Author Topic: Inspectah Deck: From the Ashes of Loud (Read 99 times)

STILLDRE IS THE GODFATHER · « **on:** June 16, 2003, 04:14:14 AM »

Inspectah Deck: From the Ashes of Loud
Friday - June 13, 2003
Sherman Johnson
Like his fellow Clansman ODB, Inspectah Deck was on the verge of being little more than a statistic. Deck had been on lockdown in SONY after his original label Loud Records was ultimately swallowed up the multimedia behemoth in a corporate feeding frenzy years ago. Although the quiet, watchful eye of the Staten Island Shaolin was often overshadowed by his nine other brothers despite hurling some of the most hazardous darts on definitive tracks like “C.R.E.A.M.” and “Protect Ya Neck,” the Brooklyn-born MC/producer is universally known for the unorthodox/paradox brand of symbolism embedded in Raekwon’s 1995 landmark, Only Built 4 Cuban Linx and the GZA’s indisputable classic, Liquid Swords, in 1995. The release of his own album was put on the back burner with the demise of Loud. The bright skies of a promising career gradually spun to dark. His recording career on hold, his output fell off. The single, “Let Me At Them,” appeared on the Tales From the Hood soundtrack in 1995 although it was credited to the Clan. Largely overlooked on Wu-Tang Forever in 1997, his debut album, Uncontrolled Substance, was finally released in 1999 before he subsequently went on to work on The W and Iron Flag, in 2000 and 2001, respectively. He recently took time out from a busy schedule consumed with the production of his new label Urban Icon Records to reflect on his sophomore album, The Movement, and the future of the Wu-Tang Clan.

Q: How did the fiasco at Loud originate?
A: BMG dropped Loud, Sony picked up Loud and they did a merger with Relativity and it became Columbia. My contract changed many hands. I went legal in and out of courtrooms and offices, but I finally got out early this year. Now I’m out of every contract except for Koch. It’s the biggest blessing. I sacrificed a few years but now I get to reap the benefits of my own work. Had Uncontrolled Substance had the total faith and effort of the label behind me, I probably could’ve had more success to come back with another one.

Q: How did it effect you mentally?
A: It was chaos. Going through that, seeing people around me struggling, I’m more blessed than the average dude to be doing this. Going through that stress, not having an album out, being around my brothers again, coming back through the hood, absorbing what it took to have that aggressiveness to be Inspectah Deck in the first place, I had to go back to my drive. My drive is the era of Big Daddy Kane, Biz Mark and Kool G Rap, when records was all about fun as well as having the jazzy beat with hip hop being the way of life.

Q: What do you want to invest in the culture?
A: The kids nowadays ain’t got the culture that’s hip-hop. All they got is what they see. If a nigga wear a blue chain tomorrow then blue chains’ll be what’s up. Ain’t too many people that’s gonna do what they want to do to be innovative leaders. I’m trying to go against the industry by making this type of album.

Q: What type of album is The Movement?
A: No guest stars, no Neptune beats, just straight beats and rhymes—rebel music. It’s rage against the machine music but I’m not trying to preach. I’m trying to lead by example.

Q: Does that automatically make it superior?
A: I don’t do that type of song happening on the radio everyday. I do my thing. If you compare it on your own, you’re gonna understand that Deck has skills. Other niggas jack beats and put wack songs out. That’s how the industry goes right now. Whoever thrives they ride him and milk that idea until it’s dead and they wait for the next person with something new.

Q: How often do you all disagree?
A: All the time but we got ways of communicating. We talk about what we gonna do and how we gonna do it. Nine individuals that have the power to make decisions and do for self. I’ll probably do two more albums and jump behind the scenes.

Q: The only way to get out of the Wu is death, no?
A: I got groups. I got a label. It’s me behind the wheels doing the same thing I do, driving my own bus. I got the next one in the works. “Ghetto Child.” We ain’t gonna wait so long. Putting that out next summer.

Q: Who’s on the bus ride this time?
A: I tried to get that flava from dudes out there already. Ayatollah. My boy Fantom of the Beats, Huss G, I grew up with. He did more than half the album and Ayatollah finished it up. Kool G came through and blessed me on a joint called “Framed.” “City High” is crazy. That’s driving music right there. I got Street Life. He been involved in all Meth’s projects. Killa Sin from Killarmy.

Q: Obviously Meth wasn’t referring to you when he went off about group members slipping.
A: I’m always on top of my shit. I’ll go fifty verses with anybody off the head before I even make it to the books. But, at the same time, I felt that way on Iron Flag. We didn’t collectively put our best swordplay on track. I tried to do what I could but collectively I didn’t get the inspiration.

Q: Maybe all that will change now that Dirty’s free?
A: He’s been ducking phone calls. My people up at the Roc trying to get hold of him too.

Q: Are you surprised he signed with Roc-A-Fella?
A: Initially. I thought it was treason, some Benedict Arnold shit but then I had to realize he been locked up, going through trauma. That deal might take care of his wife and kids. I can’t tell that nigga don’t sign nothing. That’s his future. I’m Wu-Tang for life and I know he is too. Whatever he do, I know he gone be over there screaming Wu-Tang. The thing people gotta remember is that he’s still ODB. That’s a description, not a name. He liable to get the check and dip. Ya’ll gotta remember. That’s dirty, man.

The Watcher · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2003, 04:49:43 AM »

this album is sounding dope

between studying, work and watching cartoons, i dont get much time to listen to music at the moment, cept for when im drivin to work. will def have to pick this album up and give it a listen

has it been ripped yet at all?

OpTiCaL · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2003, 04:58:55 AM »

Amazing interview bro...thanks for posting up...

...im so excited about the "rebirth" of some fo the wu...ive been a fan since day one and involved with some fo the european stuff...

...it will be great to see him do well...sell..and most importantly shine again as we know that he can!

pZ