1-What’s the science behind your name? Or Is there any?
We came up with the name Mike Control from our style we use on the mic, passing the mic back and forth. The passing the mic back and forth style, you have to at all times know what each of us are about to do. You have to be mad tight and have control. The word Mike is just word play for the word microphone.
2-What do you think of Mainstream Hip Hop?
I really don’t listen to mainstream hip-hop too much, maybe a track hear and there. Really cause you have no choice, its always in your face, on MTV or the bigger radio stations. Most of it to me sucks, their all about material things. And that’s not what I’m about. I’m into a lot of underground hip-hop groups.
3-How was your upbringing?
My upbringing was OK, I had to work for anything I ever wanted. And hard work does pay off.
4-What inspired you to become a hip hop artist?
Just the love for the music growing up around hip-hop in the late 80’s early 90’s. Hip-hop was on the rise, it made me want to be apart of the music as much as possible. And I knew with the people I was around we could make a difference, or at least offer a sound that peeps would be into, if we can get the chance to catch their ears.
5- What other hip hop groups do you listen to?
Smut Peddlers, Del, Kool Keith, afu-ra, Dilated Peoples, Canibus, Molemen, Non-phixion, Scram Jones, Beatnuts, to name a few, oh yeah almost forgot puff daddy (laughs) yeah right!
6-How would you describe your music?
Hard-core, Old school feel, Bangin beats, killier lyrics, Different
7-How would you describe yourself?
Laid-back
8- What are your future musical plans?
Were going to put out another single on vinyl in late Sept. early Oct. With three new tracks. One will be a posse cut with a few other cats from here in Brooklyn…The name of the track is Brooklyn ill spitters. Stay tuned the beats is bangin…
9-Out of the songs you’ve created, what is your personal favorite, and why?
Out of all our tracks it would be hard to pick one, but I would have to go with “Mind Bending” Its my favorite track to do live, it really gets the crowd moving at shows. We also been getting a lot of positive feedback from this track.
10-Where can fans listen to some of your music?
Fans can go directly to our site (www.mikecontrol.com) and download or stream two tracks by clicking on free mp3’s. We also have an on-line exclusive remix of Mics I Grab which you can download. Checkem out, then I recommend you buy the EP. You can also hear sound clips of all the tracks on the EP.
11-Have you ever rocked events, if so, what was your favorite event you rocked?
We rocked mad events, we are always doing shows in our local area, and soon to expand. If I had to pick one event, it would have had to be our record release party, the place was jam packed and the crowd was really into us. We even played our instruments that show, and did old school covers of Rock Box and No sleep till Brooklyn instrumentals.
12-Have you ever found Jesus?
I don’t go to church regularly, but I do believe in Jesus.
13-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 been rhyming about 10 years but only since 98 on a serious level.
Hip-Hop to me is a culture and an Art. I don’t see it as a hobby cuz its something I live and is apart of my everyday life. It is something I would like to make a career one day.
14-Do you have any hip hop quotables that you live by? Any song lyrics ever touched you?
Off the top I can’t think of any quotables right now. But I know a lot of things Rakim and KRS said in their early days stayed with me.
15-Tell us more about your most recent album release, “The Introduction.” What was your inspiration behind this album? How is it doing? Is it receiving the play you expected it to?
The Introduction is a 7 track lyrical assault with neckbending beats, that we wanted to put on the underground or any available ear that will listen. We wanted to get this out, because of the frustration we were feeling with current state of commercial hip-hop today. And show peeps what two kids from Brooklyn were feeling and can do on basically no budget and all heart. The album is doing OK, we just have to work on more distribution, promotion, and getting it out to college radio. I feel it will do even better, as the more people hear our material. Its tuff being an indie artist. You have to do everything your self.
16-“Mics I Grab” is ill, mos defz, what was your inspiration behind this track? Through your eye’s how would you describe this track?
We just wanted to bend everyone’s head off their neck,(laughs) when Grey laced the beat, we were ready to spit and just take out anyone in out paths.
17-As an independent artist, how do you find the music industry? What resources online have lent their support to you, and your music?
It is a very tuff place to be in. You have to work mad hard with help from no one. You must have a day job to pay for all the expenses, like studio, promotion, equipment, printing CD’s, etc. And you have to dedicate all your time to it. Its like running your own business. You cats at hiphophotspot.com have no doubt been a help to our movement and many other artists getting their name out there. We like to thank you guys for that, and will not forget it.
18-Do you have any shot outs you would like make?
I’d like to thank you guys for taking the time to do this interview with us. I’d like to say whats up to all my people’s here in Brooklyn got mad love for all of you. And I would like to announce that we will be performing at this year’s (NXNE) North by North East festival in Toronto this year. Our show is June 8th, 12:00 PM @ The Comfort Zone, 480 Spadina Ave. I recommend that anyone close to this event try to make it, we will no doubt take you to another level. That’s about it, just want to remind anyone that this is only “The Introduction”
Interview by DaHipHopPlace.Com
