Interviews

Philly Flavor

Interviews, Published Material, Sports

My latest interview for Steve Stoute’s The Tanning Of America website was with pro skateboarder/DGK brand owner Stevie Williams, the self-proclaimed “Jay-Z of skateboarding.” We had a very in-depth and candid discussion about his career, race, business, and hip-hop. Here’s the synopsis, with link below…

When Stevie Williams asserts that he is the “Jay-Z of skateboarding,” he doesn’t mean it as a hyperbole. After obtaining his first sponsorship at 11, a 15-year-old Williams left his humble Philadelphia roots to pursue a pro career in the popular skate hub of San Francisco. He lived homeless in The Bay for almost four years, sharpening his skills and making connections, and eventually his grind paid off. As skateboarding grew in popularity through the late ‘90s and early aughts, Williams bubbled along with it, building relationships with sponsors, touring the world, and founding his own brand, DGK (Dirty Ghetto Kids), which he eventually licensed to Reebok. Now with the popularity of skateboarding at an all-time high, and an inner city skate movement continuing to blossom due to hip-hop co-signs from artists like Pharrell Williams, Lupe Fiasco, Lil Wayne, and new kids on the asphalt, Odd Future, Stevie Williams’ fame is sizzling, and his DGK brand is more prominent in the marketplace than ever.

In this extensive interview, Williams brings us back to how he used to get made fun of by other black kids in his Philadelphia neighborhood for skateboarding, his early bouts with racism as a professional skateboarder (though he maintains there is no internal racial tension in the skate community), and how he got invited to hang out with Michael Jackson at Neverland Ranch. He also explains how he learned the hard way to embrace Pharrell’s efforts to help skateboarding grow in the inner city, why he’s inspired by Lil Wayne’s dedication to the sport (they skate together all the time), and how listening to Jay-Z’s music helped him in the business world.

The Tanning Interview with Stevie Williams

One topic that came up in the interview was Philly rappers. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Stevie Williams favorite Philly rapper is Oschino from State Property. How real is that? So to celebrate Stevie’s favorite rapper, and his Philly roots, here’s a video for one of my favorite State Property songs featuring Oschino, Sparks, and Young Chris, “Do You Want Me”….

And how could I post Philly rap videos without putting a clip up of Peedi Crakk?!?! Check this footage of him going in for almost twenty minutes on the radio in Delaware. This is how you’re supposed to spit when you’re live on the air. No Blackberry, no major flubs, no excuses. Just endless bars. This is crazy….

Plus, some brand new shit from Peedi Crakk’s right hand man, Indy 500, featuring Freeway and PC, called “Run It.” Shout to my dude Ariel, a WP native turned Philly resident, for putting me on to this. Indy 500 and Peedi had some shit on this Best of Peedi Crack mixtape I made with DJ ROZ. Check it out…

Also, since we’re talking about Philly, The Roots have a new album that dropped this week, Undun. And since I already told my The Roots story a couple years ago on Westcheddar about how I rapped on stage with them live when I was 18 at The Knitting Factory, I thought I’d post their recent appearance on hip-hop podcast Juan Epstein with my dudes Cipha Sounds and Rosenberg to promote their latest release…

Juan Epstein with The Roots (Black Thought and ?uest Love)

Thanks for the flavor, Philly. Haven’t been to visit in a while, but hopefully I’ll see you soon. Oh yeah, if you missed my interview on Complex with Philly rapper Asher Roth, read it HERE. Uno.

On The Road with Asher Roth

Interviews, Published Material, Stan Ipcus

My relationship with Asher Roth has gone through many stages. First, at the height of my hip-hop fame (after dropping “My Ferris Buellers”), I dissed him on wax, and it ended up on NahRight and all over the Internet. Then, a few weeks later, I saw him backstage at a Peter Rosenberg event and said what’s up, and it was all peace. At another Rosenberg event months after that, I met his boys Boyder and Brain Bangley, and his DJ Wreckineyez, and again, all peace, and lots of laughs even about the diss. Then, Asher dropped his Seared Foie Gras with Quince and Cranberry mixtape, and I loved it. So I wrote this post on Westcheddar called Deconstructing Asher, breaking down why I dissed him, and how I became his biggest fan. I tweeted the link to him, and he read it, and hit me back showing mad love and appreciation. Later that morning, we talked on the phone for about an hour, about everything, and ever since we’ve been friends. And now, with his new Def Jam deal signed (WOW!), and a new album and mixtape on the way, I reached out to interview Asher about what he loves to do most: perform live. Check the link to this exclusive Complex interview below, all about his live performance history…

Complex Magazine Interview: On The Road with Asher Roth

Also, check out Asher’s latest video above for “In The Kitchen” produced by Chuck Inglish of The Cool Kids, off his upcoming mixtape Pabst & Jazz due later this month. Shit’s dope, and it features a cameo from none other than Action Bronson. Shout to Ash and his whole crew, best of luck with the new deal! Oh, and if you want some seriously entertaining whiteboy rap shit in your life, check out Boyder and Brain’s new mixtape For The Story.

*BONUS*

Speaking of in the kitchen, The Fader Magazine paid a visit to Action Bronson’s crib last week to film him making leftover Thanksgiving sliders. If you saw his Bronson Burger, then you already know these things are off the meat rack. Peep game.

*By the way, this is my 500th Westcheddar post! Thanks to all my loyal readers who check out the site on the reg! Got something very epic (and I never use that word so you know I mean it) coming soon to celebrate….

The Tanning Interview with Common

Interviews, Published Material

Here’s another interview I did for Steve Stoute’s The Tanning Of America website. This round, I had the privilege of interviewing one of my favorite rap artists of all time: Common. I used to listen to his Resurrection album non-stop when I was in high school (I saw him live at Tramps back in those days too), and of course I’ve been a fan ever since. Here’s my intro, with the link to the full interview below…

There was a time in Common’s life when he was known simply as a rapper. Well, that young man from Chicago has come a long way since the release of his breakthrough album, Resurrection, in 1994, expanding his visibility from the Rap City countdown to the silver screen, appearing in films alongside Hollywood’s brightest stars, such as Just Wright with fellow rapper turned thespian Queen Latifah, and Date Night with Steve Carell and Tina Fey. He even landed himself a role in the new AMC television drama, Hell On Wheels, playing a post-Civil War freed slave, which has welcomed in a whole new audience for him as well. To boot, his memoir, One Day It’ll All Make Sense, was just released to stellar reviews, creating different opportunities for press and public appearances. Quite impressively, Common has successfully managed to maintain a reputable presence in the hip-hop community throughout his transformation from rapper to rapper/actor/author. In fact, his new LP, The Dreamer, The Believer, is one of the most anticipated albums dropping in the fourth quarter, largely due to his reunion with producer No I.D. We spoke to Common about the various “tanning” moments he’s had in his professional career as a rapper, actor, and now an author. We also got his take on the recent backlash he received for his poetry reading appearance at The White House, typecasting in Hollywood for black actors, and his friend and collaborator Kanye West’s VMA incident with country music star Taylor Swift.

The Tanning Interview with Common

Watch Common’s newest videos too. All three songs are off his new album, and are produced by No I.D….

“Ghetto Dreams” f/ Nas

“Blue Sky”

“Sweet”

I’m out. Peace.

Brooklyn’s Finest

Interviews, Published Material

DJ Clark Kent (above right) is not only the producer behind one of the greatest hip-hop duets of all time, “Brooklyn’s Finest” with Jay-Z and Biggie, but he’s also the man responsible for introducing the two legendary MCs who rap on the song to each other. And because of this connection, he had plenty of memories to share for my latest Complex Magazine feature Clark Kent Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records. You may not know it, but DJ Clark Kent produced some of your favorite rap songs of all time (in addition to “Brooklyn’s Finest”), like Jay-Z’s “Cashmere Thoughts” and “Coming Of Age” with Memphis Bleek off Reasonable Doubt, and Biggie’s “Players Anthem” with Lil’ Kim and Lil’ Cease and “Sky’s The Limit” with 112. And that’s not to mention the various other classics he produced for artists like Rakim, Slick Rick, and 50 Cent. Check out the first part of the feature below. Brooklyn stand up!

DJ Clark Kent Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records (Part One)

And yo, I know the video is posted in the link above (along with the story), but I gotta give Jay-Z and DJ Clark Kent’s classic “Can’t Get Wit That” some embedded shine on Westcheddar too, because it’s one of my favorite early Jigga videos…

Part two coming soon. Stay tuned…

The Tanning Interview with Action Bronson

Interviews, Published Material

I had the recent privilege of interviewing my favorite new rapper, Action Bronson. I posted some of his stuff a couple months back, and since then he has only gotten more popular. Here’s the intro to my interview with him for The Tanning Of America site, and the link to our full discussion is below…

Even with the slew of new white rappers on the scene in 2011, Action Bronson has no problem standing out. The 300-pound bald-headed and bearded professional chef turned MC from Flushing, Queens, who is still an unsigned artist, is having a very successful rookie year to say the least. The Albanian-American’s debut album,Dr. Lecter, which is filled with fiery raps and sample-heavy authentic New York production, was received by hip-hop tastemakers with rave reviews. In addition, his live show, where he showcases his stamina and flair for witty humor, caught the attention of The New York Times, and GQ Magazine was intrigued enough by his culinary roots to feature him in a Guide to New York City Dining, highlighting his favorite grub spots in the five boroughs.

After returning home from a recent trip in Los Angeles to work with seasoned rap producer, The Alchemist (they are collaborating on series of upcoming releases), Action Bronson took some time out of his busy schedule to talk to us about his early exposure to hip-hop growing up in Queens, how he forged friendships in high school through writing graffiti, and why he stopped using the N-word when he first started rapping. Plus, he breaks down his culinary background, the diversity at his shows, why he thinks white producers and industry legends gravitate towards him, and the state of the white rapper in 2011.

The Tanning Interview with Action Bronson

I must say, it was a pleasure to speak with Action Bronson. He was mad cool, funny, and kept it real for the interview without holding back. Talking to him made me more of a fan. Check for his new album Well Done with Statik Selektah dropping next week. One.

Take Care

Interviews

Well, Drake did it. He made a dope second album, and dodged the curse of the sophomore slump. Personally, I’ve been anticipating this album for months. Yes, I’m a fan. He can sing, he spits, and he makes great songs. Since “Marvin’s Room” dropped earlier this summer, I knew something special was brewing. If you like the way Drake sings, there’s plenty of gems on here (“Shot For Me,” “Doing It Wrong,” “Take Care,” “The Real Her”). If you like the way he raps, he’s got that covered too (“The Ride,” “Crew Love,” and especially “Look What You’ve Done”). And all the guests, from Rihanna to Stevie Wonder to The Weeknd, shine properly (except Andre 3000 but that may be me just being too critical of his weird flow haha). Def go cop this album. It’s the freshest thing in hip hop and R&B on the market by far…

My dudes at Complex got Drake for the cover of the upcoming issue, and they published not only the full cover story online, but also a nine page uncut interview with Drake. Read both below…

DRAKE COVER STORY (COMPLEX)

DRAKE UNCUT INTERVIEW (COMPLEX)

Also worth reading is GQ’s interview with Drake’s producer Noah “40” Shebib, who really is responsible for making this album super dope. Read HERE. Congrats to Drizzy on the drop! Take care…

The Tanning Interview with Bun B

Interviews, Published Material

Check out this in-depth interview I did with legendary southern rapper Bun B of UGK for Steve Stoute’s The Tanning Of America website. Here’s the intro, link below:

Since Bun B came in the game two decades ago with the late Pimp C as part of the duo UGK (Underground Kingz), he has consistently become more popular and well-known nationally and internationally by fans of all races, no doubt aided by an appearance on Jay-Z’s smash, “Big Pimpin’,” and collaborating with fellow southern hip-hoppers, Three 6 Mafia, on “Sippin’ On Some Sizzurp.” But his insane ability to stay relevant has had just as much, if not more to do with his impervious artistic integrity and openness to collaborating with new school artists. At an age where many rappers are clinging on to careers, the 38-year-old Bun has settled in comfortably in his role as a rap OG, even taking on the responsibility of teaching a hip-hop and religion course at Rice University. In this no-holds-barred interview, Bun B takes us back to his Texas roots to recall how he used to get pulled over on his way to do shows, why UGK wouldn’t talk about Sizzurp in interviews, what racial slur Jive wouldn’t allow him to use as a nickname on wax, and tackles an ugly issue that still lurks in the wake of hip-hop’s globalization—the usage of the “N” word.

The Tanning Interview with Bun B

*BONUS*

I also had an interview feature published on Complex Magazine’s site last week with producer Emile, who has worked with legendary artists like Eminem, Ghostface Killah, and Kanye West (he co-produced “Runaway”). He had some very interesting stories to share about the making of the songs in his catalog. Definitely an interesting read, and a dude to watch out for in the years to come. Check the feature out below….

Emile Tells All: The Stories Behind His Classic Records

One of the artists Emile is currently working with is Lana Del Rey, a new singer on the scene from Lake Placid, New York. She’s really dope, and is getting a lot of attention on the blogs and in the press. Check out her videos for “Video Games” and the Emile produced “Blue Jeans” below and see what the buzz is all about…

“Video Games”

“Blue Jeans”

She’s dope, right? Catch ya later…

Fall Nostalgia

Interviews, Sports, The Good Old Days

This Source Magazine Rhyme of the Month clipping of Nas’ “Verbal Intercourse” verse used to hang on the wall in my bedroom back when I was in high school. I stumbled across it tonight on the web, and felt a nostalgic need to post it. The fall weather always makes me feel like this. And to add to the NAStalgia (you like how cornily I did that right?) check out this vintage footage of his first interview, backstage at the famous nightclub The Fever on Video Music Box. When asked who he would like to work with in the future, he responds, “The Beatles. Nah, I’m buggin'” hahaha…

I also want to post the video for this song I’ve been bumping all week that really brings me back to the time when I first got into hip hop. Organized Konfusion featuring O.C. “Fudge Pudge.” This song is dope because the beat is hard and it’s super lyrical, but it’s also really fun! Yes, underground early 90’s New York hip hop at its finest. O.C. especially spits fire on the third verse…

For all your other throwback hip hop (and sports) needs, go to UpNorthTrips. In fact, here’s an example of some throwback baseball shit that was posted on there earlier in the week. We call this WALLY CHAMP…

Get it? Wally Joyner was the man! Anyway, I’ve been working on a new weekly rap music feature for UNT that should be debuting soon (“Fudge Pudge” was a bit of a preview), so stay tuned to their Twitter feed for all the action. One love.

*UPDATE*

Watch Nas’ new video for his summer banger  “Nasty” HERE. It’s hot.

All The Way Live with Black Moon

Events, Interviews, Published Material

My latest All The Way Live piece for Charged.FM features legendary Brooklyn rap group Black Moon, who recently performed their classic debut album Enta Da Stage in its entirety with a live band at Southpaw in Park Slope. The show itself was excellent, as were opening performances by their Duck Down brethren Smif N Wessun and Sean Price, and I had the pleasure of interviewing Black Moon’s lead MC, Buckshot, before their set backstage (see pic below). We talked about his past performance experiences, rocking with a live band, memories of a classic cipher with Nas and Kool G. Rap, and being in the studio with Biggie. Check the link under the pic for the full review of the show, and the interview with pics and video from the night too, courtesy of Charged.FM…

All The Way Live with Black Moon

And here’s the video for Black Moon “I Got Cha Opin (RMX),” a song that instantly brings me back to my high school years. I remember thumping this in our limo on the way to the prom!

Big thanks to Duck Down generals DruHa and his brother NoHa from White Plains for helping to hook up the interview (and their publicist Matt). I’ve known those dudes for years, and DruHa actually let me open up for Smif N Wessun at The Knitting Factory back in 2005, something I will never forget. Good people. And big props to Black Moon and the rest of the Duck Down crew for putting on a great show! Real hip hop lives!

All The Way Live with Jones Street Station

Events, Interviews, Published Material

My latest All The Way Live feature for Charged.FM is with Jones Street Station, a very talented and cool folk rock band out of Brooklyn. I had the pleasure of interviewing them backstage before their show on August 4th at Bowery Ballroom, and the write up includes my sit down discussion with them about their past and present performance experiences, a review of their set, and pictures and video from the show. Check out the link below, and also a video clip from Bowery Ballroom of their wonderful cover of country singer John Hartford’s “Tall Buildings,” which was their closing number….

All The Way Live with Jones Street Station

For more on Jones Street Station, including a free download of a new song from their upcoming album, click HERE. Peace out.