Not many Prairie View A&M University artists can say they are opening for an Atlanta takeover concert.
Not many PVAMU artists can say they are performing at an official All-Star weekend event.
Not many PVAMU artists are debuting a mix tape and music video the week of their birthday.
Releasing the highly anticipated soundtrack to Our Situations Feb. 15, senior business management major Norman “DJ Chose” Payne can say that he is doing all that and more this weekend.
A performance at Drink Houston Saturday evening which features 2Chainz, Drake and Trinidad James is just the beginning of a long night for Payne.
“I have concerts all weekend,” Payne said. “Also, I released the “Is it Mine?” video directed by Smallz Media and Video Killaz Monday evening.”
The Brookshire native’s new mix tape includes popular songs, “Is it Mine,”
Waiting on You,” and “Three Way.”
Payne describes the tape as having a lot of color and emotions.
He said the inspiration for the album was an argument he had with one of his ex-girlfriends. The argument is featured on one of the tracks.
“Everyone is really going to like the tape. It is a mix of everything. You can expect club music, but you get a bit of everything. It is like buying an All-in-One printer, scanner, and fax machine. You get it all,” he said.
Payne graduates from PVAMU in December and plans to do a tour around that time.
“I just want to do what I have to do to make it happen,” he said. “I wanted to get my degree because I think it is important to learn and understand marketing and advertising. Marketing plays such a major role in this industry. I want to learn what I do not know and learn what I need to do to stay in people’s faces,” said Payne.
One of Payne’s goals is to give Texas and the Houston-area credit for the music they have been creating.
“I want a song from Texas to make it all over the world. I want to be a DJ Khaled for Texas,” said the “February Moment” rapper.
Payne has solidified his place in the 2013 PV Cypher, also directed by Smallz Media.
“PV is a hard place to come up. One minute people are saying you are trash and another they are saying you sing their favorite song. They showed me how the world is,” he said.
PVAMU has taught Payne how to make club music, but still be real.
He said, “One of my goals is to meet the originator of real club music, 2 Live Crew, but I think my greatest influence is Big Krit. Our styles are different, but he makes me feel like we are next-door neighbors. It’s good to have people like that to listen to.”