Tuu Ra, representing Brooklyn, has been writing and producing music since the young age of 14. Using a keyboard his mother gave him, and being introduced to fruity loops daw on his laptop by his father, he began a journey that he’s been on ever since, combining spiritual training and deep-rooted knowledge of metaphysics into his always evolving music and art (he’s multi-disciplinary).
“I was introduced to creating music by my father who is also a musician,” he tells AAHH. “Writing was always a strength for me.” With early influences that include the likes of Lupe Fiasco, Talib Kweli, Rakim, Krs One, his love of the meticulous attention to the art itself emanates from his work.
“On the production side I drew inspiration from Dilla, 9th wonder, Pharrell, and Ryan Leslie to name a few,” he adds. He dropped a mixtape in 2014 titled Nu Perception, and a beat tape two years later titled Hip Hop Archives — on top of a handful of singles.
His sound is versatile, from old soulful hip-hop waves that have long since dispersed since hitting the rocks, to today’s trap vibes that are flooding the streets. His latest “Get Something” — for example — is overflowing with lyrical content, an atmospheric instrumental, and a high quality visual — with tons of movement and engaging transitions. It’s when you take time to listen to his bars; you can hear his teachings scattered throughout.
“I practice Qi Gong, which is the grandmother of Tai Qi, and meditate often,” he says. “This helps a lot in my creative process while giving me resilience as I navigate this [tough] music business. Currently, he is working on an album; “my focus is collaborating with other producers to create a different sound,” he notes, adding that he’s looking to drop it by the end of this upcoming fall.
Currently living in between the mecca and sunny LA, he’s been making new connections. “You can look forward to hearing the east coast west coast vibe in my upcoming project … my next goal is to expand overseas and book more gigs. I love traveling and look forward to sharing my music with a broader and more diverse audience.
With new connections in the UK, and enjoying a brewing creative run, Tuu Ra is in an exciting space. Stay tuned — and add him to your socials @tuugod.
