Limitless Soundz aka L.S. is a rapper from the Southeast side of Chicago. He considers himself a Pan-African Trap Solution rapper. Unlike conscience rap, where the artist is “being aware of a problem” L.S. says he gives solutions to the problems. L.S. describes his genre of rap as “Lupe Fiasco rapping over a Metro Boomin beat.” I was able to talk to L.S. about his growth as a rap artist and the image that he’s created for himself as a highly conscious black rapper from Chicago.

As we discuss his early years as a rapper, he reminisces about his mistakes and talks of his growth as a person and artist alike. L.S. discusses his change from Christianity to African spirituality, becoming a vegan, and his transcendence from pro black to Pan-african and the effect it has had on his music. L.S. believes that Pan-African “is the next level after being pro black.”

After interviewing L.S. it became apparent that was an advocate for self-sufficient black communities, balancing the energies of males and females, and a healthy alkaline diet. L.S. uses his music as a means to relay his messages to the community. He discussed how he hopes to inspire and spread his messages across the community.

What was your inspiration to start rapping?

“I would say listening to my father [who] listened to a lot of Eric B and Rakim, a lot of NWA, Public Enemy when I was growing up. Listening to a lot of that as a kid, but ultimately it really wasn’t until I heard Tupac Shakur and I heard him rap. And I think a lot of what he said related to me and it touched me in a way that made me feel as though I could do something similar. All of those things kind of touched my heart and made me feel a certain way and from there I think it inspired me to also want to touch people in that same way.”

Something you know now as an artist you wish you knew when you started.

“Well, one I wish I knew then was to not rely on people and to be more self-sufficient. Because in relying on others you put your success and your fate in anybody else’s hands except your own. And what that leads to is an extreme amount of disappoint[ment] because now you’re starting to point the finger and blame everybody else except yourself for your downfall or when things don’t go right. So I wish I understood that early on ‘cause then I think I would be a lot further.

I guess to have better discernment or more understanding of music business, of dealing with people. And then also signing contracts with people. Like a lot of times you’re work[ing] with [an] artist, rap artist and videographers and all of these people, and it’s like a lot of people will say one thing like ‘yeah I’m looking good for you and yeah y’know I do this for you’ and it’s like it never happens to manifest that way. Like a lot of it is all talk. And it takes awhile to have a sensitive discernment to separate people who are just talking and people who are really about their business.

Also I wish I was more humble then. When I was growing up, I think I was very arrogant. But a lot of hip-hop teaches you to be arrogant. And you don’t accomplish anything being arrogant. I think humility is one of the major keys to success. Realizing that what you do is bigger than you. …, but you still do need a support system. And I think that’s humility… And the art of letting go, if I may add that.”

Favorite song you’ve written and the story behind it.

“It’s [a] song from my upcoming album [Ignorant Intelligence] called “Hallelujah”… And mainly because it’s not just me on the song – it’s a collaborative effort. I got two, like three, four, five other artist[s] on the song. But it’s the spirit that it invokes. And what that song is about is, I talk about different forms of spirituality and how it doesn’t matter what religion you are or what God you worship, it’s more about what are your actions and what type of life are you living in relation to that spirituality that you follow.

So on that song I have a Christian, I have a Muslim, you have myself. And we’re all giving our perspective on religion. But in totality I think the song is about removing the division that religion causes. Like saying that we shouldn’t be divided or separated because we have different names for our deity. It should be more about being, understanding that one we’re black, we’re melanated people and that’s the bigger picture. Being able to work together and understanding that love should be universal no matter what you call your creator.”

How do you think you’ve grown from your debut song to now?

“I’ve changed drastically. Sonically man I’m tryna go with a whole new genre of music. So my first album was more, like super soulful hip-hop, like very reminiscent of Kanye’s College Dropout. The album to me, reminds me of that. And he had a lot of soulful samples. I mean melodic, a lot of vocals in it, very conscience content. When I was doing [my] first material and at that time I was in a different place spiritually. I was in a different place mentally. I was younger and y’know you grow with age and wisdom. At that time I think it was more about showing my skills like how well I can rap.

Now, my music has drastically changed. I’ve done a complete overhaul of everything like my image, y’know sonically. I went from making what I would call ‘conscious’ rap now to my current genre, which is called ‘Pan-African solution’ rap. And me at that time I was pro-black, but now I’m Pan-African which I think is the next level after being pro black. Then I was Christian, now I practice African spirituality. A lot has changed. Then I was eating whatever and now I’m a vegan. So many things had to change and it was over the course of three years. And all that content affected my music.

Conscious rap is being aware of a problem. I don’t do conscious rap anymore, alright. I make solution rap. So therefore not just being aware of the problem, but providing a sound solution to the problems that we are aware of. And I took that and I was able to put that over trap music. Sounds a little more turnt, sounds a little more modern. Cuz I think that you should be able to put the medicine in the candy, and that’s kind what my music is now. Putting the medicine in the candy so where you don’t know that you’re eating medicine.”

As an artist what kind of message are you trying to convey through your music?

“I strongly believe in economic empowerment in the black community, so I talk about group economics… Basically having a self-run, self-sufficient black society in America or outside of America, whichever makes more sense. That means buying black, investing in black banks, loving and living black. Really pouring back into the community…

Two, I’m [a] strong advocate of healthy eating and alkaline dieting. I do believe eating a plant based lifestyle is the cure to all ailments and illness… To live and be healthier mentally and spiritually. And thirdly, I believe in the balance of masculine and feminine energy. So I do believe that men and women should learn to work together in a way that is equally beneficial. I think that men shouldn’t degrade women or perpetuate self-hate for women.

And lastly I would say outside of all that is spirituality. Just finding true spirituality and paying homage to our ancestor, which is probably one of the most important things I have ever learn[ed]…”

What can we expect from your upcoming album Ignorant Intelligence?

“Pan-African trap solution rap! That’s actually dropping next week. You[’re] gonna hear a lot of the things I talk about now: black empowerment, healthy eating, African spirituality, men and women relationship, and a lot of very anti-oppression, anti-government, anti-police brutality, so on and so forth. That’s what you[’re] gonna get, all that sat over trap music and some soulful beats. I got a lot of soulful stuff in there… Yeah that’s what you[’re] gone get. Some turn up and some soul.”