F.R.A.M.E.work Rich
Wants You To Know His Name
by Dexter Kendrick
“I feel like people don't look up enough”, says the 30
year old Harrisburg native and rapper, F.R.A.M.E.work Rich as he raises a toast
of Rose Regale sparkling wine to the good life, and to his most recent project
Non Social Media. The mixtape which was
released on his birthday, September 22, 2015, comes after a 2 year hiatus from
music and public life. “Things in my
personal life caused me to hit a creative block”, he says. “It came to a point where I was like f*ck
rap, but to look at me you would have never known what I was going
through.” Yet while traveling through
his own personal hell, the music in his spirit would not die. He reminisces, “I did a science project when
I was in elementary school entitled 'Does music make plants grow?' Turns out,
it does. One can't help but notice the
metaphor in his statement. As though
music was the rope that not only resurrected his spirit, but also helped him climb
his was back to us, and to himself.
“I'm all for the music.
Whatever will make the beat sound how it needs to sound, I'll do that.”
Rich states. Non Social Media is filled
with relevant metaphors, such as in his reflective piece entitled “Rules of the
8”. Rich explains that out of a 24 hour
day, 8 hours are spent asleep, 8 hours are spent engaged in some type of work,
and the other 8 defines the future you are creating for yourself over the next
8-10 years. “I've made over a million
dollars for other people; time to make it for myself”, he exudes as he
references his former work in party promotions.
The club ready banger “Keep on Pushing” is not only a head bobbing
anthem for the streets, but also Rich's personal mantra. “People change in 5 years”, he says when
talking about his F.R.A.M.Ework team of longtime close business
associates. “We're still tight, but I'm
the only one who wants the spotlight”.
Having something to say is very important to Rich, who's carefully
chosen, deliberate speech (and eye contact), is indicative of one who analyzes
his sentences before speaking them out loud.
“ I like where [hip hop] is going”, he states, identifying with the
underground struggles of other revolutionary rappers of our time such as J.Cole
and Kendrick Lamar. The 'hood ready
“Trap Ni#$as” featuring PA Papes has the kind of 'puff, puff, pass' vibe we've
come to expect from southern hip hop artists like Future, and yet Rich manages
to carve a sound that remains authentic to his artistic vision.
“I wanna be heard” defines Rich, as he takes a bite of
his grilled asparagus spear in the newly opened and extremely chic restaurant
Crave, located in Harrisburg's colonial park business district. The restaurant is dripped in deep red and
black accents, intentionally designed to stimulate the appetite. A fitting space for the redefined and
ambitious Rich, who states that while Non Social Media is a representation of
what he's learned about life and friendship in the indie hip hop game over the
years, his forthcoming project “Non Social Media 2” goes even deeper into his
more privately held emotional lessons. While Rich acknowledges the importance
of publicity in this day and age of overexposure, he is content with the
underground buzz Non Social Media has generated. One thing remains clear on
this cloudy and rainy night just before winter turns to spring. In a
not-too-distant future Rich's projects will be bursting forward with new life,
growing bigger and farther than even he has imagined. As for tonight, however, this revolution will
not be televised.
Listen to Non Social Media
here:
Facebook: Framework
Instagram: Frameworkrich
Dexter Kendrick is an indie music correspondent for
Levelsreadyent.com and a lover of all things indie. He can be reached at saturnsfirst@yahoo.com
