RHYMEFEST  (June 2006) | Interview By: Yash

   

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Interview was done in June 2006

Questions Asked By: Yash

Rhymefest Gave Dubcnn.com A Shoutout! Check That Here

Full Interview In Audio Here
 

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Dubcnn: Hey what’s up Rhymefest?

What up homie what’s going down?


Dubcnn: I’m good man how you been?

Man I’m great you know what I’m saying getting ready to come out with this album July 11th.
We’re shooting a new video this week I mean shit everything’s a wrap.


Dubcnn: Yea I spoke to you last year before this Brooklyn festival when you told me that you were hoping that they wouldn’t boo you and stuff when you got on stage…

Hahaha oh yea!


Dubcnn: So how did that go?

They sure didn’t boo me dude it went so good they asked me to come back this year.


Dubcnn: Yea I was just gonna ask you what made you go back this year…

Well when I went last year I saw Black people, I saw White people, Mexicans, Cubans, Dominicans um all types of people and it was family, it was Brooklyn, it was the essence of Hip-hop. Everybody together and good music from me Little Brother, Brand Nubian and everybody tore it up outside and the weather was beautiful. How can I not go back, how can I not be a part of that? Because at the end of the day that’s what my project Blue Collar is all about. The real people and the community.


Dubcnn: Yea I feel you, the album was supposed to come out in September last year, what were the reasons for this long delay?

Well I wanted to build up enough anticipation, enough awareness about Rhymefest about who I am on my album in order to bring it out and it not be something that sit on the shelf. You know its one thing to have an album come out and it’s another thing for an album to come out have awareness and sell records.

The past year I’ve been touring and did a couple of dates with Little Brother and Method Man. I’m doing a central park summerfest with me, Common, Lupe and Rakim. I’m doing the Brooklyn festival with me, Lupe and Big Daddy Kane. I did a couple of dates with Kanye and a couple of dates with The Roots. Now that people know who I am, now is the time to release the album this summer so they can pump it in they car.


Dubcnn: Did you record any new material for this album?

No I didn’t, I liked the album and how it was. A lot of which you going to hear is Blue Collar the album you know what I’m saying. But what I did do was I released two mixtapes within the time that you and I spoke which is a lot of original material on the mixtape. I’m so tired of rappers rapping over other rappers beats so if you look at the brand new mixtape (mixed by Mark Ronson) and if you look at the new Plugg City mixtape that I just came out with it’s a lot of original material songs that didn’t necessary make the album, some funny skits and shit like that you know what I mean. Those are the things that even before the album the fans can go get that fill their appetite until July 11th.


Dubcnn: And I love the new video for “Brand New” that was tight.

Oh man thank you very much that was me and Kanye and Dave Mayers creation so you know I liked it. I thought it was very creative it filled the message of what the song was.


Dubcnn: I heard you’re at the set of your new video “Fever” can you tell us about the song and video?

Yea, well you know a lot of the songs on the “Blue Collar” album are concepts and stories and stuff like that. “Fever” is just one of them rare songs where it’s just me snappin’. I’m like look…. I’m a hot MC I came here for business you know I’m going to heat the scene up and it’s just me by myself three verses snappin off and that’s what the people need to think of me because that’s what’s we’re giving them “The Fever”.


Dubcnn: Dope, so when is it coming out?

The “Fever” video will be dropping in June and we’re doing it this Thursday and Friday it will be ready for June you know it’s just one more look before the album!


Dubcnn: Are you still signed to Mark Ronson’s Allido Records?

Yes I’m still with Allido Records / J Records with help from of course Kanye and the good music family and my man No ID who also produced on the album. I’m surrounded by a lot of brothers who make a lot of good music. I’m very blessed.


Dubcnn: How do you think the majority of Hip-hop fans will react to your upcoming album?

I can’t say how they will react because some fans are fickle you know what I mean? But what I do know is that this album is something very special. If you like “Jesus Walks” you will love “Blue Collar” and if you like “Brand New” you will love the album. Like this album is Hip-hop at it’s purest.


Dubcnn: Let’s refresh their minds (fans) about who’s producing on the album besides Kanye West and Cool & Dre…

Yea man it is crazy Kanye West, Cool & Dre, Just Blaze, No ID, Mark Ronson… It’s just like instead of going out and getting a lot of rappers on my stuff that I didn’t even know I used people around me, my family the musicians, the producers you know this is real Hip-hop this isn’t me just trying to make a hot record this is really Hip-hop and this is real music man. So I just thought by having an allstar cast of producers will make the fans happier you know because they could bump the album for longer.


Dubcnn: How did you choose the singles?

Well I think you know for a brand new artist coming out on a label that’s brand new to Hip-hop in a brand new kind of look, I thought “Brand New” was the perfect way to introduce that so that’s how chose that single. As far as “Fever” the people need to hear a song with me just by myself making it hot and as far as the third single which is going to be “More” that’s me telling a story; doing a classic Rhymefest.


Dubcnn: So what’s your favourite track on the album?

Well there is no favourite track on the album. The whole album in its entirety. I did not make my album to have a favourite track so if anybody have a favourite track on the Rhymefest album they are lying to you because they love the whole album. This album was made to be like a city. Can you say like if you lived in Chicago; what’s your favourite spot in Chicago? Well Chicago is a big ass city you know what I’m saying. I got a couple of favourite spots and that’s how my album is.


Dubcnn: Have you had any MC battles lately like battling people on the mic?

No I haven’t had any battles lately, that isn’t really what I’m into or really what I want to do with my career, I respect all the MC'ing and all the battling. I believe all artists have to come out through it and work his way through it and get his stripes in order to be respected. I’ve done my time you know what I’m saying I’ve done my time. Now that I’m at where I want to be performance wise it’s time for me to make music.


Dubcnn: Would you rather see this album going platinum or getting the Hip-hop creds from the Hip-hop community?

I rather both, I prefer both. I think I can make both happen! Kanye went platinum and he gets love from the Hip-hop community, Big Pun went platinum and he got love from the Hip-hop community why can’t Rhymefest? Matter of fact he will!


Dubcnn: What can people expect from Rhymefest at the festival? Do you have a tight show lined up?

Yes I have a very BIG Surprise and I’m not revealing it yet.


Dubcnn: What other projects are you working on?

I’m working on a 10 song album with Biz Markie! Rhymefest and Biz doing it together. I’m working on a joint with Jazzy Jeff it’s going to be called Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Fest and I’m working on my second album!


Dubcnn: Alright dog do you have any last words?

I want to thank everybody who read this long ass interview and I want everyone to know they can reach me at myspace.com/rhymefest. I answer all of my own messages.