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!
RSS Feed