What’s the science behind your name? Or Is there any?
Manetane-Soulviet Union consist of combined efforts of individuals who unlike several artist today are trying to reinstate the thinking society.
Heroic-combined efforts of individuals like manufactures, engineers,
designers, producers, artist, promoters so on & so on. One couldn’t exist
without the other when you look at it, Since it been this way from the
beginning we call this Union Soulviet “US” for short, “US” reversed is “SU”
Soulviet Union.
What do you think of Mainstream Hip Hop?
Jame–I think that it sells a ridiculous amount of records. Really though, I
listen to a lot of it from Jay-Z to Eminem but I also listen to more
underground artists like the Roots, Kweli, De La and so on. Mainstream, I
feel something needs to be popular and the blingin just seems to be that
right now. Everything comes to an end sometime or another.
Manetane-I think of mainstream music as a popular market where many artist get lost at because it became so corporate and individuality doesn’t exist which I call the bling stone age. Primitive minds think alike.
Heroic-It was meant to be.
Soulviet Union–Agrees
How was your upbringing?
Manetane-My upbringing was defined by youthful experiences that dealt wit
urban culture on the streets of the South BX.
Jame–Fine. I moved around a couple times but everything was cool.
Heroic-Thanks for asking I can’t complain my upbringing was cool.
What inspired you to become a hip hop artist?
Manetane-Growing up in a hip hop community.
Jame–Just watching other people do it and feelin that I can do that. That
was when I was real young, like 9 or 10. Then I just grew into it.
Heroic- I always loved music and felt that my life wouldn’t be complete if I
wasn’t involved with creating it.
What other hip hop groups do you listen to?
Manetane-Well I’m a “OLE skool” head so I listen to KRS, Kane, Kool G Rap, Rakim, Pete rock & CL Smooth.
Jame–Like I said, I listen to a lot of different music. Jay-Z, De La, OC,
Roots–you know the whole spectrum man.
Heroic-Shziggz, Job-core, Science of life, Wu, LOX and a whole bunch of other artist.
How would you describe your music?
Jame–Hmmm–open and diverse. That’s how you have to be. Talkin about one thing and appealing to one crowd is not gonna get you out. You gotta appeal to the masses.
Manetane-I describe our music as the pinnacle of change. We are more into bringing about awareness.
Soulviet Union-Agrees.
How would you describe yourself?
Heroic-Ambitious.
Jame–All over. I’m serious about some shit and off the wall with mostly
everything else. I can get deep on thing or be really nuts about things.
Manetane-Hungry and willing to create at any length.
What are your future musical plans?
Jame–To guest on a track with Britney. That’s the way to go man. Nah,
seriously, just get out and be established enough to be comfortable with life and set my fam up. I don’t plan on stoppin at that either, I’m going as far
as I can.
Manetane-My future plans is to work with the Union and other artist in
different genres.
Soulviet Union-Agrees
Out of the songs you’ve created, what is your personal favorite, and why?
Jame–Damn, probably Fix Your Face. Why? Just because we were all wild in the studio. I think that was the most fun track we did. We were just like “fuck it, we’re tellin the world off.” The beat is just that knock man. You can’t stop the headmovement on it.
Manetane-Who could you trust is my favorite song because on the last verse it dealt with social issues and how things can happen if you are unaware to what’s around you.
Heroic-What you no now cause of the state of mind we was in before and after we recorded it.
Where can fans listen to some of your music?
Jame–They can go to soulvietunion.com and download audio snippets or coming very soon buy the album on the site.
Have you ever rocked events, if so, what was your favorite event you rocked?
Manetane-Well I feel we rocked all the shows and gave a good performance.
Jame–We just did this high school that ripped. All the kids were really
appreciative. They loved it, they were into the music and just had fun.
Heroic-My favorite is this show we did at Ginetties, When we seen how the
crowd of Hip Hop, Hard-core, Rock and Jazz headz was feeling our performance we knew we done our thang once again.
Have you ever found Jesus?
Jame–Ummm, I believe in God and all that, but I don’t think we’ve actually
bumped into each other yet.
Manetane-( Isa ) Muslim name for Jesus was never lost. Isa is 1 of Allah
Prophets.
Heroic-It’s 1 of Muslims 6 articles of faith to believe Allah prophets.
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?
Jame–I’ve been spittin since I was 10. I see this music as life. It’s a
venting system for me and expression. I need it. How do I see it? I see it as an art, culture, career and job. Hobby too. A lot of people spit for fun.
Manetane-I been rhyming since the age of 12 and I see hip hop in me as my self expression and my way of communicating with others. I don’t see hip hop as a religion.
Do you have any hip hop quotables that you live by? Any song lyrics ever touched you?
Manetane-My favorite Quotable is Troy they reminisce over you by Pete Rock and CL Smooth because it deal with the memory of a friend or love one or someone you knew who past away.
Jame–Way too many. Songs that touch me though–definitely withouta doubt or
question in my mind–Tragedy’s “Forced My Hand.” Everything about that song is emotion.
Heroic-Black Rob f/LOX “Can I Live ”
Do you have any shot outs you would like make?
Jame–Just to my family, Angie, the whole U my other fam and my man Lawless. Plus, everyone who supports us, hip-hop, art and music in general. And my man Joey D. and Frank who’ve been there since the beginning of this shit.
Manetane-To my daughter Gabby my son Josh and my Soulviet Union conglomerate we are going to be here forever.
Heroic-Allah, Soulviet Union, My family and all who been supporting us from day 1.
Soulviet Union would like to thank you for your support and also for making
this interview possible.
Interview By DaHipHopPlace.Com
