When asked what his greatest passion was, sophomore communications major Isaac Milton answered, “Easy, music.” Milton was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, and later moved to Newark, New Jersey where he spent most of his life. His passion stems from his musical family, particularly his brother Khalil, who was the first to introduce him to music.

“He’s my big brother, I wanted to like what he liked,” Milton said with a slight smirk on his face.

Khalil introduced him to N.E.R.D, Pharrell Williams and the first album Milton ever purchased, Daft Punk’s “Discovery.” Over time, his taste in music has become much more diverse.

“‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ was the first album that began my journey to all types of music,” he said.

One of Milton’s inspirations is Tyler The Creator. The sophomore can be seen sporting outfits from Golf, Tyler’s clothing brand, on a regular basis. He not only sees Tyler as a musical inspiration, but as a role model for the life he hopes to live.

“I want to live my life as free as him,” Milton said.

“I never liked school, but college has given me the opportunity to meet so many creatives.”

During his freshman year, Milton started a rap group, Shpadanks, with two of his friends Nas and Mike. Milton spends days creating beats, and takes any opportunity he has to go to the studio with the rest of the group to bring their work to life. Milton explained the goal of his music is to “change lives.”

He hopes the group’s music will not only last for a generation, but impact future generations.

“You can tell who I am by my music,” Milton said confidently.

Unlike most rappers, Milton makes a point to stick to his roots. He wants to make music that he can proudly stand by. “I’m not gonna sing about something I don’t know, like you see so many artists do today. Yeah, I live in the hood, but I’m not gonna sing about riding strapped because I never went through that struggle.”

He is honest about chasing the check, but humbly explained his intention for wanting to make money. “You gotta take care of your own. I got people I love, and they need more. They need better.”

Inspiration can come to Milton anywhere and everywhere.

“I keep a tab in my notes for the moment anything comes to me,” he said. “I mean, I’ll sit down if I need to, but the best songs come when I least expect it. I don’t get inspired by just one thing. Life inspires me.”  

“If you play a beat right now I’ll start rapping.” To Milton, rapping is poetry.

“When I hear a beat, it’ll make me feel something, and somehow what comes out will be something I didn’t even know I was feeling,” Milton said.

However, it’s not always that serious. “It’s also me just playing around; music in all forms is what I love to do and talk about.”

Like all artists who speak of their craft, Milton’s passion is clear by his contagious enthusiasm. He hopes to take his communications degree and use it to choose music for television productions, but for now Shpadanks is what he is putting his soul into.

Shpadanks will be holding their first live performance at Hofstra USA on Oct. 27. “This is what I’ve always wanted to do. When I would dream of my future, it was always on a stage. First a studio, then a stage.

“We’ll know we made it the day I’m on stage and I don’t even have to sing because the crowd is singing all the words.”