Filed under: Cool ppl, Jamz | Tags: 7 Questions with, Cool People, Dopeness, GM Celestics, jamz, Kaytradamus Celestic, Lady Gaga-Bad Romance (kaytradamus mix), Rhianna- Rudeboy( Kaytradamus remix), Robin Thicke-Wanna Love you Girl (Kaytradamus remix), Wiz Khalifa- This Plane (kaytradamus remix)
Recently, I posted a remix for one of my favorite Janet Jackson jams of all time that was, in my opinion, quite fresh. Upon doing my research on the producer I was interested to find a young, unsigned, talent currently residing in Montreal. For Kevin Celestin aka Kaytradamus Celestic aka DJ KC, music has always been a major facet of life and now his skill and passion for making beats is gaining him a growing fanbase and plenty respect. I made contact and asked for permission to pick his brain. He agreed and what follows is the result of my curiousity and his willingness to share. So take a second and get to know Kaytradamus……….
HBBNG: You credit your father with being the catalyst for your pursuit of music, what kind of musician was your pops and in what way did he make the biggest impact on your musical philosophy?
KC: He used to make Haitian music which I wasn’t interested back then…but I remember my dad was always playing some Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald and many more on tapes, CD’s and Vinyls (my favorites) during my childhood. But it was kind a different when he was playing Bob Marley. This is an artist that I was so attached [to] he was my idol back at 5 years old. I wish I had more time with my dad, to just relax, chill and play music.
HBBNG: What’s the mission of your art, what do you hope to accomplish with your craft?
KC: I hope that it’s exactly like I wish it was. I wish I could not only make music, but make dope photography & album covers. The world needs my creativity and enjoy it.
HBBNG: In your interview with Fashion Life Crew you mentioned that hearing Dilla’s handy work on the Tribe classic Find A Way was a turning point for you in the way you approached beat making. What was it about that particular beat that struck you and further more what was it about J Dilla’s music that connected you so strongly to it?
KC: Back then when I didn’t know Dilla, it was rare for me to listen to some dope ass beats like his. ’Find A Way’ made me discover how dope he was. I had to do research , I didn’t know he was the one that made beats [for] the illest rappers and singers between the late-90’s and the 2000’s.
HBBNG: Please finish the sentence: When I was driving home I saw the lights of the Goodyear blimp and it said Kaytradamus ?
KC: highly anticipated album is in stores now! Cop That SHIT! XD
HBBNG: What’s the underground scene in Montreal like right about now?
KC: Well the underground scene in Montreal is for the French rappers and I don’t listen to French rap (in Montreal). I gotta admit that lyrics matter over here but im not really paying attention to the underground in Montreal. It’s hard to find somebody that listens to the same artists like me.
HBBNG: I know that you’re currently unsigned. Would you rather be scooped up by a label or do you want to continue grinding independently? Given the impact of the internet in promoting and marketing music do you feel that being signed to a label is still necessary for substantial success?
KC: I just wish I could get signed one day, it is one of my biggest dreams but if I get signed and I want substantial success like you said, you have to do a catchy song that a lot of people would like & I don’t know if promoting will help.
HBBNG: What’s next for you and your crew God Monsters/Celestics? Where are you trying to take your sound in 2010 and beyond?
KC: We’re gonna try to drop a mixtape this year, if everything goes as planned. My brother (Louie P.) is recording tracks. We’re gonna release singles from the mixtape on our youtube account (youtube.com/gmcelestics) and yeah…be on the lookout for the mixtape.
some remixes from his youtube channel
check for Kaytradamus on myspace, facebook, and twitter
Filed under: Jamz | Tags: Bilal, Dopeness, Erykah Badu, Erykah Badu ft Lil Wayne and Bilal- Jump up in the air, Erykah Badu- Jump up in the Air, jamz, Jump up in the air official video, Lil Wayne, music videos
then jump.
Filed under: Cool ppl, Photography | Tags: Art, Dopeness, francisco and elizabeth catlett moran, Ife, Naima, nia mora, Photography, photography by nia mora
It is no surprise that Nia Mora, the grandaughter of Francisco and Elizabeth Calett Mora , is talented. Artistry runs freely and generously through the whole of her family tree. Her father and mother are accomplished musicians and her sisters include Sweetie front woman Ife and model/actress/singer and identical twin Naima,former winner of America’s Next Top Model. In this series of photographs Nia states that her focus is “….to explore the inner workings of the human imagination, the subconcious, and dreaming states of mind……I had an overwhelming sense in my own life that reality is not what it seems to be and everybody percieves it differently.” Given the fact that she is an identical twin, its not farreaching to assume that her perception of reality is uncommon, her situation is rare. Only one third of twins born in the United States are monozygotic, identical. Having an identical twin could be likened in some ways to an out of body experience. Twins have the unique of observing their physical likeness in ways that most people will never, unless they are having an out of body experience by which they can survey themselves as an impartial observer. With that being said Mora’s perception of reality is tinged with a certain disorientation, a subtle hallmark in the images presented in this set. It is her unique sense of perception and her manipulation of the perception of her audience that is the most striking thing about her work. Each image jarrs the senses with the conflict between the imagination of the artist and limits of the viewer adding a layer of tense excitement to the viewing experience. The narrative becomes loose and pliable like the dreaming state of mind Nia refers to in her mission statement. Each frame registers as provocative and unsettling. There is something not quite not right about her imagery yet there is something within it that compels the viewer to look deeper and make peace with the fact that they could get lost. Double images are an expected component in most of her imagery and there is a strong sense of visual and emotional juxtaposition that lends to the sense of disorientation that confronts the viewer. For example there is an eroticism in the bathtub image that sharply contrasts with the fact that the image is of sisters, or is a digital manipulation of one woman. The image of the woman in blue with her head sticking out of what appears to be a plastic sheet is both morbid and calming as blue is the color of tranquility and is oddly enough the color of flesh that is derived of oxygen. She looks at once like a drowning victim or some etherel creature poking her head out of a portal to another dimension. Just like in our dreams, Mora has presented us with images that blur the edges that seperate fantasy from reality and invites her viewer to define those boundaries for themselves.
Filed under: Jamz | Tags: Beyonce Ft Lady Gaga- Video Phone, Dopeness, hype williams, music videos, Video Phone video, visual analysis
After watching the video for Video Phone, my appreciation for the directorial talents of Hype Williams remained solidified. He makes a mean ass video and this was no exception. Hype is known for is his ingenious application and use of color within his compositions. Brilliant neons, muted purples and metalics, amplified earth tones, his creations perfectly fit the tone and energy of the musical pieces they accompany. As a young grafitti artist he wanted to be the Basquiat or Keith Haring of the streets, an ambition as indicative of his artistic prowess as it is of his extraordinary aesthetic ideology. His canvas is film and he masters it with the grace of Boticelli and the eye of a visionary. I became somewhat of a fan when Beyonce dropped the video for Single Ladies. Like Kanye, I must agree that it was one of the best of the decade. It was stunning in it’s simplicity, a perfect blend of stylish direction and flawless performance that will certainly be heralded as a classic 20 years from now. After it, however, Beyonce’s video game slipped a tad which was probably due to the pressure of trying to top herself. Hype single handedly up’d her cool points in my book about 50%. It seemed she let go of what her fans have come to expect and just had fun with this video, and it worked. Hype shoots women as surreally beautiful creatures, an augmentation of the qualities already existent within his female subjects. In this respect, since he’s dealing with Beyonce’s self proclaimed hardcore alter ego Sasha Fierce, we are presented with Beyonce as a collage of femme fatale archetypes complete with pop art shotguns, high heels and side-swept bangs. Influences range from Betty Page and Priss Asagiri, to Sin City’s Gail, Barbarella and g’d up chulas in the style of Mr. Cartoon. The men play the background as Beyonce’s faceless playthings, tied to chairs, stroked with instruments of death and impailed on spinning wheels. The song itself is coquettishly airheaded, lyrically vacant but you know it wasn’t intended to be a grammy nominee. It’s a slice of friday night/saturday morning sexiness better suited for 2am strobe light and smoke machine induced frenzies. Flash editing, festive and opulent colors and tight close-ups of cat eyes and moist lips provide the ambiance for Beyonce’s phone freak fantasies, leaving the viewer with a 5 minute exhortation of pulp magzine-esque visuals. The result is something like a bondage/peep show you would see at Cirque Du Soleil. I can dig it
Filed under: Cool ppl, Jamz | Tags: bands, Dopeness, interview, jamz, live performance, music, seven questions, the oOohh baby gimme mores
Photo by El Jaye
Colanthony Humprhey and Densil McFarlane make music that, if not outright pulling you first, gently slides you toward the dance floor like a persistent suitor. You might not have came to the club to dance with somebody, you might have came to play the sidelines and work the wall with a bar special in hand, but the more your pursuer pleads their case the more it all starts to make sense. They’d rather see you sweaty and amped on a scuffed up hardwood floor than posted comatose on a wall. They just want to give you a little something to shake your assets to. It’s party music. Authentic and finely constructed melodies engineered for large crowds, dim basements and neon light littered clubs. I dig it. Equal parts angst and swag, pub and discotheque. I was intrigued after hearing a track off their EP Interchorus, and so I put my google sense to work finding all the information I could about whoever it was that had created what I just heard. I was surprised to find that the sound machine better known as The oOohh Baby Gimme Mores was comprised of two young brothas out of Toronto as legit as the music they make. Don’t sleep, the EP is available now and the LP is on the way, if you don’t know now you know…………………
HB: So you originally started out as a hip hop production duo but wanted to do something different musically, how did two producers morph into an extremely dope two man wrecking crew of a band such as yourself . Have you always wanted to be performers in this sense or is this, musically, a place you’d never imagined you’d be?
C: We were always musicians… Densil was determined to learn guitar, and I started out playing drums in church (still play there till this day). As Densil got better, we started looking for members… actually we went through around 8 or maybe 9 different people. When our last homie left, that’s when everything began. We were fed up, and just felt like it was time to do our own thing. “Don’t Be Stush” was the first song we wrote. The rest is history. Also, I think I speak for the both of us when I say we’ve always wanted to be famous musicians… even before we met each other
D: True. I always wanted to have my name in lights. Before I met Colanthony, I was thinking that was going to happen with acting. I never thought i’d get recognized for being a musician. And I damned sure didn’t think i’d be a lead singer of a punk band.
HB If you were an ornament on the lawn of love would you be a sweet and tender gnome, a shiny and sexy orb, a sleek and seductive flamingo, or a dark and dirty gargoyle?
C: Hmm… I’d be the garden hose. Love can’t grow without my love juice…..
D: I think i’m gonna have to go with the gargoyle. Ladies dig gargoyles.
HB. As you have gained more popularity do your find yourselves getting love from listeners outside of the Afro Punk and indie/punk/alt rock communities? Given how mainstream hip hop and pop artists like Lil Wayne and Rihanna are leaning toward more progressive and experimental rock inspired sounds do you think it’s a blessing or a curse for bands such as yourself who genuinely embody those elements outside of it being a trend to do so?
D: Absolutely. The gift and the curse about our sound is that it doesn’t exclusively have a box to categorize it. So it’s nice to have some hip hop heads, punk kids, etc. finding something about our sound that they can enjoy. The opposite side is that since we don’t sound like the box, a lot of times we get the stiff boot for not being exactly the same as everyone. Good music is good music. That shouldn’t be judged. And if weezy can make a dope ass rock song. Do it. We need more quality music.
C: At first I thought we were only getting love from outside of those places because of our friends and whatnot, but the more we have shows, the more I believe it’s because of the music, and not who we are. I’m not too sure how the scenes are in other cities, but over here (Toronto), the scenes are very mixed. Punk bands play in electro shows and vice versa. Not only that, but some hip hop/R&B artists over here are really experimental and doing crossovers with different styles all the time.
HB: How dope was it to perform with Saul Williams and other artists on the Niggy Tardust Tour, what would you say is the most important thing you took away from the experience as artists and as fans?
C: It was too dope! The American Fangs, KraK AttacK, and Saul Williams himself are some cool ass dudes! Not only them, but everyone else on the AP team that was with them from Matthew and Whitney to Keith and everyone else who was with them.The thing I took away was a humble attitude. Saul is the most humble musician I’ve ever encountered. Especially someone that has reached his level of fame. He invited us on stage to rock with him during his performance as well. He didn’t have to do that at all, and he did. Truly an amazing night.Not only that, but it’s okay to be a fan. We spent the majority of the night running back and forth between backstage and into the crowd because we enjoy the music so much
D: It was easily the best musical experience I have had a pleasure to be apart of in my life. Thank you Saul Williams, Krak Attack, American Fangs, Saidah Baba Talibah and not to forget Afro Punk. You’ll never know how much we appreciate it.
HB: Please finish the sentence: Because when the night falls, my lonely heart……?
C: beats really fast because I’m trying not to get caught making sweet sweet love to my employers fine ass daughter? On his desk? Where there are pictures of her, her mom, and him?
D: …falls. ooooooh I wanna dance with somebody. I want to feel the heat with somebody. yeah! I want to dance with somebody. With somebody who loves me! (please don’t get me started… I could go on).
HB: I find your musical influences fascinating especially your inclusion of New Jack Swing as one of them. The New Jack Swing sound had a certain funk and smooth grit to it I can definitely hear traces of in your music especially on Interchorus, which is one of my favorite songs by the way. What is the main thing about that particular style that draws you to it? What’s one of your favorite songs from the era?
D: I grew up with it. High top fades and kangols. New Jack swing embodies everything I loved growing up. It’s got soul, funk, rap, swinging jazz elements, these are some of the bases in me becoming who I am today. I’m not sure if I could single it down to just one song but i’m listening to “If this isn’t love” by New Edition right now. *does old school dance*
C: The energy of it. It’s fun! Hard drums that make you wanna dance, phat ass basslines to go along with the drums, and the old school grooves. You can’t help but feel good when you hear it.One of my favorite songs from that era is “Just Can’t Handle It” by Hi-Five. The musicianship of the intro, the beat, the story of a 16 yr old kid and a 25 yr old woman (I think all dudes dream about that at that age). Classic
7. Ooohh baby gimme more of…..what?
C: Ask the ladies for that answer… It may be music today… It may be loving tonight… or it may be eggs and toast the morning after… Right now, let’s just say music… and by music, I mean sexual Interchorus.
D: if I tell you… I’d have to kill you. And I don’t want to have to do that again. In all seriousness, it took us 3 years to make that name. It came to me in a dream. But if I was gonna say what I want more of… well… black men can’t get enough of that ass. So shake it fast. watch yourself.
Check for The OBGM’s on myspace, afropunk and Facebook
Filed under: Dopeness, Photography | Tags: Dopeness, Photography, photography by Ricky Flores, Ricky Flores
I’m from the south bronx, the south south bronx……
I came across my man Ricky Flores on some online magazine I can’t remember the name of right now. He has a collection entitled The South Bronx during 80′s and 90′s and I was intrigued enough to find his site and check out the rest of his work. I’m a budding photographer myself, I want to take a film and photography class at the local community college real soon. Words and images are everything, our whole lives, the basis of our existence all boils down to words and images. The power of a photograph is………I can’t really think of a word. To preserve a moment in time, an expression, a feeling, a memory…it’s magic.
due to good ol’ copyright laws, I could only post selected images so feast on his work in its entirety here
Filed under: Cool ppl, Photography | Tags: Dopeness, Kat Von D, Photography, tattoos, tattoos by Kat Von D
Kat Von D is one of my personal muses. I have always respected and admired women who are not afraid to express thier femininity in non-traditional ways, women who are not afraid to express themselves aesthetically no matter how “off” society might label thier choices. Not only is she gorgeous but she is a BRILLIANT tattoo artist. If you watch LA Ink you know what’s up. On another note, this season was WACK, too much drama not enough coolness. Hopefully Ms. Von D will bring it back. Here’s some dopeness from her portfolio…….
If you like what you see, check her official site
Filed under: Cool ppl, Dopeness | Tags: Art, art by Lichiban, Dopeness, Lichiban, Lichiban Blossom, Murals, Paintings
Select works from "The Secret Lives of Samurais...."
Found my way to the blog of crazy nice creatress Lichiban Blossom. Sista is fly…her art is like ancient new age tribal grafitti. Here’s some photos I snatched from her blog
Mural "loveship vibration gate"
Mural "Pregnant With Vision"
"Protection"
Filed under: Cool ppl | Tags: Al N York, Dopeness, Hip Hop, Homeless Millionaire Mixtape, New Talent
Aight. So in case you haven’t noticed, I’m a journalist. Albeit, an undiscovered and unpaid one, but a true journalist nonetheless. It’s what I went to school for and I love what I do.In an attempt to satisfy my magazine columnist fantasies, I have decided to add a new feature to this blog, ” Kickin it With”, now the title should be self explanatory. From time to time, I’m gonna kick it with the extremely creative and talented individuals I happen to bump shoulders with.
My first session belongs to Al. N York. I met this gentlemen when I got a friend request on MySpace with the message ” I see you got good taste in music. if i’m wack don’t add me period, this is HIP HOP, where skills matter…” Hmmm. So, I check his page, listen to what he got for about two minutes, go back, and add him. In the snippets of the songs I heard, I heard nice beats and a nice flow. As I listened more, and eventually downloaded his latest mixtape Homeless Millionaire, I was pleasantly surprised by what I heard. It seems like these days everybody, thier cousin, and thier man down the street can rap, but I heard somebody who actually had the skills they claimed mattered so much. The kid was nice. My substance radar started going off something crazy, I don’t know what it is but I always seemed to be up on stuff right before it blew up, and this I believe, is no exception. So for you’re reading pleasure my convo with Al N. York
TAE: So first things first, for all those who don’t know about Al N York, why don’t you tell me a little bit of your background, when did you realize you wanted to be a mc and how long have u been putting in work?
AL N YORK : I started writing around the age of 11. I was writing lyrics before i was listening to hip hop due to strict house rules. Started my ghetto recordings at 14 passing out mixtapes at school since around 15, 16
TAE : Alright a true hustler, that’s wassup, strict house rules huh? Do you come from a very religious background?
AL N YORK : My mom is christian thru and thru, there was no ‘cecular’ music in my house. Cable was off and on, and if it was on, lord forbid I was watching those raunchy videos with my mom around. I knew some hip hop acts, and enjoyed what I could, but I didnt have an constant hip hop outlet when I first started as a MC, I was my own outlet
TAE : Wow, I feel ya tho, I kinda went thru the same thing as a child, I couldn’t even watch nickelodeon sometimes..lol…I find that interesting though you started writing at 11, were the verses coming out as rhymes(2 be put 2 music) or were you writing stuff more like poetry?
AL N YORK : No they was raps lol I wrote words for rhyming purposes and found it challenging and fun, I didnt really look at it as an outlet until I was around 12-13.. you know the regular hardships you go thru as a teen.
TAE : Right, right, now when you started recording at 14 was it straight guerilla style or did you have connections with a studio of some sort?
AL N YORK : gorilla.. 10 dollar mic. windows recording program, it used to stop after a minute, so all my songs had a cut after 1 minute and it resumed lol.. I didnt upgrade equipment until around 16 or 17, but still had a sucky mic
TAE : but you gotta do what you can do at the time right, sucky mic and all..lol..how did your peers recieve the mixtapes, did you gain a following around the school?
AL N YORK : its funny you mention that
TAE : why so?
AL N YORK : can i send you a song.
AL N YORK : After that song, you can ask clarification, i just recorded it yesterday
AL N YORK : day before yesterday
TAE : Is this gonna be on the Fools Gold Mixtape, i don’t really care for radio too much either, lol
AL N YORK : lol yes it will be
TAE : cool, so i’m listening to the song and you talk about loosing some fans due to being true to yourself concerning the content of your lyrics, how’d did that make you feel and how does that affect you now with the content you create?
TAE: tite song by the way
AL N YORK : well its everything.(thanks)
AL N YORK : i gotta big buzz by just freestyling, i was known as the rappin guy.. you know then its gets to a point where it graduates from that to recording, and as a 15 year old i was talkin about my surroundings
AL N YORK : family issues, school, whatever… but the people i hung out w/ was more like ‘gotta rap like this and that’ and for a sec i conformed, it got me a buzz because i was good at speakin about those topics of foolishness, but i knew if i wanted to be taken seriously in the long run, i needed to rap about what was on my mind, not what others wanted to hear
TAE : right and you were feeling that pressure to be something that you weren’t?
AL N YORK : Pressure, to a point. I just loved the craft so much, if people said i needed to rap about xyz to prove i can rap.. i would do it, that phase didnt last too long though.
TAE : i’m glad you touched on this because i wanted to get into the state of hip hop right now, i know it’s a question that has been asked many many times recently, but how do you feel about the glamourization of hip hop music, rented mansions, fake personas etc, the prevalence of ignorance over substance, i saw your anti-stanky leg movement message..lol
TAE : what is your assessment as a mc and as a fan?
AL N YORK : lol i think its always been like that to an extent.. i think around.. 96-97 when diddy started gettin the big money, we, as a culture (hip hop, not race) wasnt used to gettin that type of money in a business sense.. so it went from people braggin about it who actually had it, then others who are just trying to keep up for image sake. the only difference now is, theres more outlets to expose the fake.. information is easily accesed
AL N YORK : I think an mc is someone who raps, for the right motives
AL N YORK : alot of people like to pigeon hole ‘talib, common.. mos def’ as mc’s, but will discredit ‘jeezy, 50 cent, and nelly’.. which i think is unfair, i think we shouldnt let topic decide whos an mc.
AL N YORK : To me it’s more so who takes the time to polish thier craft and wants to be the best at it, and not taking advantage of hip hop for financial gain.
TAE : right right, i agree with you to an extent, i do think that content matters and there’s some stuff i just can’t connect with, i feel nowadays there’s a lot of braggin goin on that i could care less about, like times is hard i don’t wanna hear bout how you can just throw away 50 stacks or how you just bought some 1200 dollar shoes, but that’s me tho
AL N YORK : of course, i think each subject matter touches a diffferent audience, as long as a rapper stays in his lane, i think its tolerable, you dont need to listen to it. as an MC i respect people who do the craft and do it well, even thou i might not like there music
AL N YORK : as much as i would love for all black men to be intelligent and proper ect.. we gotta acknowledge the ones who(for whatever reason) are not, and they need a spokes person too, im ok as long as i stay tru to myself.
AL N YORK: we(as hip hop) gotta acknowledge the kids who are stugglin and really do move weight and are in those extreme situations.
TAE : That’s wassup… i must say one of the things that i like about you’re homeless millionaire mixtape was that i could really connect to what you were talking about, i heard you say in one of your blogs that there would be less bravado on this mixtape than heads were used to hearing from you, what prompted you to open up more on this mixtape
AL N YORK : correct, i mean i think thats somethin that a and r’s and mainstream people fail to realize. like i said in ‘rnr’ as far as the average joe, theres more of them then dope boys. or super rich people, those subjects only cater to the minority.. the majority is people like me, working, trying to achieve the american dream
TAE : i agree, i feel that the majority is being widely underserved in mainstream music right now.
TAE : the first time i heard you spit, i don’t know why, but the first name that popped into my head was Nas, you definitely have your own style, but who are some artists who influence you creatively
AL N YORK : um, creatively is a good way to pin point it cause i dont have a ‘favorite rapper’ but some mcs are. Joe budden. Nas. 50(a very poilished song writer). Little brother definitely… so many people
AL N YORK : Kanye’s, lupe.. listenin to jay-z just always makes me wanna rap lol
TAE : ok i gotta ask, cuz they my hometown favorites, who put you on to little brother?
AL N YORK : um. I put myself on. Seen on a hiphop website some fans was givn there music rave reviews, heard a dope record.. and i d/l the minstrel show(and phonte knows. via twitter)
AL N YORK : Since then ive gone back and done homework on the listening, chitlin circut, bought get back the first day it came out. seen them in concert. I can honestley say ‘The minstrel Show’ album changed my life as a mc.
TAE : yes, the mistrel show is wassup, as was the mixtape with drama, and getback, what was it about the minstrel show that changed you?
AL N YORK : well. It kinda let me know, i was making the right kind of music. there are peple who really need this kind of music. The way that album was put together. The beats, 9th production.. the whole 9 i felt was justification that real music will always be made. It just takes brave people to make them
TAE : there was a verse in say what’s real that touched on the Chris and Rhianna fiasco and you said you couldn’t chastise because you’d been in his position but you wasn’t in a lam and she wasn’t worth millions, i thought this was powerful becaue i felt the media turned that into a circus, everybody comin out the woodwork condemning Chris and coddling Rhianna when truth is this type of thing happens everyday in the hood, would you be willing to talk a lil more about your situation and what were you’re thoughts on the medias handling of chris brown?
AL N YORK : well my situation didnt get as far as that. As guys, especially when your dealin with young chicks. emotions and lord for bid shes from the hood(or the islands.. or dominicans) tempers flair all the time. my hands were never put on a women, but there havebeen incidents where ive thought ‘this chick could really wild out on me right now’ and we all have our little relational issues, so my rhyme was more of tryin bring a realization to the situation like ‘im pretty sure you know a couple girls who beat up on there men’ some tempers react differently.. its life
TAE : exactly…. shifting gears, you’re a college boy, where do you attend and what’s your course of study?
AL N YORK : Valencia community college(top 3 community college in the nation.. woot woot). Im persuing, well after my summer course i will have an AA in Interpersonal Communications. I plan on taking a semester off to see where i would [like to] to further my education in the spring.
TAE : whaat, alright Valencia…..you speak about growing up in the Clinton projects, was there any particular incident that made you decide you wanted to pursue higher education or was there anyone in your life who really pushed you to pursue a degree?
AL N YORK : My mom is a Harlem chick thru and thru. She decided to get me out of that situation early and move here to florida. We moved here around 1995, but she always wanted me to keep my harlem culture so i pretty much spent school seasons here.. and we went back for christmas.. and summers so i had a split upbrining, and ive always wanted to go to college, honestly because i was into watching college sports. then the installment, that education is the only way(from my mom) it wasnt even an option to me.
TAE : alright so mama didn’t raise no fool, did she raise you on her own?
AL N YORK : lol yes she did
TAE : that’s wassup my mother as well, as a young man how does that affect your drive to succeed. Is she supportive of your music?
AL N YORK : well, My mother is still moms lol she isnt into that cecular music. Even thou my lyrics arnt any thing that would warrant a moms rejection, im kinda quiet about it. she knows i do it but, its not something we communicate.. she’ll know im serious about it when i get that condo for her lol
TAE : i know that’s right, i’m sure you’ll do her proud…now you talk about having haters around the city, do you get a lotta love from you’re city as well? I’ve seen you’ve done some pretty high profile performances
AL N YORK : well. my city is interesting. me and my boy Turb was talkin about this.
AL N YORK : theres a division and competition.
AL N YORK : a division from the underground MCs.. who love hip hop. and Theres the people who are boarderline famous. outr high profile faces of orlandos are producers and djs, and alot of undergroud heads feel those djs aren’t supporting locals, and alot of us move to get noticed, so from the underground audience i feel respected.. as far as the other side is concerned i honestly dont think im on thier radar
TAE : have you ever had anybody step to you on some physical ish?
AL N YORK : noo.. honestly its unspoken, cause the semi famous producers/djs dont pay us any attention, and the artist they support from here are usually there homeboys, or knock offs of another rapper from another city
AL N YORK : that, plus the radio station here is horrible.. lol
TAE :what i figured florida radio would be bumpin, but then again….would you say that’s the hardest part about breaking into the game, the lack of support from those who’ve almost “made it”…..
AL N YORK well there are people now that are doin alot from the city. i think the hardest part IS gettin local support
AL N YORK : theres 1 dj.. dj strong who whenever I listen to his radio show he’s puttin new cats on.. other than late night shows.. or little 1-2 minute snippets.. as far as regular rotation is concerned. No orlando artist gets radio spins on a regular basis.. none
AL N YORK : you know how people from other city comes into town, and they listen to the radio to see whos hot in the city.. everyone who comes down here gets atl music. texas music, miami music… not orlando music, thats why no1 has been checkin for us.
TAE : yeah, little bro talks a lot about that, you figure your city would be intrumental in puttin you on. How has the reception been for the homeless millionaire and so far wrong mixtapes?
AL N YORK : so far wrong is reall low key havnt really been promoting that, the response from Homeless millionaire has been very good. better then i expected, alot of people gravitate to it for its content. and the only issue people have is some of the quality.. i figure, if the worse ting you can say about my music is the studio quality. I must be, winning, cause that I can fix. but beinng a bad mc.. not so easy to fix.
TAE : yes, i agree, i was pleasantly surprised with homeless millionaire, it was a surprisingly smooth ride, no kinks, i can listen to it all the way through and your ear for beats is impeccable, nice production
AL N YORK : thank you.
AL N YORK : ive seen too many mcs waste thier great talent on horrible production
TAE : yea i’m the type where production is everything, the first thing that draws me in is the musical composition some stuff just hurts the ears..lol…So what can we expect from the Fools Gold mixtape and when is it droppin?
AL N YORK : I gotta call from this indy im workin with. they want it out by the end of the month. You can expect me, you’ll get another installment of ‘all of me’ about a different x-girl, theres a story or two in there. Alot of real music. I figure, money and hoes get old.. but reality you cant escape.. so i’ll keep it real as usual.
TAE : So I did my research, what is it about Sgt Alvin. C York that made you take on his name. He led a unique and remarkable life to say the least but what did you admire most about him? What do you feel you have in common with him?
AL N YORK : I’ll be the first to admit I am in the process of doin more research.. I had been playing with the name al. n (insert name)
AL N YORK : So like al.n credible a.ln whatever .. one day in class in 11g rade we where speakin about him, and i figured it be a better repersentation to take on a name of someone who assisted our country as opposed to gangsters and criminals being uplifted all the time
TAE : yes yes, allright so our time is drawing to a close, you’ve been great. One last question, what is the one thing you would want the world to remember you by after you’re gone?
TAE: or remember about you
AL N YORK : um
AL N YORK : Tru to one self. Tru to people around him. Inspired truth out of other people
TAE : Beautiful
Off his 2007 mixtape, Streets is Callin Vol 3
Off his 2009 mixtape, So Far Wrong
download homeless millionaire/so far wrong @alnyork.blogspot.com
check him out @ www.myspace.com/alnyork
