Let’s break the ice. Who are you? Where are you from? What style of music do you create?

I’m XAE! (sounds like zay haha) I’m 23 and i’m from Nashville, TN by way of the Wicked East Side raised up out West. Don’t like putting myself in a box, but i make lifestyle music bro. If i have went through it, want it, don’t like it, love it, it’s going to be in my art somewhere haha. I’m a firm believer in being true to yourself which is why i create from the heart. I feel like you gotta tell your story because you really never know who needs to hear what you have to say!

How do you feel about the Hip Hop scene in Tennessee? A small sect of you guys have obviously realized unity brings greater things landing a TN Stage at A3C Fest… I can tell you with confidence that moves like this were not happening in indie Mid-TN Hip Hop 5-10-even 15 years ago.

Since we are being honest here haha, i feel like we as a whole have work to do! Tn is still known as the country music capitol of the world, but we have so much more to offer than that. I’m from music city man, “MUSIC CITY!!” and even tho i love country music i’m from “MUSIC CITY!!” not COUNTRY MUSIC CITY so it’s time I let my light shine to contribute to what Gotti, Buck, Juicy, and Lito are all doing right now.

In my opinion, Kelly Hite doesn’t get enough shine for the amount of grind she’s been putting in over the years. How has she been shaping and affecting the Nashville Hip Hop scene from your point of view?

I FUCKING LOVE KELLY HITE! Perfect example of a grinder, not to mention she is talented as shit! When you mix those two things together it doesn’t matter who sleeps on you, most likely they will wake up working for you. In my eyes she is using her platform to showcase what she likes and supports, im just glad to be in that mix haha. She has deff shined a lot of light roun’ here so it’s only right i show my ass haha, you just can’t pass up these opportunities where i come from!

What was the last song you listened to?

LMAO i think it was “Rich As Fuck” wayne and titty, i don’t know man haha all my niggas deff look rich as fuck tho.

Who or what influenced/motivated you to walk this journey known as music? What’s been the biggest challenge you’ve faced since starting down this path?

I can’t call it bro, i just remember at 9years old i flipped my coloring page over and started writing that dope lol. Then i heard Jay, shortly after that i heard the “Hot Boys” wayne in particular and that dude turned me all the way up. I told my pops at about 11 how i felt about music and he said (and i quote) ” I don’t give a damn if you collect trash or dig ditches, you better be the best ditch digger you can be”. Then that nigga started rapping Sugar Hill Gang and i was sold!!

Umm biggest challenge would have to be the business of this thing i do. I’m a pure artist, so at the beginning of my career i did no networking, I put no money into it, and i sure as hell wasn’t doing many shows haha. I would spend days and days in the studio just creating and finding my sound. I dropped 3 mixtapes before anybody gave a shit about what i had to say lol. I come from a family of hustlers and that’s all i know as well, so when i put my muscle with my art i took off!

Where do you want to be in 10 years?

That’s Easy, alive, successful, wealthy, married with kids first off, but that’s vague huh lol? I see myself on top of every damn thing i want to accomplish, don’t want to give it away so just wait on it!

What should the audience expect from your performance at the A3C Tennessee Stage on October 11th?

They should expect me to leave it all on stage! I’m the dopest thing you never seen. They should expect X.A.E. “Xnly Always Everything” because i’m Only always Everything!

What does this opportunity (A3C TN Stage) mean to you? How do you think it will effect your career from this moment forward?

This means the world to me! Kendrick said it best ” You can see my city found me then put me on stages, to me that’s amazing”. I’m honored to be standing up for where i’m from. It has been a very long time coming for me and it’s my time to get my blessings! I know that this will bring that attention my situation has needed since 9, the sky is the limit for me my man.

Where can we connect with you online? Find your music?

You can find me on any social site @xae615 and if you are a facebooker czech me out at Xae Chrizzy!
My lastest work is available free of charge (for now) at tribeshxtonly.bandcamp.com !!! Don’t be shy i don’t bite…. men 🙂

Any last thoughts? Shout outs?

FIRST OFF SHOUT YOU OUT FOO!! I Appreciate you for giving a shit! Man SHOUT OUT DJ MONEYGREEN!!! That’s a real one right there! Big ups to my whole team Mulah Tribe, Rxyalty Records, 4rn Intl, Modern Hippie Clothing, Sons Of Royalty Clothing, Capo and Brown over at Concrete Magazine, Gems On Vhs, Tha Underground Studio in Nashville off Music Row my man TrackBurnaz over there doing work! S/o my whole fucking family they are the real mvp’s and the reason why i do what i do. Last but not least SHOUT OUT THE BEST PHOTOGRAPHER I COULD EVER ASK FOR (also my girlfriend) @pmoneyyy make sure you go check her out!!

Danks for your time. MULAH!!!!!!!!!