HEATWAVE (October 2007) | Interview By: Adon

       Dubcnn recently introduced you to a new talent based out of Vancouver, Canada, Heatwave. He’s geared up to release his debut mixtape later this month, “Coming To America, Live From Raindrop City”. Heatwave took time out of his busy touring schedule to sit down with us and answer some questions to get to better know the man that very well could be Canada’s next big export. We touched on things from his influences growing up, the new mixtape, and where his favorite tour spot is. The answer to that question might surprise you.
 

As always we have the transcript for you to check and please feel free to send any feedback regarding the interview to: adon@dubcnn.com

 

Interview was done in October 2007.

Questions Asked By : Adon

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Dubcnn: Tell us a little about how you got into hip-hop. What influenced you, what made you want to start rapping?

I've been a fan of music forever. When I was growing up it was Bobby Brown, Michael Jackson, then Biggie and Pac, Jay-Z, the list goes on. I'm a huge music fan in general, not just hip-hop and when I was 11 or 12 years old I started writing lyrics, making songs and trying to imitate Jay, Slick Rick, Run DMC, Pac and all my other favourite rappers. I mean until I was like 19 or 20 years old basketball consumed my life but music and hip-hop have always been my culture and what makes me who I am. When I stopped playing ball I decided to go head on with the music stuff and so far it’s working out (laughs).


Dubcnn: From the tracks I've heard, you're very versatile. How would you define your sound?

My music is really a reflection of the different cultures that I'm surrounded by everyday in my city (Vancouver). I'm from a multi-cultural city where all the blacks, whites, Asians, browns, etc. all mingle with each other. Plus I grew up in the U.S. so my swagger and flow has the familiar American sound. Really, I can do anything from Top 40, Reggae, Rock & Roll, conscious rap, club banger, whatever and the people are always gonna know it's a HeatWave track. I make music, hot music, period!


Dubcnn: The track listing for your mixtape "Coming To America..." looks tight, but I noticed there aren't a lot of features, what made you decide to go at it mostly alone?

What I need a feature for? If the music is hot with just me on it why put someone else on it that could possibly weaken the potential of the song? I got enough of a presence on my tracks that I rarely need someone else to make the song better. If I feel like the song needs a little bit more then I can always hit up one of my dudes to add that extra flavor. And I definitely got some friends with talent (laughs).


Dubcnn: What are your favourite tracks on the new album?

I’m feeling numbers 1-20 and the bonus (laughs). Nah, I really do love my whole fuckin’ mixtape though. The CD doesn’t play like a normal mixtape, it plays more like a studio album. Each track flows nicely into the next one and you get a wide assortment of sounds and topics. I really fuck with myself on “Gangsta Love”, “Nice As Me”, “Ye Ain’t Got Enuff Green” and “Addicted”. “Nice As Me” should have a video to go with it in the near future. The track is so dirty with that Big L and Jay-Z sample and simple, bangin’ beat behind it. “You think you nice as me? Haha, you’s a funny nigga…” (laughs).


Dubcnn: Tell us a little bit about your album that will come out after the mixtape.

Man, I haven't even really started focusing on that yet. I've just really got to take my first breather and I'm using this free time to take care of some personal shit and to promote the hell outta this mixtape. I've got a few tracks that I kept off the mixtape that are potential album cuts but I'm not making anything official until I get back into full studio mode. Right now it's just grinding and promotion.

I will say with confidence that my debut album's gonna be fuckin' insane and it's gonna be coming out on Killawatt Records/SonyBMG (The Rascalz/RED1'S record label). In fact I just recorded a song last week in L.A. that might be the album's first single. But it's way too early to make that call and I usually bang out some crazy songs right around deadline time.


Dubcnn: You've had the chance to travel and perform, what are some of your favorite spots?

WHISTLER! (Laughs) I know it's close to home but that place is so much fun because you get to perform in intimate settings where the people can really feel your lyrics and music. I get to talk to the people and be more personal with them and Whistler people love that. Shout out to Whistler! Haiti, too. We performed in front of 20,000 people in a tropical storm and chilled with the Marley brothers all weekend (Damien and Stephen). Haiti is a fucked up spot, lots of poverty and crime. But the music festival we were at was a beautiful thing and it really showed the positive side to a negative environment. Haitians really value music and have a strong passion for it.


Dubcnn: You say your goal is to make it big as a rapper period. Regardless of where you’re from. But do you see any difficulties in breaking the US market being from Vancouver?

Of course! Name one rapper outta Vancouver who has blown up commercially in the U.S. Fuck it, name me one rapper from Canada or anywhere outside the U.S. that has blown up and had some longevity in the American market. Stuck, right? Breaking into the US market is damn near impossible but if anyone has the talent, swagger and work ethic to change that, it's HeatWave. Plus 90% of the people I fuck with in the music industry are American so I'm not sure that this question applies to me


Dubcnn: You've opened for a lot of big acts, was there anyone in particular that you were excited about?

(Turns to his manager, David Katz and asks), was I excited about anyone (laughs)? Nah not really. I mean, I'm a hip hop fan and all but I've been way more excited to perform myself then to watch the main acts. In Canada it’s different. I can get on any major hip hop billing because I'm that dude in my city but in the U.S. even the hottest unsigned rappers have to pay to get on the opening bill for the bigger artists. I got Lil' Wayne coming up and just because dude got so much hype around I'm excited to be able to showcase my skills opening for someone as popular as him. Now that I'm an emerging artist in this game I'm not as much as a fan of the new cats I open for. I'm still a fan of hip-hop but now it's more business and competition.


Dubcnn: Do you have any other projects you want our readers to know about?

First and foremost support my latest project and cop the mixtape, “Coming To America: Live From Rain Drop City”. I’m going on tour today actually with RED1 & DJ Kemo and the rest of the Killawatt family. We’re hitting up the East Coast of Canada this time around so look for us (mostly in Ontario). Check my MySpace for the exact dates. Other than that people can expect a new music video in the next few months featuring myself, RED1, P. Jericho and Lamar Ashe. It’s RED1’s third single off his solo album ,"Beg For Nothing", in stores now. The song is hot as fuck so look for that video and in our live shows.


Dubcnn: How can fans get in contact with you?

Hit me up online on MySpace or contact my manager, David Katz at (604) 785-8765.


Dubcnn: Anything else you'd like to say to our readers?

Got give me list of shout outs: BC weed for keeping me creative (laughs), my Blockstar family (what up, Status!), RED1, Killawatt Records, DJ Kemo, Jewish power (laughs), that's my manager David Katz (DLMK management), my Canadian producer, Tre Hinds (aka The Future), my U.S. producer, Kajmir Royale (shout to his manager, World), all the DJ's in the city, Flipout, Jay Swing, J. Fresh, The Freshest Kids, Seko, Kutkorners, Phyzik, Rico Uno, Marvel, Hedspin, Goodfellas, Supafly, Vinyl Ritchie, Bles-Sed, Rex (the list goes on, sorry if I forgot anyone), all the promoters in the city, GMAN & RIZK, Spectrum, Tiigerstone, Another Level, etc., all the clubs in the city that have performance opportunities, Plush, Au Bar, Atlantis, Tonic, Lucy Mae Brown's, Commodore, Standard, Republic, Modern, etc., gotta shout out FU2 Clothing, DIPT Urban Hook Ups (what up Martini), all the artists I fuck with: Splurge in England (on the European remix of "Ye Ain't Got Enuff Green"), P. Jericho, J Gunna, Tee Locc, EDGE1, Jaykin, Lamar Ashe, Joose, Jahfus, Natrishka, Young Texxus (on the Texas remix of "Ye Ain't Got Enuff Green"), Sparkdawg, Young Capone, K-Wal, Lil' Dee, Big Shan, Littles The General (on the East Coast of Canada remix of "Ye Ain't Got Enuff Green"), Classified, Jordan Croucher, Aristo, Ganja Kid, and the whole Offense camp. Last but not least I wanna thank my momma and sister for keeping me sane and grounded. I could keep going for days but y'all need to stop reading and go listen to my music on MySpace. Peace.


 

Check out our sister site, Sicksofour , where we go more in depth with Heatwave on some local issues in the Vancouver Hip Hop scene.