To say things are looking bright for Christon “Christylez” Bacon is a major understatement. Last year, he was the first hip-hop artist to be named an Artist-in-Residence at the Music Center at Strathmore. Just in the past month, he performed to a packed house on the Kennedy Center‘s Millennium Stage, delivered an impressive performance at this year’s Wammies, and picked up two awards, Rapper of the Year and Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year for his debut studio release, Advanced Artistry.

The 23-year old Christylez began his musical journey in the Southeast neighborhood of Condon Terrace, where he began beatboxing and playing buckets. His mother, a DJ, introduced him to a wide variety of music, ranging from classic hip-hop, funk, and early 80s New Wave. After playing in his middle school drumline, his interest in music led to the prestigious Duke Ellington School of the Arts, where he received formal training and began playing djembe, guitar and ukulele.

The album is an example of the socially conscious and progressive hip-hop present in the underground scenes of many cities, but to which the mainstream is inexplicably resistant. Highlights include “Welfare Check,” a biographical look at Christylez’ upbringing in Section 8 housing, and “Tyranny” gives us some insight into his political outlook. Refreshingly, the album is filled with nods and winks to those of us who live in, and love, the District. “Metroneusense” describes the vagaries of our public transportation system, while “Mambo Sauce” is an ode to that culinary delight that is as D.C. as a half-smoke from Ben’s.

While the album is a great start, Christylez is truly in his element on stage. Collaborating with beatboxer Slyce-D, a jazz horn section and a classical string section, he brings an eclecticism that is all too rare in today’s hip-hop. We e-mailed Christylez some questions to get his thoughts on his music and to get some insight into one of D.C.’s most promising young artists.