Tasherre D'Enajetic

Good Morning Detroit!!!

Tasherre D'Enajetic is going on a journey. The veteran Detroit emcee/producer has begun Project 52: D'Enajetic Challenge. What he'll be doing is writing, recording, and posting a song a week on his website for an entire year. We sat down with Tasherre get some insight on his new project.

"I've said it before, this isn't a totally original idea. Back in the first week of May, I read this article about this cat name Johnathon Coulton who took the journey. By the time I finished the article I knew I was going to do it myself. Within 2 hours I had the entire thing mapped out even the title, Project 52. The next day I did a Google search to make sure no one was using Project 52, and I find this cat named Shane Beales. Apparently Shane took the challenge around the same time as John and used that title as well. So I email Shane to tell him I'm inspired by both he and John and that I'm taking the journey. While I had his attention, I asked permission to use Project 52 seeing that he did his thing back in '05-'06. Shane, being the cool dude he is, gets back with me the next day. Not only showing me love and support for the journey, but to tell me I can used Project 52 as long as I altered it slightly. Hence, Project 52: D'Enajetic Challenge. "

After posting Song 1 "Failure" produced by Denaun Porter Monday Jun 9, Tasherre received a little crticism on a couple national message boards saying he was biting West Coast emcee Crooked I's "Hip-Hop Weekly". "Truth is, I had no idea dude even did this. I did a little research and found he finished earlier this year. But there's a couple thing that sets our journeys apart. 1. From what I understand he released a "freestyle" a week, I'm writing a new song every week. 2. I haven't had a chance to check them all out yet, but I think he used alot of industry beats. I'm having original beats donated. Not taking anything thing from my man at all. I've thought dude was dope from when he was on Death Row. Its good to know he's finally getting his work in. "

Before we finished, we asked Tasherre what he was hoping to get from P52. "Definately more exposure and more oppurtunities to tour. But I'm really looking to push my creativity. I think most artists can agree, that we write better under pressure. The pressure of a deadline. The pressure of coming up with fresh content every week. Most importantly, the pressure of knowing that world is watching. Whether you know me personally or not, I can't let you see me fail. Failure's not an option."

http://www.tasherredenajetic.com - DetroitRap.com

Last week, Michigan Hip Hop staple (and performer at our launch party/fundraiser Saturday) Tasherre D’Enajetic started the writing process for “Project 52: D’Enajetic Challenge.” The venture will see him release a 52 new songs—one per week—through through his web site, http://tasherredenajetic.com. Monday, he released the first song: “Failure,” produced by Michigan heavyweight Mr. Porter. Follow the jump for the audio, and to see Tasherre justify his madness.

“This isn’t a totally original idea. I came across an article about this cat name Johnathon Coulton who took the challenge back in ‘05-’06. I was so hype, before I finished reading the article, I decided I was going to do it myself. Within 2 hours I had the entire thing mapped out including the title “Project 52″. The next day, I did a Google search to make sure no one else used that title. So what do I find? A cat named Shane Beales who not only had the title I wanted to use, he also did the challenge around the same time as Johnathon. I email him telling him how inspired I was by he and John, and that I was taking the challenge myself as well as asking permission to use Project 52. Shane hit me back the next day not only excited about me taking the challenge, but also telling me about 2 other guys Nicholas Tremulis and Chad Peacock who also did it making a total of 4. That explains the very first line of the song Failure: “I was told there was 4 previous, so consider me 5.” The only downside about the email was him asking me not to name it “Project 52,” but to alter it slightly. So that’s why it’s “Project 52: D’Enajetic Challenge.”

The reason I’m doing this, is to push myself creatively and gain some discipline. I’ll write 3-5 songs one month, but won’t write again for another couple of months. Then once I’m ready to write again, I go through a warm up period which can take a couple more weeks. That doesn’t help when someone calls for a collab that needs to be done right away. Putting myself on this regimen should change that. And by me working with different producers, I’m really pushing myself to go places I’ve never gone before lyrically because they all have their own style.” - MichiganHipHop.com

Making an album of music is a process that, of course, takes time. These days, an artist that releases one LP every year or two is considered consistent, even prolific. And some "require" more time to slow-cook their masterpieces. Fans had to wait seven years between Dr. Dre's 1992 solo debut, The Chronic, and his sophomore set, 2001 (which, despite its title, was released in 1999). Meanwhile, his alleged final album, Detox, is urban legend because of its repeated release date changes.

Nevertheless, Detroit emcee Tasherre D'Enajetic made plans last year to record 52 songs — roughly four complete albums in CD terms — in as many weeks, or a year. At press time, he's halfway toward his goal.

"I'll make it very simple," D'Enajetic says when asked why he set such personal and professional parameters. "Two words: World domination. And it has to start somewhere."

Tasherre — full name Tasherre Risay — is already well-respected in D-town, and he's a veteran. His first live performance back in the '90s was at St. Andrew's Hall — the city's most heralded rap venue — and he's rocked shows regionally ever since, earning audiences in such diverse places as Washington, D.C., and Toronto. New project aside, his discography runs five efforts deep, with his two most recent ones, V and Revisions: The Lost Remixes, released in 2007.

But that's not enough. Sometime last year, D'Enajetic was inspired by an article he read online about Jonathan Coulton, a New York-based rock artist who'd released a new song every week for a year. D'Enajetic then Googled Coulton's "Project 52" and found that yet another artist — the U.K.-based Shane Beals — had his own yearlong run of weekly songs.

D'Enajetic e-mailed both Coulton and Beals to receive their blessings for his own effort. Because Beals owned an Internet "Project 52" URL, D'Enajetic titled his "P52: The Enajetic Challenge." The recordings, he determined, would be a test of his own will and a way to help showcase underexposed producers he planned to use on the tracks. The emcee then leaked the project's first song, "Failure," online on June 13.

The first quarter of P52 went without a hitch: D'Enajetic wrote and recorded songs every week after that, posting them as free downloads on his website (tasherredenajetic.com).

But the best-laid plans go awry and the rapper was soon hit with situations that derailed his recording schedule. First, a friend suddenly went missing, so D'Enajetic dedicated his time and energy toward finding him. As soon as friend was found (safe), D'Enajetic began to suffer health issues due to his body's reaction to an observance of Ramadan, a religious holiday in which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset to help them get "closer to God." Then the shaky economy jeopardized his commission-based sales job at a local Guitar Center and he was barely able to pay his bills and provide for his wife and two sons.

"For a minute, I was just done," D'Enajetic says, explaining, "I couldn't write. I wasn't sleeping properly. It was a bunch of factors."

His phone and his website were soon cut off because he couldn't make the payments. His home's electricity was about to be disconnected. Then D'Enajetic (reluctantly) posted a plea on his Facebook page asking fans to donate money to help him stay afloat. He promised that donations of $20 and above would receive his entire musical catalog via e-mail. Less than an hour after posting, D'Enajetic began receiving donations. He eventually raised a large chunk of the money he needed to get by at the time.

"I got massive love from everybody," he says, "even if they just sent me an e-mail to say, 'Sorry I can't do nothing; I'm screwed at this point. ...' Or 'I've got your back,' or 'I'll keep you in my prayers.' Or even 'If I come across anything, I'll let you know.' That was just very cool. And it really got me on the point where I know that when I'm doing good, I'll have to take care of other people. I've got to put that back into the world because those cats came through for me."

The external problems saw D'Enajetic fall a month behind on P52. But once he was back on his feet he felt rejuvenated and immediately recorded a song for each of the four weeks he'd missed, plus the current one. Barack Obama was then elected, which D'Enajetic honored with a song called "Miracle (Obama's Song)."

"A lot of people are still clowning me because I dropped six songs in one week, basically," D'Enajetic marvels.

Though support from fans, friends and family helped Tasherre through a rough stretch, he claims his music was also there for him, that writing and recording certain songs was therapeutic.

"The track 'Over For You' is [about] what was happening to me when I was going through that whole month off, and even before then, when I had doubts and was thinking about quitting," he says. "In that song, I use another voice so that it's like my brain talking to me. Ultimately, it's about people holding themselves back from achieving their dreams. Right behind that was a joint called 'Sanity.' That track was saying that with all the crap I'm dealing with right now, it's amazing that I haven't gone freakin' crazy.

"My music has always been [therapeutic]," he continues. "I've always been able to say what's going on in my life. I call it my verbal blog."

Since he's now back on track, Tasherre can maximize the potential of P52. To commemorate week 26, he'll revamp his website and offer new merchandise. He'll also be releasing Histore: The First Chapter, a nonstop mix of previous cameos and unreleased material. He's also planning a major sale of his released songs to generate more interest. He'll also be going on tour soon to perform the new songs live.

It may sound like there's a ton of stuff on one man's plate, particularly while he's busy recording his weekly songs. But D'Enajetic's convinced he can make it all happen.

"By continuing and actually finishing [the project], I hope to be upheld in the same way as some of the artists I uphold," D'Enajetic says. "I've gained a deeper appreciation for discipline. Without it, nothing gets accomplished." - Metro Times

It’s rare these days for a hip-hop artist to drop an album that embraces simplicity, shuns braggadocio, and is not a 30-track mixtape. After working at it for nearly two years, Tasherre D’ Enajetic has finally dropped his long-awaited debut, Enavisions, on his own NEI Records. Steeped in nostalgic rhymes of the hip hop he once knew, this joyous romp takes us through the days of fat laces and open-mic nights at St. Andrew’s. For underground music fans, this album might be a classic. Nobody gets killed, women aren’t called bitches, and the beats don’t reek of ProTools. Much of the album finds clever ways to rail against industry standards; songs like “Never Will I” catch Tasherre boasting about his refusal to dumb down. Local wordsmith Finale makes a burly appearance on “Finetic,” a bass-heavy track that raps outside of the box. Asylum 7 shows lyrical dexterity on “When Darkness Falls,” a tune on which he laid down wicked vocals and produced. Some Nelly fans might get offended, but true heads will find immediate solace. - metrotimes.com