Q. At what age did you realize you wanted to become a music artist and why?
Well… without disclosing my age, it had to be around the time my brother Soldier came home with Malcolm McLaren’s Buffalo Girls. I listened to him run that song into the ground. A Deejay in every sense of the word, he was helping some of his men find beats to use on their project and when ever they came around or he got up with them I would jump into their freestyle sessions. They would ask me if I had written any rhymes and I was like nah….So about then I knew I had the skill for it but, the other stuff had to come into play, like paying my dues in battles, fightin’ for mics at parties and getting busy at the park jams and what not. It all contributed to showing where I stood and how nice I could become. I chose to become an artist after seeing Craig G (Juice Crew) rock Jamaica park, then having him say to me “ Yo shorty ya s**t is aigh’t, keep doin’ ya thing.” That really had an affect on me, because he was Craig G, who f***ked with some of my favorite dudes like Shan and Marley Marl, Masta Ace and Kool G Rap. Ever since then I look back and say, ok….We Hollis. We have history here so, ain’t no half steppin’. N****s can’t front on you. You come from Hip Hop royalty.
Q. Most music artists have that special someone or thing that influenced their decision to do music. Did anyone or something in your life play a major role in influencing you to go into the music business?
Soldier….my brother. RunDMC…Corey Drumz and um….Numerous old heads in Hip Hop played a part, but see Soldier my older brother loved records so much he would hop the school gates, and take ALL their milk crates just so he could have something to hold his massive collection of Vinyl. He so loved hip hop, that before he had turntables he recorded himself banging on pots and pans. This was the same guy who ran Buffalo Girls into the dirt and would flat-leave N***s outside playing on the block so he could go back inside the house to play his joints. Highly influential he was. I couldn’t avoid wanting to rhyme with this cat who bought every record in doubles and had dudes running over to the crib in the summer saying “Yo Ken, throw on A.J.” And so he did. Rocking everything from A.J. to Marley Scratch to Rock Box, all summer long. With all the love he had for music it was just contagious to be around him. But he would never let me touch dem’ tables or f***k with his needles, which is probably mostly the cause of me rhyming.
Q. In terms of the music, which major artist(s) influenced your style and why?
Large Professor, KRS, Nas and Rakim. LP was an emcee that rhymed with clarity. Not the best lyrically but just a clear and concise man on the mic. He showed me how to use your intelligence instead of just throwing out meaningless words. KRS-One…..he’s the teacha. I learned. Nas was just that dude and still is…”QB, Wud up”. Rakim…I have gotten people who say to me whether on tape or live in the cypher that I remind them of the God…so be it, how could I not take that as a compliment.
Q. With so many independent artists trying to make it, what makes you stand out from the competition? The TRUTH and the FLOW I spray, is always rockin’ precisely with the beat. I stand out because I incorporate skills with Truth. I’m not trying to say the most outrageous s**t, I’m trying to get in and get the f**k out. Finesse my rap, show style, flow and allow the beat to do its part. I don’t let the track outshine the rhyme I let the rhyme run along with it. I concentrate on making it a song, not just a rap n***a – rapping, and say much about nothing. In HQ, we all would rhyme in cyphers together and no one wanted to be at the bottom of the totem pole, so it was an everyday game of evolution with your skills. No biting Allowed was the only rule. Now some of these guys still have the talent but the industry has changed and they don’t have the patience or savvy to f***k around. Others may have that hot new 16, but your song sucks cause, your saying the same old’ same as the next man. But that’s what I’m about. Giving exposure to my set that knows what Hip Hop is and want to rep it to the fullest.
Q. Music industry professionals are quick to say that being an artist means to gracefully fit a marketable niche in the industry. If you were offered an opportunity that asked you to be something you are not, would you do it to get your foot in the door?
Maybe, Rotten probably won’t but the HQNYC could in order to showcase the list of talent and the history that is amongst us. We’re not a puppet act, and we aren’t new to the game. We just wanna hold fort until the man says “c’mon let’s go do this”….Ya know? So… no we won’t rock polka dots and we won’t become murderers for a label but we probably would, let someone like “Diddy” get away with a “yeah, yeah, yeah” or a “bad boy, baby” here and there. Other than that, I don’t see too much to change besides giving us some MAJOR money to talk about.
Q. Making music is one thing, selling it is another. What types of strategies do you use in promoting your artistic work and getting it heard by the proper professionals?
Networking and not sweating’ the small stuff. I keep it moving and never rely on anyone but myself. Upon setting up shop in the ATL. I see what I’m up against and there is no rush. Nowadays these guys come out with joints every few weeks, circulate them on mix tapes (by dj’s nobody knows) and throw trash out on the radio, but who cares what another n****a gotta say if he’s saying the same s**t he said last week? There are not enough concepts or topics out there right now for me, and if I don’t feel it in my heart then I can’t call it music. Now, it’s like there’s more artist than fans so who’s going to buy your work when their trying to promote themselves.
I do believe when the times right it could still happen major for HQ. My affiliates are still in the cut getting busy, and no one is asking for any handouts. We know where Irv Gotti is. Ja Rule, I see on occasion. Clue he’s cool… but he don’t know what I do. In the meantime it’s get right. Record hot joints and continually get better.
Q. In regards to wheeling and dealing, how important do you feel business knowledge is to making it in an industry filled with much heartache?
Man…I’ve seen so many groups knocked out the box because there business sense was off. Cestyle could tell you about when the whole crew was waiting for the TOTAL PACK to blow, but it didn’t happen. So, now we see how it is. This is a business first and foremost. Do your homework and get the right people in position to aide you in accomplishing a solid deal. As for executives pushing papers in your face here’s what to say….”I gots nothing for ya…talk to my lawyer.”
Q. Let's fast forward to 5 years from now. What advice would you offer to struggling independent artists?
Marketing is the key. Stay focused. Aim for the sky, even if you miss you’ll be amongst the stars…and don’t quit your day job.
Q. Most successful artists are involved in charitable organizations that stand for a cause that hits close to home. In that regard, once you reach success, what charitable cause(s) would you like to be involved in and why?
Well, that’s a tuff one considering I feel like I’m a charity case at times… (Ha-ha) but I would say I would try to do something that could aide children whether in the inner cities here or abroad. There’s too much hostility in the hood and too much poverty abroad in the REAL HOOD. (See Jay Z’s trip to Africa) But that’s something that I’ll keep my heart open for when the day comes.
Well, we thank you for taking the time to interview with us and certainly wish you the best in your music career endeavors. There you have it ladies and gentlemen, an inside look into the mind of an independent artist struggling to bring their hard work to fruition in an industry where perseverance and thick skin means survival. No one said it would be easy.
