MIKE ANT (December 2007) | Interview By:
Eddie Gurrola
Dubcnn recently sat down with R&B
artist Mike Ant for an exclusive video interview. In this feature, we
discuss Mike’s undeniable passion for all different types of music, and what
he plans to bring to the game. We also talk about current and future
collaborations with artists like Bishop Lamont, Taje, and Dae One. Mike also
speaks about his upcoming street album “Old School New,” which will feature
many of the West Coast’s finest artists. To find out about all of these topics
and much more, read or watch this interview.
As always we have both the transcript and the video for you to
check and please feel free to send any feedback regarding the interview to:
eddie@dubcnn.com
Interview was done in December 2007.
Questions Asked By :
Eddie
Gurrola
Full Interview In Video For Download :
Here
(Video: WMV)
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Watch The Video Interview (via the
Dubcnn
Brightcove Channel)
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Dubcnn: What’s up, we’re here with Mike Anthony. How are you doing?
I’m doing well man. I just got back from a Los Angeles Laker game with my
boys Ace (of The Bloc Boyz) and Young Bruh. Bruh’s brother – good lookin’ out
on the seats homie! We were right behind the scorekeepers, on the floor! It’s
major - Kobe was right there! It’s going on Youtube, you know what it is. We
got Carmelo [Anthony] ejected from the game. We got in his head. It’s a fact,
are we lying?
Dubcnn: All right, we’ve got to watch the recap on “Sportscenter!” Even if
our readers don’t know your name yet, they’ve probably heard some of your
music before. You’ve been on songs with Bishop Lamont and Taje. When did you
start singing?
Ever since I can remember – a long time ago! When I was talking, I was
singing, and my love for signing [got] me writing. I started making little
songs when I was younger. I’ve always had an affinity for music, and for all
things musical.
Dubcnn: How did you originally link up with Bishop Lamont, Taje, and the
whole Diocese camp?
I was working at a bank, and that’s how I met Bishop, AKA Phillip. We just
talked about music, we bonded on the music tip, and over the years our musical
relationship grew to what it is now. He’s a good dude. I met Taje through Dae
One and Noni Spitz, whom I met through Bishop. You know how it is – good
people meet good people, and everybody works with each other so it’s really
good!
Dubcnn: You’ve been on a lot of big-name street albums this year, including
“CALTROiT” and “Hot Box 2.” What’s your opinion on dropping free street
albums?
I think it’s the way to go right now, because the music industry is
[currently] in a revolutionary [state.] It’s nothing to be scared about; it’s
just that we’re at the frontier of something major. Everybody doesn’t know
what that major thing is. There’s still money to be made – you just have to
employ new and creative ways to get money. But it’s out there!
Dubcnn: OK! What have you been working on recently? You’ve got a new street
album coming called “Old School New”…
Yeah, I’m working on a mixtape. It’s a surprise; I don’t want to say too much
about it. But, it’s to be looked out for, and I’ve got all my West Coast
family on it. I’ve got Bishop, I’m reaching out to Mykestro again, I’m trying
to get Glasses on it, The Bloc Boyz, Young Bruh, Prime, Chevy Jones, Turie –
who I consider my Tammi Terrell because we sound so good together, so
wonderful, so magical! I’m forgetting a lot of names – Roccett, Noni Spitz, I
don’t know if I can get to Vanessa Marquez, but I’m trying to get to [her] as
well. I’m horrible at coming off the top with names, but just everybody that
you can think of [will be on it.]
Dubcnn: How would you describe your sound? It seems to me like there’s an
old-school type of vibe to it…
A lot of people say that, and I don’t hear that, but if you hear old-school,
that’s because I grew up listening to a lot of gospel. My father was a pastor,
so I come from a strong gospel background. I think that’s the base right
there, the gospel foundation. If there’s anything in my voice that you hear
different compared to other singers - because I don’t think I’m necessarily
better or worse than anybody, I’m just different – it’s probably that gospel
background. But then, I listen to everything else. I listen to hip-hop, I
listen to jazz, classical, soul, alternative rock, country music, electronica
– whatever’s fly and whatever’s fresh – I’m on it! I listen to everything.
Dubcnn: You were on the “CALTROiT” street album on the song “Not The Way.”
Tell us about your experience recording that one…
Bishop came to me and gave me some tracks that he was considering for “CALTROiT.”
This was very early on in the whole “CALTROiT” process. I hadn’t even met
Black Milk yet! He told me he wanted a song that featured me on it, and it was
gonna be kind of like my [own] song. So when I heard that beat by Diverse, it
just jumped out at me. This was about a year ago, I had just seen “The
Secret,” so my mind was open to new possibilities, and world was just [open.]
Literally, the walls fell down. I saw no limits and no boundaries, and that’s
what the song is about. If we weren’t taught to think - if we were taught just
to be - we could achieve whatever it is in life that we want. That’s where
that song came from, and I like how it turned out. It represents me well. I do
a lot of sexual stuff in music for the ladies, but I’m not a one-trick pony.
I’m deeper; I have layers.
Dubcnn: Another deep track we heard from you was “Butterfly Effect” with
Taje…
Uh-huh, that’s another track! We did that at Taje’s studio, and Taje and
Bishop were originally supposed to do that song together. Bishop was going to
do his verse that night, but it took me so long to come up with what I was
going to do that he fell asleep in the living room while they were waiting on
me to finish cutting my vocals! They told me that they wanted the original
concept to be the butterfly effect, so I had to think.
A lot of times when you’re writing and you have a track and title, sometimes
it’s like you’re in a box. It’s like you have to stick with the idea.
Sometimes it’s easier to just write with no premise, but a lot of times it’s
easier to write when you know what you’re writing about! That particular time,
it was kind of in the middle. It was a dope idea, but I wanted to do it as fly
as I possibly could, I didn’t just want to come off wack. It took me a minute
to do it, but when I finished, everybody was knocked out! It was around noon
the next morning when I stopped. We go hard with it! But it turned out good. I
like Taje’s verse, and I’m pleased with what I did.
Dubcnn: “Butterfly Effect” got a lot of radio airplay. How does it feel to
hear your track on the radio all over the place?
I’m gonna be very real. *long pause* It doesn’t feel how you think it feels,
because it’s work. You’re constantly writing songs, and when something comes
to radio, it’s like, “Ohh, that’s cool!” I’m not the type of person that gets
wrapped up into what I’m doing; I’m always into what I’m doing next. I hear
people say, “Stop along the way and smell the roses,” but it’s like I don’t
want to smell the roses! I want to keep moving. But it’s a good feeling to be
on the radio! I mean, there’s hundreds of artists in L.A. alone that would
love to be in the same spot, so I’m very appreciative of it. At the same time,
I don’t let it get to my head, but it’s an awesome feeling!
Dubcnn: You worked on the “Tupac Assassination” soundtrack. How did that
feel to do something for Pac?
That was incredible. Years ago, I forgot what song it was, but I think it was
“I Wonder If Heaven’s Got A Ghetto,” the guitar player Fish had hollered at me
about being on that song and being on the hook. But as fate would have it, I
had to go to Japan for two or three months to do singing gigs over there. In
that time, he got another singer, but it’s all love. I was still working, but
I missed out on that opportunity. But [now] I’m on this opportunity, thanks to
Bishop, Bright, [and] all the powers that be. Thanks to Focus for killing the
track – it’s actually featuring Focus, Warren G, and myself. It’s a banger – I
like it!
Dubcnn: You’re going to be on one of the tracks from Bishop Lamont’s “Pope
Mobile.” We got to hear that and it’s definitely something different from you,
it’s got a unique vibe! Tell us about that…
Bishop brought me up and was like, “I’ve got this hook.” He actually wrote
that hook. He said, “I just want [a] fly, lounge singer type of vibe.” So I
went in the studio and just did it. It’s a different character for me, but I
feel like I can do anything vocally. It surprises some people because they
want to put you in a box, but I’ve done a lot of different things. So holla at
your boy! Chuuch.
Dubcnn: Some of your work was played on the TV show “Noah’s Arc,” which is
on Logo…
Logo is a gay and lesbian network through MTV. They have the first black,
[gay,] scripted show, and one of the actors on the show I’ve known for a long
time. He’s straight as a matter of fact. He got my CD to the show creator, the
show creator heard three songs, loved it, and hollered at me and the producer.
[He] chipped us off and [now] the songs are on the show! It’s a blessing
because responses to the music on the show have been incredible. [I’ve] got
bigger responses from [my music] being on that show than anything else I’ve
done so far. I’ve got thousands of people who’ve hit me up on Myspace. They
hit me up everyday: “When are you gonna put out an album? I love the music!”
So it’s a blessing.
Dubcnn: That’s a totally new fan base for you aside from all of these West
Coast projects…
Absolutely! Shouts out to Patrick Ian Pope, who is the show creator. I hear
he’s doing a movie now for “Noah’s Arc.”
Dubcnn: Hopefully you’ll get featured on that too!
Man, holla at your boy!
Dubcnn: So what’s next up for you? Are you going to be signing with a label
soon?
Actually, I’m on Diocese Entertainment - Bishop Lamont’s label. That’s kind of
been on the hush because they’re still mapping out the company and everything.
But I’m not looking for a record deal. All I have to do is keep creating my
buzz, keep working on projects, keep supporting the giants that are my friends
in the industry, and it’s coming to me! I’m patient.
Dubcnn: When can we expect the “Old School New” street album?
Spring ’08. I could say, “Oh, next month.” But Spring ’08, realistically. If
it comes before then, that’s cool!
Dubcnn: Is there anything else you want to say to everyone who has been a
fan of yours?
Mike Anthony: I just want to say thank you. I appreciate it! It’s hard for me
to sit up here like I’ve made it – trust me, I’ve done a lot of stuff but I
have so much more to do. Anybody who’s appreciative of what I do, I’m even
more appreciative that you appreciate what I do. Anybody who’s fresh and fly
that’s in this music movement, get at your boy! It’s not about money all the
time – it’s not about free all the time – but get at me and I will give you
some tight shit! I want you to pan the camera around so you can see all the
pimps in the room. We’ve got Prime over here…
Prime: Bang!
Ace: You’ve got another pimp over here. Free K-Boy!
Young Bruh: What’s goin’ on!
Mike Anthony: Holla at me on
MySpace, I’m on there as much as I possibly can be. If there’s some
music that you would like to submit to me, [do it!] I get a lot of people that
hit me up about how to get started. My best advice is to work with people in
your local community. In every community there’s rappers, singers, and
producers. Hook up with them and just work.
I got a good piece of advice from an established producer when I was real
young in the game. He saw the potential that I had, but he knew I wasn’t quite
there. He said, “No matter how good you think you are, there’s always room to
improve. So just keep working with everybody, whether they’re good or bad.” So
I worked with a lot of producers who had garbage tracks, and I would just work
at writing. I learned to write to anything, so [now] I can literally write to
any track. I can write without a track! It was good practice, so that’s what I
would encourage all young writers, singers, rappers, musicians, producers –
whatever. Just perfect your craft and work with everybody who wants to work
with you. You’ll get that respect, you’ll get better at what you do, and it’s
a learning process that you cannot pay for!
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Full Interview In Video For Download :
Here
(Video: WMV)
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