Official Rhymefest Site » Fan Response

Ask Rhymefest

admin — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:40:11 +0000

1. How can you tell if an emcee has lost touch with what’s real?

You pose a very interesting question seeing as though I was just speaking with someone about the same issue this morning. Just because an artist is commercial, hood, or pop doesn’t mean they are not being sincere. Just because another artist may speak about conscious issues doesn’t mean they are being sincere. Honestly, Scarface is gangsta but he relates to me on a human level concerning his lifestyle. Common may speak about social issues but also makes songs about having threesomes (“Go”). Ultimately, I don’t know that it matters how in touch the artist is as a person. Either you enjoy the music and it has meaning for your life or it doesn’t.

2, From your perspective and experience how realistic is it that artists

are sometimes force fed tracks (whether its due to relationships,

marketing ploy or any other avenue that may jeopardize the integrity

of the artist)? Or do you think that artists don’t even care about

their “ear for beats” and choose whatever?

Major label artists are always force fed specific producers. At the end of the day, the label wants to go with recognizable names in order to garner the trust of the listening audience for an unknown artist. What a solution may be for you, would be to find the hottest untapped talent in the city and begin forming a relationship that grows into gaining respect from the majors.

3. Scale of 1 to 10. How would you rate your ability to tolerate stupidity?

I have a very low tolerance for ignorance although I’m learning most people are ignorant and my impatience only hurts me.

4. Why does it seem like the music industry avoids emcees from Detroit?

The music industry is not avoiding anyone, it is up to you as an artist to put yourself in a position where you’re desired by the people. They determine who is chosen not record labels. Stop looking at major labels as your savior and look to your own ability to lead through your talent. If you can’t inspire people to raise you up among the pack neither can a record label, BET or your local radio station.

5. With the current state of the game, how do you stay motivated to keep doing what you do? How do you define success, musically or otherwise? What keeps you going? What advice would you give to a somewhat discouraged (with the state of the game) up and coming lyricist that loves good music?

First of all, you need to determine why you do music. Are you trying to make a million dollars or express yourself and be heard. If you’re actively trying to be a millionaire then there are certain things that you need to do. Lyricism is not one of them. If you just love hip hop, then there are plenty of ways to express yourself via social networking sites, local shows and youtube. My personal success is defined by knowing that my music can be the theme song of people’s lives. Whether it’s 3 or 30,000, songs like “Jesus Walks,” and “Bullet” have taught me that it is possible to alter the course of people’s lives through music. As long as I’m able to do that, I’m successful.

6. Do you have any plans, or have you considered releasing your mixtape acappellas? I’m thinkin’ a fan-produced “The Manual: REMix Tape” would do very well…

That’s a good idea and I will take it into consideration.

7. Is your song “R.N.Q.” that you did with DJ Premier still going to be on El Che? If not, why not? Cuz that joint is CRAZY.

Although I love RNQ, I don’t see it officially making the “El Che” album because people have already heard it. “El Che” needs to be brand new and exciting from top to bottom, don’t you think?

8. Last year I think songs for El Che leaked, It was about 10 songs & you said you were scrapin’ the album & startin’ over. What will happen to those songs? Is “Angry Black Man in an elevator” still on El Che? Will “Stolen” & the others still see the light of day or will you make an official itunes El Che with these joints on there?

You may see “Angry Black Man on an Elevator” feat .Lil John on one of my upcoming projects however songs like “Stolen” weren’t as well received as I thought they would be so you may have to live with just the You Tube video for now.

9. Dream Collaboration? If you could do a song with any artist right now (not counting Michael Jackson) who would it be?

Devin the Dude.

10. Do you feel that R&B is more dead today than Hip Hop Is?

R & B is alive and well my friend. There are rarely any hip hop songs that survive without an R & B song. Look at all the rappers that are trying to make hits by taking 90s R & B songs and flipping them (a la Plies, etc.).

11. What are some of your thoughts on what the internet has done for hip-hop culture?

The internet has leveled the playing field. Whereas the average artist trying to make it doesn’t need major radio play and a million BET spins before they are accepted. Embrace the internet, grow your online fans and you’ll find in success in your music.

12. What exactly can I do to get better breathe control?

Exercise and cardio. Stop eating hog mogs and pig ears and hop on the elliptical machine. You should see improvements in no time.

13. Who are your top 5 and why?

There are too many artists for me to have a top 5. How can I possibly put Rakim over Eminem, or Eminem over Nas. These people have all contributed great works to hip hop and we can appreciate them for different reasons.

14. Do you feel that such factors as fashion, record sales, and popularity seem to have a negative affect on Hip-Hop?

No I don’t however, whenever your favorite past time goes corporate, it loses a bit of the magic.

15. Who is one of the up and coming rappers that you see a lot of potential in and want to work with?

B.o.B, I really like melody and his lyrical flexibility.

16. Do you think the commercialization of hip hop has helped the art form or do you think commercial hip hop should be left to “die” so that only those with real love for the art would participate?

Nothing commercial can be left to die as long as we live in a capitalistic society. If you care art, then support it and be prepared to spend your life fighting for it.

17. In the Intro, El Che is referred to as an “iconic revolutionary”…I may be assuming a lot here, but how do you see yourself as an “iconic revolutionary” in this rap game?

This is a good question and thank you for asking. In a world where everyone is concerned about how much they are getting for their services. I care more about the service than I do about the compensation. My aim is not to create a multimillion dollar corporation, but to inspire minds and change hearts. This is a lifelong task that often goes thankless but I am ready and willing to endure.

18. Will there be anymore free music?

Yes, I enjoy releasing free music. It allows me to be creative without the pressure of “What was his first week like.”

19. Is there artist creativity in mainstream Hip Hop of today?

Yes, perfect example, Kanye West, Outkast and Lil Wayne.

20. Are there any non-hip hop artists you’d like to work with?

I’ve always wanted to work with JK from Jamiroquai. The Streets (from the UK), Nina Simone and Nat King Cole.

21. Has the economic downturn affected the music industry at your level? If so, how?

Yes, everyone is less willing to take risks. Especially on artists who are not known for selling millions of copies.

I Keep My Money Where the Jews Be

admin — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:39:23 +0000

I received the following letter from a Jewish fan on Myspace and wanted to share his concern about one of my lines from “Exodus 5.1” from “The Manual.” First you’ll see his letter, and then my response. Let me know your thoughts. ‘Fest-

I wanted to let you know that I’m a big fan of “The Manual.” I really enjoy the mixtape, and have been listening to your music for a minute now.
However, I had an issue with one of your songs off of the above mixtape. When I first heard “Exodus 5.1,” I loved it. I thought it was a track with very poignant subject matter, an INSANE beat…everything that you’d want in a dope Hip-Hop song.
However, I had an issue with this line: “I keep my tool right where the jewels be/and keep my money right where the Jews be.”
I just wanted to get clarification about that line. I don’t want to assume anything about it, but as a Jewish person, I was wondering what your intent was with it. You’re an intelligent person–that’s obvious from both your music and your interviews. I know that you didn’t intend to offend anyone with that line. However, I was offended by it. It’s not necessarily the line itself, but the stereotype implicit within it.

I wanted to start an open dialogue with you in order to get this issue cleared, as it’s been troubling me for quite some time now. If you get a chance, can you respond? I’d like to get your perspective on the lyric.

PEACE

Def

MY RESPONSE:

First of all, I’d like to thank you for being a fan, which for artists like me, can be very hard to come by these days. I also appreciate your interest in lyrical content when it comes to hip hop. To answer your question about the line in Exodus 5.1, I’d first like to say that many of my closest friends are Jewish. Mark Ronson and Scram Jones who produced the entire Manual mixtape just to name two. Also, a few months ago, I just left Israel where I was visiting Tel Aviv and East Jerusalem which is considered the Palestinian territory. So, my interest in Jewish Culture and Issues is more informed than many people may know.

The history between blacks and Jews in America, is very extensive and complex. Did you know that Jewish people helped fund the founding of the NAACP, as well as the SCLC (Dr. King’s organization)? However, we’ve also had an antagonistic relationship, that needs to be discussed as well. Now the line in Exodus 5.1, was simply truth according to my experience. I am signed to Allido records, which is owned by a Jewish person (Mark Ronson). As well as J. Records, which is owned by a Jewish person (Clive Davis). So my checks have been written by Jewish people. By the way, my lawyer is also Jewish. So to me, that line represents my reality, not a stereotype.

I wouldn’t consider it offensive if someone said, “I keep my money where the blacks be,” in fact, I hope that will be a reality one day. To be intelligent, business minded, and viewed as such by the world, is not racist or offensive, it’s a compliment. One that I wish my people could have bestowed upon us instead of lazy, shiftless, sex-crazed and criminal. Let me know your thoughts.

El Che

ASK RHYMEFEST: The Blog Entry for next week, will feature a series of questions that I will answer. You have until Monday, April 20, 2009, 6:00 p.m. to send your question to rhymefestassistant@gmail.com. Your question can be about anything.

Part 2

admin — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:08:10 +0000

Because of the lyrical content in my most recent songs “The Coolness” and “Supersonic (Chucky Cheese)” I’ve been receiving a lot of correspondence from fans. Below is one of the letters I received, and I’d like for you to share your opinions:Fest,I love your stuff. Absolutely love it. “Blue Collar” was and is one of my all-time favorites and when it comes to Chicago it’s you, Common, Kanye and Lupe. That song you did with Samantha Ronson, “Wanted”? Gave me chills. Your music is usually socially-conscious – “Devil’s Pie,” “Stolen,” you name it. And I’ve loved it. But I’ll never understand the homophobia built into your rap.I understand the need to toss around “gay” every now and again, sometimes it just plain fits. But when you put out a track (even a diss track) where every other word is “gay,” “fag,” “faggot,” “homo,” and every other pseudonym you can find for a homosexual, it makes me question the fact that I even listen to you in the first place. I feel like Lupe in “Hurt Me Soul” – like a hypocrite I continue to play your music (most of it is just so damn good) even though every part of me cringes when I hear those words come out of your mouth. Half of your album resides in my “iTunes 25 most played” even though my record collection is over 9,000 songs.And then I heard the Hamilton diss track. Don’t get me wrong, it seems like your “beef” (my guess is you wouldn’t even call it that, because that would imply a disagreement between two full-grown men) is well-founded. And some of those lines were hot. Alright, fine, most of them. But really? All you can do is call him a faggot over and over again?I’m not gay – I can’t go a day without smiling at a cute girl – but my little brother is. And I preach my music taste to him all day long and the kid has absorbed some of my fantastic music taste. But how do I explain how talented a rapper you are, how revolutionary your rap really is, when you’re throwing out words like that?Maybe you aren’t really homophobic (being from inner-city Chicago though, it seems easy enough to imagine you grew up surrounded by homophobia), and maybe it’s just the easiest thing to throw in a diss-track. I hope you’ve got more talent than that though, I know you do.You aren’t the only rapper with homophobic lyrics. The problem is that most of those other rappers like to talk about degrading women, doing drugs, making money, and killing people who piss them off. You, on the other hand, tend to talk politics (with an occasional nod to the material world and cheatin’ on a girl). How can a guy so forward-thinking and progressive in many ways be so closed-minded and conventional in others? I expect it from the rest of the rap world – it makes sense coming out of the mouths of Dipset and T.I. – but it confuses me every time I hear it come out of your mouth.Apologies for the long letter, chances are you’ll never even read this yourself. But I hope you do, and if I feel resourceful enough maybe I’ll give Allido a call and see if they’ll give me an email address you’ll actually read. I’m curious what your perspective is on this, and as much as I’d like to say I’ll never listen to your stuff again, I know that isn’t true. I’ll be the first one pirating a copy of “El Che” when it leaks and buying it when it finally gets released on iTunes. However, I’m certainly having a harder time recommending your music, and that’s a terrible thing. Sincerely,

Ezra M.