Filled with chatter among friends, Bruin Café, a hub of activity on a normal school day, hosts another sound familiar to many café-goers: the thumping beats of hip-hop from Camden Anderson.
These beats are also what landed Anderson a major UCLA gig at the annual Hip Hop Congress to showcase his rapping talent. Anderson said the event’s co-director, Isaiah Lauwerys, recognized him because of his music.
“I was working at Bruin Café and I overheard (Lauwerys) talking about the Congress while cleaning up next to him,” said Anderson, a fourth-year psychology student. “I asked him if I could be a part of (the Congress) and since then he’s been really supportive.”
Rapping under the moniker “Internal Definition,” Anderson has attained online and local fame after the release of two albums, “Internal Affairs” and “Sunny Skies Thru Suburban Eyez,” and a mixtape titled “Talk Now.” Performing at UCLA’s Hip Hop Congress and at shows in California’s Inland Empire to promote his music, Anderson has since garnered more than 5,000 views for his music video “Robert” and, in addition to a steady following in Southern California, also has a growing fan base in Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
At 11 years old, Anderson received his first exposure to hip-hop and rap through the song “Fuck You” by Dr. Dre, featuring Snoop Dogg. He became interested in the song’s portrayal of outrageous and extravagant lifestyles that were vastly different from his suburban upbringing in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
Fascinated by, but not completely able to assimilate with, street culture, Anderson said he used hip-hop as a therapeutic outlet to channel his emotions and creativity after being made fun of by his peers for not fitting in.
“I was the type of kid that was into basketball, so I wore bigger clothes, I wore headbands, I even wore cornrows at one point (and kids made fun of me),” Anderson said. “(Hip-hop) was one way of channeling my feelings instead of getting into fights. … I could go home and write (lyrics) about (my experiences) in my journal.”
The casual writing became more serious when a friend found Anderson’s journal and encouraged him to put his verse to a beat and rap about his experiences. Eventually, Anderson’s musical hobby turned into a career after he created his stage name, Internal Definition.
“I made (my name) Internal Definition because when I write my songs, they come from a more personal place,” Anderson said. “(My stage name) represents the internal definition of who I am and what I stand for in a song.”
When writing his songs, Anderson incorporates significant moments from his life and lessons he’s learned into his lyrics. His track titled “Robert” recounts the life of a boy who goes from model student to drug dealer in an attempt to fit in.
“I’ve never gone out onto the streets and sold drugs, but I can see how someone who is less confident in themselves (can cave into peer pressure). That’s what those songs are about,” Anderson said. “What goes on in my life is my inspiration, and that goes back to my stage name Internal Definition.”
Since moving to Los Angeles, Anderson has transitioned into the studio, where he collaborates with artists such as Polyester the Saint. His most recent mixtape, “Talk Now,” features covers of popular songs including “Started from the Bottom” by Drake and “Mercy” by Kanye West.
Anderson said “Talk Now” signals a departure from his earlier albums, as it features freestyling to popular hip-hop tracks and beats instead of rapping to original lyrics.
“‘Bonfire’ by Childish Gambino was the first (cover) I tried out – I thought no one could spit punch lines better than Childish Gambino,” Anderson said. “When I wrote (the cover), it was a way of showing others that even though I can’t reach that level, I could at least try to and get that sense of achievement.”
While the studio recordings highlight his technical and artistic ability, being in front of a crowd shows off a more confident and assertive side of Anderson only seen on stage.
Mike Blaze, a rapper and producer who also mixes and masters Anderson’s tracks, said Anderson’s confident stage presence makes him a popular musical act among hip-hop lovers.
“He’s very up-tempo and he loves to get the crowd energized and into it,” Blaze said. “Whenever I’ve seen him perform, he completely enjoys what he’s doing.”
Lauwerys said Anderson’s music stands out in a performance because of his ability to relate to the community through his lyrics and critical thinking skills while also retaining his genuine personality.
“We all pride ourselves on being top students at a prestigious institution, but (Anderson) represents us because there’s this conscious part of his music that comes from his critical thinking,” Lauwerys said. “He’s creating this path, this lane that only he can fill in, and trying to find his own way like all of us.”
Although Anderson said he faces some difficulty in incorporating his personality into his lyrics, his passion for rapping helped him to grow as an artist and person since his preteen years.
“I’ve progressed since then, but it’s important to be yourself and not give up too early,” he said. “It’s important to keep pushing until you have nothing else to give, and you’ll be happy that you gave it your best shot.”