QuinceLu

QuinceLu is an emerging artist who comes from an illegal immigrant background. His new-school album A.L.I.E.N (Ain’t Like I’m Even Noticed) is targeting what Lu has gone through and the experiences he has endured, accepting the consequences, good or bad. The 15 songs are chronologically told to explain Lu’s life so far in order. Quince explains his trials and tribulations throughout this album, it allows him to feed off the problems and it’s expressed through his music. Welcome to the unknown life of QuinceLu.

The album starts off with “Just Do It”, and Quince relates this song to the start of his rap career and like the song title, just do it. Rightfully Lu just does do it, with witty but intellectual wordplay, he bodies the song. “Gotta Make It” featuring G Ro$A is one of my personal favorites. The low beat rides throughout the song and Lu flows incredibly on the mic. G Ro$A on the hook adds flavor and also kills his verse with line after line. Lu delivers bangers on this project, such as “Alien” featuring J One. “Alien” describes the tape in a way and Lu expresses in deep thought of being unknown. “I hate how they don’t see us but need us”. “Fundazzi” adds to the problems Lu has to divert on a daily basis. “Aggressive Poetry” is self-explanatory, with a dark beat in the background Quince bodying the track like he just lurked up on an opponent. Lu sees what he sees and explains all sides of his story with us. This extraordinary record, “Migo Story” represents self-proclaimed Migo Bendito. If i’m not wrong I can hear the Migos influence and Lu runs with it in his own way, I respect that. “Long Time”, Lu slides with a mellow flow and perfectly timed production. Quince takes his time on his music and makes sure it’s top notch, you can tell with this album. “On My Own” featuring his homie Joes Cha Cha, Lu snaps and tells you his music is his way of getting it. “Ima go and get it on my own…”.

Overall this album is really good, and to be real completely different. QuinceLu had a lot to tell us and I fell like he’s not done with telling the story of QuinceLu. Check out the tape and form your opinion on this wavy music. - Mieux Magazine

A year ago, I met up with an up and coming rapper to talk about his budding music career. His first mixtape was released to good reception and he was grinding his way through Tallahassee's independent rap scene, networking and earning his stripes at local showcases. Since our last talk, his career has experienced unforeseen success. He's opened for Curren$y and Juicy J, been interviewed on many radio shows and received multiple signing offers. His name is Luis Quintero, otherwise known as Quince, and with his second mixtape A.L.I.E.N. (Ain't Like I'm Even Noticed) dropping next month, he's going to make sure that you recognize him.

A.L.I.E.N. is set to drop September 15, exactly a year after Quince's debut mixtape Raised in America that introduced us to the Colombian-born rapper. It featured narratives on immigration, the importance of family and the American Dream in songs like "Migo Story" and "Who I Do It For" as well having a laidback vibe with "Used To" and "Coolin'."

"Since Raised in America came out it really help me find myself as a person," Quince said. "Being a rapper is a lot harder these days. You gotta be your own business man and learn to manage yourself. I don't have anybody to guide through it so I have to look. And they say if you look you shall find."

Quintero has always stressed the importance of making a personal connection with people. Finding ways to communicate with people and spark an interest in him has boosted his fandom. Last year, he bought a homeless man a sub and gave him his mixtape. This time around he's politicking with strippers. In a show at a strip club in Tampa, he was weary of his music not fitting the booty shake ambiance. He spoke to a stripper before his set and it worked in his favor. Because he made an impression on her, she and the other strippers were able to receive him warmly. The diversity of his fanbase is something he prides himself on, as well as having the subject matter to match.

"I have concepts that will last me for about five albums. I have it all planned, I start with a concept and then from there I wait for the inspiration to roll in. The beats, the vibe, everything," Quince said.

Although it's easy to see the immigration theme from the title, A.L.I.E.N differs from its predecessor in depth. There are three sides to this mixtape: Quince's story, the everyday struggle and the immigrant struggle. The overall concept is finding yourself. The cover art reveals Quintero with half of his face shaded. It symbolizes his beginning of not knowing himself or his purpose. The entire mixtape is a story of Quince growing as a rapper and a person since Raised in America.

"I found meaning to what I wanted to do and it helped me find myself. That's what I ultimately want people to feel," Quince said.

Sonically, A.L.I.E.N. is on another level. From what I've been told and what I heard, you can expect to hear Houston trill-inspired instrumentals and more production from Aye! Sos and ACR. ACR is the producer of "Turning Point," the interlude on the mixtape. Quintero described the beat as "the weirdest thing you'll ever hear in your life." It's a strange beat that isn't too long and is accompanied by fast rapping. Think Jay-Z's "Beach is Better." You will also get features from his posse OTM (On the Move) which consists of Yung Jose Cha Cha, GodMode and Toe Too Dope.

Through his connections with the guys of DopeEnt, Quince opened for Curren$y and Juicy J last summer. Despite the amazing opportunity to open for well-established hip-hop acts, not everything went as planned, especially at the Juicy J show, Quince's most psychologically draining performance. It started with the initial shock of performing to a sea of preppy suburbanites–a noted departure from Quince's typical audience. Then he got winded during his first song, GodMode's mic didn't work during their song, causing a disgruntled concertgoer in the front row to mouth the words "You suck."

"There was a point in the song where I legit felt my gut give out and I said 'Yo, I'm goin down. I'm passing out in front of everyone right now,'" Quince said.

Despite the rocky start however, he made everything right in the end. He closed with "Migo Story" and the crowd was in his hands, the same unhappy fan was now rocking with him.

Once A.L.I.E.N drops, Quintero will get more involved in the business aspect of the industry.This summer he's planning to network in Atlanta and Miami. He's currently on the lookout for agents and he's more open to signing to a label. His long term goal is to start his own label similar to J. Cole's Dreamville and Kanye's G.O.O.D. music. For now, Quince is looking to rock the mic nationwide. According to the comments on his Soundcloud, he has growing fan bases all across the country.

Recognition is hard to obtain and keep in the rap game. He may not be getting noticed now, but when A.L.I.E.N. drops, that'll be sure to change. For Quince, the only way to go now is up. - FSU Newspaper

Luis Quintero, aka “Quince,” Tallahassee’s newest budding rapper, picks me up in his 2003 BMW 3251. On our way to Atomic Coffee we listen to a song that he features in with one of his Coral Spring Charter classmates, Eric Cardona. The dearth of parking spaces at Atomic Coffee leads us to the tables outside of the Jersey Mike’s on Varsity Place. Luis is wearing a white t-shirt, Carolina blue Charter football shorts and a subtle Virgin Mary gold necklace. He recently finished an exam so his countenance held a slight look of exhaustion. We immediately begin talking about his mixtape, which he gives a track-by-track breakdown of once we’re seated.

It’s worth mentioning that Luis’s career officially started two months ago. Unlike many rappers, he didn’t make beats on lunch tables and write rhymes in pre-K. In fact, his first rhymes were written to the instrumentals of Rocko’s UOENO and A$AP Rocky’s Bass. It was the summer after his freshman year at FSU that he started spending long hours in studio and cranking out his Raised in America mixtape before returning to Tallahassee in the fall.

Raised in America is a semi-autobiographical compilation of anecdotes that introduce the world to “Quince,” a first-generation Colombian American who’s experienced his fair share of trials and tribulations. As the title suggests, the central theme of the work is about being an immigrant and grinding for a better future.

“The whole Raised in America, when I made it—I wanted to bring in my whole immigrant perspective to it, but I also want to make it relatable to everybody,” Quintero said.

Juggling anything with school is difficult, so a normal day in the life of Luis Quintero consists of nothing but studying as of now, especially with finals week approaching. Once the pencils are down and the exams are done, the aspiring rapper spends his time tirelessly networking and self-promoting.

“I got to promote myself,” Quintero said. “Rap’s become really competitive so it’s like, how well can you brand yourself? What do you bring that’s different?The minute you stop doing something in rap or as an artist, you’re irrelevant.”
Despite being a shy guy, rap has forced Luis to branch out and get his name out there—he uses Twitter to promote himself, but not in the comical, “Hey fam, peep my mixtape on DatPiff, it’s fire!” way that’s become somewhat of a joke on the Internet.

Luis makes a conscious effort to do everything authentically. Whether that means adding a deeper meaning to a song about getting high or the way he builds his fan base, he’s not going to take the easy way out. This strong work ethic can be attributed to his parents and their approaches to work. His parents worked a variety of odd jobs—his father was once both a janitor at FAU and a painter. At one point the family owned a restaurant where Luis and his brother worked. Now his parents are the heads of QV Trading LLC, an oil refinery company based in Coral Springs, Florida.

Not one to sit still, Luis has been making moves and keeps planning for the future. He recently won a contest at Dro’s Bacco & Cigs, receiving $200, a free beat, a single cover and a radio interview. Performances are held every 6th and 20th of each month. He already has a music video out for “Migo Story” and he expressed the desire to have seven complete after Winter Break. Along with that, he’s in talks with a talent agency that is looking to put him on tour with a soon-to-be-named artist, and he is already working on his debut album. If you haven’t already, look up Raised in America and Quince on Datpiff or Soundcloud and be on the look out for Quince. He might make an appearance at a venue or open mic night near you. - FSU Newspaper

Today we have a very unique artist representing South Florida and is of hispanic decent. Matter of fact Quince was raised in South Florida as an illegal immigrant and that's his testimony. He speaks on his struggles of discrimination and many other hardships with an emphasis on empowerment and unification of all people! Check out his new mixtape Raised In America below! - Thirty EightySix

"The name QuinceLu came from two of my nicknames growing up. “Quince”, which means 15 in spanish is the number I would usually get playing sports and represents the age when I learned I was an illegal immigrant. As for “Lu”, it is short for Luis, my actual name. It also is a reverse play on my actual name LuisQuintero to QuinceLu." - HipHopOverload

"It had always been my dream to be a rapper, but I felt because of my accent and my background I couldn’t do it. Fast-forward into when I turned 18 (I’m 21). I had done some school projects where I rapped and did good so, since I no longer had sports, I decided to try and rap." - Sammy

Coming from an illegal immigrant background, QuinceLu unfolds on a journey in search of self identity and sense of belonging in American society. A look into the world of rap in a unique perspective. - MARQUASHA TILLMAN

The Migo Bendito. Quince Lu returns to the Mieux grounds with some previous released songs and a few fresh out the oven on his latest project, “Sweet 15”.

Alway nice with the flow and words hitting every note of the beat with vengeance, “The Migo Bendito” starts the fifteen-track mixtape off with straight heat. Fire tracks continue throughout the tape and we see how easy it is for Quince to project his verse and point.

A favorite off the tape is the “Bad And Boujee (Remix)” where Lu starts the song out in Spanish but switches to English half-way through and it is nothing but pure greatness. This tape is a solid 10/10 and you need to check it out immediately. Show love to Quince Lu, The Migo Bendito and keep on the lookout for his rise to the top. - Jackson Mumford

A first-generation Colombian student from South Florida, QuinceLu’s music tells the story of an immigrant adapting to a new society whilst staying true to who he is. We sat and listened to some of his music and his lyrics were flavorful, and hard hitting.

With tracks like his ‘Bad and Boujee” freestyle and “Background Check Part 2” QuinceLu displays his deft bilingual lyricism as he alternates between rapping in English and Spanish. He tells his story of coming to America in songs like “Migo Story” and “Alien.” QuinceLu is also a champion of dream chasers, his recent tracks “Just Do It” and “Long Time” are the go getters’ anthems - FSU News