(CP) When did
you fall in love with Hip-Hop? Why did you choose Hip-Hop as your
platform?
“I
fell in love
with Hip-Hop in the year 1989 with Kool Moe Dee’s “Knowledge
is King” record and from that
point on Hip- Hop essentially occupied my whole being. However, I
never chose Hip-Hop as my platform, at least not consciously. As, I
got older I kind of just evolved into an emcee and producer, but even
now, I respect the culture first.”
(CP) From
your perspective do you see a difference in Hip-Hop within the
Hispanic and African -American culture? If so could you briefly
describe the differences or the similarities?
“Historically,
from my understanding, Hispanic peoples were originally more into the
Dancing and the Graffiti aspect of the culture where as
African-Americans occupied the Emceeing and Djing. As, Hip- Hop grew
over time people of all ethnicities occupied all areas. “
“Being
Hispanic, of course Big Pun is
one of my favorite emcees, Tony Touch is one of my favorite Djs, and
the Beatnuts are some of my favorite producers. I take pride in those
contributions.”
(CP) Could
you briefly tell our Clutch Players the city you come from? And, how
did that city shaped your mentality and rhymes?
“I was born
in Vero Beach,
but have lived all over Florida. Now I live in Pensacola. Pensacola
is one of the poorer cities in Florida. The
city’s segregated by both race and class.
I’m not your typical Florida emcee so I’m typically compared to
more East Coast sounding artists. Mentally, Pensacola has taught me
to be more socially aware, whether it’s dealing with class
economics or police
corruption.”
(CP) Here at
Clutch Players University we value consistency. What do you want to
contribute to the culture of Hip-Hop musically and socially?
“Musically,
I want to be known for solid albums. I really try and take
people on a picturesque journey, for better or worse, when I create
music.”
“Socially,
I want people to know that as artists it’s our duty to be socially
aware, not just musically, but as men and women.”
(CP) Could
you briefly describe to our Clutch Players University readers. Who is
Big Lo?
“I’m
a father. I’m a husband. I’m an activist. I’m an emcee and a
producer. I’m a blue collar guy and enjoy spending time around
ordinary people.”
(CP) What can
the people expect next from Big Lo?
“ I did a
show in September it was Hip Hop vs Punk
benefit show with all our proceeds going to the
National Police Accountability Project. In the Spring of next year
I’m releasing
Umbrellas & Green Olives
and I’ll be touring heavily again.”
(CP) Aside,
from listening to your music. What artist's does Big Lo listen to?
“I’m all
over the place musically and it really depends on my mood. In the gym
I like rocking with Sean Price, Jedi Mind
Tricks, more hardcore type stuff. If I just want
to dumb out I like Max B and Nipsey
Hussel. I’m a huge Wu
Tang fan, especially Ghostface,
Raekwon and GZA.
Newer artists I’m feeling include Skyzoo
and anything Apollo
Brown produces.”
(CP) At the
Clutch Players University office we are boxing fanatics and dreaming
of the big fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Who
would you pick?
“As much as
I dislike Floyd Mayweather as a person for a number of reasons, I
still think he would take Manny Pacquiao. He’s one of the best
defensive fighters we’ve seen in our lifetime. That being said, I’m
not going to pay for the fight, I’ll stream it
somewhere for free.”
(CP) What is
the illest line ever said?
This is
such a tough question, but since I mentioned Pun
earlier I’ll go with,
“Dead
in the middle of Little Italy little did we know that we riddled some
middleman who didn't do diddily.”
(CP) In your
opinion do you think the Hip-Hop culture is organically evolving?
“That’s a
difficult question for me to answer. Initially I would say yes, some
of the younger artists are using terminology that appeals to their
generation. They’re also fusing the music with the more electronic
sounds that are popular now. However, I
think comparing mainstream rap to the more traditional boom bap music
is like comparing disco to real soul music in the 70s.In my opinion, the mainstream rap and club
music, although it is technically classified as Hip-Hop, completely
lacks the soul and artistry that boom bap has. Also, some of the
evolution has been detrimental and essentially a slap in the face to
the majority of real emcees out here. The
main gripe I have is the younger guys and even some older cats, think
it’s acceptable to perform live over your vocals. If I come to a
show, I want to see a LIVE show, I can listen to your album anytime.”
(CP) Could you provide some words of encouragement for the
Clutch Players University, dreamers, or visionaries?
(CP)
When did you fall in love with Hip-Hop? Why did you choose Hip-Hop as
your platform?
“I
fell in love with Hip-Hop in the early 90s. My older brother would
play everything from Scarface,
Rakim,
Nas,
Mobb
Deepand
more. There was something about the sound,
the
story-telling
and grittiness
was so compelling as a kid. Choosing Hip-Hop as a platform was
comforting, especially as a child. Some artist such as Tupac,
even Biggie
Smalls
helped me escape the trauma
I witnessed as a child. Now, I make music and it allows me to express
myself in hopes to potentially reach an audience who deals with those
same hardships.”
(CP)
From your perspective is there a difference in Hip-Hop within the
Underground and Mainstream Hip-Hop? If so could you briefly describe
the differences?
“I
personally feel there's a huge difference between underground
and commercial
Hip-Hop. Underground to me, feels more authentic, raw and true. Some
commercial records, are cool and appropriate, others feel more like
poison.”
(CP)
Could you briefly tell our Clutch Players University the city your
from? And, how did that city shaped your mentality and rhymes?
“
I'm actually from
Dover,
Delaware.
Delaware as a whole is a very small state that often gets over
looked. Growing up, I went from living on base, to countless shelters
and different traumatic events that shaped who I am as an artist. A
lot of my peers have struggled to make it out where I'm from, whether
playing
sports
to getting caught
up in the streets.
To the heroin
epidemic
polluting are community,
senseless
acts of violence
or kids
committing suicide.”
All
that made me who I am today!
(CP)
Here at Clutch Players University we value consistency. What do you
want to contribute to the culture of Hip-Hop musically and socially?
“Musically,
I just want to stay consistent and constantly growing as an artist. I
would love for my music to bring that same feeling I felt as a kid
with the likes of Nas,
Tupac,
Gangstarr,
and more.”
“Socially,
I would love to change
lives through my music.
Being an advocate
for a lot of sensitive topics that aren't discussed amongst the
Hip-Hop community.”
(CP)
What
can the people expect next from Chris Skillz?
“People
can expect my debut full length album"Yesterday's
Tomorrow"to
release worldwide this year. My goal is to help those dealing with
depression,
suicide,
sexual
abuse,
and self-
torment.
Because, I myself deal with those issues on a daily basis.”
I
wanna be a voice and spread that light.
(CP)
Aside, from listening to your music. What artist's does Chris Skillz
listen to?
“I
listen to Kendrick
Lamar,
Nas,
J Cole,
Eminem,
Jay
Z,
Kid
Cudi,
Big
Krit,
Redman,
and so many others. I just love music in general, the art behind it
is beautiful.”
(CP)
In your opinion which emcee could have a successful run as an
athlete? Which, athlete could have a successful run as an emcee?
“
That's a good one.
Honestly, I can't think of any artist who could ball out in sports. I
think potentially Kobe
could
do something in music. But, that's just me being a fan boy. He's the
greatest”
(CP)
What's
the illest line ever said?
"Through
the lights cameras and action, glamour glitters and gold / I unfold
the scroll, plant seeds to stampede the globe/ When I'm deceased, by
then the beast arise like yeast / To conquer peace leaving savages to
roam in the streets" - Nas
(CP)
In your opinion do you think the Hip-Hop culture is organically
evolving? Is there a difference between Rap / Hip-Hop today?
“
I'd say its evolving
but also coming full circle. From fashion, to music and radio. Things
are slightly changing but in a positive way. I'm excited about the
future of Hip-Hop.”
(CP)
Could
you provide some words of encouragement for the Clutch Players
University, dreamers, or visionaries?
“Stay
true in whatever you do. Follow your dreams and do what you love no
matter what.”
(CP) When did
you fall in love with Hip-Hop? Why did you choose Hip-Hop as your
platform?
“I think the moment I reached an age of awareness,
I was in love with Hip Hop. I started writing rhymes when I was
twelve, so I had Hip-Hop before I had knowledge
of anything else really. My mother would play all
types of music when I was growing up, so I would hear artists like
The Isley Brothers and Jimi Hendrix.
At the same time I
would hear Melle Mel and Kool Moe
Dee, so the music was always there.
“The culture, the
foundation, was always there. I'm not trying to get too deep, because
we could build on this for some time, but I will say that Hip-Hop is
the perfect platform for an individual such as myself. I
can't sing, I can't dance, I
can't play any instruments. However, I have a
story to tell, I have emotions to express, and Hip-Hop allows
me to do this constructively in a civilized manner. Without Hip-Hop I
doubt I would be alive today.”
(CP) From your
perspective do you see a difference in Hip-Hop within the underground
and
mainstream culture? If so could you briefly describe the
differences or the similarities?
“ I don't really see a
difference, it's two sides of the same coin. It's
all one big popularity contest, everyone is running for mayor, there
is merchandise to sell, new videos to promote, new persona's,
gimmicks, and anything else for a few minutes of attention. It's
nothing new, it's all capitalism. However, what
I do notice more now than ever, is the decline in innovation.
Too
many "artists" whether commercial or underground, are
copying whatever is trending at the moment, all in the name of
profit.”
“There are very
few artists out there that actually contribute to the culture,
but the majority are out to exploit it. The artist is now the
businessmen, which doesn't have to be a bad thing. However, we must
always keep our integrity. We must stay true to ourselves. That's
what Hip Hop is all about.”
(CP) Could you
briefly tell our Clutch Players the city you come from? And, how did
that city shaped your mentality and rhymes?
“Well I'm
from Los Angeles originally, stayed in
Chicago for a few years and Long Beach for
many years. All these places shaped me into who I am today, and I'm
thankful for every lesson learned, every friend and foe, every win
and every loss. There's something to take from every experience if
you pay attention. As, far as the music, everyplace has it's own
style, and I've met a lot of dope artists throughout the years. I
would have to say Chicago had the most serious
effect on me, personally, because that's where I first encountered
the Five Percent Nation and gained knowledge of
self.”
(CP) Here at Clutch Players University we
value consistency. What do you want to contribute to the culture
of Hip-Hop musically and socially?
“I can only give what
I have, and I can only tell my story from my perspective. I hope what
I do, is enough to honor and pay tribute to the culture, and that's
enough for me. When people like what I do, I consider
that a blessing. When people are effected by what I do,
I feel humbled.
I don't do this for popularity, I do this
for the love and respect of the craft. Anything
positive that derives from that I consider a win.”
(CP) Could
you briefly describe to our Clutch Players University readers. Who is
JMEGA The God?“JMEGA stands for "Justice
Master Equality God Allah". I am the Original Man, cream
of the earth, master of my environment. And sometimes I make
music.”
(CP) What can the people expect next from
JMEGA The God? Are you doing any shows?
“I love performing,
especially in front of a crowd that knows what real Hip-Hop is.
However, I'm at a point right now, where I figure if I'm giving out
the music for free, it doesn't make sense to perform for free as
well. The music is already free, and I have responsibilities. With
me it's family first. So, if I have to drive out to the valley
to do a twenty- minute set and not receive payment, it discourages me
from performing.”
(CP) Aside, from listening to
your music. What artist's does JMEGA The God listen to?
“Well
at the moment, I've been listening to a lot of Curtis
Mayfield, a lot of Dennis Brown and Roy
Ayers. I go through phases. I try to check for the latest in
terms of Hip-Hop music, but to be honest I don't listen to too much
Hip Hop these days.
I know there's plenty of talented artists out
there, but they not really speaking to me. I might be getting
old.”
(CP) If you were not pursuing your music. What
sport would you see yourself playing?Why?
“Before I started
writing, I thought I was going to play basketball as a
profession for real. And there was a time, when I might have
told you I was good at it. I had a decent jumper,
no doubt. But I let it get away from me, started smoking and doing
dumb shit, and sports got lost in the background. Sometimes, I wonder
if I had stuck with it, if I could have made something out of
it.”
(CP) What's the illest line ever said?
“That's
funny right there, I don't know. That might be a question more for
the people to decide, you dig? But there are a few lines that stand
out, that some people actually recite back to me. We have a song
called Manifesto, and in the song I say something,
"MighGawd
stab your mental with the instrumental / Megallah Mace Windu / fire
walker like a Hindu" and people seem to enjoy that
line.
Maybe it was the way I said it? I'm not sure. But that's a
line that kind of stands out I guess in the catalog.”
(CP) In your opinion do you think the Hip-Hop culture is organically
evolving?
“ Well it's definitely changing. Evolving, I'm not
sure, because when I think of evolving and evolution in
general, I think of something transforming or transcending to a
higher level of existence. I feel like Hip-Hop has become way
more corporate, way more consumer friendly. The culture is being lost
in the business The ones trying to keep the culture alive aren't on
your television or your radio, and I feel like that's definitely on
purpose. So, it's changing, but definitely not organically and
definitely not evolving.”
(CP) Could you provide some
words of encouragement for the Clutch Players University, dreamers,
or visionaries?
“Listen, I'm not going to lie to you,
this world, this life, can throw numerous obstacles in your way.
There will be people that will conspire against you, people that will
pretend to love you, and people that will love to hate you. However,
when it's time to show and prove, and your number is called, will you
bend? Will you sell yourself? Compromise your own value?If you have a
dream, fight for it. If you have a vision, live for it. They
want you to give up and get in line. They want you to abandon your
culture. But, it can all live within you, with every breath, every
step.”
(CP) When did
you fall in love with Hip-Hop? Why did you choose Hip-Hop as your
platform?
“ I fell in
love when Ludacris dropped “Number One
Spot”. I remember sitting in my dads car and
hearing that song on the radio all the time, and I just loved how
crazy and braggadocios Ludacris sounded. I played it so much I had
the entire song memorized and would rap along, mind you I was like
seven at the time.”
“I ended up
choosing Hip-Hop as my platform because I saw the how powerful it was
and still is. I was listening only to Kid Cudi when I began rapping,
and he essentially made me want to start rapping because his songs
made me feel what he was saying and I wanted to make people feel the
same way I did when I rap.”
(CP) From your
perspective are there any similarities or differences in Underground
Music and Mainstream Hip-Hop culture ? If so could you briefly
describe the similarities or differences?
“ I think the
two share more differences than similarities. One major difference in
my mind is creativity.
Most mainstream is relative to the present, the sounds are synonymous
to each other, and the only thing that changes is the person
delivering the words. A mainstream artist would never dream of
putting out an experimental album with 100%
creative freedom. 1. Its too risky 2. Its not
what the masses want. From a label point
of view, keeping the mainstream music all the same is a smart move.
If making the same music produces guaranteed profits, then why
deviate? On the other hand, underground music
has the creative freedom to put exactly what they feel is right. No
matter how edgy, alternative, or weird the music may be underground /
independent artists have the creative freedom to put out what they
feel is their best work.”
(CP) Could you
briefly tell our Clutch Players the city you come from? And, how did
that city shaped your mentality and music?
“I am from
Buffalo, New York.
The music scene in Buffalo is heavily trap
music & drill beat centered. I learned early
on that I wasn’t good at that music style, and it didn’t fit my
personality. This essentially propelled me into the independent rap
scene helping me scope out different types of Hip-Hop and allowing me
to really find my own voice and style.
I eventually found classic boom-bap beats to be my style and have hit
the ground running ever since. I realized that my music doesn’t
appeal to the Buffalo area, my mentality
has always been focused on global recognition.
(CP) Here at
Clutch Players University we value consistency. What do you want to
contribute to the culture of Hip-Hop musically and socially?
“Musically, I
want to be the FIRST SouLow. I want to give
Hip-Hop culture that feeling of excitement it has since lost. I want
to create dances / gestures that no one has ever seen before. I want
to create music that makes the listener feel the emotion
I felt while recording. I want to make
Hip-Hop music thats 100% accessible to all audiences.”
“Socially, I
want people to be unable to compare me to any artist they’ve ever
heard or seen. At the end of my run, I
want people saying “That’s such a SouLow move” or “SouLow
started that”.”
(CP) Could you
briefly describe to our Clutch Players University readers. Who is
SouLow?
“ SouLow is a
nineteen year old Hip-Hop artist who speaks
from the soul, but can also go bar for bar with
your favorite rapper.”
(CP) What can
the people expect next from SouLow?
“ People can
expect a sequel to my mixtape, “Fluid”,
and people can expect to be hearing the name “SouLow” a lot more
in the near future.”
(CP) Aside, from
listening to your music. What artist's does SouLow listen to?
“ I currently
listen to a lot of new school artists. My favorite new school artist
is: Ab-Soul (Kendrick Lamar is a close
second). My favorite new school rap group is:
Flatbush Zombies. As
far as classics go, my favorite rapper of all time is Nas.
My playlist however is typically East Coast heavy, ranging from;
Notorius B.i.g,
Fu-Schnickens, and
Big Daddy Kane too
many of the prominent Beast Coast artists we see / hear about today.
(CP) If you were
not pursuing your music. What sport would you see yourself
playing?Why?
“ I was never
really serious about sports, I did play football for a while but I
never saw myself pursuing it. If I wasn’t pursuing music however, I
would most likely be doing comedy because I
have a love for writing.”
(CP) What's the
illest line ever said?
“You
a menstrual cycle with flower pedals to a Harley, rap genius would
decode it for me." – Ab-Soul
(CP) In your
opinion do you think the Hip-Hop culture is organically evolving?
“Yes.
I think as the Independent Hip-Hop scene grows, the culture grows as
a whole.”
(CP) Could you
provide some words of encouragement for the Clutch Players
University, dreamers, or visionaries?
“ Thank you for
having me, I admire the hustle and you have my utmost respect for
what you do. All dreamers and visionaries out there, I say.”
“I
fell in love
with Hip-Hop in the year 1989 with Kool Moe Dee’s “Knowledge
is King” record and from that
point on Hip- Hop essentially occupied my whole being. However, I
never chose Hip-Hop as my platform, at least not consciously. As, I
got older I kind of just evolved into an emcee and producer, but even
now, I respect the culture first.”
“Musically,
I just want to stay consistent and constantly growing as an artist. I
would love for my music to bring that same feeling I felt as a kid
with the likes of Nas,
Tupac,
Gangstarr,
and more.”
“The culture, the
foundation, was always there. I'm not trying to get too deep, because
we could build on this for some time, but I will say that Hip-Hop is
the perfect platform for an individual such as myself. I
can't sing, I can't dance, I
can't play any instruments. However, I have a
story to tell, I have emotions to express, and Hip-Hop allows
me to do this constructively in a civilized manner. Without Hip-Hop I
doubt I would be alive today.” 
(CP) Could
you briefly describe to our Clutch Players University readers. Who is
JMEGA The God?“JMEGA stands for "Justice
Master Equality God Allah". I am the Original Man, cream
of the earth, master of my environment. And sometimes I make
music.”
“ I fell in
love when Ludacris dropped “Number One
Spot”. I remember sitting in my dads car and
hearing that song on the radio all the time, and I just loved how
crazy and braggadocios Ludacris sounded. I played it so much I had
the entire song memorized and would rap along, mind you I was like
seven at the time.”
