Supraliminal aka Supra- Above the Threshold of Consciousness

Supraliminal grew up in a working-class neighborhood in Somerville, Massachusetts. His Hip Hop musical journey started in high school; where he provided beatbox instrumentals to those that wanted to spit their flava out on the school parking lot. This sparked his interest in Hip Hop (ultimately) and has kept the fire burning, so to speak. He understood cadence and wordplay as soon as he hit the mic, which caused those that heard him to respect what he was bringing to the table. Now he is on tracks with the likes of Tragedy Khadafi, Joell Ortiz, Raekwon, Styles P, Havoc, and other respected kats in this Hip Hop industry (all but Joell Ortiz appear on his latest effort, Supra Cum Laude).

Supra Cum Laude is an album worth listening too, it has east coast flavors that use synth sounds that bring a sense of well-thought-out originality. His choruses are always on point (sniper status) with verses that are spit hard like titanium. Many MCs would be a bit humbled by being on tracks with such legends (as the line up on this album), but Supraliminal holds his own side by side with the legends. His veteran poweress take you on a ride that is both lyrical and interesting at the same time, not once will you want to press pause or stop when listening to this gem (this is promised). There is enough tricks for the ears to perk up and the topics are vast enough to evoke intelligence. 

We've named the artists on the album, now it wouldn't be right if this article continued without naming the producers (quite a diverse line up); A-Rayz, Beats For Food, Boonie Mayfield, Cool FDHavoc, J-Bux, JL Beatz, Mike Irish, and Poobs. I'll leave you with this video... 

Supraliminal- Smooth Operator 

Interview #15 With ER aka Da Transporter

                                   ER aka Da Transporter

ER aka Da Transporter is an artist out of Oakland, CA. No matter where he goes, he does his thang and that is putting his heart and soul into his music. He is always on the grind, he has recorded 24 free mixtapes (that can be downloaded on datpiff.com, for the most part) and is currently working on his 25th Hip Hop mixtape. 

His flow comes from the West and it is laced with hardcore, true, and real life observations and experiences that he shares on each track. His eyes have seen a lot and his creative mind isn't afraid to speak what he feels and he bleeds this type of imprint all over his tracks. He's fearless in the realm of Hip Hop and is not afraid of getting dirty tackling every style that Hip Hop has to offer. There are not many artists in the game today, that work as hard as this man does. His creativity is endless and keeps on giving every step he takes. 

The Questions...

What was it like growing up? Where did you grow up? How did it influence your music?

"Well growin' up in West Oakland California was rough as hell! I grew up without a father present, so that made it tough right there and I was always around drugs and killin'. I had to walk home from school everyday, so I saw a lot of shit when I did. But some how I made it out that bitch. It influenced all this music shit in my career because of all the stuff that I saw and lived through, that gave me something to talk about and plus Cousin Mike. He was the one dat got me started doin' dis music shit. I was playin' baseball and I was looking for that to be my career, but them streets and my Cuz Mike was my influence for the music shit."

What drew you to Hip Hop?

"What drew me to Hip Hop was when I was around 10 years old, I was watchin' Yo MTV Raps and I would always stand in front of the TV wit my sista' and we'd be rappin' to all the old school shit that I still knock today like; Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, E-40, 2pac, etc. etc. But what started me rappin' was my Cousin Mike, cause he was in a group called Lower District with him and my homie Q.U Da Scientist and I was always goin' with him to the studio to listen to they music they were makin'. So that's what drew me in."

What are some of the project you have been a part of and what have they meant to you?

"Well I am workin' on my 25th mixtape. It's hosted by Cuz_Hiro from Japan, it's called, "Not Sad @ All". It's an EP that's about to come out very soon and this mixtape means a lot jus' like all my otha' ones I did cause they're all independently owned! Plus I get to work with different people on my mixtapes, it means a lot. So be on the look out for my 25th mixtape on Soundcloud and Datpiff!"

Who are some of the people you like to work with?

"Plan and simple, I'll work with anyone that's about gettin' money and not a bullshitter. Straight up! Their work ethic's gotta match somewhere near mines to even work with me. So anybody for real, that's on those two levels!"

Artistically, who are some of your influences and why?

"I got a few but I'ma jus' name one and that's Tupac Amaru Shakur. I love what he was all about and what he stands for! And that's what I think is missin' in music today, is real life. Street shit! Not that watered down rap that your hearin' nowadays."

If there was any artist past or present that you would like to work with?

"Well you already know the answer to that, Pac all day! He was the one I was listenin' to the most growin' up. So I can say Pac, for real."

What are the things in life that influence your music on a song to song basis?

"Just my personal life struggles. And people that have been around me, there life struggles too. That's basically it, for real."

Can you elaborate more on what got you started in music?

"Well like I said in the first two questions, when I was 14 years old, I started making music with my Cousin Mike. I didn't take it seriously at first 'cause I was focused on playin' baseball at the time and I wanted a future in that. I went back and forth between the two until music became the focus. But yeah, I blame it on my Cousin Mike, thanks bruh!"

What do you want people to get out of your music, what is your mission in your music?

"I want people that listen to my music to leave with a understandin' of real street music. My motivation, hard work, and dedication; and know that anything is possible as long as you work hard for what you want. That is my mission when I spit on the mic. Just keep it real! And they will respect it more."

What keeps you getting into the booth time after time?

"My struggles, my kids, and this is the shit that I love to do. I record all my music on my own, so I can just wake up right outta the bed, put on a track and go to work. So that's what keeps me makin' hits."

What are some of the projects that you are coming out with?

"Well I just dropped my 24th mixtape, "I B Smokn" on soundcloud.com/e-r-aka-da-transporter and datpiff.com/profile/oakland1000/mixtapes, and you can go download that right now. Plus I am droppin' my 25th mixtape, "Not Sad @ All". That's an EP you can find very soon on those two links I just gave ya'll. The story behind my 24th mixtape, "I B Smokn" is that I just wanted to make a mixtape for the summer so that everybody would have somethin' to ride to when they're smokin'. My 25th mixtape was really an unexpected mixtape I'm makin' with Cuz-Hiro from Japan 'cause we did like 3 songs already together so I just told him we should just do an EP. He was with that, so I said cool. So I named it "Not Sad @ All" because I did a track with him called that already. I wanted to tell people that there can be two sides of being not sad at all, that is why the cover of the mixtape has a happy mask and a sad mask. It can be for the haters that hate on you and the bitches that are not loyal to you, so at the end of the day if I get a hater or two or If I do get an unloyal chick, then I am not gonna be sad at all. You feel me?! 

Where to find ER aka Da Transporter...

Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheOakland1000/videos

Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/e-r-aka-da-transporter

Facebook:

 https://www.facebook.com/Erakadatransporter510

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/ERDaTransporter

Blogspot:

http://erakadatransporter.blogspot.com/

Datpiff:

http://www.datpiff.com/profile/oakland1000/mixtapes

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=E.R+aka+Da+Transporter

Feature: Is Hip Hop Dead?

                                       

                                        Is Hip Hop Dead?

Many say that Hip Hop is dead, some of the current artists out there would disagree (I'm sure). It seems that Hip Hop has gone where a lot of music goes to get beaten up, left half dead, and then put on life support, the meat grinder known as the Mainstream (pop music scene). Once greed gets a hold of a genre of music, it changes forever. Ideas to pump out as much money from it like the utters of a cow, are put into place. Artists band together (the top earners) to make music not with an idea for a song, but to form a collaboration that will make the most money for the album (give it more notoriety, share fans and what not). 

The Underground...

After the Mainstream has "their way" with it, it goes back to a smaller cult following (or shall I say the underground). That is where Hip Hop can once again flourish, in my opinion. It will give Hip Hop a chance to re-find itself again (because now, Hip Hop influenced pop music sounds the same as most of the other electronically driven pop songs).  By going back to the Underground, Hip Hop can go back to being the movement that it once was; where only the artists (and MCs) that truly deserve an audience, they can find one through their hard work and skillful and meaningful lyrical play. Hip Hop used to form movements through the reality that was painted through words over a sampled beat or 808 beat. These words opened up the eyes of the world and flashed a spotlight on to the struggling urban areas and helped facilitate the strengthening of the urban infrastructure (which still struggles to find balance today). It was the platform that continued on Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream of equality.

Cultural Impact...

Currently, it is not just Black Americans that enjoy some success in the music genre, whites and Latinos do as well. In this way, you might say that Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream has succeeded through music. Every country in the world is now buying into the Hip Hop culture with their own version of it. In Europe, there is quite a sizable movement (I personally credit it to missing the Hip Hop movement because of the Electronica movement that swept through the region).

Hip Hop Still Exists...

It's hard not to fall in love with what Hip Hop has to offer, the earthy lyrics about our society and it's often use of samples that reflect where it got it's bearings (samples of songs from the past, especially in the beginning). The realism of the lyrics is what has drawn so many people to Hip Hop (and the ability to congregate and dance to the music through heavy tribal bass sounds). Though Hip Hop doesn't appear to be what it used to be (mostly because of the digital technology that has been developed during it's lifespan and the molding of other popular styles with it's own; to create a more mainstream sound), you can still find it on such applications like Soundcloud where creativity stays attached to it's roots (along with the still relevant artists that stay under it's umbrella to stay dry from the wet manipulation that is the major labels and media outlets). There are artists like; Rakim, Common, Mos Def, RA the Rugged Man, and KRS-One (to name a few), that still uphold the laws of old. There are also artists like Tech N9ne that refuse to give into the Mainstream to stay in complete control over their music.

So is Hip Hop Dead?

I don't think so, Hip Hop has had such an influence on our culture that it will never die. It has gone where it belongs, in the Underground, where no one has any control over it other than the artists themselves. If you think the club sounding Electronica influenced Hip Hop (I call it hip pop) is real Hip Hop, then you don't know what you are talking about. My guess is that you have never heard songs from it's grassroots. Go listen to some real Hip Hop people, expand your horizons. The Mainstream aims to keep us in a box where everything sounds the same and they do a great job at accomplishing their goal. Hip Hop is the mastery of lyrical rhythmatics that maximizes the spaces between the beat with words spoken with techniques that are unmatched by any style or genre of music. Go pick up a KRS-One or Big Daddy Kane or a Tragedy Khadafi CD and see what it is all about...

Feature: Review of the Bubble In Crew's-"It's All Grimy EP"

It's All Grimy EP, is a great musical effort from the Bubble In Crew. This EP showcases the talents of many, especially from the UK, G Tank, Meenz, Infamous, Sbeatz, Clixx, PanikBeatz, and Lolingo(all producers from the UK). It also has the talents given by Massifbeatz from Belgium.  LvStong and Laupi D also both lend their creativity to the production of this 14 song EP.

Overall, I think it is a great album, because of its use of Hip Hop and Grimy elements, it is very original and pleasant to listen to. They use a bunch of other artists as well to complete this EP, Dare, DonDeBaron, Kenny Oost, Loiston Lapper, and FritteDeFritta whom all give great contributions to the album's creativity in a lyrical and rhythmatic sense.

Even if you don't speak Dutch, I think you can appreciate this EP because it is very creative and the sounds and layers that they choose to surround each song with (that includes the voices and effects and sonic sounds) are really first rate. Lend them your ear, they worked hard to deserve this attention and made a piece worth listening to.

The link to listen to the EP:

https://soundcloud.com/b-i-c010/sets/its-all-grimy-ep

Interview #13 With Meccah Maloh

Meccah Maloh is a Hip Hop artist out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He's been rapping since the young age of 12. Since then he has built his music around his skill and dedication. He has released and featured on many different albums and mixtapes. The newest one to come out is called, Devil on my Shoulder.

His music usually touches upon his life experiences and perspectives on certain situations that he has gone through. He is not about rapping on the glamour and money, because he doesn't have any of that. He used to aspire towards reaching superstardom but lately he's happy with independent success. He puts a lot of time into his lyric writing and I think you will see that once you listen to his music. He's doing what he can to get his name out there, he has local, national, and international fans looking out for the things that he is putting out.

The Interview...

What was that moment in your life (that you can recall) when you were like, I want to do music?

"Umm…well I’ve always been involved in music. I come from a music background. My stepfather played the blues in the house when I was growing up. He had guitars and other stuff. So when I was in school I just took a liking to doing music. I enjoyed music class and that’s where I learned how to play the drums. I been a music head since I came out the womb. My family on my dad's side was real heavy in playing music in church. I guess it's just in my genes."

What made you pick Hip Hop as your expressive outlet?

"I think the first time I heard 2Pac. Just how he was able to capture my mind at a young age with his music. I believe the first song I heard from Pac was “Brenda’s Got A Baby” then I heard “Dear Mama”. Those songs made me wanna rap so bad!"

What does music specifically do for your life that nothing else does, or can?

"Music allows me to just relax, man. I can be having a bad day or whatever, and I can just put on some music and bury myself in it. It doesn’t even have to be rap! I can throw on some Earth, Wind & Fire or some Al Green and just escape."

How is your music a direct reflection on what you have done, do, and stand for in your life?

"I’m not a “Turn-up” rapper. I don’t do the whole “TrapMusic” thing. What I say in my rhymes…I put a lot of thought in my lyrics. I'm responsible for what I say in my songs. Even if I'm just in the booth having fun, you get that! If Im hurt, you get that! If I'm happy, sad, mad, whatever, you get that!"

How do you stay real in your music?

"Simply by not trying to do what everybody else is doing and giving you ME! Even if I rap about somebody else, I’m giving you my perspective on that particular situation. I don’t own a Maybach. I don’t have mad chains around my neck. I rarely even go to clubs. I don’t sell mad coke in these streets. Why rap about it? Because that’s what everyone else is rapping about? Naw, man…not me."

How did you improve your craft (and still do) lyrically and rhythmically that really make your bars stand out and be called your style?

"I try to pick the right beats. I try to pick the right concepts. Most of that just comes from years of doing this, man, experience. Plus, I freestyle and I battle often. That’s how I keep my mind sharp."

Who are your biggest influences as an MC?

"Most def 2Pac. Nas is a major influence as well. As of lately I been liking what Ive been seeing locally from Sypherskillz, Prophetic and Yo-Dot. They keep me on my toes."

Since you have a hand in producing, who are your biggest influences in that realm?

"Alchemist, Kanye West, Timbaland…not really sure. A good beat is a good beat."

What makes you choose to be a lyrical artist over being a full time producer? Why do you like being an artist more?

"I can express more when I rhyme. With beats, you're kinda limited in what you can get across. That’s why I fell back from production because I don’t really like rapping over my own beats. Maybe one day in the future I will, but right now I enjoy making songs."

What are some of the places you have performed at and are there any upcoming shows we can come check you out at?

"Timbuktu, The Uptowner, The Rave, Stonefly, Quarters, Nostalgias…the list goes on, man. I've performed in Ohio, Chicago, and Madison as well. I'm working on a little tour for the DEVIL ON MY SHOULDER album. I will be giving ya'll updates on that soon. Just check out www.MeccahMaloh.com for info on that in the near future."

What are some of the projects you have worked on in the past and who was involved?

"Man, (Laughs) That’s a long list! I’ve done work with Ad-Lib…a LOT of work! I got plenty mixtapes, singles…"Hater’s Capital", "Beyond Belief", "Suicide Bomber", The Bronzville joint when I was in UMG, I worked with Roundtable Ent., We will be here all day discussing my track record."

What are some of the studios where you have a good relationship with?

"Tito from A. State Productions. He knows me pretty well…very easy to work with him. Ad-Lib is like a brother to me, but he’s mad busy with projects so whenever I can get in with him I do so."

What can we expect from you project-wise in the future? What is coming out soon?

DEVIL ON MY SHOULDER will be out soon, man. We lookin at a December release. It’s gonna be an E.P. produced entirely by 40MIL. Other than that, Im droppin exclusive songs until the release on my website http://www.MeccahMaloh.com/.

What is the goal you are trying to reach through the devices of the music industry for your own personal life?

I use to want a record deal…but I'm over that now. If I can reach the people independently, I'm good. 

Here are his links...

http://www.meccahmaloh.com/

https://twitter.com/meccahmaloh

https://www.facebook.com/meccahmaloh

http://www.youtube.com/meccahmalohonline

 http://meccahmalohmusic.bandcamp.com/album/meccah-x-cannon-super-smash-bros-the-mixtape

Feature: Graffiti and Banksy (Covering His New York Visit)

Graffiti, many people loathe what it does to their cities, they find it tasteless, damaging (to property), unlawful, dirty, and some would probably say it is an act of savagery (to name a few negative emotions that graffiti causes to residents). Some use graffiti to mark their territory, to leave a legacy, to express themselves, or even to get a rush of adrenaline for breaking the law. Most cities have called for murals to be painted in their cities to represent a piece of their city, which clearly shows the influence modern style graffiti has had on art. Graffiti has been around since the Stone Age if you really look at it. Graffiti is a form of expression to many as well as a form of art. Some modern day graffiti is quite primitive, looking like a scribbled name by a small child, but some can be very intricate.

Graffiti has played such a role in the helping us understand where we came from pertaining to anthropological studies and if we just took a chance to look at the graffiti through the years, we might be able to understand our own society a bit better. Banksy is one such graffiti artist that uses the art to show his political and social views in a way that almost makes you wish that it was lawful to conduct such activities. He comes from the UK and has done such things as add a piece of art to museums with a description (like any other museum piece) which at times goes almost unnoticed by the art staff. He has also used such props as a defiled phone booth laid out in London to make a statement.

In October, Banksy has come to New York City in hopes of turning heads and to help people understand our international and national actions seen through his own eyes. He really does it in an innovative way that sometimes doesn't use paint.

In this display, he packs a slaughterhouse delivery truck full of stuffed animals calling it, "Sirens of the Lambs". This particular truck toured the a meat packing district in New York for two weeks to show Banksy's distaste for the industry.

This piece is called, "Lower East Side", and it turns a trashed car into a piece of art.  His controlled strokes of a spray paint can are like no others and he really knows how to turn and abandoned alleyway into a piece of art.

This piece called "Greenpoint" showcases his satirical humor in how people use statements by philosophers to help bring some more validity and profoundness in what they are trying to say or even in social media to show what they stand for. I think it is a true cry out to the world to be original, convey your points with your own mind. This particular piece was done on day eight of his stay.

This piece came at day eight as well titled, "Brooklyn". It is an ode to all the broken hearts out there and I think it also says that it is funny how we buy flowers and balloons to help save our significant others from having a broken heart because of our mistakes in a relationship (like cheating for instance).

This piece is a satirical piece on how New York turns everything into a musical and it is called "Bushwick".

Another satirical piece that personifies the the fire hydrant as loving the attention from a dog urinating on it, called "Midtown".

  

This piece is a lot like the previous one, but a bit more blatant. He is definitely a person who is against the same old ideas and status quo.

Banksy has definitely left a mark in society. Many of his pieces have been already painted over, but through photography, they will live forever. I implore you to check out his documentary called, "Exit Through the Gift Shop" it is great and shows you a lot on many of his previous works. Some of his works have sold for thousands.

Sources for the article:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/10/graffiti-artist-banksy-takes-residency-on-the-streets-of-new-york.html

http://www.wikipedia.org/

and my mind...

Written by:

Craig Ludwig

Interview #12 With Mr. Fritz aka Frandy Brown

Mr.Fritz aka Frandy Brown, is a Hip Hop artist/ producer/ engineer out of Mattapan section of Boston, MA. When we at Rebel Noiz heard Bragging Rights, we immediately had him in mind for an interview. He is a lyricist and truly a gifted craftsman of the Hip Hop music culture. He takes his life experiences and really concentrates on his lyrics to make sure they hold true to the message he is trying to send. He wants ya'll to know that life isn't just something you live, it is something you see too. His artistry strongly comes from his determination to show the world what he has seen and lived.

On top of that, he has worked hard on his craft since the age of 15. Even he admits that it wasn't easy at first, it was something that he had to work on. It was the passion that he had for music that really made him improve and the support that he got from others seeing his raw gift with words. He utilized his drive to become an engineer as well as a producer. Mr. Fritz is an artist that deserves your ear and hopefully this interview helps capture his character and helps you understand that very fact. I hope he sticks around because his brand of Hip Hop is top notch and he deserves credit for his hard work.

The Interview...

How was life like growing up in Boston and why did that life bring you to music?

"I mean, I'm not going to act like I had the easiest upbringing. I've had a pretty hard life. When I was in elementary school, when my mother and father were together, we had a 2 bedroom apartment on Blue Hill Ave, where my mother had 4 kids including me, and my cousin came up from Haiti and stayed with us for a while. I've dealt with foster care, I was in jail for a little bit...I've been kicked out of 4 schools and I even dropped out of high school for a year until I decided to go back and get my diploma. I tried dealing with my personal issues by being in the streets with my homies, but I just found music to be therapeutic to me. It gives me value, I feel. People from where I'm from don't normally amount to nothing. Most of the people I grew up with aren't doing much with their lives cause they get caught up in the trap that the hood puts us in. And if I'm able to spread the word about how I've been taught things and how I see things from my environment then it's a job well done to me."

What is it about your life that you feel needs to be told?

"I feel like I'm the main guy out of Boston that speaks on the hood in a non-grimey way. What I mean by this is that...there are plenty of rappers that talk about the hood in Boston. But (and not to sound cocky saying this) but not many of them do it like me. I take pride in saying I paint my pictures a different way than your typical artist when it comes to this Hip Hop thing. I see more than just people getting shot, more than just the crime. I'm the person that would explain why things are happening, what's going on in the head of a person from the hood. I understand how things work around here. The experiences of a person who's lived a similar life that I've lived. That's what Hip Hop is about. We're CNN. We're telling people what's going on out there and within our souls. That's what I believe anyway."

What was the first official track you got on and how did it feel after you were done with the track?

"The first track I got on, I was TERRIBLE. I was only 15 though and my boy Ceddy (Free Ceddy) brought me to the studio for the first time. But I had a punchline that hit so hard that the group that was in the lab at the time asked me to join them. We're still homies to this day. The first track that got me respect though was a freestyle I did to Cam'ron's Down and Out beat. Even my boy's father was feeling it. From then on, I was addicted and wrote damn near compulsively. Because I didn't want anyone to ever think I was wack, ever."

Early on in your career, how come you kept pushing, so many fall off, why didn't you?

"Because my love for Hip Hop is genuine. The song that made me love Hip Hop completely was Killing Me Softly from TheFugees. That was the first Hip Hop song that I truly loved. I might do some tracks that might not be constituted as Hip Hop once in a while, but I will always show love to Hip Hop. Plus, I'm the pickiest person when it comes to what I do and how I do it. I'm a perfectionist when it comes to the pen. I'm not the best recording artist or performer, but when it comes to penning a song, I don't play. I make sure every line makes sense in relation to what kind of picture I'm trying to paint."

You are an artist/ producer/ engineer, which aspect do you concentrate on the most and why?

"I mean, I've always focused on the artist part. I started producing out of necessity, mainly. But I love soul samples and searching for them and chopping them like no other. I wish I had the time to produce as much as I write, but having a full-time job and a bunch of commitments prevents me from producing like I want to. But if I eventually get to do music full-time, you'll hear some crazy stuff from me.

As far as the engineering, I was actually inspired by losing an iStandard producer'sshowcase. The winner of that showcase's beats were super clean and I started binge studying how Protools works. Now I engineer all my own stuff. I don't have the best recording environment, but I'm working with what I have and making the best of it. I just focus on being as creative as I can right now and hopefully things fall into place if I play my cards right." 

Who are your influences musically (as an artist and producer)?

"I'm heavily influenced by Jay-Z and Eminem. I also draw from Andre 3000, Cam'ron (my favorite rapper), Nas and of course Biggie. I draw from Jay-Z because his style is right on the border of complex and simple, which is what I aim for. I try to be as simplistically lyrical as possible. I also draw that he's always honest in his lyrics when it comes to him talking about his hood politics, which I respect a lot. Eminem and Cam'ron's style influenced me a lot early on before I developed my own style, but I respect Eminem's technicality more than any other rapper. I simplify his wordplay and try to go for more double entendres more than the wordplay most of the time, because I feel like double and triple entendres make for more replay value.

For producers, I gotta give it to my bro Galaxy from Crook Firm, old-school Kanye, RZA, Alchemist, 9th Wonder, Just, Nottz...the sample based producers. Galaxy's my biggest influence, but Kanye's sample based albums, Ghostface's albums (and Wu-Tang in general), The Score, Diplomatic Immunity...those albums heavily influenced me. And I loved the Rocafella sound back when they were in their prime. It's absolute genius how some of these guys flip samples."

I like how you take relevant things that have happened in the world and turn it into a metaphor, like you did in your track "Whitey Bulgar". That is a great classic element that you bring to your music. What gave you that idea and why do you like staying true to Hip Hop over going for what is on the radio these days?

"Like I said in one of your previous questions, I rap because it's therapeutic to me. I don't rap to be cool, persay. I like saying fly shit. I like talking about where I come from and it's meaningful to people. I'm much better at rapping than having a conversation. Even though rap is like conversation.

Whitey Bulger I actually wrote on the spot. It was how I was feeling at the time. Cause I felt like even though I was getting love on Soundcloud, I was still an underdog with thoughts of being a mastermind. I was feeling myself after I dropped Bragging Rights and I got all that positive feedback. I could be a real boss one day. But I'm slept on, cause I don't feel like people give me the respect I deserve. I put in work. I work really hard at what I do, so you're gonna respect it even if you don't respect me. "Whitey Bulger" in a nutshell."

You have that classic East Coast sound, lyrical and smooth delivery. I think true Hip Hop heads will like this and the storytelling aspect about your music, people will relate to it. What made you hang in the realm of the East Coast, musically?

"Well I'm from the East Coast. I still listen to stuff like Supreme Clientele, Reasonable Doubt, Pretty Toney (I love Ghostface, too). It just fits me. Plus I enjoy the challenge of coming up with good bars and if I eventually make it in the game, I want the respect of the people I look up to. If I'm ever going to rap professionally, I want to be one of the best."

Who are some of the people you work with that you think deserve a mention and personal thanks to helping you to get to where you are today?

"When you mention Mr. Fritz, you have to mention Lindsey Gamble. If I'm Jordan, he's Phil Jackson. He makes sure I play things intelligently and makes sure I stay focused. I can't give that man enough props. I also have to show love to Shawn Patel, founder of ProU and one of the hardest working guys I know. He dreams bigger than anybody I know, just like my homie BR Starr. Like I said before, there isn't much hope coming from where I come from. These guys give me hope, which is more important than anything I might be able to provide.

I also have to show love to My SmooveGang brothers, Galaxy and Walt Scott. I learned how to make beats watching Galaxy cook up some of the most amazing stuff to ever come out of FL Studio. Walt is just a great person in general and I'd do anything for that dude. We teach each other so much, it's always one of us bouncing knowledge off the other and that's just a beautiful relationship in itself. Those are my brothers right there."

What are some of the projects you have worked on recently that people can go online and check out?

"Well I dropped Bragging Rights this past June. It's still available online right now at www.pipedreammusicgroup.com. Other than that, I've done a few collabs here and there. But it's tough doing a lot when I could only do music part time. I hope to increase my workload after the next album and go on tour, but I've been relegated to local shows so that's what I'm focused on for the time being, other than my new album."

What can we look forward to in the future coming out of you, musically?

"I'm currently working on a project called The Glory that I'm trying to make my Illmatic. I performed the title track recently and got people really excited for what I'm doing. I'm aiming to make this one 10 times better than Bragging Rights...and Bragging Rights, I feel, was a pretty good album.

I have a bunch of singles, too. I want to release them but I'm trying to translate my Soundcloud success to other social media outlets. I have like 6000+ Soundcloud followers, but like 500 twitter followers and 400+ Facebook likes. That's not really good enough for me to warrant putting out a lot of music yet. I just have to make my plans work and you might hear 100+ songs from me next year, I have so much."

Lastly, what do you want out of your music career?

"To me, there's a Hip Hop Mount Rushmore; Tupac, Biggie, Jay, Em, Nas, Andre 3k...you could argue other people being on that list, obviously...but those are the people that are unquestionable. I want to be on that list. I want to be one of the best ever. If I get my foot in the door, I'm gonna make sure I make the most of it. That's why I'm working on making this next album the best project I could make, given my circumstances. You already heard "Feelin You", that was just 1 track. I'm going to make this my magnum opus and make sure everyone puts their eyes on me. That's what I'm focused on.”

Here are his links:

http://www.pipedreammusicgroup.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pipedreammusicgroup

http://pipedreammusicgroup.bandcamp.com/

http://mrfritz.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MistahFritz

https://www.facebook.com/whoismrfritz

https://twitter.com/itsmrfritz

https://soundcloud.com/mrfritz

by: Craig Ludwig