What’s the science behind your name? Or Is there
any?
— actually there is no real history or anything
behind it. the name was kinda just tossed around for
awhile, and then next thing you know it stuck
What do you think of Mainstream Hip Hop?
— I have no
problems with the mainstream at all, there is plenty
of room for them to do their thing, i mean, just as
long as there’s still room for me to do mine, its
gonna be cool. shit, if the mainstream wasn’t around,
what would the underground frown upon.
How was your upbringing?
— I had a basically normal
childhood, which was regulated by reading comics and
skateboarding.
What inspired you to become a hip hop artist?
— i
think it was the freedom to say whatever the fuck you
wanted to. I mean hiphop has so many different sounds
and styles that can be worked it. Its not a confining
genre of music
What other hip hop groups do you listen to?
— im
really feeling stuff like Aesop Rock and Josh
Martinez, i also love shit like bjork and radiohead.
How would you describe your music?
— well, its funny
cuz its hard to say, i got shit like the stuff on
‘slamfactor’ which is more your raw type of hip hop.
and then i got shit like my solo ep, ‘internal’ which
is more experimental and sample heavy. so its hard to
describe it as a whole.
How would you describe yourself?
— i would say im just
a normal kid that has an odd obsession with music.
What are your future musical plans?
— well right now
i am currently working on a new solo album, all the
production will be done by myself,and will feature a
few other artists that ive done music with.
Out of the songs you’ve created, what is your
personal favorite, and why?
— thats a hard one to
answer, im not normally happy with the stuff i make
after its released, because by the time it comes out,
ive already moved on to do something else thats three
times better. but if i had to choose anything, i think
that a song called “amends” off ‘internal’ is one my
favorite tracks ive done, just because it deals with
an important period in my life and truly expresses
what i was feeling at that moment of time.
Where can fans listen to some of your music?
— Of
course you can check my music from ‘Slamfactor’ on
DJSWINDLE.com, on this dope ass virtual turntable
thing they got goin on that site. you can also check
my ep, ‘internal’ on hiphopinfinity.com, and my seven
inch ‘lust for the stars’ on sandboxautomatic.com.
Have you ever rocked events, if so, what was your
favorite event you rocked?
— i think that this huge
RobOne benefit show that this store Below the Surface
threw a while back was the dopest show ive been a part
of. It was just dope on the strength that a lot of
good artists were apart of it like, anticon, kanser,
evs, westcoast workforce, and a bunch of other acts
performed as well. And plus it had a really good vibe
about it
Have you ever found Jesus?– i was born a catholic,
but that sort of fell threw when i got in high school.
How long have you been rhyming? How do you see hip
hop, and you? Do you see Hip Hop as a religion, art, culture, a career, job, or just a hobby?–i’ve been rhyming for about two
years now, and to me its just been a creative outlet
that seems to be coming a bit natural for me. hip hop
is dope because you can do so many things with it. hip
hop as a music is limitless. i mean, just look at the
diversity within all the groups that are out there.
Do you have any hip hop quotables that you live by?
Any song lyrics ever touched you?– hmmm…. words to live by…..not
really anything specific, ive heard a lot of good
songs and its close to impossible to pick just one.
Can you tell us more about your track “vs”?–“vs” was
an incredible concept that swindle had and approached
me with. i knew that in order for the song to work,
the interation with me and the beat had to be
seemless. we worked long and hard to make it seem like
a somewhat fluid arguement. i mean… i think it
worked, swindle is the king of production techniques.
What is your favorite track featured on
“SlamFactor”? And Why?– i think that it would have
to be “obstacle course”, because it is one of those
songs where there listener dosent really have to
interpret or anylize anything, they can just sit down
and listen to the story thats being told.
In your opinion what is the concept behind
“SlamFactor”? Or is there one? Please feel free to single out, and mention individual songs.– actually there was a concept
behind it. we wanted to create a raw hiphop album
which was cohesive and easy to get with. i wanted to
make some music that i normally wouldnt make on my
own, so i went in and did the album in a different
mind state. and i definately feel ‘slamfactor’ has its
own destict mood to it.
Some of the tracks on “SlamFactor” are aggressive,
do they parallel your personal character traits? Do you put a piece of you in each song you create? — its funny, cuz im not an aggressive person at heart but for some reason i do a lot of
aggressive tracks, its probably cuz rap is the only
true form of therapy i got goin for myself.- i always
put a piece of myself in every song, some more than
others, but i always try to give it all i got.
Tell us more about Swindle Entertainment? Are you
happy with your label, and do you see yourself with them for the long run?–Swindle Entertainment is a budding hip hop label
thats doin it all, they got clothing, music, movies,
and even brooklyn’s finest, “peanut chews”. I am
actually not on the label, swindle approached me to do
this project,”slamfactor”, and it was a chance for me
to go out and try something new for myself, so i had
no problem agreeing. as for the future, i think that
the label will grow into something huge. their
upcoming releases will prove that they only specialize
in dope music.
Do you have any player haters? Or any words you would like to make to player haters who frown on your music? Or is there any?-
not really, i try not to get into the politics involved in hip hop. i dont think that politics help this music move foward.
As an independent artist, how do you find the music
industry? What resources online have lent their support to you, and your music?– the music industry is an odd place,
everybody has an opinion about something, and for an
artist to survive you truly got to stick with the art
and not let the critisism get to you. the industry
weeds out egos like there is no tommorrow.–in terms
of online resources, of course you guys have been a
huge support, im truly grateful. Also
hiphopinfinty.com has helped out a lot, along with
belowsurface.com and truehiphop.com. i think dot coms
rule.
DJ Swindle definitely added a lot of flavor to “SlamFactor”, any special props you would like to give him? Or would you like to comment on your working relationship? Do you have any shot outs you would like make?–DJ Swindle is a fucking production
genious that guy is an amazing producer. He’s one of
the few people that sees music visually and because of
that he can pretty much achieve anything he wants to
do. that to me is dope. He’s also a very easy producer
to work with, he doesn’t have that idea of “this is my
beat and im not changing it for no one”, he has a very
open mind towards the input of the emcee, and thats
hard to come by.– much respect to everyone ive worked
with, and thanks for the love and support people have
shown me.
Interview By DaHipHopPlace.Com
