You might know of Dijon SAMO, you might not. Hailing from the Lost City of Angels, Dijon formerly known as LaVi$h, is your favorite underground rappers’ favorite rapper & today we sit down with Dijon to ask him 11 questions ranging from music, the women to Miley Cyrus in our first edition of ‘Quickstrike’. Enjoy.

1. Introduce who you are to the people & what you stand for.

Dijon SAMO aka Young Morris Day aka Rap Game Billy Dee Williams.

2. The release of your previous track “ASPIRE II ATTAIN” marked the name change for LaVi$h who now goes by the name of DiJon Samo. What inspired the change? and why DiJon Samo?

I really had been contemplating changing my name for years honestly. It’s weird cause I never said my name was “LaVish”, officially. That was like my first name on MySpace when I had started posting freestyles and beats when I was starting off in middle school. People around my school that followed the page (even outside of school) started to identify me with the name because of my myspace page. So it was just something I ran with at the time. Over the years I started seeing more clothing brands, usernames, etc using the name as well. I never wanted to be associated with any of those things. I wanted to stand out on my own, and make my music more personal, which is why I just ran with my government, Dijon. SAMO is an acronym that stands for “Songs About My Origin”, something I felt fit perfect because I was trying to dig deeper with my lyrics and everything I did, to let people know where I’m coming from and feel able to connect with my struggles.

3. In the past, you’ve worked with the likes of Mike G, Vince Staples, A$ton Matthews, Casey Veggies, Michael Uxowuru, Buddy (from i am other) and Two-9, who can we expect to see on the feature end as well as production on ‘Life As We Know It’?

Honestly, with “Life, As We Know It” I didn’t wanna grab any big name or common features..or any features at all. I wanted to make this the project that resonates with the people. I feel like right now the thing to do is get someone big on your song to make it blow up. So me being me, I like to go against the grain and do my own thing. The features are all of members in my group, ForeverToday (which consists of Naem, Sa’eed and Chuck Wun). We produced everything and wanted to keep it that way. We found our niche and sound so this album is simply showcasing that.

4. Bucket Hats are pretty much your staple fashion piece. What are your top 3 favorite bucket hats that you have in your possession?

I love bucket hats for the simple fact that I use to have tons of Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger buckets when I was a jit. So that’s something I started to wear heavy again cause I feel they fit my head perfectly. My 3 fav’s that I own right now would have to be this camo Undefeated one I just bought, my tie dye Milkcrate NY one and this all black stussy joint. I like to dress simple now, I did the whole dress to impress shit in my teens.

5. What are you aiming to achieve as a musician, if anything at all?

I want my music to reach the masses. I want people to be able to hear my songs and relate to the lyrics because I feel like I struggle with the same flaws and day to day problems a lot of people in the world do. I’m aiming for Grammy’s, I’m aiming for movie scores, video directing. I’m aiming to change people’s perspective on what’s accepted in “hip hop” today and what you have to do to fit in. But more importantly I’m aiming to be remembered. Someone kids younger than me can feel like they grew with and play my shit for their kids and so on.

6. What are your thoughts on the internet age of music? Do you feel that it hurts of helps those trying to pursue a career in music?

The Internet today is crazy. I try and stay off it as much as possible really. I’ll check it daily just to stay aware of what’s going on in the music and real world but it’s just not for me, especially social networks. I hate the facades people feel obligated to create on the Internet. The fact that its changed the mind state of a lot of women and how they carry themselves baffles me. But all I can do is remain myself through it all. As far as music goes it gets tricky. It helps and deteriorates the culture at the same time. It makes it harder for you to make money off solely the music because its so easy to find a free link to download your album off of. But then again having your music placed online gives the opportunity for people all over the world to hear your stuff.

7. Outside of hip-hop, what other genre do you listen to? Favorite indie artists?

I grew up listening to a lot of oldies, and alternative rock (other than hip hop of course). Now a days it’s still the same, I don’t really listen to rap as much as I rather hear indie or older music. My favorite indie artists would have to be Toro y Moi, Quadron, Little Dragon, J Davey, N.E.R.D., Radiohead, the list goes on.

8. Stepping away from music.. I keep hearing L.A. has the most beautiful women but I’ve never been. Can you validate this?

LA does have beautiful women but most of them are overly gassed and stay in the club. Me personally I like them off the scene, low key girls..I had this argument the other day with someone but I think New York has the best women, next to overseas. From the Spanish to the white girls, I love em all.

9. Name your top 3 Instagram followers that would you take down.

Haha, I rather not say. Women be lurking.

10. Thoughts on Miley Cyrus’s obsession with Twerking?

It’s funny to me cause every time I see her “twerk”, it just looks like she’s moving her back in an awkward motion, like it almost hurts..but what do I know? I think she needs a little more ass before she tries to be a twerkaholic. I can tell she a freak tho, so I won’t knock it…just hit them squat challenges shawty.

11. As a young black man born in LA.. how does the LA lifestyle compare to the NY lifestyle?

They’re different in so many ways. New York, to me, has more culture. Simply because of how much more diverse and close together everything is. I believe there’s a bigger population in NY. The difference in styles are evident. For example, in NY most guys wear foamposites, and in LA, Jordan’s and Chuck Taylors are more common. I think that NY women are more stylish tho. But I love them both, New York is my 2nd home. NY is more fast paced it seems, again cause there are so many people and LA is a little more spread out into sections.