Myles T: How Growing Up in West Virginia Shaped His Music and Career

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By NeeNee Incognita, BBG hip hop reporter

With last month’s release of DJ MonstaLung’s EP An Appalachian Hip Hop Story Pt. 1 , NeeNee Incognita’s annual OG Fest, Duck City’s annihilation at cyphers across the country, and the recent Appalshop compilation EP, No Options: Hip-Hop in Appalachia is having a moment!

You Not Like Us!

NeeNee: What’s good? It’s your girl NeeNee Incognita, the self-proclaimed Coldest chick from the sticks. I am an underground and indie hip hop and rap artist, as well as a host, public speaker, public figure, ghostwriter, and hip hop journalist with Black by God. Today I’m interviewing Myles T.
What’s up, superstar? How are you doing?

Myles T: I’m doing well. I’m doing excellent. How are you?

NeeNee Incognita: I’m great, can’t complain. So, for the people that don’t know, what’s going on today?

Myles T: Today is July 19, but more specifically, I just released a song with Big Sean. I co-produced it, so it’s a good day for me.

NI: That’s so lit. How did you get started producing music?

MT: My start in producing music goes back to when I was a kid. I started off DJing. My dad brought home some turntables he got from his friend, and I was intrigued. I had always been into computers, hooking stuff up, and making things work together. I was obsessed with the equipment, and it started there. Once I figured out how to use it and do stuff, I kept dabbling in music. I lived behind a record store, so being surrounded by music, I wanted to figure something out.

NI How old were you when you started?

MT: That was around middle school, so I was probably around 12 years old. I’ve been messing around with music for over 10 years.

NI: When did you start taking music seriously?

MT: I started taking it seriously around college, after high school. I was playing around, making songs in high school, trying to figure things out. I always had equipment and was the guy with the equipment. In college, I decided to try to actually do something with it and make some money. I started selling beats online and doing that whole thing.

***Rapper Shelem posted a college graduation pic to prove he’s a long-time friend of Myles T.***
*Myles reminds Shelem he sells out* ***Charleston every month!***

NI: What’s the most rewarding thing about your journey as a producer?

MT: Most rewarding? Man, a lot of stuff. Personally, I use it as an outlet, so just being able to lean into the creative part and express certain things is rewarding for me, especially when other people resonate with it. It’s about putting something out into the world, seeing if people gravitate towards it. If not, at least I got something out of it personally.

NI: How much influence does West Virginia and Black Appalachia have on your career in the music industry?

MT: Every part of me is made up of West Virginia. I don’t know anything else. I was born and raised there, spent the first 23-24 years of my life before I graduated college and started moving around. It’s all I knew. Growing up, I saw people expressing themselves, even just a person singing at a local restaurant or bar. That inspired me as a kid. West Virginia has a big part in making me who I am. I’d be completely different if it was any other way.

NI: Do you think being from West Virginia frames your mindset or has helped you grow?

MT: I think it gives me an advantage, being an underdog from a smaller place. In West Virginia, we can do a lot with a little, often without realizing it’s a little. When you get out into the world, you see how much is available.. Being from West Virginia definitely gives me an advantage, and I’ve noticed that with other people too. There’s a good work ethic in West Virginia and an understanding of being a good person and manners really matter, which takes you far in music and beyond.

NI: If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, knowing what you know now, what would it be?

MT: I’d tell my younger self to believe in the process and stay patient. Don’t be discouraged by setbacks, and keep pushing forward. The journey is just as important as the destination.

NI: So what’s next for you? What else can we expect coming up?

MT: We’ve got more stuff in the pipeline, more music and placements that y’all will see by the end of 2024. But what I’m really excited about is doing my own stuff, working with independent artists, and putting out instrumental albums. I’m working with artists all over the world, definitely back home too. I’m looking forward to cultivating and crafting some new music.

NI: Congratulations on being listed as a producer on your new single with Big Sean. That’s so dope. West Virginia is rooting for you, and the city is showing you love. We’re so proud of you and want you to keep going. We look forward to seeing what you got coming up next. West Virginia is big on Facebook, and you’ve got Facebook going crazy right now. Everyone is showing you love.

MT Thank you. Hearing that really means everything. When all of this was unfolding, I hoped it would come out, and the most exciting part is knowing that everyone back home is inspired and thinks it’s cool. The fact that people are happy for me and enjoying the song is the most rewarding part of all this. Thanks for the support, and stay tuned for more music.

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