Interview: Rugged Intellect - Renaissance Music

[Damien J.]

Source: www.yoraps.com



As the Canadian born hip-hop artist reflects back to his fresh hair cut with the lines on the side of his dome and watching Kid-N-Play movies on the big screen, it´s hard for him believe that his highly anticipated debut album is set to be released this June. "Renaissance Music: The Introduction" was recently reviewed by The Source Magazine and received only 3.5 Mics! "Yeah, as far as the feedback from industry people and casual hip-hop listeners the feedback is phenomenal," says Rugged. As you can see this executive producer, writer, and MC won half the battle with some of hip-hop’s toughest critics, but it takes a lot more to mark your territory in this tough industry.

His debut album was originally set to be released on May 8th but, the album was pushed back to June 5th to coincide with the linking of an international distribution deal with Traffic Entertainment that will assure that he gains international fans, so they will have the opportunity to hear him spit fire.

Rugged Intellect has been on his grind pushing his own music with the support from his East Coast mentor Domingo and right hand man associate producer Adam Sadler.

Rugged learned from hip-hop legends to create a buzz for yourself you have to go hard. So he stirred up a hoaxed beef with Sean Price on YouTube, which had everyone talking.

This video caused a lot of industry heads and hip-hop lovers to stop and listen to what not only Sean Price, but what Rugged had to say. Yo! Raps gets the scoop on the rugged past and intellectual future of Rugged Intellect.

Can you please school me on the hip-hop scene in Montreal?

Canadian hip-hop is really a lot of different artists and sounds from different places. There are people like Cardinal and pop artists like Nelly Furtado. As far as hip-hop it’s just very diverse and I wouldn’t say I represent a Canadian sound it´s more of representing where I’m from through my music.

When were you introduced to hip-hop?

When I was like 6 or 7 years old I had the lines on the sides of my head like MC Hammer. I subconsciously didn’t know that was hip-hop because I was young, but now when I look at that I’m like wow that was part of hip-hop. My older sister was into hip-hop before I was so just trying to do what your older sibling was doing, listening to Run DMC. The House Party movies, I went to see all the House Party movies in the theatres and that was before I even knew what quote on quote hip-hop was I just knew I liked it.

What’s your ultimate favorite hip-hop song?

Umm, it was just the movement as a whole. To me it was more of a natural feeling coming from the background I was coming from. You know it was just a lot of situations in hip-hop and songs that I was hearing, which I could relate to in my personal life based on economical standpoints, family, and dealing with the inner city experience. As far as [favorite] songs and artists it’s just a lot of stuff everything from Rakim, Snoop Dogg, I mean I don’t want to be on some shit, but I’m kind of like a hip-hop encyclopedia. I listen to everything.

Hip-hop encyclopedia! Okay, Rugged let´s talk about your new album.

Definitely. Well, I’m just finishing my album right now it´s called Renaissance Music the introduction and this is my debut album. I’ve had mixtapes and things of that nature, but as far as like real releases this is my first album. It´s executive produced by myself, by my associate producer and business partner Adam Sadler, makes sure you get that in there. Also my man Domingo who came through as a mentor to me and helped me out with the direction of the project. Domingo gave me a dream shot working for Big Pun, KRS-One and he came through and really assisted the project. I mean the record is big! You were asking about Canada and what I’m bringing to the table is something unique in Canada and internationally in hip-hop. My debut album features classic collaborations with Kool G Rap, Ras Kass, Heltah Skeltah (Ruck and Rock), AG and Party Arty of DITC, RA The Rugged Man, Rustee Juxx (BCC), Mad Skillz - he‘s the next Kanye West, and Solomon Childs. As you can see there are a lot of people on the album, but people are looking at it like, "yeah he got a lot of features, but can he actually hold it down" you know the album is really strong and I deal with a lot of topics and aspects of music and you can look at it in the month of June.

What should the public expect from Renaissance Music?

It’s a direct reflection of who I am. I believe that every individual is unique in its own way so this is just my chamber with hip-hop this is me in the hip-hop realm and I just think in terms of coming from a real perspective and not unpretentious. It´s just good music, it´s lyrical, it´s passionate, and it just celebrates hip-hop. I am not trying to destroy hip-hop and it celebrates all of the beautiful elements of hip-hop culture.

What do you think is missing in the today’s hip-hop industry?

Accurate and equal representation for independent and quote on quote underground artists as oppose to strictly placing emphasis on promoting big artists that are signed to Universal or other labels. What we are seeing nowadays is really one facet of hip-hop that is being broadcasted to the masses and leading people to believe that hip-hop is only negative. What I’m saying is you can cast the same light as you can cast on the negative stuff on the more positive which is different areas of hip-hop, people could see that hip-hop is a positive thing as well as negative. I’m saying this because right now hip-hop is under fire by a lot of media outlets and you know the Don Imus incident obviously.

What’s your opinion on hip-hop being used as an excuse for discriminatory remarks made by Don Imus?

The media always has a way to manipulate things and sway people opinions towards different things. Right now they want to use hip-hop as a kind of scapegoat for all that, but you know people know hat it is.

Who do you think is the most slept on underground artists?

Ras Kass, he’s need to get that push. The whole DITC, Party Arty is phenomenal if there any A&R reading this interview go see Party Arty in the BX, he’s that dude.

In your opinion, how is the hip-hop community feeling you?

Yeah, as far as the feedback from industry people and casual hip-hop listeners the feedback is phenomenal. I am very appreciative of any support towards what I am doing.

How do you handle the business aspect of the hip-hop game?

I just find it like to be in the industry nowadays you gotta really come through and be equipped economically and have the situation popping. You can be the dopest kid on the street, but if you can’t pay for that XXL ad no one is gonna know your album is coming out. If you can’t go out and really get the proper marketing behind your release and make sure all the DJ’s is playing your single can become more of an arduous task.

As an independent artists, how are you creating that buzz for yourself?’

I mean just every possible way that I can. I do a lot of shows, networking in New York, and making my name known by any possible avenues. Recently, in March I bought XXL like anyone else and I turned to page like 130 and they had my joint with Kool G Rap as one of the top tracks.

Where did the name Rugged Intellect come from?

The words of Rugged Intellect means street knowledge and that to me is what lyricism is. Lyricism is Rugged Intellect because it´s smart and rugged because it´s from the streets. I consider myself a rugged individual, but also an intellectual so it´s just fit.

Besides hip-hop what do you enjoy doing?

Nothing [laughter]. I’m really focused on doing this full-time not just being in the studio, but doing the executive stuff like handling all the business things for the day, mailing promo packages, getting the artwork, so that occupies all my time. So you know besides that I like to smoke a blunt and listen to some Biggie, you know regular shit.

What major hip-hop producers or artists would you like to work with in the future?

Just Blaze, Show Biz, Buckwild, DJ Premier. As far as artist I would like to work with Rakim, that would be crazy because I worked with a lot of legends already I was boosted to do that, but working with Rakim would be some next level stuff as well.

That’s the second time you’ve mentioned Rakim in our interview, what do you admire about him?

Rakim, just the way his delivery and his maturity on the mic. He was always rugged and street, but it was always the mind and his delivery is really ridiculous the way he did it was just wow. When he comes through it´s just wow, it´s just the God. It´s unspeakable you know, it´s him right off the back he just the coolest, he’s like a deadly silent assassin, he’s cool, ice cold.

What´s the future for Rugged Intellect?

I mean just basically elevating myself as a human being and musically. The album is really dope if you like good hip-hop music, I’m not preachy, I’m just me and the hooks are nice and we have crazy legends on it so I’m just trying to spread it internationally.

MySpace: www.myspace.com/ruggedintellect

- By Nakia Hill
 
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