Sincere-ly yours
I’m a fan of self-deprecating humor.
So when Louisville MC Sincere admitted he was into Kriss Kross and even wore a pair of overalls backward, his stock went up a few notches. After all, it’s not every day people volunteer their childhood cultural sins.
Sincere, née David Jarman, a member of the local group Kommittee, recently released his latest mixtape, Forever Sincere, on Forever Records (www.foreverrecordsinc.com), and in the past has opened for Li’L Wayne, Method Man, Young Buck and Juvenile.

He was invited to appear earlier this fall at the Ozone Awards in Miami, and he’s toured the Southeast, frequently showcasing to hip-hop heads who are a little surprised when they tell him where he’s from.
“We’re really unheard as far as hip hop goes,” he says. “But really, they greet me with open arms.”
Growing up in Shively, Sincere says he transitioned from “a little knucklehead” to an emcee by experimenting with turntables and recording raps onto cassette tapes. He says he entered every rap battle he could to sharpen his attack and foster his credibility.

He cites Slick Rick, Rakim, Tupac, NWA and KRS-One as his main influences. “I like to make the party go, I like to talk about what emotional things that people go through, because that’s what music is about.”
One cut, “Stays on My Mind,” sways soulfully and could’ve fit into New Edition’s repertoire, while “Gutta” wades into street sensibility, strutting and flexing thanks to its slow-motion beats.

“I’m comin’ from the city of Ali, but it’s not like ‘Rumble, young man, rumble.’ It’s more like ‘Humble, young man, humble.’”

Mat Herron is LEO’s Music Editor, and in case you were wondering, he’s never worn his pants backward. Contact him at [email protected]