Creative Q&A with Devon Shaw

PALMER— Local rapper, Devon Shaw a.k.a. D the Lyricist recently participated in a question and answer interview to discuss his latest music projects and his developments with AK Rhymefest, a multifaceted local music and entertainment enterprise.

What are you currently working on?

“Lately, I’ve been working on my album, ‘Fear Itself.’ I released a single, ‘Peekaboo’ a couple of months ago.”

What’s the vision for that album?

“Coming into this album after ‘King of the Valley,’ where I talk a lot about my past and basically how I got to where I’m at. I covered a lot of ground in ‘King of the Valley.’ I write my life… This album is more reflective of me. I just want to have fun. I love to rap. I’ve been doing a lot of everything. I’ve been a radio personality, a DJ, a podcast host, promoter, all of that. I’ve been playing those parts a lot recently. I just kind of stepped back this winter and focused on being an artist and just having fun with it.”

When do you hope you have it out by?

“I’m hoping to have it out probably by March. That’s what I’ve been shooting for.”

How’s the AK Rhymefest podcast going?

“Good. I just made an announcement about that. Our typical podcast, we sit there and talk to artists and we listen to their music live. We’re going to be doing that on Tuesdays. On Thursday nights, we’re going to be at Klondike Mikes encouraging artists to come down, highlighting artists, and highlighting videos that have dropped. It’s basically going to be our own ‘Tonight Show.’ We’re kind of in that transitional stage.”

How do you feel about getting to this point and seeing how much Rhymefest has evolved over the years?

“I’m loving it man. It’s all out of love man. As a local artist and being from Alaska, it takes a lot to do what we do. I know that and I think that’s part of the reason I’m so diligent on wanting to give back to the scene. The scene is strong and the community is strong. There’s nothing that we can’t accomplish… AK Rhymefest is a blessing. It’s probably the greatest thing I’ve done with my career. I really passionately care… It paid off because we got the Fair. We got that. The Fair is already talking about having us back again next year. I want to do it every year. I want put Alaskan hip-hop artists on that stage to highlight what they do on the biggest platform in Alaska, which is the Alaska State Fair.”

What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned after years of making music and putting it out there?

“I’ve learned a lot about the industry because I got to watch it change and be in it since I was a kid. It’s come a long way. It’s different. It’s way more accessible. I think it’s better in a lot of ways because it puts the power back in the hands of the artists, and that’s where it should be… I like my working relationship I have with artists. I have the freedom to do as I please. I can work with whoever I want to work with and I can do whatever I want. I appreciate that freedom.”

For more information about AK Rhymefest, visit facebook.com/akrhymefest.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com