FOKIS & FOCUS... (September 2008) | Interview By: Jonathan Hay & Chad Kiser

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Interview was done in September 2008

Questions Asked By: Jonathan Hay & Chad Kiser

Interview Assistance: “Black” Chris Thompson

Fokis & Focus Gave Dubcnn.com A Shotout! Check That Here
 

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Focus…/Fokis Exclusive Interview
A Dubcnn Exclusive
By Jonathan Hay and Chad Kiser
www.myspace.com/jonathanhay
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Dubcnn: What is going on right now with you all?

Focus:  Chilling.

Fokis: Everything is straight...


Dubcnn: You all got this 20/20 Double Vision projects coming out, right? Tell us a little bit about that and what we can expect from it…

Fokis: Good music, man. It came together because Focus and I had been working on some records here and there and it came to a point where we had a couple of records and I was like, ‘yo we should just put together [a joint] project’ and he was with the idea, man…and that was pretty much it. He sends the files to me and then I blaze them up, send them back, and get his approval, and then we go from there. We are looking forward to dropping this, man, I am excited!


Dubcnn: So, were you in the studio together when you were working on this project, or how did that work?

Focus: I am in California right now and he is out in New York, so we didn't have a chance to get in the same studio. We met a couple of times when I was up in New York but it never has been like us being in the same studio -- not yet -- that will happen, but it hasn't yet. I send the [instrumentals] over the internet; he blazes it and then sends it back.


Dubcnn: This question is for Fokis; how do you select a Focus… track? Does he send a bunch to you at the same time for you to pick from, or just one at a time, or what?

Fokis: Anything he sends I am going to use. There is no such thing as a wack beat with Focus...; everything he sends I am using. It is basically what is going to fit on this and what is going to fit on that. So, he will send me three joints [at a time], there is always one that stands out and I will go nuts on it -- finish it up in a day and send it back. And on the other ones, I will get a concept going and then we will just build on it like a building...

…Just recently, I was in the studio finishing the last record -- it was like 1:30 in the morning and I [left to go] home to get some sleep; then Focus… hits me up and tells me, ‘we can't use that record; somebody just copped that one’ and I was like ‘ahhhhhhh, man.’ Things happen for a reason. Then he sent me four more beats and they were retarded – so, you know, it all worked out in the end.


Dubcnn: Obviously, your names are both Focus…/ Fokis; who had the name first? *laughing*

Focus: I am going to be honest with you. I never really got into it because there was a time when I was really upset…‘cause I had my name for a while. When I heard there was another one, I was like it is, ‘what it is; I am going to be the producer’ but when I met him, he was the only one who gave me respect -- he was like, ‘you are who you are, and I am who I am. We both been grinding the name and I don't even spell it the same way. I wouldn't disrespect you, we just need to work.’ I was like, ‘you know what, you came so real,’ I was like, ‘let’s do it.’


Dubcnn: When can we expect this project to come out?

*Both in unison* September 16th!


Dubcnn: I have seen videos on YouTube of Focus… making a beat from scratch. Do you go into the studio with somewhat of an idea mapped out in your head already, or do you just get in there, mess around with sounds and put things together as they hit your ears? Basically, how do you come up with your f**king dope ass beats? *laughing*

Focus: It’s all about my vibe when I go in there. If I am frustrated about my day, I will go in there and do a monster beat -- I will make sure that the drums are loud and killing; you know what I am saying? If I am feeling good, I will go in there and make a club joint or an R&B joint. You can hear it in my music; everything is triggered off feeling. To be honest with you, the truth is, music is missing right now. People are trying to make music for their pockets…everybody wants to be a millionaire.


Dubcnn: I am going to throw that same question at Fokis, from an emcee point of view….

Fokis: It's going to sound crazy! But it is the exact same thing with me -- like, my music deals with reality. I like to consider myself a pretty humble dude, but I am more of a jokester -- I don't like the ‘screw face’ people. I don't like to bug out. Whenever I hear a beat, it talks to me…when I hear a beat; it is the beat that dictates what I am going to do.


Dubcnn: I am glad that Ice Cube’s new stuff has lyrical content like Pac used to do -- ya know, a message in the lyrics. We don’t get that very much anymore…

Focus: Yeah, nobody is trying to go past the surface. Everybody is skin deep and nobody is going to the core anymore -- or to the heart of it. Dudes will not make a song about love no more. They make a song to a chick on the surface; they talk about their ass, tits, and p*ssy. They don't say, I love you and make three verses about how beautiful their girl is, and hit you with some knowledge. Every time I send somebody a hard track, they want to go to the streets on it, you know, talking about getting their strap -- talking about killing n*ggas. Like they talking about shooting the listener in the first verse…there goes your audience, you killed them! *laughing*


Dubcnn: Both of you have worked with big names. Focus…, you got Dre, Busta, The Game, etc., and Fokis, you got Killa Priest, Mista Fab, etc. Who out there would you like to collaborate with the most?

Fokis: You do not even have to finish your sentence -- Nas that is my goal.

Focus: To be honest with you, I have always wanted to work with Jay-Z. I wanted to work with Biggie, but I got into the game late so I didn't get to do that. I would say the only MC would be Jay ‘cause I am already with Dre and, you know, he is my mentor.


Dubcnn: Last words, or final thoughts for Dubcnn?

Fokis: Big shout out to Dubcnn, ‘cause you all are the number one hip-hop site right now! I am watching it every day! Get ready for that 20/20 that is dropping September 16th -- it’s a free download! Shots out to Focus… for giving me an opportunity and leading by example; by showing us that it is possible for people who have something established to give optometry to others; all the young kids out there need to shut up and listen -- you really might learn something for real.

Focus: As far as I am concerned, do not give up on the Dr. Dre. We are coming with Detox! We are working big with Bishop Lamont -- big shouts to him and his label. You can download my album, Dedicated [right here on Dubcnn]. Big shout out to both Jonathan Hay, Chad Kiser and all of Dubcnn, ‘cause you all have held me down on everything, so I got mad love for you all!!! Be on the lookout for Focal Point, an album that I have been working on like crazy -- so lookout for me on that!