ReviewSTACKS.com – Rap reviews, features and commentary

Thanks to my brother from another blogging mother, Ivan, over at Hip-Hop Is Read, I lined up an interview with Minneapolis’ own Brother Ali the day after he, Evidence and Toki Wright, played Canes in San Diego while on the Fresh Air Tour – a show that I’ve got more than enough reasons not to forget. Hit the jump for some Q&A with the Good Brother on playing in San Diego, his touring plans and some music he’s looking forward to hearing.

– The show at Canes was fantastic, all three of you guys absolutely killed your sets. How do you like playing San Diego?

Brother Ali - I’ve performed in San Diego before; probably four or five times. There is always a lot of really good energy there and aside from it being a beautiful place, the people are always really good to us.

– Is there anyone you’ve found or listen to that’s from San Diego?

Brother Ali - Yeah, Kahlee, a San Diego rapper. Read more…

I got lucky enough to bag Phoenix’s own Random for an electronic sit down to discuss, well, whatever I wanted. Now, it’s been a while since my last interview, and when he challenged me a bit to toss some heavier-than-average questions out I bit at the chance. Firm in his beliefs, articulate and well grounded, the RAHM Nation emcee was a fantastic interview. Now let’s hope our readers hold their ADD in check for long enough to make it to the last question.

– What do you bring to hip-hop’s table? – be it musically, personally, whatever.

Random – I try to bring honesty and purity…I guess those are kinda cliché at this point but I feel like those are my strong points. There’s no character or marketing image I have to uphold; I’m just me. I rap as the guy most rappers are deep down inside but are too insecure to let out.

– Who are your influences?

Random – More than ever these days, it’s not who influences me, but what. I’m inspired by what I see everyday on the news and firsthand. Things are rough out there and even rougher for kids. Musically, I’d say Marvin Gaye, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Journey, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, KRS-ONE, Rakim, Nas, 2Pac, LL Cool J…pretty much anyone who refuses to conform to what the “norm” is. Other non-musical influences include Martin Luther King, Malcolm X and Spiderman.

– What are you trying to accomplish as a rap artist?

Random – I just wanna tell my story man. If I set a goal for myself and accomplish that goal I would probably quit or get lazy after that. I have small goals that I pick up along the way; they’re like ‘Achievements’ on Xbox games…they’ve ranged from recording at a major studio (unlocked), putting music in stores (unlocked), being able to fund my music career WITH my music career (unlocked), to getting my music into a video game (unlocked – peep www.casterthegame.com). I just want to be able to speak to people and allow them to relate to where I come from and where I am. I think what I say can help someone, somewhere and I want people to be able to say, “I feel him.” And make a little money on the side, haha. Read more…

I got some phone time with Houston’s own Chamillionaire and asked about his final installment of the Mixtape Messiah series – MM7, what happened to Venom, got his take on his own image in rap and how he sees the media portraying hip-hop. Second half of the interview and review after the jump.

- Why stop at Mixtape Messiah 7? Going with the Biblical theme and stopping at seven or was it just time to focus on other things?

Chamillionaire - It’s just time; I’m a forward thinking person and want go out on a good note, you know? I need to focus on what’s important, which is getting the people the music, so I’m only going to make music that I can do stuff with. I’ve done so many mixtapes, it’s time to get in the studio and think about the albums at this point and focus on the issues I want to tackle through those.

– I’m sure you had goals and ideas in mind when you began the Mixtape Messiah series back in 2004, looking back on it now, how do you see the project and how has it grown?

Chamillionaire - Hype-wise, I think I’ve done all that I can do with the mixtapes. I can’t think of anyone in mixtapes, other than 50 Cent, that’s hustled these tapes as well as me. I don’t think anyone in the world of mixtapes had done it bigger than me.  It’s time to move it out from the underground.

– What other projects are you working on? What happened to Venom?

Chamillionaire - Venom? I scratched it. Everyone thought it was a label move but it wasn’t. The concept had changed from what I wanted to do, and I knew how I wanted it to sound, and it wasn’t exactly that. I wanted to reinvent that dark rebelliousness, that anger so it wasn’t Venom anymore. The new project, it’s just a different kind of dope. Read more…

SomeOne is a San Diego-based emcee and part of a hip-hop group called Blah Tribe. His song, “Different,”  was featured on the ReviewSTACKS Mixtape.  This week we were able to sit down with him to discuss his bio, musical influences and what we can look forward to from him and his crew.

SomeOne: Been rhyming/rapping since I was about 13 years old. Started taking music seriously at about the age of 19. The first music I put out was with a group called Mission Infinite back in 2000 (with Dash Eye, Eye Focus and DJ Evs) – been making music ever since, producing and rapping. I’m a part of a crew called Blah Tribe with an EP titled Blah Tribe Shamans getting ready to drop this winter on Dusty Ears Records.

– When you were trying to get into the rap world what was the process like for you?

SomeOne: In high school I linked up with a lot of like minded people who were into hip-hop music…that’s where I met L7 (Eye Focus). We chilled after school and one day we were just spitting rhymes back and forth and he asked me if I wanted to be in a group he was forming with Dash. Those two heads basically opened a lot of doors for me. Through them I met Mysteries Extinction (Blame, D-Voo, Sandy Lion, DJ Cro) Y-Test, MMW, Fallguy and many other people that were making moves in the North County hip-hop scene.

– Those connections helped with being known in certain circles; did those people also influence your style?

SomeOne: Not at all. I was rhyming the way I rhyme since before I knew any of these heads. I definitely try to be myself on the mic.

– Nice! So how would you describe your style?

SomeOne: Well – I’m from an era I guess where intricate lyrics and wordplay were what real, raw hip-hop was – at least to me. I always try to be that way in my rhymes. Always honest; I try to put my heart into everything I do. Read more…

Phoenix, Arizona. To the uninitiated it’s a city that inspires images of tumbleweeds, cacti and heatstroke. To those who are familiar with the sixth largest city in America, it’s home to 475 square miles of hot asphalt, sun-soaked streets and the coldest emcee in America’s hottest city – Willy Northpole. When ReviewSTACKS got a hold of Tha Connect a few days back we wanted to ask Willy a few questions about the album. Questions below, review after the jump.

- When planning Tha Connect, what was most important that you accomplish on the project?

WNP – That it will be considered a certified classic and compared to the best…I knew what the goal was before I started it. The album is my life, I put my heart into it.

- How would you describe your ideal audience?

WNP - I feel that it’s a personal relationship. A lot of people relate to my struggles and see me as inspiration. My audience are real hip-hop fans.

- What brought you into rap and what keeps you in it?

WNP - Rap has always been a part of me; I’ve been recording since I was 12. I’ve always been inspired by hip-hop – that’s why I’m in it.

- What do you like least about the industry?

WNP - Labels have fear…they’re scared to take chances. The industry isn’t cut throat anymore, but hey I’ve gotta get it how I can.

- What’s your favorite track on the album? (And don’t be lame and say all of them.)

WNP - Wow, hardest question ever. I love live music so I’ll have to say “Vegas Lights” but damn man, you got me on that one.

Read more…

I got a chance to talk with Milk aka the “super-easy mightiest MC” of the legendary hip-hop duo, Audio Two. He and I discussed what he’s currently doing with First Priority Records, his roster of new acts, how the game has changed since he initially, came onto the scene, who he’s listening to, and his take on Charles Hamilton’s behavior of late.

Take a few minutes out of your day and listen to the words of a hip-hop legend.

We sat down with Michigan’s own AKA, for a few questions on his motivation to rap, who he looks up to and where the game is going.

What brought you into rap?

I’ve been into poetry and music my whole life. I started with freestyling and became real good at that; writing was always easy. Hip-hop made me who I am.

What’s it take to be an emcee from your town?

Same thing it takes everywhere: swag, skill, voice and content. Around here you also gotta be a beast on stage and have soul. Connects and support help too. Read more…