They seem completely different.
Rawsrvnt has the long braids, the camo-and-caps rap world aesthetic, and a voice that could come from the cousin of Mystikal. Meanwhile, Eddy Puyol sports a more clean-cut, grown-and-family-man look to match his smooth, yet vibey, soul croons.
But in fact, they are one and the same. Rawsrvnt/Eddy Puyol both hold a passion for people, a love for the Lord, and a desire to make music with both substance and singability. As the title of his last full project can attest, Nothing Changed But My Stage Name.
Some fans know the story of how Rawsrvnt started off in the hip hop scene and then updated his ID to better reflect the content and style of music he’d been writing and releasing after experiencing more of the ups and downs of adulthood.
But some have never heard the tracks he recorded as a fresh face in the music industry – which is how the idea for theEarly Years came to fruition. This project, being released under his previous music moniker, transports listeners back to the early 2000’s when Puyol was just starting to develop his industry identity.
Although the artist considers 2006’s In Rare Form to be the “official” Rawsrvnt debut because the album had national distribution, he did record several songs and demos prior to that date. And now, thanks to the urging of family and friends who remember the music but could never find or easily share it online, Puyol is releasing this collection.
The project features songs like “Full Armor” that helped his sister Sofie remember Bible verses about the protective cover of Christ, “I’ma Soldier” – a track GospelFlava.com declared a “bullet proof” single that “flies through the air like a jet fighter,” “Bows Up” featuring Pettidee – a fellow Christian rapper who quickly became both a mentor and friend, plus “Extravagant” (produced by Tony P.) which reveals the singer’s longheld passion for hip hop worship and “Realize” Puyol’s first song to play on 88.1 WayFM.
Early Years artwork also showcases several career highlights such as Puyol’s baptism, his performance at both New York’s Rap Fest and Tampa’s Flavor Fest, and his view of music being the “bait” by which he “fished” for men and reeled them into the faith.
“The whole thing really is a bit of a time capsule,” Puyol said. “Although I was initially hesitant to share some of this raw, and still developing, work, I hope my fans will enjoy getting a glimpse of the music and moments that made me the artist I am today.”
Follow Eddy Puyol online through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and listen to Early Years now on all major digital outlets (Apple Music, Spotify, etc.).