Ignoring trends, rising above labels, and blooming beyond "mainstream" or "underground" classifications, Black ELement has created his own brand of noise that is ready to be embedded into the souls of hip hop lovers everywhere.Goldenways: What was the first most influential verse you heard?
Black Element: I dunno about most influential, but I can remember the exact verse that made me want to get into music and it was Andre 3000 on "Synthesizer". That verse was absolutely bananas to me, I think it was somewhere in the middle of that verse that I knew I wanted to get into music, how he spit about how technology is used as a crutch and how addicted we are to our current way of life.
Goldenways: Why did it hit you so hard?
Black Element: It just hit me so hard at the time, I just remember riding in the car with my CD player looking up and feeling like god was telling me something. It was truly one of those "Disney" moments you have in your life, everyone gets one. lol
Goldenways: I've read that you were a successful poet, do you feel like merging your poetic verses with hip hop sound was the next natural progression for you?
Black Element: At first it was challenging because I was a little too artsy for the normal person, and the last five years I have been perfecting the art of being clever without going over peoples heads, so I can go either way. Although sometimes I like to go over peoples heads, and making people think because there isn't enough of that in music right now. Thought provoking music is something that is so nonexistent right now its not even funny, there are still people out there who are making it but it seems as if most people enjoy being spoon fed. Yea I'll spoon feed you a little bit, but you got to start using your damn fork with 95% of my material.
Goldenways: Your working on your debut album, "A Major Minority". What can you tell us about the album?
Black Element: The album is a concept, basically touches on a lot of the problems Black America faces while relating it to everyone. Whether rich or poor we all have problems, and success in one way or another. I chose the title "A Major Minority" due to the fact that this country is heavily influenced by African Americans in popular culture, but we get little credit for it. Our culture has influence in a lot of the most non-black areas in the U.S and as Paul Mooney said, "Everyone wanna be a nigga, but no one wanna be a nigger." I personally grew up around people of all races, creeds and religions and I believe they can all relate to A Major Minority, I have tracks that will make you cry, reflect, laugh, and get you to really think about your life.
Goldenways: Is there a message you want your music to carry?
Black Element: My message is simple, "anything is possible, and there are no boundaries". I want a message of connection between all races, ethnicities and religions, not on some cumbaya shit but I feel as humans we all go through the same struggles and a lot of the same things make us laugh. I just want to get across to as many people as i can.
Goldenways: It's not hard to feel the creative energy you put into your music, where do you draw your inspiration from?
Black Element: Everywhere, music is life for me. Whether I'm walking around the city, waking up, or taking a shit at anyone of those moments I could have a great idea for a track. I don't want to force creative thinking, because that defloures the whole purpose of creative thinking, I let it come to me naturally.
Goldenways: How would you describe your sound?
Black Element: Unpredictable.
Goldenways: What is your view on Hip Hop today?
Black Element: Hip Hop today is suffering and thriving at the same time. Commercially its suffering (from a quality and sales sound point), but on the independent tip we have blogs which act as the new age mixtape DJs and keep every demographic informed on the lastest mp3s or albums/mixtapes. I think the independent route right now is beginning to thrive because to make it in that market you got to have some talent, people will leave a comment or two about you say what they really think. Shows are great too because you can get a bunch of your talented friends have a show, and you guys get to keep all the money for your damn self with no shady promoters. Hip Hop is getting back to what it used to be if you ask me, we're not there yet but people are starting to actually look for there music instead of being spoonfed whats on the radio and MTV.
Goldenways: What are your goals for yourself and your music?
Black Element: Get as big as possible as fast as possible. ha Nah seriously my goal is simple, I want to make memorable non- disposable music for people and have them bumping my tracks 20 years from now.I Really don't want to be "here today gone tomorrow" I always have and will continue to strive for longevity.
Goldenways: Ok, I'm cheating with this one. What is one question you wish an interviewer would ask you?
Black Element: Whats your exit strategy for the current situation in Iraq or whats your favorite position in the karma sutra and why?
Goldenways: What does Hip Hop's Deepest Days mean to you?
Black Element: Hmmmm... I dunno probably that we are deep in this game 30+ years and now we are one of the most if not THE most influential sub culture in America.
Get to know Black Element better@
myspace.com/blackelement
AMajorMinority.com
Much love and thanks goes out to Black Element for his great music and a great interview!
Look for "A Major Minority" to be released soon.
Black Element truly is an artist full of talent, wit, and inspiration ( Exactly what our ears need).
Kasha is an amazing Hip Hop artist from the UK.
His music is like a breath of the freshest air.
Truth be told, Kasha's music is what inspired me to start this site.
I am honored to be able to present to you
"My Time With Kasha"
an interview with one of the best.
Goldenways: What was the first most influential line you heard, and why did it hit you so hard?
Kasha: I would have to say the first influential line I heard was Nas. From the album "It Was Written", track 2,"The Message". In a line at the very end of the first verse,where he says "A thug changes, and love changes, and best friends become strangers".Word up. Definitely that. Because at that time in my life i was kind of full of a lot of politics with friends, so called friends and snakes in the grass and so on and so forth. So it really did hit me and connect with me on more than just one level.
Goldenways: How did your career as an artist begin?
Kasha: The estate i lived in, everyone in the estate was known for being an emcee at the time. We used to listen to people like Marley Marl and Precious and Two Ton, people like that. We used to go to house parties and spit at house parties. It was the vibe of the era.It was more to do with having a name on the road or chicks knowing your name or operators knowing your name for being a spitter, being an emcee. So it was kind of a big thing in my eyes, I was a member looking up to the elders that was doing the emceeing at the time. We was admiring the fame in a way that they had. The fact that everyone loved them and respected them for having the talent.It just seemed natural, a natural path for me to take, because music has always been a huge part of my life.So it all started from really just having fun with the kids and being in with the crowd. Everyone was spittin' lyrics so im'a spit lyrics too. It was very innocent at the time, i didn't realize i wanted to pursue it as a career, or anything deep. It was just literally a lot of fun and it progressed from there.
Goldenways: What are you working on?
Kasha: At the moment the album is finished. I decided to call the first album "The Essence". The reason I wanted to call it that is that I wanted to bring back what i remember of hip hop. When I was a youngster, when I first latched on to it. If you want to go as far back as Snoop Doggy Dog and the Dog pound, you can. It's not quite that west coast sound but it goes back to that era at times. Mostly stays in the 90s era the era of Big Pun, Biggie, Tupac, Nas, Common, even Mobb Deep and The Lox. All those people that I saw was at their peek. Great albums were being released. Classic albums were being released. They had a certain voice, it was the voice of the young struggle. Or the voice of the young poet looking to make something of himself, you know, and just be heard in the sense of he had things to say to his people and just wished that his message and words could be spread and not the voice of the person who just wishes to obtain great wealth. I just wanted to take it right back to the beginning. What I remember. Where it started for me. So its not really a work in progress its already done. But that's the next thing that people will be getting from me.
Goldenways: What do you hope the average listener takes from your music?
Kasha: An understanding of me, an understanding of the journey I've taken from life. An understanding of the knowledge I've obtained. And also a greater understanding of themselves and their life path and journey to discovering self worth and discovering self happiness and peace. Also I hope that my music can be a place of refuge, a place of salvation, somewhere where a listener can go and actually be separate from the world for that moment, you know, they could take themselves to another place as it were. And hopefully give the spirit the little bit of healing that it needs in times of desperation or times of deep pain, also make those times of happiness and sunshine seem that whole world better. So all in all my hope for the listener of my music is just that they take inspiration. Inspiration to live life to the full and to try to achieve a higher greatness in life. That's the main message i hope they get.
Goldenways: Your song "With You All The Way" (my favorite right now) is full of hard hitting intense lyrics. Where did the inspiration for this song come from?
Kasha: The inspiration for the song comes from the basic message of my music. That there's aspects of life that are not right, there's aspects of the way groups of said people are living and carrying out their life. You know its wrong, I know its wrong. I'm not blind to those facts. I feel as an artist i can only tell them it's wrong so many times. I have to try and make them see it from other perspectives, from other view points. Every person has a mother that they love and respect. Not in all cases, don't get me wrong, I realize that some people do have family grievances and that particular relationship isn't always as it should be. But nevertheless we all have or had a mother. I just wanted to make the point of having these situations seen from the view point of those that are losing and those that are suffering the loss of a loved one. I really wanted to highlight the perspective and the pain that they have to go through. A pain that was not caused by any actions of themselves, by any wrong doing on their behalf. They are completely an innocent party within the whole situation. But yet they come off the worst out of it. So the inspiration comes from me wanting to highlight the view point of all people involved. These situations where people do lose life. All in all I just wanted to let it be known that in your little situations, when you're out beefing with each other, you've got to think of the big picture and the people that come away hurt, the people that come away worst off in these situations. It's not always you two or you lot that's just involved, it's the people that love those that fall from these tragic incidents. I just wanted to highlight that. Goldenways: What do you feel the state of Hip Hop in the Uk is right now?
Kasha: The state of hip hop in the UK right now is very very strong. We have got some amazing speakers out there. We've got some amazing people in general. People with amazing insight into the lifestyle we lead, the troubles we face and the traps of the system, so on and so forth. There's so many strong characters we do hold. I think as a unit, as a family we're very strong together. We've got a real good sense of togetherness out here. We're not out there stepping on each other. It's not that any more. We're actually a community here now. I feel the state of affairs out here is a case of the rebirth of hip hop. If they're ever going to say that hip hop died, then they must say it was reborn. And it was reborn in Europe. This is how it all began. The voice of the young people. The voice of the young streets. And all the people that really have something to say, that struggle, that see their worlds tears and just really want to speak out. It's beautiful to see, it really is. I find myself bangin' albums from different people all the time now. I got a Logic album, got Balanzy, got Manic album "Straight From The Heart", I got Frantic Frank album, I have got phalanx, The Heresy that is Triple Darkness, those are the latest albums I've copped this year. Classics, back dating as well but those are the latest ones i find myself bangin'. But I feel it's real strong out here. We've got a lot to offer to hip hop, to the world. To the listener of hip hop, to those that actually want the realness, we've got a lot to offer. I feel it's a beautiful thing that's happening in England right now.
Goldenways: How do you define 'quality hip hop' ?
Kasha: The definition of quality hip hop really can't be spoken or voiced.I can describe the feeling it would bring, but then again you may have a different opinion on it. I feel the definition of real hip hop is that which relates to the listener. So those that want to relate to the gangster image or whatever, to them that's real hip hop. To those that want to relate to the positive image, to the positive speaker, to them that's real hip hop. those that want to relate to the 90s sound and the jazzy sound and the sample sound to them that's real hip hop. To those that want to relate to the hard hittin', the party sound to them that's real hip hop. So I feel that hip hop in general is a case of relations to listener. In what ever sense they want to take it. There's a lot of different dimensions in hip hop. I just feel that at the moment my love has stemmed a far cry from what it used to be, from what gave it that great name. So i would call the 90's hip hop the illest of its' kind. Stemming over into maybe 2001, '02, '03, & '04. Past 2005, '06, '07, and '08, not really getting the real essence. But then there's people that would argue and tell me that the real essence is of today. Because music moves and music changes and becomes anew and forms new life every where it shall go, and it has to evolve. There's people that would argue that point as well. So again I come back to the point, I just feel that the definition of real hip hop is the relationship that it has with its' listener.
Goldenways: What does Hip Hop's Deepest Days mean to you?
Kasha: There are certain people that are like my three fathers. I've got three fathers in hip hop, which guided me, which helped me become a man. So hip hop's deepest days to me are more or less like my childhood. They're more or less like me being raised. That's what they mean to me. They raised me. If i didn't have those voices talking to me at those times, then I would not have gotten through, I would not have seen the light. So hip hop to me is my saviour. It is my one true saviour, my guiding light, my first love, my first and only true love. In all senses of the word it means the world to me. That's what it means to me, the world to me. I could never have become the man I have without being given the knowledge I was at the time I was given it through those voices. Hip hop's deepest days mean the world to me, it's my being raised by it. It's my guidance.
Get to know Kasha better @
www.kashamusic.co.uk
www.myspace.com/vividimageryuk
http://www.youtube.com/
From Kasha With Love
Click links to download 2 tracks from Kasha!
Hustling:
http://www.zshare.net/audio/15435310e80a26d1/
Living For The Moment (Dirty):
http://www.zshare.net/audio/154354453c409433/
Much love and thanks goes out to Kasha and Vivid Imagery. I've been dying to do this interview since before the site was up, thank you for the opportunity.
To all of you reading this, go check out Kasha's Website and myspace,where you'll be able to listen to more music, see more photos, and watch some videos of Kasha performing.
"Scott Johnson is an emcee, a father, a poet, and a revolutionist. His music is laced with emotion and raw strength."
Back in 1992 Scott was hanging out with the wrong crew and doing the wrong things. Because of poor choices he was stabbed attacked and stabbed 6 times, the last stab leaving the 7 inch hunting knife embedded in his jaw bone. Since miraculously surviving this horrific event Scott is constantly on a mission to open the eyes of those who could be in similar situations. His story is an inspiring one, to read the full story please download his testimony here. (Please be advised, there are graphic pictures of the crime scene included with the testimony.) Feel free to copy and share his story with others.
 Goldenways: What was the first most influential verse you heard?
Scott Johnson: Sing it with me! "Criminal minded-You've been blinded / Looking for a style like mine? You cant find it!"
That is one of the earliest verses that has stuck with me damn near 20 years!
Honorable mentions?
"Rebel without a pause" , "Illegal business", "My Philosophy", "Jack the ripper", "Children's Story" , "Bring the noise" , "Paid in full".....But if I really go back to the beginning of my true love at the time , I would have to give KRS full props for first inspiring me to emcee.
Goldenways: Why did it hit you so hard?
Scott Johnson: My mother wrote a lot of poetry ,So that was really instilled in me from a very early age. So when I heard KRS speaking about how what he was doing was poetry , I identified and admired it.
I listened to alot of metal and what BDP and P.E. were bringing to the table was just as aggressive but over a different musical landscape...I remember laughing at my friend when he bought "Yo..Bum rush the show" , Then he put the tape in and I heard the sirens go off (Musically and literally) and I was hooked from that day on. They spoke aggressively, but there was a positive message of upliftment within the anger... and I was also drawn to that.
So P.E. became my new Favs. I remember I borrowed one dollar from ten different kids in 9th grade and right after school I went and Bought "Fear of a Black Planet". I even got the P.E. logo tatted on my arm a few years ago. (A valentines gift from my wife :) It is one of my dreams to do a record with Krs and Chuck.
Goldenways: How did your career as an artist begin?
Scott Johnson: I know this is gonna sound wild , But I'll tell you anyway.
I was in West Virginia spending time with my grandmother. I had a dream ( Vision) I was in a studio with these two dudes making music. I woke up ,But it stuck with me. I found it odd cause I had never seen these guys before.
So like a year later I am back in Texas , working at the hospital in my town. I was a Floor Technician , But you lesser folk may have called me a Janitor :) , I met this lady who also works there and we start talking. She tells me her husband is a producer , I tell her I can rap. So she calls him and we set up a meeting. I took them this song I made called "Orgasmic Reality" on a cheap cassette.
All the while I am thinking "Where have I seen this dude at?" . He yells for his brother "Yo bruh , come listen to what this white boy made at the house!" . His brother walks in and BAM it hit me....That's right mystery hunters! It was the same two dudes from my dream....Chris and Pete Wiggins.
A short time later I returned to make my first ever "Professional" track entitled "Playaz Nightmare". A lovely tale of a man who meets a girl and takes her back to his place. While she is practicing her rodeo skills ,she pulls a gun on him. Turns out he was set up for using the woman's friend , Hence the name "Playaz Nightmare".
So I guess 1993/94 was when I first started to take things more serious and I have proudly evolved every year since and continue to do so.
Goldenways: You recently released your debut album "Clutch", where did you pull your inspiration for the album?
Scott Johnson: It was around august of 07 and I felt like I hadn't really accomplished anything. I wasn't happy. I told my bro in Law "Chris" that I wanted to take my lyrics and performance to another level , I told him I wanted to just spit some hot lyrics and show a different side of my talent. Before "Clutch" I mainly wrote stories. I also battle-rapped on my website "The Madhouse" and a lot of my other material was based on being pissed off at the industry for not giving ME a chance but William Hung had a Fuggin record deal.
So I was forced to rethink how I did what I did. "Nothing wrong with the aim , Just gotta change the target" Jay-Z
Also being a huge NBA fan , I wanted to pull a Clutch of my own. By this time, it was around October and my goal was to have a complete album of quality music done in two months , before the new year. I really don't remember a whole lot about that time period-lol , Dealing with a newborn baby and two other sons (One of them a teen) , Housework , trying to balance it out to spend time with my wife and make this album all at the same time. It's a blur to me....I was recording 2 a days and mixing that night. Finding beats and writing and doing the whole process over the next day , Working back and forth with Low and Holly Cole over the web for their tracks ,Getting family members in to record their parts and the the singers and the poet....This went on past my original deadline. So it basically took me almost 4 months to complete this album. Still pretty Clutch IMO :)
My family is a huge inspiration to me. My wife Jessica has been down with me for many years ,we have 3 children together.
I want to be able to give them anything they want and need. I want them all to have a great life. The pressure to give them that is a driving force in my life.
I remember praying and telling GOD , "Your word says I am your son , So I am asking you Father for a piece of my inheritance , I am not asking for a hand-out , I will work for it". Since that day , My life has been extremely busy.
Don't ask GOD for it if your not prepared to handle it-lol.
Goldenways: When listening to your music we hear blues, jazz, and other influences. You are able to take these influences and infuse them with your sound (which I have yet to be able to define), it's beautiful.How would you define your sound?
Scott Johnson: Hmmmm. I am a melting pot of music. My mother played Sam Cooke , Ottis , James Brown ,Elvis and listened to old Country. So I was raised on that. My grandmother listened to blue grass infused gospel. My uncles listened to Zeppelin ,Boston , Bad Company , etc...My Dad was heavy into Bob Seger and ZZ top , I also grew up in the 80's , so pop music and rock were there...As I got older I was turned on to Tejano and Latin Hip-Hop due to my friends being predominately Hispanic.I also jammed the hell out of Metallica .combine all of that with East coast Hip-Hop ,Followed by the West and Magic mike and some techno and some blues and later on, Jazz and you have a very eclectic concert in my head at all times.
I love MUSIC! I have never confined myself to one style of an art form. Plus I love instruments ,I love the double bass as much as I love the warmth of an 808 , I love the sampled saxophone as well as the sax on Sade records...Sometimes just one instrument will draw me to a song...There are some songs I like strictly for the Hi-Hats.
I cant really define who I am because there is so much in me. I cant say I am a Hip-Hop purist because I listen to other music.
I cant say I am a metal-head cause I can throw on some Dwight Yoakum and be content. There are great things and sounds and words and inspiration in all styles of music and I soak it all up. I wring out the bad and keep that good water , add some ice and drank it! That make sense? :)
I cant define myself either ,Maybe people after me or with the same background can be labeled "Big Johnsons" :)
Goldenways: What do you hope the listener takes from your music?
Scott Johnson: I hope and Pray the listeners of my music walk away feeling completely satisfied. I want them to have to have no complaints.
I want them to love the beats as well as the lyrics. I want them to be "Edutained". I work extremely hard to provide the best possible lyrics I can give to match the mood of the music. So whether it's a political ,humorous , Spiritual , battle ,braggadocio or love song... I deliver to you the best that's in me for that situation. I want my listeners to feel empowered. I want them on the roller coaster with me. I want them to know that they can be who God made them to be. And if I can touch a life through my microphone and actually change someones thought process for the better...That is a beautiful thing. Most importantly , I just want the listener to LISTEN and think about what I am speaking on and hopefully when all is said and done..They can say with confidence..."Scott Johnson is a Lyricist!"
Goldenways: What are your thoughts on the state of Hip Hop today?
Scott Johnson: CALL 911! :)
I KNOW that emcees are not recognized for originality ,creativity and the art of being a lyricist anymore.
Hip-Hop today rewards sameness. Which is great if you wanna hop on a vocoder and be like everyone else in the top 10. It totally sucks for people who wish to rhyme about various subject matter. Over the years the music has progressed (To a degree) and also the structure of the rhyme (To a degree) but the good quality original material is seldom heard by public ears.When I was coming up , It was a SIN to bite someones rhyme or jack their beat. Now , it is rewarded. 80% or more of what you hear on the radio is hot beats and garbage rhymes that completely fail to reach new heights. If I am wrong then show me... You have a few that get a lil love , But that is a few. I would say one of the main ones on commercial radio that sounds like he is taking some pride in his lyrics is Lil Wayne. He is not scared to do whatever the hell he feels like doing and I admire that.
I hear a lot of rappers rhyme the same word 5 times and that to me doesn't require skill. But at the same time , I like some of what the new cats are doing. "Lookin Boy" by Young Joc is clever ,it's original. Kanye brings original material. Like I said though , There are only a few that get love.Meanwhile ,below the surface there are thousands of great emcees that have something original ,creative and valid to say and because they have these qualities... radio will not air them. My heart bleeds for these people. It makes me angry that people are scared to say whats on their mind. You cant tell me that every one of these rappers only cares about rims, clothes and ho's. They have minds ,they have thoughts and feelings but they are scared to let them out because it will kill sales. SO , the state of hip-hop today isn't very good because the powers that be and the radio stations only serve meatloaf and let the steak sit under a heat lamp.
If all you feed people is dumbed down lyrics and force materialism on them ,What do they become?
Less than great rappers and music have always been around but it was once balanced. For every G on the street there was a dude with a level of consciousness. PE and BDP and PRT and Rakim ,etc...Used to be played alongside the more dance oriented , gangsta or commercial tracks....There was balance. These emcees fed the mind the others shook the behind.
But when you feed people knowledge and preach empowerment , That scares the American Government. So what happens to Urban radio? ALL KNOWLEDGE IS SHUT OUT. All you have now is materialism and sameness. Chuck D once compared hip-hop to CNN... It has now been reduced to TMZ........
I blame radio and artists fear of being themselves for any demise felt in Hip-Hop
Goldenways: I have read that you have no desire to be signed to a major label, can you tell us about that?
Scott Johnson: I have a desire for major promotion and distribution-lol , But the dream of being on a major has died for me.
The more I started learning about the business the more I was sickened by the power they hold over the artist.
I love being able to say what I want to say when I want to say it. I don't like the idea of some dude in a suit coming up to me and saying "Whoaaa, You cant call the president that! ,Change that line!". I don't like the fact that I can bust my ass to make a great album and have someone put it on a shelf. I don't like the fact that they give cats pennies on the dollar for their art.
I need to be me in order to give you the best of me. Which might explain why I am broke and driving a 94 Ford escort but I have a hot album-lol. But I refuse to dumb down. So now I try to give you catchy songs that allow me to keep my lyrical integrity...So if there is a label out there reading this and you have nuts to go against the grain..Holla at me.
Goldenways: What are your plans for yourself?
Scott Johnson: You ready? I plan on becoming a multi-Billionaire and changing the entire course of music history.
When the finances come I want to build apartment complexes for the homeless. I want to start a basketball league for gang members. I want to fight the radio for balanced play. I want to fight the electric companies for lower rates , so the elderly aint dying every year due to heat. I want to show people that we can accomplish more together than divided ,Despite race , sex, age ,religious beliefs and location. I will be a leader in this world. I plan on starting a band with Jack White , Travis Barker ,Flea and Just Blaze. I want to be a leader of the poor and the youth and cause revolution in music and the world. I want to avoid assassination for doing all I want to do. I want to start a gang called "The Lyricists" consisting of the best emcees from around the globe all unified for the upliftment of people and music. But before I do all of this ,I want to sell a few CD's so I can get my car inspected. :)
Goldenways: What does Hip Hop's Deepest Days mean to you?
Scott Johnson: As a website , The deepest days means there are some good people out there who care about good music and do their best to represent that. I also want to sincerely Thank Golden Ways and family for allowing me the opportunity to speak my mind and share my passion. God Bless!
As an artist , those days haven't happened yet , Because I am still not in the position I want to be in. When that happens....ISH WILL GET DEEP IN HIP-HOP!
Get to know Scott Johnson better @
www.scottjohnsononline.com
And also through his testimony, which can be downloaded at
http://files.filefront.com/My+Testimony+by+Scott+Johnrar/;10889108;/fileinfo.html
Much Love and thanks goes out to Scott. I have truly enjoyed this interview.
After listening to your music and connecting with you I feel inspired. Thank you.
I feel as though you gave me a little life back. I will be forever grateful.
Thank you for your beautiful sound and the beautiful goals you have for yourself and others.
Also much love and thanks to the quality people at The Unique Styles Show at 360Dradio.com, who have been showing much love to Scott.
All photos for this feature were taken by Chris and Kim wiggins from www.digitalmarie.com.
Small sampling of tracks from "Clutch"
To purchase Scott Johnson's debut album "Clutch" (Which I strongly urge you to do) head on over to
For Digital Download
http://www.digstation.com/AlbumDetails.aspx?albumID=ALB000018659
For Physical copies.
http://cdbaby.com/cd/scottjohnson1
And also
www.scottjohnsononline.com
"Clutch" Tracklisting
1.Hello
2.The Truth
3.King Kong Heart
4.Writers Block
5.Insomniaxe
6.Superhuman
7.Why Clutch
8.Clutch
9.Decent Transition
10.Rock me right
11.Bless the mic
12.You
13.Live your life
14.Lucky
15.Remain SIlent
16.Ephesians 6:12
17.Bent
18.Influences
19.Some other sheet
20.Terry Peterson
21.The Aristocrats
22.Where we at?
23.Goodbye
Goldenways: You say you were influenced by Eric B & Rakim, NWA and Public Enemy, what was the most influential line you heard and why did it hit you so hard?
Ankh Amen Ra: Let’s see, that would have to be, “Teach the children ,save the nation/I see the destruction, the situation/They're corrupt, and their time's up soon/But they'll blow it up and prepare life on the moon/Sounds like Total Recall/But who gotta spaceship, you get it, we fall/So hope for the best and expect the worst/The end is near and it's U-N-I verse...” – Rakim “Teach The children” This song is amazing and very much embodies the elements that clearly became my core as a hip-hop artist. Skill, knowledge, imagery and relevancy. These are all components that make Rakim great at what he does. I fully understand that there really is nothing new under the sun. However, I try my best to stay relevant and move into the future while maintain those classical attributes in an art form that changes rapidly.
Goldenways: What do you hope the average listener takes from your music?
Ankh Amen Ra: I hope that people get inspiration from my music. I want my music to invoke emotions that resonate long after the song stops playing. I want my music to be a catalyst that impels people to think about certain issues and perspectives that they typically ignore. At the same time, I’m trying to develop the feel good aspect of my music. I am a relatively serious person and often times my music is extremely heavy as a result of the issues I choose to address. As a big Bob Marley fan, I understand that he became a master at balancing love and war. In essence, that was the ultimate key to his success. So, I’m trying to make sure that the beauty of my marriage and my son permeate my music providing balance to the concepts that highlight struggle and suffering.
Goldenways: I'm not sure how many people know this, but you actually went to law school. What pushed you to make music your main priority?
Ankh Amen Ra: I did in fact attend law school and passed the bar exam and believe it or not I can’t honestly say that music is my main priority. Music is vital to my peace of mind and sense of making a real difference in life. However, my main priority is my family. That means that if my legal profession allows me to provide for my family in a time when music is not really lucrative, especially not they kind of rebel shit I be on, I am forced to cater to my legal profession with regards to time management. That being said, God, has placed me in a position were I can balance the two effectively and my wife is very understanding and supportive. When we met, I was in my first year in law school. She has always respected my ambition and thirst for knowledge, but she has always encouraged me to make music because she not only sees the beauty in it, but she also recognizes how important it is to me.
Goldenways: The song "Darfur" caught a lot of buzz and brought a lot of attention to the situation there, do you think you can bring that kind of attention to other subjects you are passionate about?
Ankh Amen Ra: Absolutely, with so much going on in the world right now, the average hip-hop listener is beginning to pay more attention to artists that make it a point to deal with really substantive issues such as Darfur. The listener’s antennas are more sensitive to artists such as myself right now. It’s all cyclical, but at this moment in time, as long as I respect the artistic aspect of painting a message and making it interesting and intriguing, people may give it a listen.
Goldenways: What are you working on now?
Ankh Amen Ra: Right now, I’m working on The Awakening (tentative name) EP. I have discovered that in the rapid fire internet age an artist must release consistently, but the quality must continue to be impeccable. How do I achieve that and still balance family and a full-time demanding job? I release shorter EPs throughout the course of the year, which is still very demanding I might add. However, I am confident that it will effectively sustain my buzz in the market place.
Goldenways: What can the young generation do to stand against the injustices that we are witnessing?
Ankh Amen Ra: Anything that does not involve violence and self destruction. The youth is a powerful demographic and most capable of thinking completely out of the box and unconventional. The youth is most likely to take a new (or perceived new to them) idea and truly believe that they can bring it to fruition. Some would say that it is the naive factor. I say that you should respect the wisdom of your elders, but when that wisdom starts to sound like fear and doubt plug your ears and do the unthinkable to change your negative circumstances.
Goldenways: What is your hope for the hip hop community?
Ankh Amen Ra: I hope that we are able to survive as an honest voice in the future. The Internet has become an extremely, almost life sustaining, portal of communication for the honest voice of hip-hop and I really hope that the enemies of the music do not find a way to significantly impair the hip-hop community’s ability to communicate via the Internet.
With the continued use of this tool the movement will continue to thrive.
Goldenways: The way in which you chose to distribute your latest album "Face The Day, Come What May" strikes me as an interesting concept. You simultaneously released it at rebelmixtapes.com for $4.99 and also on your site and others as a free download. What gave you the idea to distribute this way?
Ankh Amen Ra: It’s my own little hybrid of the RadioHead business model. I truly believe that artists of the future will have to change their way of thinking. This is not a bout a hustle. It is about sharing and developing mutual respect between the supporter (not fan) and the artist. I am sharing my art and creation with you freely out of respect and appreciation for the fact that you would even take time out of your busy day to listen. If you appreciate what I have shared, out of respect, I would be honored if you purchased my work as a sign of support. Simple as that.
Goldenways: What are your goals for yourself?
Ankh Amen Ra: To continue to ascend toward the heavens in all that I do.
Goldenways: What does Hip Hop's Deepest Days mean to you?
Ankh Amen Ra: To me, this means the days when the stakes are the highest for hip-hop and her generation and the days when the music and culture are most deeply rooted in truth and honest expression.
Get to know Ankh Amen Ra better at
www.myspace.com/ankhamenramusic
www.rebelmixtapes.com
Much Love, Thanks, and Peace goes out to Ankh Amen Ra.
Thank You for being the Artist that you are.
To everyone reading this:
Support Quality Music
Be Informed
Support Quality Movements
Peace,
Goldenways
The Unofficial Video for “The New Movement”The Unofficial Video for "Darfur"
 Goldenways: What was the first most influential verse you heard?
MR. LIVE: If I had to narrow it down it had to be the second verse of “NO TRESSPASSING” on CHUBB ROCK’S second album “AND THE WINNER IS…”
Goldenways: Why did it hit you so hard?
MR. LIVE: For me it was the illist combination of flow, lyrics, and delivery I had heard up to that point. This was before I really went head first into the New York underground scene back then.
Goldenways: Tell us a little about how your career in music began...
MR. LIVE: As far as putting out music, it began in 96… I gave BOBBITTO GARCIA a demo and he liked one in particular ”SUPA DUPA” and he released it on his label “FONDLE EM” Records. From there I established a label called “GET THESE” Records along with EARL BLAIZE of ANTI POP CONSORTIUM, TONY BONES and my dude BIG VES.
I put out three more maxi-singles. After this, there was a slew of singles and compilations in Europe and Asia and finally my first album that was released last year in France called “THE BANG THEORY”
Goldenways: You have a somewhat "old school" sound, in the sense that your music makes me nod my head and takes me back. Is there a style that you try to stay true to?
MR. LIVE: Well…I have always tried to stay away from sounding like anyone in particular, at the same time, I try to stay as current as possible as far as lyrical content. In saying that…I make it a point to keep the “BOP” or the “HEAD NOD” in everything I do. Some my call it old school, some may call it a classic sound, I really just try to make good, soulful music.
Goldenways: How would you describe your sound?
MR. LIVE: Back in the day I used to call it “THE SWAYFLOWESSENCE” but to break that down, it’s a combination of environment, swagger, individuality, and musical influence. Add the ability to be diverse in what I speak about and that’s how I would portray my style.
Goldenways: A lot of artists change with the times, do you feel like that is something you do?
MR. LIVE: I believe I do. I think most of my music reflects who I am and what is happening around me NOW. But I am an old dog so you might not here to much of what you call the RADIO FORMATE SOUND. You know…your FLO RIDER, T-PAIN, post NEPTUNE sounds in my stash. OR that kinda mixtape sound where the brother or sister is basically spittin about ONE THING over other cats radio hits.
Goldenways: What do you hope the average listener takes from your music?
MR LIVE:To be honest, I really don’t do music for the average listener. In my opinion, the average listener is mostly influenced by what everybody else is listening to. I believe I make music for people who like a little more substance to there music. And what I believe THEY get out of my music is just a real, hearty, HIP-HOP kinda vibe. A music that I believe invokes a number of emotions, not just one or two.
Goldenways: How much time do you spend revising your rhymes?
MR. LIVE:I would say a good amount. I am more of a writer then a free stylist so as I write, I see what fits in relation to flow and content. If it doesn’t fit, I usually find out while Im writing it.
Goldenways: How do you feel about the state of Hip Hop today?
MR. LIVE: Actually I think it’s in a beautiful state right now. And I think NAS ‘s statement helped a lot.. Please believe that he knows its not dead. What he did do was create a platform for debate, something that we in HIP-HOP never do. A person in this genre can’t give a critique without it being called “HATING “And if you take the fact that THE INDUSTRY is more dead then HIP-HOP will ever be, you will see a lot of acts come forth that are not persuaded to do “THE CURRENT THING” since the money wont be as good, you will see a lot of artistic minded groups and individuals coming out.
Goldenways: What are your goals for yourself and your music?
MR. LIVE: Nothing really big. All I would like to do is make good HIP-HOP music, travel the world with it, drink some exotic liquor, smoke some exotic weed, make love to some exotic women and make enough money to keep me and my son fresh to death.
Goldenways: What are you working on right now?
MR. LIVE: Well…right now I will be putting a mixtape out called “school’s in session” that should be out and circulating around the end of july. Then a second album that’s untitled but should be finished around august. At that same time I will be out in Europe promoting a single that me and POOH from “LITTLE BROTHER” did for my man OFFMIKE out in France.
Goldenways: What does Hip Hop's Deepest Days mean to you?
MR. LIVE: WOW…If I understand the question right…for me it had to be the early nineties to the late nineties underground AND mainstream. In that era, you had so much versatility. But the more time that past the more there was separation between what was called mainstream and underground in New York. But even with the mainstream stuff you had a sense of artistry to the music. The decline in the quality of the music came when the industry became absolutely robotic in what type of acts they would sign.
“HIP-HOP is not dead, Its misrepresented”
Get to know MR. LIVE better @
http://www.myspace.com/mrlive
Much love and thanks goes out to MR. LIVE, I have really enjoyed this interview!
 Goldenways: What artists have influenced you?
iLL-FLaVa: When I was very young I was only allowed to listen to jazz and classical music, so over the years I’ve taken a liking to musicians such as Art Tatum, Keith Jarrett and Herby Hancock. As I got older, I explored different avenues of music, and got really heavy into the sounds of 70’s soft rock, and artists such as Prince, Sting, Ennio Morricone and Fiona Apple.
M.E.R.C.: I would have to say that Bob Marley has influenced me more than any other artist. I feel that his music sent a social message to people worldwide and his sound will always be timeless. There are some Hip-Hop artists like Mos Def, Outkast and The Roots who have influenced me too, but most of it is Bob.
Goldenways: You guys have a very unique sound, how would you describe that sound?
iLL-FLaVa: I would say that our sound is a combination of Hip-Hop, Jazz and Electronic music. We use a bit of our past influences to create a future sound in the present state of Hip-Hop.
M.E.R.C.: Our sound is a mixture of many types of music. The words are Hip-Hop but the music behind the words is always eclectic. I think you have to have a unique sound to get the attention if your audience.
Goldenways: Have you consciously worked to develop that?
iLL-FLaVa: Honestly, I don’t think we have. We would just let the music take us to a place where we could best express ourselves. You know, really think outside the box. Our goal is to make good music and express ourselves to our fullest potential, no matter the sound.
M.E.R.C.: No, It is what it is. We don’t sit down and think about what song we want to make. iLL-FLaVa makes the track and whatever comes out of that is what we get. I don’t ever think that we consciously know how any song will turn out. The feel of the music drives the overall product. That is the difference between the one hit wonders and the legends, the feel.
Goldenways:How did you come together to form Kumi Hues?
iLL-FLaVa: A few years ago, when we were just starting, M.E.R.C. would come over to my apartment and rap what he had written to my beats. I loved it! I just knew there was something special about our work together, so I asked him if we should be a duo. He agreed and we’ve been Kumi Hues ever since.
M.E.R.C.: We met through a friend a couple of years ago. I would go to this cat’s house (iLL-FLaVa) and he would have beats on top of beats. So I started writing to them and we decided that we would work good together.
Goldenways: What do you hope the average listener takes from your music?
iLL-FLaVa: I hope that people will simply enjoy it for what it is. Honest, fun loving and thought provoking. We want to relate to the masses, you know? Be what people anticipate.
M.E.R.C.: I want people to enjoy our music. I want them to hear the beat and the lyrics and then realize that Hip–Hop is something for everyone. Hopefully we can make people think and dance at the same time.
Goldenways: Your sound is somewhat eclectic, how important do you think it is for artists to be more eclectic and experimental with their music?
iLL-FLaVa: I believe balance is the key. Right now in the industry, a lot of music seems to be all one dimensional. The same sound being reproduced all over and over. We need to have all kinds of music emerge. That’s what so cool about it.
M.E.R.C.: Yes our music is eclectic, but I think that it is more important for artists to be themselves. Our music is eclectic because we are eclectic. The industry creates artists. They make people sing or rap what makes them money. How can artists experiment with their music if a label executive is the one who created their sound? We see a much bigger picture and we look at it from every angle.
Goldenways: What plans do you have for Kumi Hues?
iLL-FLaVa: To become one of the most influential music groups in the hip-hop genre, to create a sound that draws people in, and to create the mold rather than conform to it.
M.E.R.C.: We plan to continue to improve. We can never sit still. The DREAM MACHINE will never land. We want people to hear our music years from now and respect it and not just think of it as novelty music. Hip-Hop is alive and we are proof of that.
Goldenways: What does Hip Hop's Deepest Day's mean to you?
iLL-FLaVa: An explosion of good music is on the way very soon…
M.E.R.C.: It means that Kumi Hues is needed. All good music is needed. It means people should not be afraid to be different. Color stands out. Ten colors stand out even brighter, so listen to us.
Get to know Kumi Hues better @:
http://www.myspace.com/kumihues
Much love and thanks goes out to Kumi Hues for giving us a peak inside their unique sound!
 Goldenways: What was the first most influential verse you heard and why did it hit you so hard?
SoulKlap: For me the most influential verse or really even verses that I wrote was for my song, "Blind Faith." That whole song was initially sparked by a poster I saw of a war documentary. At the time, I had never heard a song about a soldier's perspective of war. I mixed in my emotions about the war as well, but most of it was just from hearing stories of vets and current soldiers overseas. I shocked myself with how deep it was upon first listen.
Goldenways: What do you hope the average listener takes from your music?
SoulKlap: I just want to make good music. There's no gimmicks with me. Just good music. I really want to touch people with my music. There's been times I've performed where I didn't get a thunderous applause, because people listen thoroughly to the lyrics and they touch their souls. Which is part of the reason I go by, SoulKlap.
Goldenways: I've heard that you're not too keen on the idea of being signed to a major label, can you tell me more about your feelings on that?
SoulKlap: Well I'ma say this. There was definitely a time where I didn't want to go major, due to the fact that major labels are like factories. They manufacture sound. It sounds like that too. However, now we're in the days where artists like Kanye and Talib got their own labels. I definitely wouldn't mind gettin on labels like that, becuz they don't manufacture sound they make really good music. Eventually I'd like to have my own label.
Goldenways: You fill your music with a very positive vibe, how are you able to stay away from the negativity that permeates so much of what we hear?
SoulKlap: Funny that you ask that becuz I wasn't always like that. I was just like everyone else, but I realized I'm not everyone else. For me, I like listening to positive music, it makes me feel good. I wanna make other people feel good with my music too, so I try to keep things positive.
Goldenways: I have read that when you started rapping you weren't so positive. You have said that you were rhyming about "killin, dealin, and havin bitches squealin", what made you change your style up?
SoulKlap: My mom actually found a book of rhymes I had when I was younger. It was filled with raps about sex, violence, and drug references. She actually liked the rhymes, but she said to me "that's not you." I realized she was right. I grew up in the suburbs. lol. I never have owned a gun, sold drugs or called a woman a bitch. That being said, I started being myself in my music. With songs like "Procrastination," I talk about my life as a college student procrastinating from doing his work. Songs like "Nights and Weekends" I talk about being in a long distance relationship. To me that's real life. It's no different than what rappers like Little Brother would do. Shout out to Phonte and Big Pooh!
Goldenways: You produce and write your own music, do enjoy one more than the other?
SoulKlap: I've come to enjoy producing more than writing. Writing is the first thing I did, then producing. But really, putting a beat together from nothing is amazing to me. Writing to me has become something a lil bit easier than producing. I like the challenge of producing.
Goldenways: What 5 words would you use to describe yourself?
SoulKlap: Soulful, Honest, Young, Gifted and Black
Goldenways: What plans do you have for yourself and your music?
SoulKlap: Eventually I'd like to start a label. I really wanna produce for artists (myspace.com/soulproducer holla at me!) I would definitely like to work with Lupe, Kanye, Cool Kids, Jay and Nas as well. So we'll see.
Goldenways:Favorite Artists?
SoulKlap: Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, The Cool Kids, Jay-Z, Nas, Common, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Coldplay, John Mayer, Fiona Apple, Feist, Amy Winehouse, Beatles, Jamie Cullum, and a whole lot others!
Goldenways: What does Hip Hop's Deepest Days mean to you?
SoulKlap: Early 90's, late 80's Black power rap era.
Much Love and thanks to SoulKlap for the opportunity to do this interview and the commitment to quality music!!
Get to know SoulKlap better @:
www.myspace.com/soulklap
www.myspace.com/soulproducer
soulklap.blogspot.com/
 An interview with a truly prolific King!
Goldenways: What was the most influential verse you ever heard? Why did it hit you so hard?
Icon:
It's hard to say. There a lot of verses that have influenced me for different reasons. I guess ultimately my most influential verse would be Method Man's rhymes on "Bring the Pain" because those were the ones that made me start rapping. Everybody knows Method Man is one of the coolest rappers ever I don't think I have to explain that hahaha.
Goldenways: What do you hope the average listener takes from your music?
Icon: That's a good question that I guess I've been knowing the answer to as long as I've made music but for a really long time I was very much caught up in proving I was the best ever to the world that I lost sight of it. with all the things I've been experiencing in my life for the last few years, it's come full circle though. I've been listening to a lot of Joe Budden lately and it's like he's saying things in his music and hitting the mark with what I feel about a lot of things. It's the feeling that there is someone else out there that feels the way I do about these things. So when I make the majority of my music now I make it with the feeling that someone else out there feels the same way I do and they just need it articulated in music so they don't feel as alone in this world as they want us to believe.
Goldenways: How would you summarize the state of "underground" hip hop?
Icon:
In every way it has become a microcosm of all the things wrong in not only music in general but the world. I think that's what happens to everything really, relationships, businesses, everything. It starts out good and then everyone else wants a piece of it so it becomes clique-ish and stale and goes to shit for one reason or another. There are still a lot of people making great music but not getting heard and it is my goal to make a difference in music period. Not just underground shit. Fuck the bullshit I'm trying to get a grammy!
Goldenways: Do you think that "underground" hip hop is strong enough right now to bring hip hop in general to a more lyrically intelligent and quality driven state?
Icon:
In my naivete I believe it's possible. That's what the third renaissance is all about, however I just came off tour and the tours that I headline are always a reality check for me that this will always be a game of inches for me. I believe we could all rally behind one emcee or group and bring them to the next level, I guess I'm just disappointed that it's not me that they will do it for hahaha.
Goldenways: Your rhymes are so put together and complete...do you do much revising and critiquing your work...or is it really just that easy for you?
Icon:
I've always been very careful with my words. I'm a very critical person so everything that comes out of my mouth goes through a gauntlet before I give birth to the thought so of course when I write I do it with a certain amount of scrutiny. It's natural for me to do that, I just take my time and get it right the first go round.
Goldenways: On your album "Mike and The Fatman" the song "Poverty" really touched me personally. Especially the verse:
"Here she is homeless, former smoker and battered wife/ Yeah her appetite for love, and hope is magnified/ She's broke but not broken, life pumps under her skin/ A businessman spits in her hands, "Change comes from within"/ With that saliva in her palms/ And delight in her heart/ She prayed "For your sake I hope you know how right that you are".
What inspired you to write those lines?
Icon:
That whole song is something I'd been wondering about for some time, basically it's like who is truly poor? The one who follows their heart and gains experience and ultimately ends up with no material possessions to show for it? Or is the person who conforms to societal beliefs, falls in line, and never really follows their dreams but has all types of material possessions and accolades is that person rich? So here in these lines I'm explaining that this woman she has been through it but she still follows her heart and she knows how to live, she's not upset that this "rich" man has spit on her she turns the other cheek and offers him a life lesson, but the question is...are we listening?
Goldenways: What advice to you have for those trying to sift through the oversaturated hip hop market in search of quality?
Icon:
Keep searching until you find what you are looking for because it's definitely out there. Also give music the time to sink in. We're so caught up in the microwave music world that we live that we don't give our modern day classics the time that we gave the old ones to sink in. Once you find a brand you can trust, continue to support them so they don't shy away from their greatness.
Goldenways: What advice do you have for the up and coming artist?
Icon:
Never stop dreaming. Refine your hustle. Never sacrifice your artistic integrity, for any reason. Not for money, not for love, nothing. All that shit is fake.
Goldenways: What artists do you respect not only for their work ethic but also, lyricism, quality, content and consistency?
Icon:
Dos-Noun, Qwel, Pharoahe Monch, Ghostface, and everyone else on my team.
Goldenways: What does Hip Hop's Deepest Days mean to you?
Icon:
Everyday of my life for the last nineteen months.
Get to know Icon The Mic King even better @:
http://www.myspace.com/iconthemicking
Iconthemicking.com
iconthemicking.mypodcast.com/
http://www.youtube.com/iconthemicking
Much love to iCon The Mic King
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