This is the future of Hip-Hop… Born Derrick James in the Summit County (West Side) of Akron, Ohio, Easi Money aka I.E. (which means “in other words” in Latin) – uses this rugged yet very peaceful poetic gift and complex rhyming skills to break the normal, narrow boundaries of the gangsta emcee mold. Creating a new feel for hip hop, but still-real genre that is catching a “buzz” around the world. Easi Money’s “other words” bring forth a true definition of hope, for real hip hop to a world that has been held hostage by the language of violence in the past. In his adolesnce years, Easi was exposed to street violence, drugs, gangs and other unfortunate circumstances that many of our urban black emcees encounter, yet he avoided the ghetto’s many distractions to see further than being a statistic and/or a prisoner of that life style. The hustling and known gang runners like the “Crips and Bloods” surrounded his everyday life but Easi remained focused and unaffiliated. He continually dedicated his efforts on perfecting his art through those many adversities.

Maneuvering through labels, producers, and like artist Easi Money remains on his quest for stardom and fortune. Performing more than a dozen shows in Virginia, and as of late being invited out to Las Vegas to perform in front of a Nevada crowd, Easi has risen to each occasion with class and dignity. In 2009, Easi Money aka I.E. was released from his Independent label “Legacy Recording Company” to take over a Virginia based Independent company “Black Ink MMG.” In 2010, Easi Money released a very HOT two track teaser entitled “Black Ink Presents…”. Easi had distribution through major players in the music industry, Bungalo Records and Universal Music Group. Easi Money was released shortly after his 2011 release, “The New Old Me”, on Black Ink MMG./Bungalo Records/Universal MG. Easi told me that he would rather lose that album and take two steps back to re-gain ground and to move twenty steps forward. Staying true to his word he did just that. Partnering up with a local artist and engineer, Dirty Steve, they began to gain ground very fast. Creating an album solely for his Las Vegas venture, they put the finishing touches together almost 2 hours before they hit the highways and skies. Rumor mill was spreading around, the company responsible for the 2011 Indie Music Fest had plans for Easi Money following his performance. Plans on doing what other labels claimed they could do for him that never seen the light of day. So, Easi Money traveled with one thing in mind, that he would Rock Vegas! Recent arcticles on Easi Money’s performance claim he did just that.