CRAIG G & MARLEY MARL  (July 2008) | Interview By: Javon Adams

As ever, you can read this exclusive interview below and we urge you to leave feedback on our forums or email them to Javon Adams.

..........................................................................................

Interview was done in July 2008

Questions Asked By: Javon Adams

Craig G & Marley Marl Interview Audio: Listen Here
 

..........................................................................................
 

Dubcnn: Well, Craig G and Marley Marl welcome to Dubcnn. How are things fellas?

*slight static*


Dubcnn: Hello? You guys there?

Craig G: Yeah, I’m here


Dubcnn: Ok. So how are things going today with the press gambit that you have going on?

Craig G: Coolin’. Your about the sixth person we’ve talked to today. So you know we getting it grizzly.


Dubcnn: I know you guys are pressed for time so I wanted to kind of get to it. With the project that you did with KRS, Marley and now with the Craig G ‘Operation: Take Back Hip Hop’ I’ve heard the word renaissance thrown around a lot. Do you feel that this is another step of sorts towards a rebirth in hip hop?

*static and distortion as result of a bad conference connection*

Craig G: I think we’re breaking up


Dubcnn: Yeah, I think we’re breaking up a little bit.

Craig G: Me, personally I don’t want it to be looked at as a renaissance. I just want it to be looked at as something that has been put back into the game that hasn’t been there for quite some time. You understand what I mean?


Dubcnn: Ok

Craig G: Right now the game is completely one sided, you know what I mean?


Dubcnn: Indeed. So kind of along those same lines, as you look at…when you say it’s one sided I think a lot of hip hop over the course of the years and I don’t think it’s like an overnight thing but a lot of it has like a disposable feel to it. Like rock artists their respected as they get older in the game but hip hop age is always an issue…

Craig G: I’ve been hearing this all day. I’ve been saying this all day. I think we need to obliterate the word ‘old school’.


Dubcnn: Right. And just make it music.

Craig G: I think because as far as other genres it’s considered classic but ‘old school’ to me seems to be demeaning and really condescending. You know what I mean?


Dubcnn: Right. Ok. So how was the process of recording this project? How was the vibe of it and how did you feel when you were going through it?

Craig G: Well the thing with me and Marley is we just do songs. We don’t really go in the studio and say we’re going to do an album we just test each others swords. Like, let me hear what beats you got and let me hear what lyrics you got. That turns into one thing and then it turns into seven songs in three days. That’s how it usually works. So as far as me and Marley working together, we’d probably work together whether there was a deal involved or not to be honest with you because we just like to go into the studio and make joints. Whether it be just playin’ them in the car, you know what I mean or gettin’ them out to the masses.


Dubcnn: Ok. So, Craig I read where you said that part of the reason for this project was you refusing to watch the culture get destroyed any further by poor quality of music. I know you came up in an era where a high level of competition inspired you to be the best emcee or even producer Marley. What motivates you today?

Craig G: The first thing is to prove that skills never diminish with time. You don’t forget how to ride a bike once you start riding it. *laughs*


Dubcnn: True

Craig G: And at the same time I just think that intelligence and thought provoking stuff is just gone man. It’s not cool to be smart anymore.


Dubcnn: I hear you. It seems that ringtone rappers seem to be raking in money for labels and you said being smart seems to be out, how do you combat that? How does the emcee coming up today that says yeah I go to the club but I’m also intelligent, how do you think they go about getting their message out?

Craig G: I don’t think its on them. I think its on the machine and the powers that be and who’s selling the music and who’s putting the music out as far as it being played and shown on television and what have you.


Dubcnn: Ok. I know success can be measured in a lot of different ways. How will you measure the success of ‘Operation: Take Back Hip Hop’?

Craig G: I would just measure the success in the ball moving in the proper direction where we can get balance in the hip hop game. You know what I mean? Like I said over and over again, at one point you had Public Enemy, Tribe Called Quest you had N.W.A. we had EPMD. Now it seems like its just one thing out there. You know what I mean? And everybody seems to be talking about the same thing and that’s not really helping anything. You know?


Dubcnn: Yeah, I got you. I was reading where the story of the Juice Crew is being made into a movie. Did you ever imagine the art form that you helped to give legs to would get to this point where its so, not commercialized, but different opportunities are out there to branch out into different arenas.

Craig G: Well, I learned that in dealing with 8 Mile and Get Rich or Die Trying. Know what I mean? It’s a matter of the culture being so popular and the culture being marketable and making money that other powers that be are interested in it. Know what I mean? Its like to me a great thing because as far as the Juice Crew it’s a great story and it has to be spoken on.


Dubcnn: So where is that project at? Do you guys keep tabs on it in terms of where its at in the production process or the filming process?

Craig G: Right now, according to Marley…I don’t know if we still have Marley on the line, but they are getting the funding together and I don’t want to really divulge too much to deep in it. But its getting there, probably by the end of the year they should start shooting.


Dubcnn: You said that you learned from your experience with 8 Mile. Do you find yourself given opportunities that are behind the scenes in hip hop. Have different opportunities opened up over the years?

Craig G: Well, I’m trying to definitely because at the end of the day…hip hop as grown so many legs and limbs that it can’t just be just that anymore. Like I said, I would hate to standby and watch somebody who didn’t put in the work get the culture of that and not do what they have to do with it. You know?

So I prefer to be head first with anything as far as along the lines of hip hop or more behind the scenes. Actually anybody will tell you that (behind the scenes) is way more lucrative.


Dubcnn: Because you don’t have to do all of the promotion and all of those other things. You can do stuff behind the scenes. Now I know that you guys have a busy day planned so when I say the word Classic, and I’m not going to use that word ‘old school’ anymore like you said…what’s the first thing that comes to mind when the word classic is said to you?

Craig G: To me, something that stands the test of time. No matter how many times you hear it or see it or involve yourself in it, it still seems fresh. That’s absolutely what it is to me.


Dubcnn: Before I let you go any words for the readers of Dubcnn.com? Let ‘em know when the album is coming out and all those good things. The floor is yours.

Craig G: The album will be out June 17th called ‘Operation: Take Back Hip Hop’. A lot of great features on the album, a lot of great songs. And stop looking at it as being a ‘hater’ because we all know that we all feel the same about where hip hop is going and somebody has to say it. And if I’m going to say it and you’re going to call me a hater then I wasn’t talking to you. I honestly believe secretly a lot of people feel the same way that I do but somebody has to say it so I figured I’d be one of the people to say it.


Dubcnn: Alright man. Well thanks for a few minutes of your time and tell Marley when he gets back on that it was a pleasure to talk to him for a second. Good luck with the project and keep us posted on what’s going on with you guys