Earlier this month Brampton artist EverythingOShauN dropped a monstrous two-track release for “Neva” and “Dough Right.”
These two tracks were both produced by EverythingOShauN’s right-hand man Xpress aka DJXP, and come to us as OShauN begins the roll-out for his upcoming new sophomore project.
“Neva” is an anthem about the hustle, and gives the nod to OShauN’s mom for instilling him with a stick-to-it mentality. This is the song of reassurance for riding out the waves. Artistic growth and success don’t always happen at the same rate, and it can be extremely frustrating. It’s easy to want to give up. Especially when you know you’ve gotten good, but it’s taking the fans and listeners a little longer to catch on and be receptive.
For “Dough Right”, OShauN collaborated with Toronto artist Minty Burns to deliver an atmospheric turn-up record about getting the finances in order. This track is the continuation of EverythingOShauN’s previously released track “Broke$”, so you know it’s about money… but also about another kind of wealth you can’t count in papers.
Listen to “Neva” and “Dough Right” below, and scope our in-depth interview with EverythingOShauN.
Q&A: EverythingOShauN
HipHopCanada: Start off by telling me the significance of each one of these songs for you, and why you opted to drop them together as a double release.
EverythingOShauN: Both songs mean a lot because it represents where I’m at right now. My momma tells me to “Neva” stop And I’m trying to get my “Dough Right.” There is little left to the imagination because it’s all factual and I’m not reminiscing; this is all things happening at the time of this writing which is different for me. It’s a double-release because I understand that there is a subsection of hip-hip growing that may only like one of these records and not the other. But in reality they both are representative of the musical landscape, which I’m very well capable of attacking both.
HipHopCanada: I think you’ve always been an incredibly hungry artist, but these two songs specifically are two of your hungriest. “Dough Right” is more rooted in the financial side of things, while “Neva” is more of a nod to the hustle.
EverythingOShauN: Well like I was saying it’s a reflection of current status and current things I am trying to do. So it becomes less music and more reality. And I know everybody else is trying to do the same thing. So it takes nothing to subscribe to what I’m selling. Which is why we all need to get it and I’ll pull you up the way I know how: through the tunes for your head top (to borrow from Drake) or (like Staasia Daniels says that I adapted now) “tunes for head back”.
HipHopCanada: I feel like “Dough Right” is kind of like the sister song and progression of your previously released “Broke$”. Because they’re both about money… but also not about money. You feel me? When you say you want to get your “dough right” it’s also a nod to getting your priorities in order and accumulating your wealth; financially, emotionally, etc.
EverythingOShauN: The thing is as much as we think money is not something we need or that we should need, it is. And it is the equilibrium that sets everything in place. And yes it is the continuation of “Broke$”. When you realize you are broke and still wasting the money you have (through tipping) you have to start trying to get things right, including money. It’s going to be so transparent when I’m getting money ’cause the song will be very blatant like “I’m getting money now, gotdamnit!” You’ll know.
HipHopCanada: I’m very curious about the story behind how you and Minty Burns met and wound up linking on “Dough Right.”
EverythingOShauN: Haha. Minty is the homie. We have some mutual people so we kind of connected that way and then I been checking some of his latest music and I said, “You know what? Let me ask this guy if he f**ks with this #DoughRight joint.” We had two ways we was going with this record and Minty added that vibe that I wanted. Shit! We sound good together! We gonna have to get some more tunes under our belt. He also is a hard worker in-and-out of the booth. I like working with people like that.
HipHopCanada: On that note, I know you’re extremely choosy about your features. And you tend to just release solo material. So how did you and Minty play off each other for “Dough Right”? What did you learn from him and his process?
EverythingOShauN: Continuing with this topic, you’re right! I rarely do features. I have two main reasons as to why I don’t do many. The first one is because I am still an indie artist I want to give as much of my voice to listeners alone as possible so they know who I am fully. That way when I start working with a lot of artists you recognize my voice right away without trying to figure out who is who on a track. The other reason is a lil more political. Lotta artists take too long to respond. I hate waiting on a verse or vocals from someone. Some artists are also hella gassed and won’t even respond to you. You’d think I was messaging Jay Z for a feature!?! Hahahah. But in all seriousness the worst feeling is to be waiting or depending on someone else to complete a song you did months ago. All I need is some vocals from XpressakaDJXP, some Staasia Daniels, and homies like Minty to get the job done. Im always open to collab though. Don’t get it twisted. But some of these artists are just too gasssed for ya boy. Hahaha.
HipHopCanada: I liked how you gave daps to your mom on “Neva.” Talk to me about how she taught you that stick-to-it mentality.
EverythingOShauN: Coming from the islands, once you decide to do something it doesn’t matter how long you take… you better do it. So she is the constant reminder that I must keep doing it and not stop. I hear her telling at me in Patois wherever I go so it’s always on my mind and the fire that keeps my foot on the pedal.
HipHopCanada: As you gear up for your next EP, what did you learn from the release of Until Now and what growth can we expect to see – artistically, sonically, and personally?
EverythingOShauN: I don’t want to give a lot a way at this point, Sarah. But if I did Until Now all over again, I woulda probably split the project in two and dropped one in February and the other one later in the year to cover more ground. I am figuring out how to keep people’s attention, being an indie artist. So with this EP there isn’t gonna be as much songs on it as Until Now. We gon’ drop something else later on. Videos and shows between them. We have so much music, it’s crazy. Even with “Neva” and “Dough Right”… most likely they ain’t even on the project. But I ll tell you this… next EP… ONooOOO [DJ Khaled laugh] “gonna be a problem!!!” We starting with Bass n Tings June 28. Save the date. Toronto. Pull up and enjoy the moment.
Written by Sarah Jay for HipHopCanada
