Another KNOC-TURN'AL interview!

[Mota]

Knoc-Turn’al: Working While You Sleep


Since Pharcyde came out with their debut album in 1993, journalists have been bombarded with hundreds of press releases promising that Rap Act X will forever change the stereotype that West Coast rappers only rap about drink, dank, and crime. Knoc-Turn’al is the one millionth guy who claims he will change how West Coast lyricists are viewed, yet he still rhymes about misogyny and violence just like the G next door. Should you take Knoc-Turn’al seriously? Read his own words and you be the judge.

It is questionable that anyone in 2002 still believes that West Coast lyricists are strictly gangsta rappers, after the hip-hop contributions of folks like Ras Kass, Pharcyde, Saafir, Souls of Mischief, Digital Underground, Paris, The Coup, Dilated Peoples and so on. Knoc-Turn’al still asserts that the stereotype is in effect. "People feel like ‘All they ever gonna do is talk about gangbanging, 6-4s, blunts, 40s, and all this’. But there are people on the West Coast that have a lot of content, a lot of subject matter, and know how to make real creative songs, instead of making a bunch of gangbanging music," he stated emphatically.

An objective hip-hop observer would be surprised to read the sentence above, indicating a love of topical variety and content, then learn that two of the three East Coast rappers Knoc-Turn’al deems as noteworthy lyricists are Beanie Sigel and Busta Rhymes, hardly the two hip-hop artists most known for their topical variety. After all, a Beanie Sigel album without references to violence would likely only be a 2-song single. And Busta? Well, he’s a master of flow, but Busta has been making different variations of "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See" for years now.

This is only the beginning of Knoc-Turn’al’s unique views on lyricism. He also has a perplexing stance on the quality of West Coast lyricism, currently on the brink of a renaissance with competent full length album work from relative unknowns like Self Scientific and Dilated Peoples, while leaked songs indicate 2002 will be a monster year for West Coast artists like Ras Kass and Blackilicious. And that’s just naming four acts in one of hip-hop’s largest breeding grounds for rap talent.

Despite all that, Knoc-Turn’al had a rather shocking response when asked if any of his West Coast peers were impressing him as lyricists.

"Lyrically, on the West Coast, right now I don’t have one [rapper I’m feeling lyrically]. Because right now to me, West Coast lyrics are really lagging."

One might just as likely assume this means that Knoc-Turn’al’s record collection – as regards West Coast lyricists -- is also lagging. More likely, this means that Knoc-Turn’al’s definition of "lyricist" differs from a large portion of the hip-hop massive. Rappers who fans of lyricism may deem impressive seemingly get a shrug from this nonchalant rhymesmith.

When I suggested critically acclaimed lyricist Ras Kass as an example of powerful West Coast lyricism, Knoc-Turn’al politely disagreed.

"Ras Kass is very disappointing. Talking about the same type of stuff over and over again," Knocc stated simply.

To understand why this statement could be viewed as odd, one would have to be somewhat familiar with Ras Kass’ album work. Ras Kass is the West Coast rhymer who wrote a seven and a half minute song about the history of white supremacy (Nature of The Threat), a song where he shares a conversation with God and the Devil about theology (Interview With A Vampire), and a track on his new album where he criticizes the social effects of television by incorporating over 30 television show titles into his rhyme scheme (TV Guide). Knocc, by contrast, currently has a single which mainly focuses on his sexual prowess with women (Knocc) and a guest appearance on a Dr. Dre song about how he can get another man’s woman (Bad Intentions). Knocc’s position that Ras Kass is topically repetitive seems slightly odd in light of this.

However, Knocc clarified his position a little bit later in the conversation and gave Ras credit for his phenomenal verses, while remaining slightly critical of Ras’ song construction. "To me, right now, Ras Kass doesn’t have the best beat selection in the world. There’s other things that he can do better like he can have better hooks involved with his songs instead of having boring hooks. His verses are always dope, but it’s more to making a complete song than a verse," Knocc concluded.

Unfortunately, the inverse of that criticism could be leveled at Knoc-Turn’al for his debut single, "Knoc", which has a captivating hook but showcases verses which could be viewed as lyrically underwhelming. When discussing his style, Knoc-Turn’al implies that his focus is on flair in delivery over depth in content.

"[When I rhyme, I use] catchy jingles, hooks, and phrases, instead of trying to badger you with lyrical content all the time. As far as ‘lyrical content’, I mean ‘trying to be the best MC in the world’."

When asked, Knoc-Turn’al agreed that his approach to flow has been influenced by his musical training. The man plays several instruments (French horn, cello, and piano) and knows how to write music.

"[My musical training] definitely helped me not to be monotone. There’s a lot of monotone rappers out there. It helped me to be more melodic with my style," he stated. "It helped me play with the music a little more," he explained further.

This ability to play instruments and compose is a rarity in a mostly sample-driven music like hip-hop. Knoc-Turn’al expresses a preference for live composition over sampling.

"I would rather have live music and take the sample out, but [sometimes] when you have live music and you take the sample out, it kind of deadens the song. So, it depends what angle the artist is looking for or the producer is looking for. I would prefer to not have a sample," Knoc-Turn’al notes.

As hip-hop evolves, so too does people’s approach to the art form. Live instrumentation played a strong part in the early years of hip-hop (usually in the replaying of "breaks"). Sampling later became pre-dominant. Knoc-Turn’al’s preference for live instrumentation represents a veering away from that later direction to a place closer to the original style of production of classic hip-hop records, where session musicians replayed breaks by artists like Chic. Interestingly, Knoc-Turn’al’s focus on hook construction over complex metaphoric wordplay is also close to the original spirit of emceeing which was largely hook-driven and lacking the heavy usage of "quotable punchlines" and extended metaphor associated with dope lyricism in the modern rap era. This is all made even more fascinating in light of the fact that the young rapper has not yet visualized how he will figure into the history of hip-hop.

"I’m just coming in here. I’m still a baby, so I don’t see how I see myself [in the history of hip-hop]. When I see how my first album sells, I’ll know.

(rapsheet.com)

Damn,knoc against ras kass?

[KVB]

Cool interview... btw I like your new name... lol  good lookin out

[CantCme213]

Nice interview ! 10 euro  

[Rud]

When I suggested critically acclaimed lyricist Ras Kass as an example of powerful West Coast lyricism, Knoc-Turn’al politely disagreed.

"Ras Kass is very disappointing. Talking about the same type of stuff over and over again," Knocc stated simply.

Shocked Me Abit That - But He Later Gave Him Credit For Verses

Still A Good Interview


peace

[Mota]

I'm tired to see knockturnal actin like The God of west coast rap,the next big star,the next big things out the west coast.
Ras kass can kill this guy in 1 verse!

[LyRiCaL_G]

knock aiight n all but his aint on rass's level lyrically n then he disses him, shiiiiiiiiiiiit n plus even if he really does think he better than rass that dont mean he can go dissin him, man no wonder the west dont have much sucess these days, there own coast is dissin them.

[techniec]

ha, "knoc" is a fuckin joke,

the hook is garbage and knoc has some stupid as fuck lyrics,
talkin on rass kass, punk!

[Mota]

In no way knoc can compete with ras kass,ras kass would kill knoc with 2 lines....and ain't that funny for knoc.

[Big_Loco_FME]

ha, "knoc" is a fuckin joke,

the hook is garbage and knoc has some stupid as fuck lyrics,
talkin on rass kass, punk!

Yup, I agree. Knoc should concentrate on his own shit instead of hating on the next man. Ras would serve him easily.

"Cant wait to get in a beef,
I'll make a diss record and ruin one of y'alls career"
- Ras from Game Over -

[Mota]

"Cant wait to get in a beef,
I'll make a diss record and ruin one of y'alls career"  

[Jome]

Dope interview, but he did NOT DISS Ras Kass, yall guys jumping to conclusions. All he said was that Ras talks too much about the same, and that's far from dissing. But it was strange either way hearing Knoc talk about subject matter. However I agree that Ras should have better choruses, even that's not what makes him. It would just help him to sell better.

[Doggystylin]

knoc seems a lil big headed, i think him workin with dre has somethin to do with it

[Smooth]

Dope interview, but he did NOT DISS Ras Kass quote]

i think Knoc saying "Ras Kass is very disappointing" is at least somewhat of a diss

[Mota]

knoc seems a lil big headed, i think him workin with dre has somethin to do with it