Big Sean is a big deal. When I told the high school kids I work with that I was interviewing him, they were like, “Word?!?!!?” I first heard him on Kanye’s Can’t Tell Me Nothing mixtape, and I thought his song “Get’cha Some” was dope. Kanye kind of snuck it on at the end of the tape to give his new artist some shine. Who knew five years later he would be named one of MTV’s Top 10 Hottest MCs in the Game for 2011. Check the summary and link to the interview below:
In this revealing interview, Big Sean talks about his unique upbringing in Detroit and how it shaped his perspective on the world, the lessons Kanye West taught him about making music, the tanning moment he had watching a mostly all-white crowd jam out to “Dance (A$$),” and the love he’s gotten from megastars like Chris Brown and the NBA’s 2011 MVP, Derrick Rose. He also shares his thoughts about the buzz surrounding the emergence of another NBA star, Asian sensation, Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks, and making MTV’s “Top 10 Hottest MCs in the Game” list.
I had the pleasure of interviewing my favorite new band, Electric Guest, for Pigeons & Planes. These dudes are dope, and Danger Mouse produced their entire debut album Mondo, which drops in April. Plus, their lead singer/songwriter Asa Taccone (above left) is from Berkeley, California, my original hometown (I moved to White Plains, New York when I was five). Here’s a little synopsis, and the link to the interview is below:
We got on the horn with the duo behind Electric Guest, Asa Taccone and Matthew Compton, to talk about their musical roots, their artist/producer relationship with Danger Mouse, their home-grown recording process, and the development of their live show. We also discussed the concept behind their disturbing video for “American Daydream” (it was directed by Asa’s older brother Jorma Taccone of The Lonely Island), how local radio helped build their buzz, and how they plan to not compromise their integrity for the sake of success. These are the trials and tribulations of a hard-working new band, led by two extremely passionate musicians with solid industry backing, just trying to be heard by doing the one thing they know how to do best: be themselves.
I had an interesting interview published last week on Complex with battle rap monster Iron Solomon, who told me the stories behind his Top 5 battles of all time. It’s an interesting read, and you can watch all the battles above each story in the feature. Here’s my intro, and the link is below…
You probably remember the first time you saw Iron Solomon in a rap battle. Whether it was live on the streets or online, there’s no question you were instantly captivated. Sure, he’s a white guy with glasses who can rap his ass off, but that’s not the only draw. With Iron Solomon, it’s deeper than rap, and larger than race. He has the ability to break down any opponent, on the spot, all the time, with no fear.
Iron Solomon, who grew up in Manhattan on the Upper West Side aka South Harlem (shout to ItsTheReal), started on the battle scene in his late teens by hitting up well known Manhattan-based open mics and competitions like Braggin’ Rights and End of the Weak, making a name for himself as a skilled lyricist with a knack for humorous couplets and witty punchlines.
After taking out underground legend Immortal Technique in his late teens, Iron Solomon got the taste for blood, and went on to verse anyone and everyone who presented a challenge, eventually dethroning the Asian assassinJin at New York’s premiere battleground Fight Klub with thousands of dollars on the line.
From there, Solomon was in high demand for big-time rap battles. He made an unforgettable appearance onSmack DVD at Fat Beats in New York against the roughest, toughest battler on the scene, Math Hoffa (who had literally knocked out his previous opponent with a fist to the face). He jaw jousted with 106 & Park championAvalanche in Detroit. He went toe to toe in Miami with Philly street sweeper (and MTV’s Making The Bandalumnus) E. Ness, all of which garnered hundreds of thousands of video views (his battle with E. Ness currently clocks in at 1.3 million clicks). Thanks to YouTube, we can all enjoy his various roastings endlessly.
Iron Solomon has been planning to step away from the battle scene to focus on recording for some time. Now he’s gearing up to release his debut album Monster on March 27th through Royal (Iron’s imprint) and a partnership with 3D (a subsidiary of Duck Down).
As he makes his transition from the streets to the studio, we asked him to tell the tales behind his Top 5 Battles Of All Time. From the set-up, to the comeback, to the final punchline, it’s all here.
As part of Complex’s J Dilla Tribute Week, I interviewed this dude Brian “Raydar” Ellis, a teacher at Berklee School of Music in Boston who leads the first and only J Dilla Ensemble, where students re-interpret music from Dilla’s catalog using live instrumentation. I’ve never been the hugest Dilla fan, but I certainly respect his work and what he contributed to hip-hop, and think it’s really cool that a traditional music institution like Berklee is branching out a bit and offering courses like this to its students. Raydar and I had an interesting discussion about the J Dilla Ensemble and its inception, and what goes on inside the classroom. We also talked about what sets J Dilla apart from other legendary hip-hop producers, and his contributions to A Tribe Called Quest’s catalog. This is a must read for Dilla fans, and people who may not know enough about his greatness. Take a glimpse at the future of music education, hip-hop style!
Check out my boy J Swiss’ Dilla tribute song/video, “Geek Down,” off his This 1 Is 4 Dilla mixtape, which dropped the same day as the feature above. Swiss is doing his thing down at UNC-Chapel Hill, and still reppin’ Dobbs Ferry and the 914 heavy…
My latest Complex Magazine 25 Essential Songs online feature is with none other than Bronx legend Fat Joe, one of my favorite rappers of all time. He spits hard, has plenty of charisma, and he knows how to make hits. And he had plenty of great stories to tell about working with guys like Big Pun, Nas, Kool G. Rap, Big L, and Eminem, and even had me cracking up on the phone a few times too! Plus, he got on speaker phone when the interview was over to say what’s up to a few of my middle school kids at the BGC and show them some love. Here’s the link to the feature. Enjoy…
And here’s a clip of Fat Joe I dug up (that he referred to in the interview) backstage at The Fever on Video Music Box with Ralph McDaniels before his first album dropped. And everybody is in the building with him! KRS-One, Kool DJ Red Alert, Dres from Black Sheep, Showbiz and A.G., Lord Finesse, DJ Premier, Sadat X, etc. Pretty ill…
Thanks to Macho and the god Fat Joe for making the interview happen. And special shout to my boy Kam down in Miami for the connection. Cheah!
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.
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…
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.
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…
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….
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.
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!
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…
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.
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.
Westcheddar 