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"
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