Over a very small amount of time, brandUn DeShay has secured a very high spot for himself on my list of favorite rappers. A while ago, rap was something I couldn't get into except for a few select (mostly DEEPLY underground) because a majority of it had no substance. It's rappers like Brandun that really made rap mean something to me again. He's a real humble dude with talent and actual substance to his music. I heard about him through LO and I've been hooked on his sound ever since.

InRehab: So let's start with the basics: When did you know that you wanted to pursue music?
brandUn: Bout last year, a couple months before i dropped Vol. 1. somethin bit me and the passion jus grew more and more exponentially.

InRehab: Which came first, rapping or producing? Do you prefer one over the other?
brandUn: I was producing since the last semester of senior year highschool. i'm a sophmore now in college. i started rappin roun last year. I think i prefer producin more though cuz nowadays in order to be an artist, you gotta be an entertainer too. im def. not that.

InRehab: Chicago's known for being the breeding ground for some of the best music artists, especially rappers. With Kanye, Common and Lupe being just a few of those from Chicago to grow into pioneers, does the Chicago hip-hop scene influence you and your music?
brandUn: for sure. Lupe is one of my favorite artists. period. my one goal for this/next year is to work wit him. im real close.

InRehab: One of the things that I personally admire about your music is the amount of versatility involved. Who/What inspires you and your music?
brandUn: life. as long as im alive, i'll never run out of material. now that i have someone special in my life....well..more special than before, you'll see that Vol. 3 actually has love songs. ha i was never able to really make those last time.

InRehab: If you could work with any artist/producer, who would that be and why?
brandUn: at the moment, it'd be Lupe. Us together could do somethin fxckin extraordinary. I promise. when we link up, it'll jus go up from there.

InRehab: What's your opinion on the current state of music in general, more specifically, the newer, up and coming rappers and producers?
brandUn: i dont really have one. i'll say that im confident that a new sound that consists of me and my Odd Future team will be prominent in the comin years. It'll take a lil time, but it will happen.

InRehab: Who are some of the artists that you're into right now?
brandUn: I really dig japanese dance and pop music. thats been the heaviest in rotation. I wont give artists names cuz i dont need cats bitin my new influences. ha

InRehab: What's the difference between brandUn DeShay and Deshay Ali?
brandUn: theres three actually. brandUn is me in my most prominent artist mindset. DeShay Ali is the old producer side of me, that sample king. ha and Marcia, Marcia, Marcia is the shxt you might have heard on Dom Kennedy's Where I Belong. i'll have more Marcia X3 compos on Vol. 3. yall will see. =]

InRehab: What is the message or the story that you try to convey through your music?
brandUn: dont kill yourself. find your self worth. ask God when you cant ask anyone else. and make moves like everyday is your last. i promise you'll have no regrets.

InRehab: Any advice for up and coming rappers/producers?
brandUn: for sure. for those upcomers like me, dont do it unless you have to. you can waste a lot of time and money in this field. set your bar at a tangible height. not everyone is meant to do what imma do. thank you, Jigga. =]

Big shouts to brandUn. We'll definitely continue to support.

Website:brandundeshay.com

Follow him on twitter, too: twitter.com/brandundeshay

~Jigga