RBX  (October 2008) | Interview By: Javon Adams

Yes, I asked if he will be involved in “Detox” and we talked about his love for hip hop and the sacrifices he’s made during his illustrious career. The Narrator is to the point and not to be played with so take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with RBX.



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.

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Interview was done in September 2008

Questions Asked By: Javon Adams

RBX Gave Dubcnn A Shoutout: Listen Here

Full Interview Audio: Listen Here

 

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Dubcnn: Dubcnn with RBX or Narrator X. You’ve finally come to Dubcnn. How are you?

Man, everything is good and peaceful. I’m focused on my music and ready to do what I do.


Dubcnn: Gotcha. Now I’m sure that whenever you talk to people that they always want to go into the past so I don’t want to do that. Mainly want to get your thoughts on some things and also talk about what you have coming up. I know that there are many ways to learn a living in the music business besides being a recording artist. I know you won a Grammy for co-writing ‘Let Me Ride’ on The Chronic. Do you still write for others or have you taped into some of those other opportunities in the music business?

If the opportunity presents itself but in all honesty I have done some things for people in the past that were record breaking and phenomenal. I thought it was time that I focused my attention on me because that was something that I hadn’t been doing. I’ve just been pretty much locked off in the cage like a Shaolin Monk getting my words together and my techniques together for myself.


Dubcnn: I know you’ve recorded a few albums over your 15 plus year career and it’s PC for an artist to say that the album their currently working on is their best work but do you feel that you’ve recorded your best collection of songs? Or is the best yet to come?

Trust and believe that there is better sh*t to come. Due to certain situations the game has shifted. As an artist that works hard on his craft I was a little reluctant to give people something that was less than serious. With my project I knew that I had to get something out there. I built up a name and I didn’t want to compromise my name so I couldn’t just put out some poo poo. At the same time it’s like a double edged sword but I am currently working on some of the best stuff I have ever or that anyone has heard me do. A lot of people think that they’ve heard me get down but they haven’t (really) heard me get down.


Dubcnn: I read where you said that your last album, “Broken Silence” gave you a chance to show people that you are nice on the mic and more than just a voice.

Yeah. That’s pretty much what it was. Big up to all my Technicali dudes, ya dig?. They were emceeing over there and you had to really come through and have skills. You couldn’t be on no “Cat in the Hat” type of rap. You’ve got to really be saying something and spitting. It was an opportunity to do that over there on a hip hop level which I have always been.

Sometimes being from the West Coast cats forget that because everybody wants to be hardcore gangstas. I am that too but more than anything you have to be able to talk about more than just bustin’ on somebody. You’ve got to be able to really bust a rhyme. And that’s where I stand.


Dubcnn: I also read where you said that in the studio you are a monster. I can definitely hear that on the mic. Does that mean outside of the booth that Mr. RBX is reserved and laid back?

Oh yeah. I’m seldom seen. I’m a no nonsense type of dude that isn’t with the rif raff and the ‘He say she say’ girl stuff. I’m not into that and that’s why you don’t see me at the Hollywood events. I’m not a ni**a that is always in the limelight. I could really care less about that. All I care about is that when you hear me I come across like that. That’s really my whole focus but if anything comes from or after that then so be it. My primary responsibility is to come off on that thing called the mic because I’m an emcee. I’m not trying to do movies or do any of that stuff. I’m trying to bust that mic. Period.


Dubcnn: You mentioned that you won’t find you at the Hollywood type events. Do you feel that because perception is often reality in the music business that it has hurt you?

I think it has probably hurt me a little bit. Cats don’t know where I’m at or what I’m doing so most of the time they want to know. They have to speculate and that is where the B.S. comes in. So I think it has been a detriment but at the same time the only reason that I haven’t been at the award shows is because I wasn’t winning an award and I wasn’t getting any accolades. So why would I be up there on some groupie type ish when I could be spending my time in the lab getting ready for the next missile I have to fire. When the time comes for me to be the guy that accepts an award or be in the running for an award then I will be there to support that. But until that time I have to stay in the lab.


Dubcnn: I heard that. You mentioned being in the lab and working on the next missile to launch. I have to get this question out of the way. Will you be working on the Detox album or will you be appearing on it or involved in it in any way?

At this point I’m just going to have to plead the fifth.


Dubcnn: Ok, I got you. I’m not mad at you. Having been a part of a classic album like “The Chronic” and having 15 plus years in the game what is the key to making an album that stand the test of time?

Really getting in there and focusing on what you do. A lot of cats have the wrong conception about…the see the videos and think you’re going to have strippers in the studio and you’ll be drinking. No. It’s really more like a hard hat area. I view it like a construction site. They don’t bring their wives and their girlfriends when they’re over there building a house.

When I go to the studio I really don’t even want to talk to cats. Some people might see me as arrogant or cocky or Hollywood. I really don’t care what they say but when I’m in the lab I’m not trying to talk to you. I’m trying to focus on what I came to the studio for. I didn’t come to socialize or to party or fraternize. It’s strictly work. Period.


Dubcnn: You often hear about the ups when it comes to an artist but you never hear about the sacrifices and the consequences for being so dedicated to your craft and your passion. Do you have any regrets be it personal or professional? Explain some of the sacrifices that it takes because its not all glitz and glamour in the music industry.

It’s not all glitz and glamour. It’s really grimy and gritty, especially if you are serious with it. Some people just skate the perimeters and some luck up. They might through their fishing hook out there and hit the first time. For some people it’s just not that way. You can hear the seriousness of a person’s music when you listen to it. You can tell if they were really honed in on their craft or if they just went to do whatever they were doing.

For me, I think it’s probably cost me a lot because I am so serious and it consumes me sometimes. With relationships and things your girl wants to hang out and you say, ‘Nah, I got this joint I gotta do.’ It can cause problems but you have to find a female that is going to stick by you because she knows that’s what you do. It’s crazy because like I said it’s not a glamorous thing. It’s like a mechanic and sometimes I come home dirty from it. Like, ‘Damn I been in the studio a day and a half.’ Smelling like cigarettes and everything but that’s how I get down.


Dubcnn: I’ve asked this question of a few folks lately and everybody sees this differently. What does success look like for you? Is it being able to perform regularly? Is it reaching a certain number for record sales or downloads? What does success look like for RBX?

I don’t know. Success is…that is a real tricky word for me. I just see myself as just doing what I love to do. All that star sh*t…that sh*t is nothing to me. I really can’t tell you how much I don’t give a f*ck about all that. I just like to be respected for what I do. So success is like…to each person success might be a car. Success might be a nice house. I guess I could measure by every time I do a record and it is better than the last. That is successful to me because it is progression.


Dubcnn: Correct me if I’m wrong but it seems like on a track you come across with so much intensity but what brings you joy is just being in the studio and recording and being able to churn out music.

Exactly. And you summed it up right there. As a professional you have to do what you have to do like with the new videos and whatnot. That is secondary to me. The primary is creating and I love to create. That is the primary focus.


Dubcnn: Speaking of creating, tell us what you have coming up and what we can be on the lookout for. What’s going on with RBX in terms of new projects and all that?

Well, I have some things in the pipeline. The “Unanimous” project that I have brewing is pretty much the follow up to “Broken Silence”. It’s one I really focused on with a different mindset. It’s coming out way crazy – in a good way. We have that coming and “The Shining” was remixed and re-mastered. A lot of peopled didn’t hear that and it slipped under the radar but I have “The Shining” that is about to resurface. There is a Rock thing that I’m working on called Dub Barracuda. It’s strictly on some Rock with Heavy Metal the whole album. Strictly Rock the whole record.

With my partner Big Rock I have the Concrete Criminals. We have a guest appearance from MC Ren which is rare. So we got activity poppin’ and I figure around four projects are going to drop simultaneously. Then I’ll tell you about the other treats after that.


Dubcnn: OK. Make sure you keep us posted. Any last words for Dubcnn? Let them know how they can stay in touch with you in terms of your myspace or whatever.

Big up to everybody universally. I’m not going to box myself into the West Coast even though that’s where I’m from. You can holla at RBX on MySpace. Everything is active so stay tuned. Chuuch!