Hip hop artist Clay Hodges uses voice to shape a brighter future

In an unassuming warehouse on Atlanta’s southeast side, hip-hop artist Clay Hodges sits at an audio playback station. The converted recording studio, one of six within the sprawling structure, boasts a band room, vocal booth, moody lighting, orange leather couch, and an editing bay. From the monitors, a child’s voice intones “speak what you seek until you see what you say,” brightest guidance opening Hodges’s latest album “Speak It.”

And the Hostess City native is doing just that, speaking musical success into existence.

On Saturday, Jan. 24, Clay Hodges returns to Savannah to launch his latest diligently curated 17-track release with a celebratory black-tie event at Prince Hall Masonic Lodge, 606 E. Broad St., Savannah. The gala focuses on delivering truth, aligning with dreams, and becoming what one seeks. Hodges partnered with Live Like Locals, Savannah Music Commission, and Savannah Music Collective in developing a fund to support more Hostess City music creatives in becoming what they dream. A portion of the evening’s proceeds goes directly to building that resource. The party rallies from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m., with $30 general admission and VIP packages of $50 and $250.

The power of words in shaping a future

“Speak It” is far from Hodges first studio foray. In fact, the new album, partly recorded in his home workspace in Atlanta and at Savannah’s Euphoria Sounds Studio, marks his fifth full release since 2012. The project’s beats, introspection, and dynamic multi-layered production reveal why this album was nearly four years in the making. It’s complex, painstakingly conceived, with each song turning on the concept of language as power, that what one writes and speaks directly shapes one’s desired reality.

“I noticed my words were potent a few years back when I released the single ‘Savannah Weather,’ and shortly after, Hurricane Matthew hit,” chuckled Hodges. “And then in 2018, I put out a song ‘Talmadge Bridge,’ and not long after that, renaming the bridge became a community conversation. It got me thinking that maybe my words really did have force. What if I wrote about the life I wanted without fear of how I really feel? I could use that power and write and speak my way into success as a musician and creative.”

Hodges got to work. He lined up a dream team of Hostess City heavyweights, including producers Delandrian Aikens, and Calvin Ford, radio personality CJ the DJ, rapper Yung Damon, bassist Bernard Daniels, drummer Robert Saunders, and more. Hodges also tapped Fred Love, aka PCBeatz, to mix the project, and Julian Moore for mastering.

The album opens with “Clay Day,” an energetic track in which Hodges explores what it feels like getting his big break. The song pulses with grind, determination, and likely resonates with anyone who’s ever felt overlooked or who remains confident in their worth and abilities regardless of others’ failure to see them.

“There’s a song for everyone on this album,” emphasized Hodges, “Not just underdogs and dark horses. A couple tracks celebrate women who get it all done on their own. A few tracks explore relationships, love and healing, and of course, those about staying committed to the dream.”

“Speak It,” the album’s title track, features Hodges’s rhymes and melody as they weave through the vocal harmonies of Savannah-local R&B artist, ERRIII. The song is a groove, a mood-booster with mantra-like lyrics, “Listen to your heart just don’t rely on what you see/open up your mind and get aligned/You gotta speak/Until it go your way.” Fans of hip-hop soul—think, Mary J. Blige, “The Breakthrough”—will appreciate this track especially.

Trey Myers, treasurer of the newly former Savannah Music Commission, is keen on Hodges’s release gala. The men met in October at the commission’s inaugural networking event where Hodges introduced himself. Myers immediately recognized the kind of focused, motivated artist the commission wants to uphold.

“The Savannah Music Commission is in place to promote the city as a music destination while also supporting local artists, providing players knowledge of what’s going on in terms of available resources, and vying for better opportunities,” said Myers. “Clay stood out to me as an ambitious creative. He’s not just a rapper. He has a successful podcast, “Phat Vegan,” and genuinely wants to boost the team boosting him.

“I’m looking forward to his performance because I know him so far as a businessman and creative. I’m excited to see how he shows up live as a performer.”

The Savannah Music Commission, brainchild of Rep. Carl Gilliard, who, with a team of eight industry affiliates, aims to foster music tourism, more coordination within the local music community, and music education opportunities. The commission will partner with Hodges for increased promotion and awareness of his album release.

Mary Armstrong Dugas, executive director of Savannah Music Collective, is also eager to partner with Hodges. Dugas and her organization take to heart “a rising tide lifts all boats” and worked with Hodges in establishing a scholarship fund for creatives and their projects.

“This was all Clay’s idea,” emphasized Dugas. “And it’s an honor for Savannah Music Collective to partner with him in creating this fund for local musicians. In addition, the Savannah Music Commission bringing their people to Clay’s party is an incredible example of how we can work together supporting local music and artists.”

Application information for Hodges’s “Speak It Grant” is located at the Savannah Music Collective website. In keeping with lifting boats, a portion of the night’s ticket sales go directly to the fund.

“I want to make music for a living and help more creators do what they love,” beamed Hodges. “The world would be a better place if more people lived their passion, and that’s what this grant will help do at least in one small way. I am grateful to be making music, releasing music, and I feel like a lifeline, that I get to be for someone else what I need. We can all be examples for each other.”