New Music: T H R E E 4 T Y – Billi Jean
Posted by By kdough at 26 March, at 03 : 15 AM Print
Van~Dutch, born Salik Van Holten from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. He considers himself the true definition of an artist. He came to Atlanta when he was around 8 years of age officially from the Caribbean, just him and his mother at the time; which was two and half years prior from his younger sister, Salai being born.
Dutch took an interest in music at a young age, ever since his older cousin Moses introduced him to Bone Thugs and Harmony at age 6. It wasn’t until age 10 he started to pursue it officially. Sharpening up on his lyricism and word play by listening to artist such as Big Pun, Big L, Biggie, 2Pac, The Lox, Nas, Outkast , Ludacris as well as many others. ” I considered myself very old school, I didn’t like the turn Hip Hop was taking during my generation. This is when the whole southern , club banger, dance movement was popping; that whole Soulja Boy era. I didn’t want any part of it , so because of that my flow sucked. A lesson I learned the hard way” . Dutch always had an interest in singing but didn’t think he would need to utilize it until he got older , this didn’t stop him for taking chorus in middle school and practicing his vocals. He is a big R&B fan, from old school to new school.
After Dutch graduated high school he got in contact w/ a few familiar faces in the industry; often looking for advice and honest criticism. He cousin Ebony put him on to a producer called All Star based out of Atlanta, who suggested that he find his sound and made sure his quality was top notch: ” All Star put me in touch with Ghostman, an incredible engineer ; I started working with him in my late teens and a few years later I found a sound that sticks. Now I have the quality music with quality sound, so now they can’t say anything”. Van~Dutch released a single called “Homesick” that he took to the Virgin Islands that gained him an interview with Vivid Station in St. Thomas. Soon after he dropped another single called “NTR” that some people viewed as negative. But still landed him in the eyes of writing duo R. City’s father Keibo, who is all are also from the Virgin Islands. Although it was said Keibo would sign him along with a few other artist to their independent label “Oblique Music Group” at the time but it fell through. This put Dutch in some what of a rage, feeling frustrated from these doors closing he decided to unleash it in the booth. Little did he know he would come up with some of the best music he ever created, calling it ” Cross Me Once”.
The EP dropped on March 9th, with “Get It” being the first single. “The whole tape is just a compilation of what I’ve been through during this journey basically ; being fed up and tired of the run around. I could just do this myself. It’s my first CONTINUATION mixtape or EP if you will. I intended to drop another 4 to 5 songs in addition to the previous 5, but I feel that I’m done speaking on certain situations”.
Now I left that song behind me, spoke with Timo from R. City about a new wave of music, mended bad blood and I’m doing something different under an alias ( Three4ty) but still known as VAN`DUTCH; my new single “Billi Jean ” is released under the Three4ty Moniker due to copyright issues but Vandutch can still be found; it’s still synonymous . Plus the 340 is the Virgin Islands area code. “But the whole name and song is a new beginning with a futuristic transcendent vibe while still touching the old school. ”
