photo: paul 'animal' chan

Your tracks on "4, 5, 6" are really hot, how did that come about and what was it like working with Kool G Rap?

G Rap is like family, so it came easy. Everyone kicked a verse and I came up with the choruses for both songs. I learned a lot from G Rap, he showed me that you can feed your family with hip-hop. Without G Rap I would've been dead a long time ago. I probably wouldn't have even seen my full teenage years. I owe him a lot. G Rap is the king of hardcore lyrical hip-hop and I'm the heir to the throne. Period.

I heard a track with you, Kool G, and Akinyele rapping about safe sex. When was that recorded and for who? That's a really hot beat.

I can't remember but the track was made by Dr Butcher. Ask D.J. Fisher, he knows.

What's up with the Monster Island Czars? Is there an MIC album in progress?

The MIC album is completed and will be released shortly.

Do you get the chance to listen to tunes where you're at?

Yes, from cassettes and the radio station in Buffalo (WBLK).

What was the last album you heard that really got you psyched?

"The Best of Charlie Parker".

Outside of hip-hop, who are some of your favorite musicians?

John Coltrane, Bob Marley, Johann Sebastian Bach, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, Kelis.

If you could collaborate with any artist, alive or dead, from any genre, who would it be?

Ghostface Killah.

Name five of your all-time favorite hip-hop songs.

"What A Niggy Know" (remix) - KMD
"Take "Em To War" - Kool G Rap
"Baby Bus It" - Kurious
"Money On My Brain" - Kool G Rap
"Tick Tick" - MF Doom

Are you able to do any recording there? (a la Lifer's Group or X-Raided)?

No, I can't record. That's the worst part of this incarceration.

Do you get any extra props or hassles because you're a rapper?

I would have to say props, because people show me nothing but love, but the old-timers express their disappointment with me being incarcerated because of my potential and how I can use it to help others. They have high expectations for me. I'm around people like Jerry "The Jew" Rosenberg. He has been in prison since 1963. You do the math. It's going on 2002 man, I'm around people with 1974, 1979 numbers. People who were in prison before I was born, I'm still trying to explain to them what a pager and cell phone is. I listen to them, they have wisdom beyond my understanding.

How do you keep your spirits up? Are you writing a lot? Do you get to see visitors?

I keep my spirits up (by) playing chess. Also, I'm the representative for "The Quality of Life Meetings." My responsibility is to have monthly meetings with the superintendent and the head of security and medical positions and fight for the rights of my fellow prisoners and express their complaints to the facility officials.

These days it's cool to be a tough guy. A lot of fake-thug rappers like to talk shit and brag about crimes they never done and time they never served. What do you think about people who front like they're hardcore but are really just making stuff up?

To each his own, but if you never been to jail or never committed a crime be happy and rhyme about that. There are people in here that will 'never' see the streets again. You don't know 'tough' until you come to prison and trust me, every tough guy in prison wants to go home and they are looking at those who glorify prison and being tough as assholes for not speaking the truth.

What's the story behind Day By Day? When did you start that and how did it come about?

I really have to say Russell Simmons. I always admired him so I started my own company. Also, being paralyzed, every label turned me away because they said they couldn't 'market me.' It was created in the late 90's, but I would still love to play my music for Russell Simmons. That would be a personal accomplishment for me.

The "A Piece Of The Action" compilation is really good. When is the second one dropping and are you guys gonna release any straight-up albums or singles?

D.J. Fisher is responsible for all success of "A Piece of the Action" and Day By Day Entertainment. D.J. and our partner Gene also run our distribution company Boiling Point. The first album will be "The Downfall Of Iblis: A Ghetto Opera" which is a collaboration between Day By Day and Metalface Records. So the product is created by us, also marketed and promoted by us. We are a well self-contained unit. I would be lost without D.J. Fisher, he can easily run any major company. I'm thankful he's part of Day By Day Entertainment, it's like having Russell Simmons, Tommy Mottola, Donnie Inner and Clive Davis all rolled into one person.

I interviewed J-Zone a while ago and he gave you maaaad props. Said that you really helped him out and that's you're the "coolest cat in the business." How did you two get together? Is he on your new record? Have you heard his new album?

J-Zone is my favorite emcee. He makes music fun for me again, something I thought I'd lost forever. We met through producer Eli Escobar, (he produced a track for "The Downfall Of Iblis"). No, I didn't hear the album but I know it's great. He's a gifted young man.

Hip-hop is everywhere now. All kinds of commercials, movies, TV, etc. As somebody who really came up at the same time, and has been down from the jump, did you ever think it would become such a huge industry?

Yes.

A lot of rappers have a whole empire of other businesses now, clothes, movies, or whatever. Have you ever thought about getting into acting/directing or fashion stuff?

I'm interested in screenwriting. There is a gifted young filmmaker named Adam Lough, he just graduated from NYU. You should hook up with D.J. Fisher and interview him. His work is on point. All MF Grimm video will be done by him. Adam is going to the top. Besides that I want to build a school and a hospital for children.

What do you think of the recent 'computerization' of music? The whole MP3 and Napster thing? Do you think that helps artists or hurts them?

I really don't know, it's not good to speak about things you're not sure about.

A few months ago there was a big 'hip-hop summit' where a bunch of big-name artists and industry guys got together and talked about trying to encourage more positivity in lyrics and tone down the blatant violence, drugs, sex, etc. in songs and in videos. Do you think that's a good idea or misguided self-censorship or just a lot of talk?

I think that's a good idea. Positivity is a beautiful thing.

To the many thousands of kids worldwide who want to be rappers, what advice would you give them?

Learn the business first, speak the truth, treat everyone with respect. Have fun while you're young.

Any last words of wisdom?

Teach the babies to love each other, we are all the same.