Hip-Hop Lives Here
Hip-Hop Lives Here
COTONOU, BENIN – December 27 marks the release of Legacy, the highly anticipated new album from trailblazing artist Smartzee. Known for his innovative fusion of French R&B and West Coast hip-hop, Smartzee’s latest work is a deeply personal and introspective collection that encapsulates his two-decade-long journey in music and beyond.
“Legacy is deeply personal—it’s a reflection of my journey, both as an artist and as a person,” Smartzee shares. “Twenty years ago, I was driven by ambition, raw energy, and the desire to prove myself. Today, I’m more grounded, and this album represents growth, resilience, and gratitude. It’s about celebrating the highs, acknowledging the lows, and using all those experiences to craft something meaningful.”
Anchored by the powerful single “Back Down,” the album offers a stirring declaration of perseverance. “The song was inspired by moments in both my music and corporate careers where I had to fight through doubt, setbacks, and intense pressure,” Smartzee explains. “Whether it was rebuilding momentum in the music scene or leading teams to surpass ambitious goals in business, the mindset was the same: stay focused, stay humble, and never retreat.”
Smartzee’s evolution as an artist is evident in Legacy. The album’s sound bridges his early work with his present artistry, blending soulful R&B and gritty hip-hop with a sharp focus on storytelling. “Legacy is a melting pot of all the sounds and experiences that have shaped me,” he says. “It’s less about proving myself and more about sharing my truth. The production is layered, the lyrics are deliberate, and the messages are deeper.”
Balancing his music career with his role as a Senior Executive in the telecommunications industry, Smartzee brings a unique perspective to his creative process. “My leadership experience has definitely shaped my music,” he notes. “It’s taught me the value of clear vision and execution. With Legacy, I approached it like a project—setting goals, aligning with collaborators, and ensuring the final product reflects the message I want to deliver.”
Beyond its dynamic sound, Legacy carries a profound emotional weight. The album was crafted with his children in mind, offering them a deeper understanding of their father. “I want them to see it as more than music—it’s a conversation, a story, and a source of inspiration,” Smartzee reflects.
With Legacy, Smartzee cements his place as a global music icon. “I want this album to stand as a testament to authenticity, growth, and resilience,” he says. “It’s about celebrating the journey, not just the destination.”
About Smartzee
Smartzee, born in 1980 in Cotonou, Benin, is a multifaceted artist who has shaped the European music scene since his breakthrough in 2004. He gained prominence with his feature on “Et c’est parti,” the chart-topping single by French R&B star Nâdiya. Beyond his music, Smartzee is a globally recognized Senior Executive leader in the telecommunications industry, known for merging his creative energy with corporate innovation.
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Dead Hendrix, Levi Zadoff, and AAnarchy collaborate on “DEAD,” a new single that fuses pop-punk and hip-hop, and offers them each an outlet to confront their hardships and own their unique relationships with death. Each artist brings their own interpretation and musical expression of “DEAD,” sewing their individual parts of the song—and their lives—into a powerfully raw narrative.
But first, some backstory. Levi shares that for as long as he can remember he’s been an artist. From drawing anime, to composing his own music, or painting the inside of his mind, he shares that music is just another extension of his muses. Influenced by cross-genre and generational music from '70s funk, '80s rock, 90s rap, and 2000s pop-punk, Levi's latest evolution nestles hip-hop within pop-punk. Meanwhile, Dead Hendrix, a Canadian-American punk-rap artist, says that music was always an art form he kept coming back to. He’s a talented writer and lyricist and resonates with music’s ability to draw out creation, self expression, and introspection. He uses writing as a way to confront and release traumas from substance abuse, heartbreak, and suppression. The two artists met each other a few years back when Dead Hendrix was releasing a track that sparked Levi’s interest. After exchanging work with one another, they discovered they shared similar music styles and tastes. With Levi’s background in hip-hop and the alternative scene, and Dead Hendrix’s punk-rock meets rap vibe; before long, they wrote and produced an EP “Dead Summer,” which covers the sh** storm of the COVID pandemic.
Similar to the metaphors within “Dead Summer,” their newest single “DEAD,” backpacks onto themes of loss and destructive coping mechanisms, which sets the stage for their upcoming EP “Out The Grave.” At the start of creating “DEAD,” AAnarchy, formerly known as Son of Arc, originated the track with a jarring hook. He brought the initial version to Levi Zadoff and Dead Hendrix, which kicked off their recent introduction into working together. Both Levi and Hendrix share that AAnarchy is a very talented and diverse artist, and he truly elevates the projects that they work on, whether through composing, producing, or vocals.
Setting the pace for the track, AAnarchy sings, “Was it something that I said, ‘cause this girl wants me dead,” a powerful line that opens the floor for questioning. Agonizing over being stuck in his head, and not understanding why he’s reaping such hatred, AAnarchy, Levi Zadoff, and Dead Hendrix, all add their own interpretation to what “DEAD,” means, in terms of surviving in their own lives.
After the hook draws us in, Dead Hendrix lays a verse that joins hip-hop and hard rock rhythms, totally flipping the track on its axis. Levi calls it the power play within the track, as Hendrix’s verse takes full ownership of his pain. “I’m the King of the Dead,” lyrics that reflect his journey through the toxicity of relationships, battling trauma, or succumbing to and overcoming addiction. Despite being alienated, Hendrix declares, “I've been on my shit, I’m different.”
Following this section Levi Zadoff counters with a bridge, in the lyrics, “I’m a dead man walking,” he owns his own trials of darkness, suffering from physical and mental health challenges. So much of the track has you wondering, what if there’s no coming out the other side? Or what if there is, but no one expected you to…
“Now I’m in the back of the club, top of the stage, bet they all see me when I’m up, I’m the DeadHead General,” lyrics that posture their resilience, because as they noted, too many people didn’t expect them to overcome their hardships. Levi shares one of his favorite quotes from Tech9, “Winners are not people who never fail but are people who never quit,” because it represents perseverance. Each of these artists, in their own ways, have been the underdog and have still persevered. All it takes is not quitting, which he shares he hopes will resonate with fans in their own way too.
Stay tuned on social media for updates about “Out The Grave” EP release, and Levi Zadoff’s upcoming single “Zombie”
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