I get a strong Chance The Rapper vibe from Izzy and I think connecting with another producer helped bring the true vision of DWME to life. I appreciate all the complexity that went into making the EP as well. All of the various harmonies and different vocal approaches really stood out to me. That and the classic Hip Hop production full of gnarly drum loops, layered horns and slick sampling. I’m sure the more I listen to it over time I’ll pick up on even deeper meanings to all the song’s concepts but I’m very satisfied with what I got from it now. I’d recommend this album to fans of soulful Hip Hop & Chance The Rapper. I’d also recommend this album to those at a crossroads in life, something to help soothe the soul. “Dinner With My Enemies” can be streamed & purchased from the player below. - Get Your Buzz Up