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GLOBAL CITY (December
2004) | Interview By: SGV
Dubcnn.com had the opportunity to talk
to aspiring rap group Global City. The 4 artists reppin' for the latin
community answered all of LatinaBeatz questions concerning their current
album, the upcoming stuff, their background, their shows, that latin HipHop
community and much much more. Please send feedback to:
sgv@dubcnn.com
Huge thanks to Global City for taking the time to answer the questions.
(Interview was done by phone in December 2004)
Questions Asked By : SGV
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dubcnn.com: First I want to say thank
you guys for the opportunity to ask some questions and learn a little about
Global City. Are we ready?
Oppose: Ready when you are.
dubcnn.com: Okay, so tell me, how did you guys come together?
Oppose: Me and Transcend go way back, we were actually dancers back n the
days. We didn’t really rhyme at the time, just dancing, that was our art of
expression, the art of dancing. I didn't realize, Brainwave was a lyricist too
at the time. When I found out about that, especially growing up in the same
street, we just started collabing making songs. We didn't come up with the
name Global City at the time; we just started writing songs. 2 years into that
Transcend came into the group and we just got together and wanted to make this
happen, thinking, "what could we do with this?" "Where could we take our
vision?" We needed to connect with our friend DJ Resy, who we had known from
other people.
DJResy: With me, the Global City came about February of 2000. I had seen
Transcend at a new years party for Cotton Mouth Clothing in Los Angeles.
Transcend was promoting a club we all knew as Latin Quarters. They gave me the
opportunity to bless the turn tables, 2 weeks later get a call saying they got
a group called Global City and a got a show coming up, and are looking for a
DJ. "If you're willing, we would like to have you come on board." Of course I
agreed, our first show was in Bakersfield, since then it's been lovely.
dubcnn.com: How did you guys come up with the name Global City?
Transcend: Global City came to me; I wanted something that would represent all
of us, from our heritage, Immigrants, migrating from Mexico, Peru, Nica,
Chile. With Us having that first generation experience growing up in Downtown
LA connecting from the concrete, people, smells, music, multi-dimensional
experience. Global City felt right; it's an expression of our terrain we were
all born in and raised in, International experience of a highly urbanized
congestive city. So with that emerged the Global City!
dubcnn.com: Why the name of Four Corners to the Block? Any relation to the
name of the group?
Brainwave: Four corners to the block, first it is 4 members, kind of like we
building blocks, and we are building up.
Oppose: Meaning that everything's got so deep, different cultures intersecting
we all meet.
Resy: Basic foundation of what Hip-Hop is about. Ground roots, what started
out as graffiti, break dancing, then went in to Hip Hop, which is what we are
doing with this. Dj'ing, emceeing, we had Vicious Circle back in the days; we
had the dancing aspect, now we just connecting the 4 corners. We are
transcending the four corners to make the Global City.
dubcnn.com: Do you guys use your real experiences in this album? Write your
own lyrics?
Oppose: Of course! We are speaking from our hearts, experiences from growing
up, positive, negative, in an inner-city. At least for me, when you are born
in that situation you don't even have to sit down and write, it just naturally
comes. You already lived it, some energy speaking to you to just do it.
Resy: If you have not picked up the album, take a look at the album, read all
the titles on the songs, it will answer that question.
Brainwave: Sometimes when I write I re-enact something that happened, reflect
on what I went through.
dubcnn.com: Tell a little about your album, any influences?
Transcend: I think us 4; we come from a very musical background, sounds from
everywhere. Example, Brainwaive, there is a lot of texture, like the old
school LA Pachuco feel. Like how it’s connecting to the past and the present
time of hard hitting Hip-Hop. I think the fact we allow our moods to go off in
what we write about, not just 1 style, its us being us in the moment in time.
We know what we want; we want to represent all our influences.
Oppose: Like Transcend said earlier, being children of immigrants, easy to
connect with other groups of similar backgrounds that bring their lifestyles
into their music taste. We are all influenced, not just from the Latino side,
but also the Middle East, Europe, where ever, we are very open minded, we
receive that, having an open mind that helps in the creating process. If not
with lyrics, then with beats, lean and use other people’s cultures.
dubcnn.com: Any special guests or producers?
Transcend: We wanted people who we were close with, connect with, musically
and life style. "Its Going Down" it was an honor to have Jack of Psycho Realm
produce the track along with Daz Hope on the chorus. "Shit Gets Ugly" Produced
by Cynic from Street Platoon featuring Cynic and Crow, along with Young Voz,
look out for his shit soon. Then the very talented Pantera blessed the chorus,
on the guitar J Dubs the producer for "The Roof" on Mun2 Television. On the
track "Let it take you" we got a black cat named Ira who busted the Ray
Charles soul feel. The homey Chris did the live bass on "Lengua Lystics."
dubcnn.com: One of the tracks that seems to getting a lot of buzz is "HeartBeat"
why do u think that is?
Oppose: I think the reason is, first song that was put out as a video
everyone's considering it as a single, that’s how people first starting
knowing bout Global City through the track Heartbeat, in every track, every
song, if you like Heartbeat, you are going to like the rest of the album, it
will move you.
Brainwave: I think it’s the bass, we added a heartbeat hook
dubcnn.com: Resy, where do you get your beats, sounds? What is your process?
Resy: the process for that, there isn’t a process, where it comes from, it
depends on the emotional state of mind I am in at that time, if I am in a good
mood, maybe I'll pull out Average White Band. Sorrow mood or other mood; pull
out some Miles Davis or Charlie Parker. There are times where I am sitting
listening to music, I hear something and I would love to freak that or use
that. My ear is always to the street; I am always about or around music. I am
like a computer; I swallow it like a sponge and remember it. My musical
background goes back, to my dad being a back step drummer to The Midnighters,
they had a song called Whittier Blvd., One of the biggest cuts, stuff like
that inspires me, my music goes back to old school Spanish rock, 60's 70's,
its blues, jazz, funk, classical sometimes, my crates are 25 deep. All kinds
of music, I try to take everything and collaborate make it something.
dubcnn.com: Is it to early to say or expect a Second album? And if so, any
collabs?
Oppose: Next album is in process, picking out beats, brainstorming, but our
main goal is pushing this album FOUR CORNERS TO THE BLOCK, more then what it's
pushed, focus wise we are jus picking beats for the next album, but 100% is
Four Corners to the Block
Transcend: Absolutely a Second album in the works right now, I think we found
our place, where we wanted to go. We arrived to find our mission in this music
lifestyle. As for collabs, we got a track with our boy KrazyRace, another
Hispanic Emcee doing his thing coming up, going to be banging! I mean its
still in the works, we got some ideas of who we want to bring on next, We know
a lot of talented people
dubcnn.com: Will the style be the same? Different? Any chance of a Spanish
album?
Oppose: NOPE! Not going to be the same, we are very much over achievers, we
want it to be different with every song, just like with the first album, every
track is different, with the Second album, we are gonna keep it in a different
directions, vibes, beats, we may come out with some reggaeton, shit ya never
know!
Now for the Spanish concept, of course, I feel that every member has 100% has
the capacity to do it in Spanish, we are hungry to represent our people form
Latino America, we want to show we can do it, and do it right.
dubcnn.com: SOLO PROJECTS? Any ventures outside the group? Or changing roles?
Transcend: Definitely, I think all us being very artistic in our music, gonna
be natural to just have that happen, allow ourselves to explore our own
individual self in this hip hop music, I think its necessary because that is
Global City. Intersection of all of us, that is what your are getting. We all
know its not just One of us making this happen, its exciting.
Resy: Beyond doubt Global City doing will be doing guest appearances on other
artist's albums, coming up soon, 10 west collabo, If You don't know bout 10
west, 10 west is a DJ crew, production crew, I have with my man Miloe, my man
Flea. We are looking to producing our own cuts, beats, artists, start
something new.
dubcnn.com: Resy, You have a part in One of my favorite songs on "Four Corners
to the Block" called "Puro Pinche Pari" can we expect to hear more of you on a
future track?
Resy: Truthfully my part in this process and culture of hip hop has been from
day One, I use to break dance, I tried getting in the graffiti, that's where
Resyone came from, from that to dj'ing, when I saw I was able to do it, now
for rhyming, its brand new to me, I would love to do it, I want to do it some
more, I sit and write, I’ll battle anyone, I make it be known, I am a DJ first
and fore most, I still represent my crew, if it sounds good then ill put it
out there.I understand not everything I write is gonna be cool, it’s a work in
process, I definitely think you will be hearing more of me
Oppose: Right now we have been brainstorming for us individually on our next
album for a solo song, it pushes us to the test, I see it as a test. First
album everyone got together, now with this it also helps us out in the future
if we decide to do a whole solo album. Helps it out by letting us know what we
can do individually by ourselves. How creative we can be on that solo tip.
dubcnn.com: What is your take on "LATIN HIP HOP" any misconceptions? Stereo
types?
Transcend- I think first off what confuses people and what misleads people is
when you put a label on something that ultimately defines it, let’s say, if u
call it "Latin Hip hop", is that supposed to be a sub set of Hip Hop? I don't
try to fiddle with labels, I know we are gonna sell records cause of our look,
but our music is what makes us. I am not concerned with labels; I am concerned
with our music and where it’s going. I think it’s a good time for Latinos to
step it up and be them selves. There is an explosion, example: Psycho Realm,
Street Platoon, Kemo, etc. I think we need to step it up for the West coast,
it’s not always bout gang banging and jail life that's not what we project.
Oppose: I am gonna be very honest I am going to speak from my heart. It
doesn't bother me; I don't waste my energy. It does get tiring for me to be
considered Latin hip-hop; it starts to separate what hip-hop is. There is no
Black, Asian hip-hop, its just hip-hop. For me I am just a Latino contributing
to hip-hop. When people say Latin hip-hop or Chicano rap they start creating
their own world. That's how people who actually believe the hype. May start to
not want to listen or think Latinos don't have potential cause it doesn't
sound like black hip hop or they think because we are Mexican or Latino, I am
not going to talk bout Low Riders and Hood rats. People, in my rhymes, are
going to know I am Mexican, {I} represent my music. Don’t see me as Latin
hip-hop; see me as a Latino contributing to hip-hop.
Transcend: If you call Latin hip hop, it confuses the next generation. It
doesn't pay homage to the fact that Latinos been here since it started. {With}
Blacks doing hip-hop it was more marketable would have been tough for the Tony
touch of that time. Kind of dilutes and takes away the proper dues to the
graffiti writers, break dancers from rock steady, and the rappers from that
time. There is only the term Latin hip-hop, for the simple fact it is a more
marketable term for big corporations.
Resy- I think what more then anything what we need to focus on it’s not Latin
hip hop, but that its hip hop in general, that's where the capital letters are
at. Its on the hip hop it self. It’s not on Latin or A Black label, with us we
are Global City we represent all aspects. We represent graffiti, break
dancers, LA, that's what it is.100% just hip-hop there is no label.
dubcnn.com: What advice do u guys have for upcoming groups?
Oppose: For me, not to sound corny, but keep doing what you’re doing. If you
are hungry and ambitious, nothing can touch you or the negative things you
hear. If that isn't a fear, I think for youngster or anyone coming up, you
need to get informed learn as much as you can bout this business and what
direction you want to head into. It’s not bout grabbing the Mic and getting on
stage. There is going to be a lot of things you will encounter, people trying
to back stab you, use you for money, read bout it, ask bout it, its not easy.
People think we just write rhymes, some people’s struggle for years before
they make it. It’s not easy plain and simple. Don't get in this if you see it
as a trend, I see a lot of youngsters that feel to be apart of hip-hop. You
got to be on stage or Emcee, its so different now then how it was back n the
early 90's. Now no one is really hungry anymore, do it because you really want
to do it.
Transcend-just stay true to who you are, music is a big industry, for us
Global City is representing a segment of society that's already highly
negativity stereo typed of identity, best advice represent what your about
Brainwave: Not everyone is in this for a record deal. Some come in to just
kick lines. I think you need to realize what you are doing, for me personally,
this is the hardest thing I have had to do. Came into this as a hobby, but now
I am learning on the business side and responsibility. Just be true and kick
dope shit.
Resy: I'll continue on what Transcend said. Ya know we all surround our selves
with people who may be negative or positive, but as long as you stay true to
your music, and bring positive out in what you do that will come out in
lyrics, no one can bring you down. Also got to understand your music is not
for everyone, some will like it, some won't. You get knocked down, but you got
to get back up. Keep creating, just like being on the streets, streets will
knock you down, if you get right back up, no one can take nothing off you. I
think number one, what it takes is understanding and respecting what you’re
doing, has been around for a long time. For me, I D.J., if that is a route you
want to venture in, you got to give respect to the underground, Old School,
Grandmaster Flash, Grand Wizard Theodore, etc. Those are the cats that allowed
us and showed us the way. More then anyone Jam Master Jay, I remembered when I
heard Sucker Emcee’s. I use to grab his vinyl, copy and mimic his scratches; I
knew I could do this. I wanna say in my 13 years I been doing this, I been
very blessed surround myself with positive people. Back in the late 80s, West
Side, being friends with Frank V, Ernie G, Proper Dos. To 91, 92 linking up
with The Psycho Realm, with Jack and my man Duke, {and} at that time, Brown
Man Joe AKA Ferruco. That was my foundation that was how I got my start. A lot
of cats don't know that I use to DJ for Psycho Realm that was my first vision,
time, and taste of being on stage rocking 2 turn tables. From that moment on,
that gave me an itch, still burning in me, I will be 40, 50, still be doing
this. It’s something that's in my blood and I can not give it up no matter
what. I know cats who been doing this just as long as I have and start to get
rid of their records. I could never do that, giving away a record is like
chopping off a limb.
dubcnn.com: Seeing you perform the energy that you create individually and as
a group, the presence you guys have, what does it feel like to see the feed
back from the crowd?
Oppose: for me it makes me feel all the work Global City has put it in, the
response, that's what we live for, without the money involved, it makes you
want to go back to the lab and put out another album you're teaching you're
lifestyle to the audience, hearing and seeing the crowd feeling it. All the
sweat and tears finally being appreciated, makes us want to give more.
Transcend: I see it that we are basically modern day prophets, tell our
stories, we have a responsibility on stage, ask your self are u just going to
tap dance or entertain, how we project our self's and please our crowd is what
we put all our energy in. Hip-hop allows us to have that role not only are we
entertaining but connecting at that moment.
Like when we did a border town, T. J.{Tijuana, Mexico}, with Psycho Realm,
Street Platoon, Kemo, it was exciting for us to go there give our energy and
get so much back. People over there are hungry for that.
Brainwave: I think we all agree its a great feeling, I know I get it. I think
we get confidence to want to do better and give more. Also tackle bigger
things, within the group, I see we will play a big position with hip-hop. Even
business, for me, bottom-line a great feeling.
Resy: All I ask for is the continuous support from the fans we have gotten.
Their energy is what takes us to the next level of what we are doing. We
started sitting talking bout it, now to see a whole audience react to our
music, it’s incredible. It’s a crazy feeling to know people can sit there and
relate to our lyrics. We see them relate and respond to our kicks and our
snares and expressions while we perform, its a crazy feeling. My thing is, as
long as the support comes from the fans, I think you will hear more Global
City on the next level, a higher level. We do our music for them and that's
what it is!!
dubcnn.com: On the subject of Fans how important is it to have that
communication?
Transcend: Its key, that's just 1 basic element in this culture since its
birth, hip hop is an experience, the difference with hip hop, it carries more
than just sounds, carries turn tables, graffiti, break dancing, lifestyle how
we live from inner city, no one thought hip hop would last, that it would die,
and now we are making money off this, one of the biggest selling in pop
culture. We do what we love to do and we share it. We don't act like Elvis...
we are you, you are us, we just share what we got in terms of our music and
what's personal to us
Oppose- when we go out there and interact with our fans/audience, our
mentality is not oh .." we're Global City" like to say we are higher then
them, we go out there as fans to meet fans, we still gonna walk around meet
people collect their energy and who knows, use that in a song or inspiration
of a lyric, we connect with people who were raised the way we were, and those
who don't know what its like, we are very approachable, we are regular people
Brainwave: I think its important, the fans are the gas that keeps us moving, I
see myself as hip hops biggest fan, not only as a artist/performer, giving hip
hop something good, like a fan
dubcnn.com: IS there anybody n the hip hop community from old school, new
school, group, artist, producer, any of you would want to work with?
Oppose: Anybody that moved me basically, if it was a poet, graffiti artists,
producer, Emcee, doesn't matter I am not gonna get into names, to many to
mention
Transcend: There is a lot of names there, I would love to do some heavy ass
music with Nas, Black Thought. Even outside of hip-hop I would work with
Estero, I want to do some dark music with her, just travel with it, producer’s
musicians that we really appreciate
dubcnn.com: Brainwave: I would like to have done something with Big Pun, Fat
Joe
Resy: Me being a DJ, a collabo with Krs-one, The Teacher, Diamond D, Diggen In
The Crates crew, the whole Boot Camp Click, I would love to get in a
production with Jack from The Psycho Realm, I think I would run out our time
with names. Understand I been doing this for 13 years, there is many artists
that have inspired me. I can name group’s form the West Coast to the East
coast, whatever we can to do elevate the next level of hip hop. Keep it alive
for another 20, 30 years. I am all for that
dubcnn.com: Who have u guys performed with and what is your most memorable
venue so far?
Resy- We have been blessed to share the stage with many of very notable
underground artists, Self Scientific, 2Mex, we definitely shared a couple
stages with Psycho Realm and Street Platoon, Krazy Race, Kemo, we did a show
in Oakland called Hip Hop in the park with Zion I. Besides hip hop stages,
Burning Star, fortunate to share a couple stages with members of Ozomotli. I
think as a group, where we are at right now, we been very blessed to perform
with them. For me, the future is unscripted, the possibilities are enormous.
Who knows you may see Global City doing a show with Metallica or something,
who knows. It is all a collaboration with minds, body, soul, music.
Oppose-My memorable time was our first show in Bakersfield, very first time
Global City did a show, start of this whole process, obviously biggest 1 was
The Psycho Realm release party for book story 2, man the El Rey theater in LA
was to packed!, that place has never been filled ever for a concert until that
night, then there's the moments who others may think aren't moments to be
remembered at all, like Global City performing in a mechanic garage, with 2
mic cords that were 2 feet long, no matter what, that still molded us, we
could have given up but we are ambitious, we kept on going. On a side note we
did the voices for the "cholos" on Grand Theft Auto -San Andreas! Check it
out!!!!
Transcend- I think the Key club that was actually our 3rd show, another at a
swap meet, we didn't have anyone in the audience, we were facing towards the
stage backwards, picking out people, calling them to look at us Sheriff’s came
in and we started rappen to them
Resy - Every show is memorable, every show is a piece of the pie, we take
something from every where we play, my thing is looking forward to working
with other artists, any one out there who is doing this that wants to work
with Global City, hit us up Global City performed at The Conga room for the
Belmont Tunnel I know that's something people from Los Angeles, as well as
graffiti artist community are very much involved with in keeping it, what did
that mean to perform there.
The Belmont tunnel for me was very spiritual, like I said my foundation, being
in this game for so long, the way I got started n this game, I use to break
dance, graffiti tagging, Resyone, I was hitting the RTD busses, graffiti is
very close to my heart, so when I found out they were trying to tear it down
for some apartment complex's and all that, I know we got mass people coming in
to this country we need the space, but I think we need to keep something
sacred to our heart and that is what LA is all bout, Graffiti, Los Angeles,
Hip hop is a big representation of hip hop and these streets for someone to
take that away, you are taking a piece of our heart, that's why that show at
the Conga Room was huge, it was a big thing, I needed to be apart of that.
Transcend -It was a dope show, Underground Economy, Mark the poet, Lisa J,
original k day, D. J Orator, from Divine Forces radio all there with us
Oppose: The Belmont Tunnel, this show was for all the graffiti artists, it's
history, land of our ancestors for graffiti in A sense, for Global City to do
a show, it was the best thing, they are there for us, we are coming back to
them, I grew up knowing bout the Belmont Tunnel, walked past it every day,
back then you wouldn't see so much graffiti, You would see our dads playing
soccer, all that vibe and past that happened, for the honor for us to be apart
of that? Forget the money you can’t put a price on that, that's our lifestyle
dubcnn.com: What do you want people to get from your music?
Transcend: I want them to feel smell and taste, our experiences of us, people
like us, who have past on, locked up, I want them to take a travel with us.
When I first heard our CD in its entirely, I really felt like I went through
an experience, of just kicking it and living in Downtown LA, rear to the West
Side 310 area, The life we live among the freeways, beaches, relatives,
ancestors, I want them to know we are just sharing a piece of our lifestyles.
Oppose - Also people that were not born, or raised how we were raised or
people who are born in our situation but are still intimidated to hear
somebody come out with lyrics n your face speaking reality, that and for the
young who are coming out, example my own daughter, I want to teach her through
my music.
Freddy: I want our music, Global City, West Coast Latino’s, I can say there is
not that many groups that are not on a gang banging level, people like u, not
everyone gang bangs, I want to kill the stereotype that its not only bout
that, I want someone who hears the album to be like. Wow I lived that
dubcnn.com: Where can people purchase Four Corners to the Block?
Oppose: For the entire So Cal people
Graphics- Los Angeles
FatBeats- Melrose
Stacks-Cerritos
Music Revolution- Whittier, -Anaheim
Sounds of music-Whittier
Contact info for bookings or shows www.GlobalCityCrew.com
Right now we are updating it, going to get paypal, whole website is going to
be redone, for the Internet crazy mother fuckers who knows MySpace, on that u
can check out 3 tracks from our album, our video, make comments, whatever u
want
Also we got global city shirts, STICK AND MOVE is going to be doing the
clothing, we got male & female attire, every shirt is going to have a sticker
with it, kind of like a package deal
We have sent our CDs to all over the world; we have been dealing direct, so if
you are not able to get to the stores, you can contact us direct until pay pal
comes in effect. We will give u the address and all that
Oppose: Last comment we would like to thank You LatinaBeatz and DubCnn for
this opportunity to be on a well-informed hip-hop site.
Personal Level, everyone that has helped Global City from Niture- our sound
guy, Mace who did the album cover, it took late nights till we were satisfied,
10 west crew, Lee, Miloe who also did our logo, shirts, Everyone who has been
apart of us, friends, family at every show. My last thing is you like us or
you hate us, we are still going to do this. We want to unite everybody, get
off all this bull shit labels, and call it hip-hop! Don’t be afraid or ashamed
how u grew up, speak about it! Love to all the fans, producers and lyricists,
who have contributed to our album. Global City coming soon on that next album!
Global wants to thank dubcnn.com for doing what u do!! And everyone hearing us
out!
dubcnn.com: Thanks guys for sharing that info, I know we will be looking
forward to seeing and hear Global City represent Hip Hop!
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