This is our first installment of Grooveeffect's Artist Pages - where we feature up and coming music artists and performers from all around the world to give you an inside scoop on what's hot. We're going to expose new and emerging talent that's worth listening to with a focus on indie and underground music.

For our first installment we caught up with Edreys, an Indie Hip Hop lyricist from New York to talk to him about his music and his style. Here is what he had to say...

Tell us a little bit about yourself...

My name is Edreys, and with no shame I am the most talented person that I know. There are others that are super talented, but know one can do or be Edreys. Everything about me is absolutely me, nothing borrowed or stolen, and my approach to my music reflects that uniqueness. I'm an emcee and a producer with an artist's eye and artistic abilities, so everything I do has a creative touch. I'm not sure if where I'm from is super important, but if you must know, I'm from a place where many great careers were made by the likes of Jim Kelly, Bob McCadoo, Thurman Thomas, OJ Simpson, Rick James, Goo Goo Dolls etc.

How would you describe your sound?

Lyrically, my delivery is serious in tone, yet easy on the listener, almost like that of a narrator, best described as where "intelligence meets the streets" hence the moniker "The Sidewalk Scholar." I'm universal in my thinking, so my topics range vastly, and emotions can shift between songs convincingly. Whether spitting heavy battle rhymes or life's issues, my diversity enables me to touch various demographics. Musically, my beats perfectly compliment me, from samples to straight up original playing, its hip hop refined and re-defined by me and for me.

Who are some of your favorite music artists and why?

Emcees: Rakim, Big Daddy, ll Cool J, Lil Rodney Cee and KK Rockwell to Common, Tribe Called Quest, P.E. to Nas, Jay-Z, Kanye, as well as Slum Village.

Rakim flipped the game with the slow, no joke, knowledge flow. Big Daddy established ill punchlines, Double Trouble could rock a pary live. LL is a legend; his diversity to battle and love the ladies gave him longevity. Common stuck to his guns and repped hip hop, Tribe is legendary in sound and unique material, P.E. hardcore, serious sound, urgent rebel music. Nas is a narrator, Hov is ever the business man and emcee, Kanye's ego and confidence, Slum Village and Dilla for knowing how to put together an entire classic album.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My inspiration comes from three directions:

1) Most times music predicts what I will say or write. Its that beat that talks to me and the words just come.

2) Life situations play a big part. I'm a narrator, the Sidewalk Scholar, I watch from the steps and report what i see and read about and give it to the people like a mirror so we can see how we are all a part of all that is going on.

3) My creative mind likes to throw twists and plots in there sometimes.

How would you describe your sense of style when it comes to fashion?

Fashion for me is whatever anyone else isnt doing. When I shop, i ask "So how are these selling?" If they reply "Yo...they are selling like crazy" then i'm off to the next item...I dont want it. I shop for what people dont have or dont wear. Those are the things that look best on me. Ima plain cat who has the swag to make the ordinary into extra-ordinary. straight up. Real loose, kick it gear flipped to look ill.

Anything new on the horizon?

Working on the finishing touches for a video called "I Like It" along with an exclusive limited edition 7" vinyl 45 record with A and B sides. Setting up a tour in Europe and come back into the States. We are finishing the album as we speak to have that out in 2008. Great things on the horizon, life is good! Check out www.Deepthinka.com and www.myspace.com/edreysmusic

Thanks for chatting with us!

Thank you for taking the time to read my long responses, but it's worth getting to know me. Peace.

Visit www.myspace.com/edreysmusic.