After over a decade on the scene, area rapper Flex Mathews released his first solo album earlier this month (Photo by Lauren Jaslow).
In today’s world of instant gratification, it’s refreshing to come across an artist who takes the time to grow and gain experience before making a definitive statement. Flex Mathews, the stage name for D.C.’s Dathan Harbor, has been making his way through the local hip-hop scene for over a decade, but it wasn’t until this month that he put out Hi, I’m Flex Mathews, a full-length debut that is worth the wait.
“Making an album was never part my game plan and for a long time I would let people beat me up with the fact that I didn’t have an album, even after all that I accomplished from my early teens until now,” Mathews told DCist. “It took some time to realize that I was touring a lot off of freestyling and/or performing songs that I slapped on a burned CD, wrapped up in a brown paper bag, and selling.”
By the time it came to producing a proper album, Mathews had a number of collaborators he could call upon to make sure it would have an impact. Unown worked the production end with help from DJ Ragz and DJ Ed The Metaphysical. Live bass, keyboards, and saxophone were added to some tracks to introduce a human element to the arrangements, and several guest rappers appear on the project, including Kosha Dillz, members of F.A.R EXP, Marco, and MC Rinat.
Hi, I’m Flex Mathews incorporates an eclectic collection of sounds that recalls ’90s hip-hop groups like A Tribe Called Quest and its contemporaries in Native Tongues. As for Mathews’ own flow, his rhymes were rooted in the moment and his experience as a freestyle rapper.
“That is how I come up with topics, melodies, rhyme structures, rhyme schemes, rhyme patterns, flows, and so forth,” Mathews explained. “On some occasions, I have the verse already written in my head before I sit down. All I have to do is put it on paper, but I have to do it right then and there. If I don’t, I’ll forget the verse.”
Mathews was born in Augsburg, Germany, and grew up in Kansas, South Dakota, Maryland, and the District. A preacher’s son, gospel music was his earliest and most important influence. He cites Yasiin Bey, Nas, and Lupe Fiasco as artists that have had the most impact on his hip-hop taste. He formed a rap crew called The Federation as a teenager and still uses the name for his on-stage cohort.
Mathews issued his first single, “Handsome Grandson,” with Damu The Fudgemunk in 2005 and that project later blossomed into an EP. He is a member of Congo Sanchez and performs with See-I on Wednesdays at Eighteenth Street Lounge. Mathews also put out several EPs and singles on Fort Knox Recordings.
Hi, I’m Flex Mathews came out earlier this month along with a video for the first single, “Never Change”.
“It captures what I was going through in life, just starting to learn how to navigate as a full time artist for the first time while trying to take care of my grandmother,” Mathews said of the track.
In addition to staying busy as a performer and recording artist, Mathews works at Words Beats & Life, calling it a very important part of his life. The non-profit is centered in hip-hop culture and Mathews teaches rap skills to youth after school.
As a respected member of D.C.’s hip-hop community, Mathews sees both strengths and weaknesses in the DMV’s under-recognized scene. Hip-hop artists here have a strong work ethic, he says, but he also wishes that some of the more seasoned performers would act as mentors to those coming up through the ranks.
“I always try sit down and talk with young artists as much as I can to see where they are at or to see if I can help,” Mathews said. “I feel all OGs should do this at least just a little bit. This could really boost the D.C. hip-hop scene, in my opinion.”
