Interview with Access Immortal

Interview with Access Immortal

Access Immortal has been paying his dues in hip hop. With albums, mixtapes and blessed guest appearances on other artist’s albums, he is a force to be reckoned with. Hailing from Bed-Stuy do or die, we get the chance to interview with Access Immortal as he sheds light about the state of hip hop, his works, discovering Verse and putting in that extra grind in the state of hip hop.

1)            We got Access Immortal in the building, what you been up to these days?

Grinding, grinding and grinding, in that exact order

2)            You got a long resume with albums and compilations, what does it take for an artist to get you as a guest appearance?

I want to work with people who have things going for themselves. I don't want to be anyone's come up where I do a verse for them and they get fans from it or never put it out. I've had quite a few people I've done verses for in the past who still haven't put anything out years later. It's also a business because my time is valuable and having me step away from what I’m doing to make sure someone else gets what they want isn't ideal just for the love of it. Hip Hop seems like the only form of business where people want you to do work for free, and then get offended when you decline. It's not always about money but even when you throw money at strippers all night, you’re getting something out of it. You don't just get a thank you and get ignored for the rest of the time. So if I’m helping you out, it has to be worth my time and I have to believe in what you’re doing with your own music to want to be a part of that.

3)            You have many roles: MC, engineer, executive producer and director. How do you juggle each role?

With a serious lack of sleep! Every night I go to sleep late and wake up earlier than I should. When I'm out of town, I barely get the sleep part in. I've spent many late nights breaking dawn, and I work better at night so that's what I do when I'm up. It's hard to find time for everything though and things have to take a back seat sometimes. I help a lot of other people put together projects and right now I'm in the mode where I'm working on my own so I can't be as hands on with everything else outside of my own music. Directing videos has made things even more hectic because of the work that goes into making things visual. I've only been at that for about a year now, so I'm still learning as I go along but I do everything that I do because you can't expect everyone else to do it for you.

4)            What has going independent taught you as an artist?

It's hard to work with people sometimes but it's always harder to do your own thing. Most people couldn't handle it because when you make a mistake, it's your mistake, and you have to deal with the consequences. You have to put in a lot more hard work and dedication and sometimes you wake up wondering if you can really handle it. For me, it's such routine now that I do some things without even thinking because I’m used to it. It's also a whole different world doing it yourself with the way the internet and social media is now.

5)            You were like a mentor to Verse Essential, what qualities that you saw that made you say damn I want to work with him?

Verse was somebody I knew way before he started music full time but he was always doing it and into it. He had more passion for it than people who woke up every day involved in this lifestyle and I told him one day to go for it if that's what he wants. I know so many people who have been doing this for over a decade and haven't done a thing, don't even have the slightest amount of a presence in this industry but Verse was always like a kid eager to work and do whatever to make it. That's the type of passion you want from the people around you in your camp. Someone who looks at the odds and doesn't let it faze them.

6)            How was it working with Jukstopose?

Juks is so underrated and creative with everything he does. He's also a natural being on stage and in front of the camera when we shoot videos. If there's anyone who deserves to be in that spotlight, it's Juks, and I know whenever I work with him on something, it's going to turn out great. He has so much music out that it can be hard to keep track of it, but you know whatever you listen to is going to be quality.

7)            You worked with producers from overseas. What made you decided to take that route?

People from overseas are hungrier sometimes. To them it's just about making music, without the politics involved. They don't care about the minor details and their love for the craft will make them work with a stranger if they have talent. In the United States, everything is more corporate, so someone can love what you do, but not lift a finger to help you, because they’re not getting paid for it, and its profit over substance and longevity.

8)            Last Summer in Brooklyn 2 is a classic gem. What was the concept behind the mixtape CD?

I wanted to make a project with no leashes on me or pre-determined outcome of what a project was supposed to sound like. I also started messing with more of a wider sound on songs like "This Can't Be Life" and "Bag Full of Shwag" to show people I’m not a one dimensional artist. I just wanted to make a full length album without a label attached, or sticking with one producer and just kept working on music until I felt it was done, ignoring any release time frames I had previously set.

9)            What was the difference between Last Summer in Brooklyn and part 2?”

With the first one, I kind of just made it to have something new out there. I made a bunch of new songs, and took some older beats I always liked and did songs over them. I also worked with a select few artists that I featured on a bunch of songs spread out over the track list and saw the first one as a means of promoting me, as well as the people I’m down with. With Last Summer 2, I threw all the rules out the window and said this is about me, and whoever I work with is based on me feeling they would sound great on the record I want them on. I picked out every feature and didn't just put people together cause of a name or because they were down with me, I made sure every feature fit, and created a project I feel is timeless and something you can bump in the house, car, club, wherever and love what your hearing 5 year from now the same way as when it first came out.

10)         “Bag Full of Shwag” had a radio friendly beat with an underground bounce that worked in all angles. Were you trying to expand to the mainstream audience?

For sure, but I didn't make a radio record to just make one, it just turned out that way. I had an idea I wanted to do a song about and when I thought it out and came up with the song, it just so happened that it ended up being a catchy song and people started knowing me for it. Some people wouldn't even remember my name, but they would know the song. It's also fun to perform it live because the people catch on to the hook so quick and it's just a fun record. When I did the video, it was even more fun because when I explained the concept, everybody was with it to cameo in the vid and so far, this video has the most well know people appearing in it telling you what Bag Full of Shwag means.

11)         You also had two mixtape CD’s with the group Empire Nation. What’s up with the group?

Everybody is doing their own thing right now. It's hard to pull together a group of people to make one cohesive project. What most people didn't understand about the difference between the first mixtape and the 2nd was the amount of original songs. The first mixtape had 6 or 7 tracks on it that were just remaking other people's records, but the 2nd one was like an Empire Nation album because of the original content. After we did that, I think it set people up nice and people went off and did the solo thing. People have asked me about another EN mixtape or project, but I believe you have to savor what you have right now, and if you do get it, you'll appreciate it that much more because we didn't oversaturate the market.

12)         You was about to get signed to a label and you turned it down. What made you decide to turn them down?

I'm not aware of what deal you’re talking about but I have turned down a few over the years. After already being signed a few times, you realize saying you’re signed to a label isn’t the most important thing in the world. You can have the backing but lose ownership of all of your hard work over the years. I think it's more important to come to a more mutual agreement with a label, than have them take all your music, and say be honored to be signed to us. If you sign that type of deal and get dropped, they still own your music, and you have nothing, so why risk that. If you really want to be signed and someone is really interested, you can work out something that benefits both of you. People have to remember record deals are rarely fair; you just have to see if it's worth what you get out of it.

13)         Describe your writing process.

I just write what I’m feeling. Some of it is about what I see with other people but most of it is about me. I've told a lot of stories in my songs that sound crazy, but are completely true. I used to hold back at various points from being worried about going overboard with lines, but not too often. Unless you live in an asylum and don't ever see daylight, there's always something going on, so I feel like people should always have something to talk about. I write when I have something to say though, not just to write. And that can happen anywhere, anytime, and when something pops in my head, I write it down, or remember it if I can't at the moment.

14)         Many artists believe that fans from other countries embrace the art form more than in the states. Do you agree?

I do. In the states, everything is about glamour and glitz. Even when you’re known, there are different levels of fame. Watch any Summer Jam show and see how people who are all over the radio barely get reactions sometimes, because they’re not a top act. Overseas tends to appreciate good music more. They’re not stuck on how rich you are, or famous, they like you because you’re good and deserve the attention they give you. They also hold onto acts longer than we do here, so even an early 90's artist who is 1 hit wonder to us is making big money overseas. To them, it really is about the culture and I think Hip Hop is so corporate here, we forget what made it a global phenomenon in the first place.

15)         Talk to us about your tour experiences. What were the craziest tours experiences you had?

I don't have any that I can think of, and the things that have happened out of state, I can't really talk about haha. Let's just say that I'm a lot wilder out of state and sometimes things happen, because all I'm trying to do is have fun. It can get a little
reckless at times, you know.

16)         You also performed with Fess Gotchu and Verse Essential at Exxxotica 2011. How that hookup came about?

I've been to Exxxotica a few times before and we spoke about performing there and they gave me an opportunity to hit that stage. It was a crazy experience too, cause I never thought I would be in front of that type of crowd and it went down real well. Once I got the word that I was going to rock, I had to bring the homies along to take part in it cause they always held me down since way back with music and life things in general. I'm also very appreciative of all the adult entertainers reception to me rocking, letting me share the stage with them, and also to Jada Cheng for working with us to pull off an impromptu show that benefited both of us at the same time, and doing something at Exxxotica I don't believe had ever been done before.

17)         What do you think about the direction hip hop is going these days?

I don't know. In one sense I think that the music aspect of it is great. There's so much diversity going on that whatever you like, you have a lot to choose from. If anyone thinks there is no good hip hop out there, they’re just not looking in the right place. On the other hand, I think everything outside of the music could be better. Since we have so many artists, we have fewer fans now, because people always feel like they’re better than whoever people are listening too. The big shows with the bigger artist always have nice crowds but the indie artist; the people who need these crowds at their shows aren't getting them because everyone wants to rap, or produce or do something besides just listen, because they can. Instead of everyone getting a piece of the pie, it's 15% of the people getting everything, and the rest fighting for scraps. In a way it's sort of like the economic system in this country. There's far more people not at the top than the ones who are but the separation is very apparent between who is getting what they deserve and who isn't. A better opportunity for artist to make a living doing what they love would do so much in the long run, and the way we are going now could potentially have a huge negative effect sooner than later.

18)         Do you think ever since hip hop went corporate and people are making money, do you think they have negated the diversity in hip hop?

I don't think it's less diverse, but I do think if you want a certain type of artist who's different and making money or well known, you only have a small selection to choose from in each category. You know who to go to for what, but why limit us to 3 choices if I want to hear street hip hop, or conscious or political if I could be choosing from 50 different people. We have the diversity; unfortunately it's only a few choices in the mainstream per genre.

19)         Love the chorus to Insomnia, when you mentioned you don’t sleep and this is my life. It pretty much describes your crazy work ethic and how determination makes you a successful artist.

Insomnia was 100% truthful for me. I don't sleep good at all, but I use my awake time to the fullest. If I’m going to be up, I might as well benefit from it. I'm not big on sleep anyway. I can't just sleep for hours because there's nothing to do, there's always something to do. You would be surprised how much time is wasted wondering what you could be doing, rather than just doing it. Time is precious and while we sit around thinking about how not to waste it, we are already wasting it by not acting on it. I know people hate to hear Y.O.L.O. but if you don't know if you’re going to come back after your gone, than why waste time as if you are.

20)         If you were a fan instead of an artist, which Access Immortal album you considered is the best work: 9th Gate, Shades of Reality, Birth of a Dream, New York Yankee or American Me?

I would say American Me. It was my 2nd album after my debut but I got to do it 100% the way I wanted too. Not saying I didn't with Shades, but it was different because everything on Shades was emotion built up over the years finally being addressed. When I did American Me, it was a new beginning, and me speaking to the people about who I am now. It was also deep title wise because a lot of people were on their anti-American tip and I went against the grain. I stood up for what I am and let people know a few people in the government don't define who I am as a person, which is an American. I covered a lot of things that were on my mind at the time, and I was completely happy with what I put on that album from front to back.

21)         What do we expect from Access Immortal? Do you have new projects coming out?

I do, but nothing I can mention at the moment because it's not set in stone but next year will be a big year and I'll throw some things out this year to satisfy the thirst for new music I've been asked about lately. In the meantime, people can check out Last Summer In Brooklyn 2. A lot of people have heard it but there are so many who haven't and if your one of them, you’re missing out on quality if you like hip hop. I also have 5 videos released off the project as well you can catch on YouTube.

22)         What are the future plans for you?

Making music, but more importantly making artistry in general. I'm just getting my feet wet with all of the video stuff so expect a lot more with that in the future and the music to continue to come your way. I would also like to do some more shows, hopefully out of the country, international fans have been asking for me as lot and I’d like to perform for anyone who wants to see me rock. Def trying to get overseas though, that's a definite plan.

23)         What advice would you give artists on the come up?

This business isn't for everyone. It's a lot of hard work, more than it used to be because it's more competitive. Sometimes the smartest thing you can realize is that you shouldn't be doing something, for whatever those reasons are. I've been fortunate enough to have time spent as a DJ before I ever started recording my own music, so I was around the culture for a long time as a fan and contributing to it before I decided to add to it in a different way. The bigger you get, the more you seem to lose around you because success sheds light on those around you and it's not always what it appeared to be. I wouldn’t advise anyone against chasing their dreams but it does come with a price, and make sure your willing to pay it before you get involved.

24)         Where heads can get at your music?

I'm everywhere on the web. You can find me on bandcamp at accessimmortal.bandcamp.com/ as well as Itunes, Amazon, CDBaby, Rhapsody, plus a bunch of videos on YouTube. Google me, I’ll pop up

25)         Any shoutouts!

I just want to thank all the fans who have always supported the music. They've stuck with me since the start when it was much more different than it is now, and I appreciate that. Some might think that as an artist, the fans live for us, but the truth is we live for them. Without them all we have is a silent voice. So thanks for allowing my thoughts continue to be heard.

Interview with Block McCloud

Interview with Block McCloud

1)            Block McCloud in the building, Brooklyn keeps on taking it!

YEZZIR! THAT WE DO!!!!! You can take me out of Brooklyn but can’t take that Brooklyn Spirit and attitude out of me. No place like it in the world. I’ve seen the world, nothing compares.

2)            Hailing from Park Slope Brooklyn, take us to your hood (bring us to your world)

It’s a beautiful tree filled neighborhood, Park Slope, lots of yuppies and kids now, actors and hipsters, not what it used to be. When i was young it was all of us, White, Black, Latinos, getting smoked out and drinking in Prospect Park, It was the movie "KIDS" with some of its actual actors, but in real life, Brownstone parties, Mushroom, Acid, Mesculine then Crack.  A giant radio and a forty of Olde English, a fat EL and a bottle of Brass Monkey, Banging broads in the meadows, or in there parents room while Native Tongue or KRS or Rakim play in the background, sniffing, strip poker, One on One fights, no guns just rumbles, That’s was Park Slope Brooklyn.

3)            Has being from Park Slope influenced you musically?

Yes of course, that and then moving to Staten, Wu Tang and Sheistyness galore, bloods and crypts, pills and coke, bills and being broke, I am a product of my environment, then and now, I was literally hungrier then so my rhymes where a lot angrier, now I’m fat so I sing lol. Being a father changed me, but I’m still a sick fuck in the head, you can’t cure that, the Crazy Man.

4)            You got an impressive hip hop resume, how did you get started?

Late eighties, early nineties, Lyricist Lounge parties and cyphers by Grey Papayas in the city! Just gravitated towards people that loved hip hop as much as i did, and did my best to become a part of it, Started Brooklyn Academy, doing shows at Wetlands, and CBGB's basement, places that have since closed, and fortunately came up in what I call the Inception of The Underground. Ill Bill, Jedi Mind Tricks, Jean Grae, Immortal Technique, Sons of Man, Mos Def, those were my co-conspirators in this thing call The Underground, we all came up together, some have forgotten who helped them along the way, that we were all in it together, that I recorded them or with them, produced for them etc.. But I’m happy, I’m a father to my kids, a husband to my woman, and a respected artist to my fans. I’m still the same dude i was then.

5)            Rawkus was the movement in independent music.

Yes and No. It definitely turned our movement into a profitable one and for that I guess it can be accredited with putting it on the map, but it also streamlined it and blended it later on with mainstream artists, like Lyricist lounge Vol.2 and I think that was the beginning of the end of real Lyricism. Hunger defines art in my opinion, even I have lost a certain edge in my little comfort zone. You can’t rap about what you don’t understand, pain, fear, doubt, anger. You understand those better when you’re young, with babies and no sense of direction. It fueled my desire to write things to inspire emotion. I write my best under duress and I think Hip Hop did too. Now you got millionaires like Nicki Minaj and sounding fucking stupid, I mean stupid!! And that’s what people gravitate towards? People need to feel pain. They will soon enough.

6)            Lyricist Lounge and Ecko Unlimited must have opened some doors for you.

They did. But like i said it got corporate and things changed, they gravitated towards those that would benefit them, the more "commercially friendly" cats, the "safe" artists like Mos and Talib, and cats like me who screamed " Ill beatchu down like Hedda Nussbaum, on a busbound for uptoan cus you wouldn’t give me a Bust down!!" , I got no love lol..

7)            How the group Brooklyn Academy did came about?

We had a crew called Zooty Zoo that eventually evolved into Brooklyn Academy, I came up with the name and essentially recruited everyone from the old crew and added a few more and Will Tell did the beats and me and Mr. MNet and PH and I.see.on started killing it on the Underground and essentially laid the foundation for Horrorcore with cats like Non phixion and Company Flow, and the rest as they say is history.. So is Brooklyn Academy btw.

8)            Talk to us about Disturbia Music Group and Well Done Entertainment.

Well Done entertainment is dead as far as i know, they helped with my Crazy Man video and a couple of pics and nothing else, the rest and everything you’ve seen since then is a product of my blood, sweat and tears.. People need to understand something, I came up with BA, i put Skeme Team on the map, and now I am again creating a movement, a label, an image, a musical revolution from nothing. Disturbia Music Group is an Artist run Label so to speak in that we move as one, we are a family, and we are what all the other groups I was affiliated with before DMG and AOTP could not ever be or even understand. We are a Group. We move in perfect harmony. And I am thankful I was able to prove all them faggots wrong who didn't understand what I was trying to do, or didn’t believe enough to play there position and do what they were supposed to do to get us there that much quicker. And if you take offense to the word faggot then you definitely are one lol.

9)            You got a lot of headz on the roster. Name a few artists on the Disturbia Music Group.

F.T., Suicide Squad, Demunz the Dark Apostle, Kromeatose, Misk, Fresh Jones, Genghis Khan, Just One, Exacto, and Castro Fidel to name a few..

10)         Your group Brooklyn Academy almost got signed with Mammoth Records. What happened to that deal?

We actually did the deal with them, it was a 3 Album deal starting at $300,000 with each albums advance doubling to $600,000 then 1.2 mil, but the owner who had borrowed his bread to start mammoth from Disney didn’t quite make things pop with his previous signings and lost the label to Disney, they bought him out and as one of his signings, we were dropped as well. We didn’t even get to drop the album unfortunately.

11)         Brooklyn Academy sold 30,000 units with a single. It shows that you can still put that hustle and get noticed without a major machine backing you up.

Yes we did, and I continued up until now, to get it done with no budget, my only resources are the people who work with and for Disturbia Music Group, and the fans that support us. My fans are the best fans in the world!! And i try to talk to all of them lol

12)         You also engineered and record Immortal Technique, Jean Grae and Pumpkinhead albums. You are versatile with many roles such as mC’ing, producing, recording and songwriter.

That’s True, them dudes practically lived in my studio in Staten Island, All of us would get up at my place and get fried, Barbecue and record all night, good times while they lasted, but people got there little deals and kept it moving, I’m not mad, I wish nothing but the best for people. I just know that despite my success I’m still close with all the people who have been there for me from day one. I have produced , Engineered or Recorded and done hooks for: Jean Grae, Immortal Technique, PH, Thirstin Howl the 3rd, Sean Price, Trife The God, Mr. Met, Dom Pacino, Method Man, Capadonna, Mastah Killah, JJPellegrino, Ghostface, Sun God, Shyheim, Slaine, Ill Bill, Killah Priest and another thousand or so artists I can even begin to count lol

13)         You got a strong work ethic from music to the label, doing it all by yourself. How did your work progress from music, to production, to recording and the CEO of Disturbia?

I used to say that everyone around me were control freaks. Truth is I’m probably the biggest one, I don’t see anyone around me as being capable of doing what I do as well as I do it, even when they do lol (most don’t though). I’m a Virgo, a perfectionist, I got tired of paying for studio time to have people do shitty jobs at engineering, so i invested in and learned Pro Tools, then Logic, Reason, FL, Ableton etc.. I needed to hear things how I wanted them to sound, and people hated on me, new id be nice and wouldn’t allow me on their equipment, literally told me if you get nice block, what am I gonna do?? Like stifling my career was the only way they could shine. They tried but I got the studio, got the shine, and that’s been the same story across the board, no one gives me a shot so I make my own way, label, career. I’ve fought tooth and nail for every achievement and forced myself on to the forefront of UGHH, I essentially raped the hip hop world and force fucked my way in!

14)         What is the difference between writing a song and spitting bars?

Anyone could spit bars, good or bad, and think they did something. Battle rappers for instance, they are soo fucking dope in battles but a lot of them go to do a song and it doesn’t have the same impact on the listener. I’m a songwriter, the lyrics compliment the hook compliments the music compliments the theme of the album, and the video compliments all of the above. A songwriter thinks of all of that before he even grabs the pencil and pad.

15)         You got a singing alias Captain Hook.

Yes i do. Yes i am. nuff said.

16)         You got an army of super groups. What is the difference between Army of Pharaohs and Brooklyn Academy?

One is probably the most relevant and powerful MC collective ever assembled, like the Avengers, the other was the most powerful and talented but dysfunctional MC collective ever assembled, like the Watchmen.

17)         How was it working with Sean Price?

It was great, real Brooklyn dude.

18)         What do you think about the music right now especially New York?

I don’t even know anymore man, my time is completely encompassed doing my own thing and helping my labels artists get where they gotta get.

19)         Do you think New York City MC’s have gotten lazy with their hustle unlike the Southern MC’s?

People complain that the underground sucks now but no one seems to be good enough to really make it better, until you can out due me, Bill, Vinnie, Slaine, we will continue to run shit. Period! Whether it’s a matter of hustle or not, I’m not sure but I know I bust my ass daily, and them dudes down south that hustle and grind, they make names for themselves, that should tell you what needs to happen to succeed..

20)         You are a veteran in the business. Do you think it would be difficult trying to reach to the 90’s babies and the new hip hop listeners with your music?

I hope not lol, no not at all. I have teenage fans that love my shit. Period! I’m one of the few that have managed to stay true to themselves while growing with and adapting to the times, that’s how you stay relevant, after all you’re only as good as your last video ;)

21)         I like the title to your album Four Walls. What was the concept behind it?

DJ Waxwork actually came up with it and we have a sick beat which ironically didn’t make the album, with the same title. I see it as a cell, mental, metaphorical or physical. We all are trapped in our personal cells or personal hell. Four Walls depicts mine and how I free myself from them.

22)         Four Walls was produced by DJ Waxwork. Are you satisfied with the outlook of the album?

I could not be prouder of DJ Waxwork, he is so young and to be so fucking talented and creative, we complement each other perfectly. Big ups to him and our album!

23)         Who are the guest appearances on the Four Walls album?

Ill Bill, Slaine, Vinnie Paz, King Syze, Reef The Lost Cauze, King Mag, Celph Titled, R.A. The Rugged Man, Demunz the Dark Apostle, Just One, Hasan Salaam, and a bunch more lol, All Star cast.

24)         What’s the difference between Splitting Image and Four Walls?

Spittin' Image was a showcase of my talents and sort of my rebirth as a solo Artist, It showed a lot of the different ways i could attack a song, melodic, singing songs, or straight spit, angry, sad, love songs or murder Music, it was an experiment for me. With Four Walls, I know what I’m doing, what direction I wanted to go, the theme, the sound, the feel of it, were all premeditated. And it’s all one producer which brought it all together seamlessly

25)         Crazy Man is out, got the remix with R.A. the Rugged Man and Celph Titled. Love the video set up. How was it working with those guys?

Amazing, both class acts, both incredible talents, and both showed me the utmost respect by coming to the shoot, one with a hurt ankle (R.A.) and the other never having been in a video before (Celphs first ever video filmed was Crazy Man Remix). I was honored to have them and it felt good knowing that they too were as much a fan of me as i was of them.

26)         Wow, you don’t see remixes from any artists that much like in the 90’s.

I recently saw an interview with R.A. where he discussed being an old school cat, I feel the same way, we are both fortunate to get the love we get still and like him, I don’t take that for granted, so I try to honor it by keeping as much of that old school Hip Hop in my music and lyrics: The scratches, the dirty beats, the collaborations with its greatest emcees. Thats real Hip Hop.

27)         Hip hop had become main stream for a minute. Do you think corporations have disrespected the art form?

Totally, if you want to be mainstream you just have to be a fucking idiot. Rap about nothing or be an R&B singer that can spit a few witty lines and you’re in. No disrespect to the Joel Ortiz's and even J. Cole or Ludacris' cus i respect their lyricism, but some of the artists eating today should fucking starve and die. Kill themselves early. I’m sorry and pardon my French but it’s so blatantly obvious that Executives and the Masons who run them are eager to dumb down society, desensitize people to homosexuality, violence, and the degradation of our Queens. It’s sad that people consume that bullshit and are so busy popping e pills and mollys to notice.

28)         Love the track with you and Vinnie Paz “True Lies”. You mentioned about how they are raping our minds. I definitely co-sign with the propaganda constantly showing on the idiot box

I can say a lot more about it, the reality TV shows glorifying the dumbest humans on earth with Jersey Shore and all that. Its fucking sad people are fucking dumb. I feel for them like I feel for a little retarded kid who shits himself and punches himself in the face. I think we should put them out of their misery and begin again.

29)         Ultimately, it will convert itself to the old psychology theory of classic conditioning.

Conditioning, Desensitization, fear tactics, we are all being programmed daily, seeing a man with an assault rifle on the train platform is ok now lol, watching men hump and kiss in comedies is ok now, our favorite rapper wearing a fucking wig and a horses ass while sniffing coke is ok now. People are fucking stupid and getting stupider thanks to our president and label execs. Wake up.

30)         Don’t mean to pull out of the music topic but what do you think about the overabundance of electronics, sex and drugs. Is it a distraction from the changes happening in the country?

Absolutely, it’s no coincidence that at a time when government is passing bill after bill that essentially destroys the fabric of our freedoms, deleting all those amendments that used to protect our rights, and militarizes our society like a third world country we are being offered the greatest innovations in video gaming, I-pads, apps, computers, TV's, free TV(netflix) and video and music galore online to keep us busy and keep our heads so far up our own asses that we don’t see they are pulling the rug out from under us and putting the wool over our eyes. If you just stop and look at the laws being passed, at what banks are plotting, etc. You would already be packing, stocking up on food and guns, seeds, medicine, etc. It’s scary. Like i said People are stupid. I repeat this so they can get mad a little, you’ve got to get mad." you’ve got to say I’m a human being Goddamit.. I’m not going to take this anymore!!!"

31)         Any artist you would like to work with.

I’m working some things out now but I really don’t want to spoil the surprise. Let’s just say my wish list is also my upcoming feature list for the next album and that list does include: Krizz Kalico, Sick Jacken, Joel Ortiz, Sticky Fingaz, Cappadonna, Kool G. Rap, Krumb Snatcha, Havoc, Cormega, Jadakiss and Styles P, Action Bronson, Inspectah Deck and Gizah to name a few. Some are already in the works. We will see how it goes..

32)         What is your advice to the artists on the come up?

Do whatever the fuck they tell you bothers them about you. If it stuck out that much in their mind to force them to talk about it, it works. If you suck, quit. Don’t ever stop believing in you because if you don’t believe in you, who will. And above all else, be a good person, that above all else will keep you in the mix when all else fails.

33)         Definitely looking forward to the projects coming from your camp. How can headz can check you and get at your music?

You can purchase my projects on www.disturbiamusicgroup.com/bigcartel.com and also my website: www.disturbiamusicgroup.com/store.html . My singles "True Lies and Hallucinations off my "Four Walls" album are available on itunes. Click here:

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-true-lies/id550158128

                    http://www.DisturbiaMusicGroup.com (website)

                    http://www.disturbiamusicgroup.bigcartel.com (Disturbia Music Group's store)

                    http://www.twitter.com/BlockMcCloud 

                    http://www.youtube.com/user/DisturbiaMusicTV 

                    http://www.facebook.com/blockmccloud (personal page) 

                    http://www.reverbnation.com/blockmccloud?ref=search 

                    http://www.myspace.com/blockmccloud 

34)         Any shout outs!

Shout out to my manager Jimmy Kang and Str8 up Entertainment: jsk@wutangmanagement.com , he’s the guy to talk to if you’re interested in working with me lol, and Big Ra, all my people at DMG, Kromeatose, Misk, Just, my AOTP fam, my wife Fresh Jones who does most of my promo work, and my beautiful kids Lego, Bella, Dahlia and Rita for being my inspiration when it seemed hopeless.. Thank You Ty for taking the time and obviously doing your homework lol. Peace and love. 

Interview with Aneeway Jones

Interview with Aneeway Jones

1)            Aneeway Jones, what you up to these days?

Peace. Summertime you know, everything goes kinda slowly so i just take time for myself and my daughter, I'm in Grenoble, France for now and about to go on vacation with her. I don't have that time the rest of the year so i just do simple things these days and enjoy life. And for sure promoting my new album "by Aneebeats necessary".

2)            How you came up with the name Aneeway Jones?

I think it really started when i heard Quasimoto's album "the unseen" in 2000 which is one of the albums I like the most. I noticed that Madlib used the word "anyway" mad times in his lyrics and especially in "jazzcats" when he says "anyway, I love jazz". I've certainly started to make beats after I’ve heard this album because of the love for this culture of digging samples and loops. Kids and then girls used to call me Jones for some reasons, and you know "anyway" is one of the most pronounced words in English and Jones is one of the most popular name also, so the association of the two becomes unique. Also a meaning of how to be a regular person with something special likes making music.

3)            Who are your musical influences?

I grew up with a lot of music when I was a kid with my pops; he listened to a lot of blues and mostly 70's music like Bob Dylan, The Doors, and Pink Floyd etc…. Then I came to
hip-hop in 94 but to name a few influences I would say Gil Scott-Heron, Madlib, RZA, Pete Rock, for sure J-Dilla but also movies, I watch a lot of them. And New York is a city that influences me a lot; I used to stay in Brooklyn so it is a big influence on my music and lifestyle. But you know there are dope joints in every kind of music so I take influences everywhere as long as I can feel that groove!

4)            Hailing from France, what made you decide to become a producer?

I've started to rhyme in 96 or 97 and there was no internet and that many producers at the time so for a young artist it was mad hard to find exclusive beats to record because there was no record deal etc... So we've been recording on some beats from vinyls. I was like I needed to produce my own instrumentals. As I said before I really felt in love with this art of making beats and digging, and looping samples with Quasimoto's LP. That’s what made me decide to buy my first MPC 2000 in 2002. I was 18. I've spent mad times on it and finally stopped rhyming because of not enough time to do everything; you know work a 9-5 to pay bills etc. Producing hip-hop matches to the person I am so everything came up naturally.

5)            How did you learn to make beats and produce?

By myself! I've spent mad times to listen to some hip-hop and different styles of music to study and learn how the tracks were produced, how bassline were made, drums, try to find how producers used samples, filters and so. Then I’ve just tried to make it sound similar on my MPC. It took me a few years to master it, and step by step getting my own style. But I've always known before I've started to produce how I wanted my music to be like. Just spend times by myself, with the sampler and a bunch of records!

6)            How long you have been making beats?

I've started in 2002, so for 10 years! Time runs fast yo!

7)            Do you think your beats have progressed over the years?

Yes, definitely. I'm a work addict so I'm always looking for making something different. I love discovering new stuffs that inspires me so I always have new ideas about music. And you know when you meet people that bring you something musically and spiritually your music evolves and progress by itself. Traveling was the key also. L.I.F.E. Long was one of these people I'm talking about. You know, I’ve put out around 20 instrumentals albums and EP's with different concepts, like only Indian samples after my little brother came back from India or only doo-wop samples etc. Staying open to different things and always keep it moving make me evolve through my music so yes I can say that it has progressed over the years.

8)            How was it producing tracks with France TV channel Canal Plus?

Canal Plus is a big channel so I was honored to work for them. Our tracks were played each time before every NBA games, for two years. First year was with L.I.F.E. Long & Respect Tha God from Perverted Monks, second year was with L.I.F.E. Long and Iomos Marad. They also played other tracks during the highlights. A lot of people who watch NBA games like hip-hop so it was a great promotion plus I was a fan of that dude who hosts the show since I'm a kid as a basket-ball fan. Respect Tha God has been interviewed before they broadcast a game also, I wasn't there, I think I still was in The States at this time, anyway. It was a dope experience, real talk, like real underground hip-hop on TV!

9)            Talk to us about Beat Trotterz label

Beat Trotterz is french label managed by my man Lord Faz. I've met him at a show in southern France. He is a DJ and producer so he wanted to create a label for producers.
We are 6 or 7 in it and he put out a compilation of remixes we produced. I've made two of them. He's also a tour DJ and tout manager so he book shows for artists like Verbal Kent, Radix, Icon The Mic King and perform with them as a DJ. The label put out mad mixtapes for U.S artists, last one was for my homie Racecar of Modill. We are now working on a new Modill project. Beat Trotterz has also a podcasts website with a few DJ's spinning hot music on.

10)         What do you look for in a hip hop artist?

I just expect artists to stay true to themselves and bring heat on the beats. They can write on everything they want as far as the music is good. There's no rules to make music and being creative, just staying ourselves and don't fake it. That's why hip-hop is a varied culture; each one of us brings something different.

11)         Any artist you haven’t worked with but you really like to work with?

A lot of artists! To name a few I would say Sean Price, C-Rayz Walz, Wu-Tang members, Sav Killz, RA The Rugged Man, Buckshot, my brother Premrock, just waiting for us to be free at the same time to do it, I don't know, there's many..Declaime also, anybody else who is dope.

12)         How about Money Hungry Bastards?

MHB, also means Make Hip-Hop Better or a few other things is a huge crew of artists all over the world. We have a website that introduces the artists, we put out albums and mixtapes with most of us on them and we work on mad projects all together or just a few of us. We all fams and stay in touch to debate on music, music industry etc. I've worked with a few artists of the crew and working on some EP's for some of them. You can hear me with MHB memebers like L.I.F.E. Long, Leaf Erikson, Masai Bey, Which Craft, Citizen Kane, Emac Ulit.

13)         How did the A.L.L.I.E.S. crew come about?

Allies is me, L.I.F.E. Long from New York and Iomos Marad from Chicago. This is an acronym for Aneeway Life Long & Iomos Elevate Souls. I was making music with both of them and they knew each other too so we decided to make a track the three of us and "winter" came out. People liked it a lot and the alchemy was there so we decided to work on a whole album. They came to visit me in France in 2010, I've met L.I.F.E. Long and stay with him before but it was the first time I've met Iomos face to face. We've spent time working, recording, promoting, chilling, and Allies was born. We've put out a mixtape online and our first album is coming soon.

14)         That’s an awesome connection: France, New York and Chicago. How do you get with them and do tracks together?

As I said they came to France, we've recorded ruff versions of the tracks, then they been recording the tracks again in Chicago and New York, I came to New York and worked on the mixes with L.I.F.E. Long and our sound engineer Ed, we talk on the internet, on the phone, we use of all the ways we have to build, it's funny Iomos just texted me!

15)         You worked on an album with Unknown Mizery called “Empty Handed Warriors”. What was the concept behind the album?

I am proud of this album, Unknow Mizery is a dope artist and we had success on it, it was charted number one on university radios in Canada, people liked it. Rumplestilz, a cello player also worked with us on it. Mizery is very political and he speaks on how to struggle the system, how to think by ourselves, how to refuse to believe what the governments want us to believe. We are like warriors even if our hands are empty; we have to use our intellect and knowledge as a weapon. Mizery came to Europe on tour to promote the album, he met a lot of people and then Empty Handed Warriors became a movement with a lot of artists across the world, we've put out an album a few months ago with all of them. The movement or crew, whatever we call it, is so huge now I'm not even sure everyone knows that I am at the beginning of it!!

16)         You did remixes for Ghostface, GZA and Joell Ortiz to name a few. It seems like remixes are not as popping like before. In the 90’s almost every record had a remix or a B side that wasn’t on the album.

Yes sir, true. Remixes were dope at this time when Pete Rock dropped his remixes of Public Enemy etc. The exclusive remixes on the b-sides maybe were like a collaboration between the artist and another producer. In the 90's there was Producers. Now that everybody has a laptop, a facebook page and software to make beats, we can't say that each of them is a producer. They are beat makers and everyone can remix a track and put it online. Remixes ain't popping like before but now there are a lot of remix contests so anybody that makes dope beats can promote his music this way. Also I think that now, we can download that many things too easily on the internet that people don't listen that many times to the same tracks, life of a track is shorter now so maybe people don't pay attention to remixes and don't wait for producers to remix tracks, they bounce from one thing to another mad fast. Remember back in the days, we spent bucks on some records and listened to them until the cd or vinyl was dead!!

17)         Who are your favorite hip hop producers at the moment?

These days? Kankick. I'm listening to a lot of Kankick beats. And as always Madlib, J-Dilla, 4th Disciple, RZA, Black Milk, Lewis Parker.

18)         You got the online radio show, Bring Dutches, how is that going?

Yeah, I did it for three years, every Saturday for Stay Rap Radio that closed last February. Now it is like a social network for French artists. I was playing songs I like and I really liked to do it. I've continued to do it just by myself, put the podcasts on my mixcloud page and they also will be soon on the Beat Trotterz web radio called Mixlawax.

19)         You got an album coming up “By Anee Beats Necessary. Talk to us about the album.

This album dropped last may 25th on New York label Cocoon Movements thanks to L.I.F.E. Long and Chicago distribution company Joe Left Hand records thanks to Infinito 2017. It's available on Itunes, Amazon, Virgin, Deezer, Spotify and all sites you can buy music on. There are 20 tracks featuring MC's and 3 instrumental tracks on it. You can find mad cats from New York, Canada, Chicago, California, Detroit, Greece and France. Artists like my Allies brothers L.I.F.E. Long and Iomos Marad, Ace Lover, Khai Sharrieff of Lunar Heights, Leaf Erikson, Juni, Unknown Mizery, Illskilled, my sister Nena Bleu from Brooklyn, and many more. The title of the album is for sure from that famous "by any means necessary" from Malcolm X. It's a soulful album, music from the heart and the soul and I'm happy of what MC's did on it, peace to all of them.

20)         Was it hard getting verses from artists for the By Anee Beats Necessary album?

Nah! This is the NO budget album; I didn't have to pay anyone to be on it because I know personally everybody who is on it! Some of them even know my moms, brothers and daughter or were my neighbors! This is a kind of family album, I didn't want to have big names on it just to have buzz, my music speaks for itself, same for my people who are on this album.

21)         Is there anything that bothers you about modern day hip hop?

Absolutely not! Hip-hop is still real or it ain't hip-hop, I don't have time to waste to listen and debate on wack joints. Hip-hop changed maybe but nothing can stand at the same point for 40 years. Maybe younger artists and newcomers have to acknowledge their history. But it's all good!

22)         What’s next for Aneeway Jones in 2012?

Still promoting the album "by Aneebeats necessary". And a bunch of projects! I love producing a whole project for an artist. Here is people I will drop a project with: Allies, L.I.F.E. Long, a mixtape and an album with Queens MC Hastyle The Barber-Artist, D-Strong from Los Angeles, Lee Reed from Toronto, Grone da Radikal from Florida, Hakeem Sayeed from Swatziland, South Africa, a reggae album with Which craft and other MHB artists, an album with Khai Sharrieff of Lunar Heights & Icewater of The Pharcyde. Another EP with German mc Ammoeinser & African mc Street. EP with soul Canadian singer Ayo Leilani. Also a few instrumental projects like "Amakat in India part 2" and an album of me as an MC's under the name of Rasheed Cole. Here what is coming for 2012 and beginning of 2013. Hopefully an "Empty Handed Warriors" album volume 2 with Unknow Mizery! An album I'm making for someone special under the name of The 7's, y'all know the concept soon. No sleep!

23)         Where headz can get at your beats or music?

Just google my name, and check on youtube, soundcloud, blogspots etc. Everyone can also hit me up on Facebook!

24)         Any shoutouts!

Thank you, and peace to you for the interview! Peace to my little brothers Mike and Charly, my brothers L.I.F.E. Long and Iomos marad, Power.Allah.Universe.Love.I.Nation.Equality ready to build! Hastyle Barber number one all MC's on my album, my MHB team, my Empty Handed Warriors team, my Beat Trotterz team, Hobo Banditos, Jaki M., Ace Lover, Geometry, Nena Bleu, Leaf Erikson, Khai Sharrieff,  Sapeur, Teo, Rime Hunter, my Brizaka Records team, Stronghold, my Grenoble team, Size, Greg, Seb, Dj Senik, Dj Skore, Bwy-J, Premrock, Respect Tha God, Aquamonk,  Perverted Monks, everyone I forgot, everyone who support me accross the globe, everyone who show me love, everyone that inspires me or I made music with, stay up and shining!

Go check out Aneeway Jones at these websites

http://aneewayjones.blogspot.com

www.reverbnation.com/aneewayjones

www.myspace.com/aneeway

http://aneeway.blogspot.com

http://alliescrew.blogspot.com