| There's spots to go to. I used to go
out quite a bit there. I would make beats and record during
the evening and then go out at the very end of the night
and drink until I couldn't remember I was a rapper. |
| What was your first exposure to
hip-hop? And when did you start making tracks? |
| I remember listening to Ice-T and the
Beastie Boys back in the day. Then in high school we used
to rock A Tribe Called Quest, Ice Cube, NWA, Wu-Tang,
Public Enemy, Del, etc. Underground shit didn't get to
Iowa. When I moved to Chicago a lot of things changed
though. I met this DJ/producer named Crooked who had just
moved from NYC. I was always a big hip-hop fan but that
kid really got me listening to lyrics and showed me all
this underground and old school shit. I watched him making
tracks and really learned the basics from that guy. At
the time, I had no intentions of ever making music. I
was just a casual listener. It's funny how things change.
If things work out right then Crooked should be appearing
on the new record. |
| Did you play music
as a kid? Piano lessons, bands, or whatever? |
| My mom tried to force
me into playing piano and taking instruments but I never
had the patience. Nice try mom. It'd be nice to be able
to play the piano fluently but I'm not about to try and
learn. I have too many other things to worry about. But
I know enough to get me by. |
| You did all of the
beats on your EP. How long have you been producing for?
What kind of gear do you use? Mostly computer stuff or
what? |
| I've been producing for
5-6 years maybe? Right now I run Pro Tools on a Mac. I
have an Alesis QS7 keyboard which I used a bit on "Direction
for Children", but for this next record I haven't
really used it as much. I have an MPC 2000xl as well,
which I'm trying to work with, but I honestly find it
easier to sequence beats in the computer. It's just what
I'm used to. Other then that it's the usual: a turntable,
mixer, mic and a pre-amp (which I just picked up). All
the usual crap. |
| What do you enjoy
more - making beats or busting rhymes? |
| Generally I enjoy making
the beats most. It's not that I don't like the MCing part,
I just don't feel like it comes as natural to me as making
beats does. For me, it has always been about the feeling
that the music gives you. Lyrics are secondary. I've been
concentrating on my lyrics quite a bit more but it's still
more about the music for me. I think you should be able
to strip the vocals from a track and still be able to
see it as listenable. Before I really started dissecting
music I remember just listening. I didn't care what the
lyrics said. All I cared was that the track was hot. I
think it's safe to say that a lot of people feel this
way considering the type of content in this popular music.
It's trash. |
| What's up with the
other guys on the album? George Gacey, Antagonist, Know1,
Gai Den, #12. Are they all from Iowa? You still working
with them? |
| Gacey is in Connecticut.
I just talked to him the other day. He's gonna try and
get to Boston here in a week or so to lay some things
down for the new record. The rest of the guys are still
in Iowa. The only ones that I talk to on a consistent
basis are Jay-Vee (turntable wizard) and Know1 (MC/producer).
Who knows, you might see some production from Know1 on
one of my future releases. That kid makes some pretty
dope beats. |
| Why did you decide
to move to Boston? Was it strictly for the music or are
you going to school out there? |
| I moved to Boston just
to work on music because I just can't do business in Iowa.
It's too tough to network from the Midwest and without
other hip-hop heads in abundance. I just started taking
a few sound classes out here but my main focus, still
is finishing this next record. I've been a Chicago resident
also. I don't like staying in one place for too long.
Once I feel like I've locked down the Boston scene then
I'll consider taking my sideshow elsewhere. |
| How did you hook up
with the "617 Mic Check" comp? |
| This cat Grimm put that
joint out on his Inebriated Rhythms label. He was one
of the first heads I hooked up with when I got to Boston.
Good guy. Insight was always over there at his studio
and I guess Insight liked my CD so they put me on. I've
been talking to Insight a bit about some possible future
collaborations. Hopefully something will work out. If
you haven't checked out Insight's shit then you should.
It's out on Brick records and I think Landspeed does the
distribution. Good stuff. |
| I know you got a track
on the Stealth compilation, what else are you working
on? Is there a full-length coming soon? |
| I've just been working
on this next record. Hopefully I'll release it as a full
length. We'll see how much I can get done. I'm trying
to finish it up by the fall. Getting the guests appearances
to come through and lay their shit down is a bitch. |
| As an up-and-coming
artist, are you looking for a deal or do you wanna keep
it independent? |
| I'm open for whatever.
As long as I feel that I am progressing at a decent rate
then I'm happy. I like doin' my thing indy and having
control but it's tough to take care of everything from
the website, the artwork, the beats, the MCing, promotion,
business etc etc. and still find time to hump shorties
and swim in liquor. I'm open to a deal but I'm probably
better off going indy. We'll see what happens. |
| Lyrically, a lot of
your stuff has kind of a bugged sense of humor, do you
feel like too many heads take themselves too seriously
on the mic? |
| Generally, hip-hop heads
are the most ignorant people. Most kids that claim to
be hip-hoppers are always trying to act so rugged and
what not. Really, the people in hip-hop and the scene,
it's pretty wack. Often times I wonder why I associate
with half of these dickheads. Everybody rhymes the same
shit, acts the same way, dresses the same. How interesting
can that be??? Whatever. I'm sure they don't get me either.
Fuck you hip-hop people. My shit is rock music. |
| Some people have compared
you to other MCs, specifically Aesop and Mr. Lif. Does
that annoy you or do you consider it a compliment or what?
Are you fans of theirs? |
| I guess people always
need a point of reference. I like Aesop but I get compared
to him too much so I try not to listen to his music any
longer. Actually, I approached Ace to be on the "Direction
for Children" CD quite a while ago. This was before
he signed with Def Jux. I just hope that people will see
me as a unique artist as opposed to some second rate biter.
If they don't then I'll try something like pouring gasoline
all over my body and lighting myself on fire. Then I will
challenge Aesop to a fist fight. No one can beat up a
fireball. That's gangsta. As far as Lif goes though, I
like him as an artist as well. |
| Where do you see yourself
career-wise this time next year? |
| Better distribution,
more press, playing more shows, and hopefully some small
tours. I also want to do a song with P. Diddy where I
rap a little bit and he says "uh" and "what"
in the background. That's hot. I'm bringing back the shiny
suits too. Bad Boy for life. Heh. |
| You big-up the booze
on a couple tracks, what's your top 5 favorite drinks? |
| Haha. Uhhhhhhhh…that
changes a lot. Not a beer fan though. It's all liquor
and wine. Vodka with juice, whisky, gin and tonics, tequila,
Martinis, all that. Lately though it's been Red Bull and
vodka. I think they put something in Red Bull to trick
you into paying 2 bucks a can for that crap. What a rip-off.
I keep buying it anyway. Voices keep telling me that it
is the meaning of life. |
| Last words or shout-outs? |
| Good lookin' out to the
radio and media that is supporting some real underground
shit. Much love. Good lookin' to the people that bought
the record. Girls, call me. Mom, send liquor. Easy. |
| for more
on Arecee, check out arecee.com |
