RUMORZ INTERVIEW:DRC FROM THE GROUND UNDA MUSIC SERIES

If Hip Hop has been officially pronounced dead, then Rumorz would like to welcome you to its afterlife. With the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other; a journey through the genre that can only be classified as Rumorz own cannot be described in words, but rather, in sound. His recipe consists of a heavy dose of underground influence, a hint of alternative rock and a taste of the greats which dominated the art formally known as rap. Rumorz does not limit himself to a single aspect of ones personality, rather his music covers every inch of every mood we experience, from a college students reckless party life to a single mothers never ending struggle. With topics ranging from board games to reality TV shows, and even comparing rappers to politicians; Rumorz is more then a hot beat and a hot flow. You can vibe to it if you want, but when you REALLY listen, youll accept the resurrection.

By the beginning of early 2009 Rumorz had already been strongly recommended by Hip Hop experts including D. Scribez of Boston Hip Hop Pages, 730 of Hiphopgame.com and DJ ILL WILL, along with features on popular websites such as TastefulCelebs.com and Hotnewhiphop.com and RateYourDemo.com. Behind the production of one of Boston's best, Nelly Pro-Tools, Rumorz has managed to get reviews from Rotem and hip hop producers Cool and Dre which both extremely positive. Barely 23, Rumorz has plenty of years to come, and the Industry is already within his sights, and soon to be within his grasp...



DRC takes the time to kick it with RUMORZ and find out what goes on in the mind of this truly gifted emcee.....

1. DRC: Tell all the dratz and fans out there who RUMORZ is and what your sound is all about, where did you get the name RUMORZ?

RUMORZ: Rumorz is just a dude raised in the South Shore of Mass, some may know me as Greg. I live for music and love sharing that passion with anyone who will listen. I got the name Rumorz from where I got started... the battle scene. Back in 9th grade (before 8 Mile came out haha) I got my start rapping in battles after school and at lunch. I would take any type of rumors (true or not) I heard about opponents and use that against them in battles. That, along with the fact one of my stronger suits in writing songs is storytelling eventually birthed the name Rumorz.

2. DRC :Who are some of the artists who inspired you to start rhyming, and who are your  top 5 favorite mc's? who are some of your non-hip hop influences?

RUMORZ; This is always a tough question. I guess I’d have to say my early influences in life were Bone Thugs N Harmony, Tupac, Big Pun, and Jay Z. Now I’d have to say my fav MC’s (in no particular order) are: Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Eminem, Joe Budden, and probably Tupac.
I actually don’t listen to that much hip hop anymore... My favorite group on the planet right now is The Black Keys, a dope grunge-blues rock group! My music has been compared to Linkin Park in the past, so although they are sort of hip-hop, they are also very rockish... and have been pretty influential. Others include Aerosmith and Lynyrd Skynyrd who have some great storytelling skills.

3.DRC:  Who handles your production and what do you look for in a track before you write to it?

RUMORZ;I work with a bunch of producers, whoever got that dope shit. SINIMA productions is one of my favorite of the online producers. When I’m looking for beats, the ones that get my mind thinking of concepts and melodies instantly are the beats I love the most. If something is so powerful it can trigger your brain to almost instantaneously think of ways to make it even better, that’s a dope beat!

4. DRC: What is your outlook on being an indie artist? What do you think about downloading music online?

RUMORZ: It’s too late to be worried about the whole downloading issue in my opinion. At this point I’m just like fuck it, I want as many people to hear my music as possible. So if that means its free, here, take it, spread the damn word though! Being an indie artist is hard as hell. All you want is to work on music 24/7 and unfortunately you can’t. And even worse, most people don’t give a shit about you or the work and effort you put into your product anyway. BUT, when you find people with that same passion there’s no better thing than sharing that with them!

5.DRC: Tell us about your newest  release as well as  some of your past projects?

RUMORZ:  In September I just dropped my third album, Souled Out Show. It’s cool because each project I feel i’m improving as an artist. My first cd had like two great songs out of it, but those were almost a fluke. The rest of the material was decent, but nothing with longevity to it. I think more and more I’m getting better with melodies, song content, and the actual delivery of my message. Come this summer, I hope to have the newest project I’m working on out so look out for that!

6 DRC:  What's the RUMORZ live experience like , what can fans look forward to when seeing you perform live? In addition, what are so of your best live show experiences?

RUMORZ: I love performing live. When you see a Rumorz show, (I hope) you will see the pure passion and love I have for music. It’s all I want to do. Sorry ladies, but I’d choose music over any of you in a second haha. Some of my favorite live experiences are when there is no stage. When the crowds are right on top of you, you’re dripping sweat, and beer is flying everywhere. A few shows at Bogarts with CTS have been like that.
Even better than shows sometimes are just those spontaneous moments where you end up freestyling in front of a crowd somewhere random... I studied abroad in Australia and after the bars closed a huge group of us would meet up at the beach. We’d pass boxed wine (liquor and beer were ridiculously expensive there!) around the fire and my boy would play guitar while I freestyled or spit verses. Definitely the coolest place I’ve ever done music!

7.DRC:Take us a through a day in the life of RUMORZ!

RUMORZ:Well, right now I work at a 9 to 5 at a Marketing Firm. So, M-F I’m calling businesses across the country selling them outdoor advertising. I enjoy it but I can’t help thinking of music non-stop. But almost every night of the week I try to do something with music whether it be writing, playing guitar, or attempting drums.



8.DRC:How do you think  music effects you and the world around you?

RUMORZ: It’s crazy man. I actually wrote a song about it, called “Word’s Can’t Describe” off of my second album Crocodile Tears. It tells the story of three individuals going through tough times and in the end, the only thing that is there for them is music. Not many things can bring out such raw emotion and dictate mood the way music can. Music is life!

9.DRC: whats the weirdest musical moment thats happened to you?

RUMORZ:Haha well by far it would be at a talent show I did back in College. I used to get a lot of bloody noses during the winter (too much coke) nah jk, because of lack of humidity... More recently I’ve been to the doctor about the issue and gotten medicine that prevents them... but back in College I wasn’t so lucky. So of course, I’m on stage in NY at my college's talent show doing a three song set. In the middle of the second song with perfect timing, I get a bloody nose! But as they say, the show must go on, so I kept rapping and completed the set. Luckily I was wearing a sweatshirt so I kept wiping blood onto the shirt. After the set it was hilarious because I was pissed about it but kids kept going up to me saying how bad ass they thought it was. I guess the judges loved it too, because I still ended up with second place in the show!

10.DRC: what artist would you love to collab with in any music genre?

RUMORZ: Kanye West and The Black Keys. Both do things I can’t fathom musically. The sounds they create... wow.

11.DRC: Where is the best place for would-be fans to find RUMORZ music and info etc?

RUMORZ: I’m on iTunes and Facebook just search RUMORZ. Or check me out at Youtube.com/rumorz or find me on Twitter @RumorzMusic. I give out a bunch of free music so just ask if you like something you hear!

12. DRC: it's the last day of the end of the world what will RUMORZ  be doing?

RUMORZ; Ahh man. Tough to tell unless it really happened. I’ll let you know on December 31st, 2011…. Nah Honestly I always think in my head I’d try and get with all the hot women in the world I previously would be afraid to put a move on, party my ass off, and say whatever the fuck I ever wanted to people. BUT, more than likely I’d get rejected by hot women, party my ass off, and say whatever the fuck I ever wanted to people... 2 out of 3 ain’t bad

ILL E. GAL INTERVIEW: DRC "FROM THE GROUND UNDA" MUSIC SERIES BY SHEMROK CHRIST

ILL E. GAL  female MC and Pot Star hails from New England. She has been holding it down for the underground since she began rapping in 2002. In 2005 she started tearing up the stage, teaming up with Miss Tress and released "T.H.C. "Wings" in 2007. Since then she has become the "Queen of the Underground." Her debut solo album "The Grass Is Always Greener..." is available now featuring "Super Sonic Chronic" with Daddy X of Kottonmouth Kings.ILL E. GAL has performed at the past 4 Gathering Of The Juggalos, as well as opening for the likes of Tech N9ne, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, ABK, Potluck, Tila Tiquila & more. She has also been featured in High Times & Murderdog Magazine. This is true High Hop at its finest!

 DRC :FIRST OFF, TELL THE FANS OUT THERE WHO ILL E GAL IS AND WHAT YOUR MOVEMENT IS ALL ABOUT?

ILL E. GAL:Whats up Party People?! I am ill e. gal, an underground female MC & producer. Ive been rapping for 8 years and performing shows for 5. Ive released two full length albums and done shows all over the country. My original movement was to be a voice for women in the underground/juggalo scene. I feel like I have accomplished that goal and then some. Now I am branching off into a whole new movement in music which you will know about later in your lives ;)



DRC:.IN A MALE DOMINATED GENRE SUCH AS HIP HOP, DO YOU FIND IT HARDER TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE BEING A FEMALE EMCEE?
AND WHO ARE YOUR TOP FIVE FEMALE RAPPERS OF ALL TIME?

ILL E. GAL:I used to feel it was harder being a woman in the beginning. People tend to not take you seriously. But I overcame many obstacles and proved myself to be a strong contender in a world of men. Now I feel like being a female is a HUGE advantage, because even now, years later, its STILL rare to see. Honestly, its hard to name even 5 favorite female rappers. I've always admired Left Eye (R.I.P.) but thats about it.

DRC: ARE THERE ANY FEMALE ROCK SINGERS OR BANDS YOU WOULD WANT TO WORK WITH?

ILL E. GAL:Maybe Gwen Stefani? Lady Gaga? There really arent too many strong female artists in the mainstream these days....

DRC:HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? DO YOU FEEL THERE ARE MORE DOORS OPEN FOR INDIE ARTIST SUCH AS YOUR SELF?

ILL E. GAL:Ugh, its tough. Like the economy, the music business is suffering BIG TIME. Because of the internet and technology people don't want to buy CD's anymore. People burn cds, download tracks and the musicians are the ones paying the price. There is a huge shift going on and I really hope things start to change for the better. I feel like there aren't too many open doors for indie artists these days. Its cutthroat and everyone is a rapper these days. There is a lack of originality, heart and drive and it makes it harder for the real artists to rise above. I still believe, if you are original and your heart is in the right place, those doors will open. Even if its just a crack....

DRC:CAN YOU TAKE US THROUGH THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF ONE OF YOUR TRACKS? WHAT INSPIRES THE TOPICS YOU WRITE ABOUT? WHO HANDLES YOUR PRODUCTION?

Usually I just get a a concept for a song and write, weather I have a beat or not. Sometimes I find a beat I love and write according to how it makes me feel. Theres no certain way to make a song, it just happens naturally. And I usually write about my experiences in life. I can only write what I know. And what I feel. It's a pure emotional release. As for producers, I've had many over the years. I have even made some of my own beats, which I am doing more now. I am also expanding into a new genre called Dubstep and I have found many awesome producers and DJ's there as well.

DRC: YOU RECORDED A SICK ASS COLLABORATION WITH DADDY X FROM KOTTONMOUTH KINGS CALLED "SUPER SONIC CHRONIC" HOW DID THAT TRACK COME ABOUT?
ANY OTHER RAPPERS OR GROUPS YOUR PLANNING TO WORK WITH IN THE FUTURE?

ILL E. GAL:I have been lucky enough to gain support from my hero's in the underground such as Daddy X and Violent J. So I asked X if he would be interested in being on my album, sent him the song and he loved it! I was thrilled when I got it back. One of the best songs I've done to date. Its a fun stoner jam, with one of my favorite artists, whats better then that?! I plan to work with many other rappers and producers in the future. You'll have to wait and see! ;)

DRC:WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SUB-GENRES OF HIP HOP?

ILL E. GAL:Well, I have always been into wicked shit, but not really horrorcore so to speak. I love artists like Tech N9ne and the Jokerr for their triphop flows. Living out in Minnesota gave me a taste of the backpack scene. But what I am most excited about is the cross breeding of genres. Like Hip Hop mixed with electronica. Its going to bring some fun and life back into a cold world.

DRC:WHAT TYPES OF MUSIC BESIDES HIP HOP INFLUENCES YOU ? WHAT ARE YOUR NON- MUSICAL INFLUENCES?

ILL E. GAL:I love music in general. And I can respect every genre for what it is, and every artist for who they are. I was heavy into the punk rock scene before the juggalo scene, and now I am moving more into the electronica scene. I will always love classic rock and do-wop due to my parents. They are music lovers as well. And we all feel like life wouldn't be the same without it.

As far as non-musical influences, legalization of marijuana has always been a big one for me. I am a pot head and so are many people I know. But we are criminals!? I think not. Thats why the name ill e. gal holds so much signifignace. Things are not always what they appear to be. I also take influence from life in general. The good times. The bad times. Love. And broken hearts. My family and friends inspire me everyday. The world is a hurting place right now, and if I can make music to help people get through it, whats better then that?

DRC:YOU'VE BUILT UP A STRONG RESUME OF LIVE PERFORMANCES! WHAT IS THE ILL E GAL LIVE EXPERIENCE LIKE? WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE SHOWS YOU'VE PLAYED SO FAR AND WITH WHO?

ILL E. GAL:Its hard to say what the experience is like since I am the one on stage, but I have been so well received over the years I feel like I must be doing something right! I basically just get up there and do my thing. I feel like I have a good energy and stage presence. Its been simple but I am looking to expand my live shows to make them more entertaining for the audience. I have played some remarkable shows at great venues with artists that inspire me.

Opening for Tech N9ne in Minneapolis is 2006 was awesome. Performing 2 shows in California with Blaze Ya Dead Homie in 2008. Opening for ABK in New England Potluck in 2009. And then performing at the Worcester Palladium opening for Twiztod at Rock and Shock this past October was a dream come true. Performing at the Marijuana Music Awards in Brookyln, The Boston Freedom Rally and The Gathering of the Juggalos 2007-2010 also top the list. Especially this past year, they had Ladies Night and I basically stole the show. We all know what happened to Tila Tiquila...

DRC:HAVING TRAVELED SO MUCH ACROSS THE U.S SPREADING YOUR MUSIC , WHATS YOUR BEST WEED INFLUENCED ROAD STORY?

LOL! There are so many. One that sticks out to me inolves DJ Bobby B of Kottonmouth Kings. At the Gathering of the Juggalos in 2003 (in Ohio) I met KMK and smoked some lemon weed with Bobby B. Just as a fan and aspiring rapper. This past year (in Illinois), I was able to chill with im. He smoked with me and told me how proud I should feel for what I've accomplished. He later went on to give me the bowl we were smoking out of! Its a great memory and proved to me 8 years of hard work and dedication had finally paid off!     

DRC: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT FANS DOWNLOADING MUSIC FOR FREE? DOES IT MAKE YOU GRIND HARDER WITH LIVE SHOWS AND MERCH?

ILL E. GAL:You have no choice but to grind harder. The shift is taking place like I said earlier. So you have to adapt to survive. It really has gotten to the point where the music should be free. And money can be made off tours and merchandise instead. It's really been a struggle for me. Im enthralled with the fact that if people want my music bad enough they can get it for free. The more people that like it the better, but its also hard to make a legitimate living off music alone.



DRC: WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR ILL E GAL?

ILL E. GAL:I am taking some time off from doing shows and focusing on a few new projects for 2011. I have so much I want to do and say, but time will reveal it all. Keep a look out for the Princess Bright Bird EP!

DRC: THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK TO US HERE AT DRUGRATZ.COM, ONE LAST QUESTION, IF YOU COULD DO A COLLABORATION WITH ANY DEAD MUSICIAN FROM ANY GENRE OF MUSIC ,WHO WOULD YOU ROCK A TRACK WITH WALKING DEAD STYLE?

ILL E. GAL:Right now I would say John Lennon or Bradley Nowell. 2 amazing artists who left this world too soon, but made beautiful music while they were here. Thanks for doing the interview with me and thank YOU for reading it :)

TO HEAR SOME DOPE ASS UNDERGROUND HIP HOP VISIT ILL E. GAL AT WWW.REVERBNATION.COM/ILLEGAL

INTERVIEW with MONEY B from DIGITAL UNDERGROUND

Money B of Digital Underground fame gave detailed responses in this interview by Shemrok Christ. 4 Videos spanning 38 minutes, Mon's answers set to music and footage spanning his lengthy career.

Ottomic Blue's interview with The Dirtball

Ottomic Blue's interview with Suburban Noize recording artist the Dirtball, published in SubLife Magazine in 2007

EZDread INTERVIEW :DRC FROM THE GROUND UNDA MUSIC SERIES:BY CHALLE CYANIDE (edited by SHEM CHRIST)

THROUGH OUT THE HISTORY OF HIP HOP THERE HAVE BEEN GREAT  PRODUCER /MC DUO'S WHO HAVE LEFT A MARK ON THE ART FORM. WHETHER IT BE A PRODUCER AND ONE MC OR  BOTH MEMBERS IN THE DUO  ROCKING BEATS AND MICS. ARTIST LIKE ATMOSPHERE, EPMD,AND GANGSTARR LAID DOWN THE PATH  A LOT OF UP AND COMING ARTISTS FOLLOW TODAY.DRC'S OWN CHALEE CYANIDE  TALKS TO AN INCREDIBLE HIP HOP DUO THAT FOLLOWS THIS TEMPLATE BUT ALSO IS BLAZIN' THEIR OWN PATH AND SETTING NEW STANDARDS TO FOLLOW.GET READY TO PLUG IN TO "THE ELECTRIC OUTLET"!

CHALEE CYANIDE:

Back home in MA, I used to try and catch a radio show 88.9@night. Emerson college's legendary Hip Hop program.

They always played the dopest hip-hop, and they never fell into that same old typical commercial bullshit.

It had been about 7 years since I heard the show,which airs from 10pm to 2 am Monday through Friday.

Well through the miracle of the internet I checked it out and the show was still going strong.

On the first night I re-tuned in the DJ played a track from a group "the Electric Outlet".

The Track "Here We Go Again" Is a Mellow, melodic, testament to the frustration, and struggle, that seems to envelope

the cities of New England. The DJ announces herself as EZDread, producer for the group and plugs a myspace page.

Leaving me hooked, I follow down the myspace rabbit hole, and catch up with EZD.

EZdread The DJ/Urban Music Director for 88.9 WERS. EZD, along with MA/CT MC ACTONE is the Electric outlet.
 
 
 
C.C. : O.K. Katii, want to tell everybody who you are and where you are from?




EZD : sure, I'm a producer originally from Avon,CT.(I was) Born and raised there and moved to Boston in the fall of '08.



C.C. How did you get into producing?



EZD: I first got into producing from messing around with garage band on my powerbook G4 and singing into the internal mic in the machine over stock garageband loops.

Then I realized how awful they sounded and wanted to make my own to sing on.that really got me into beats.

I was also studying jazz piano at the time with King Solomon, who is also a dope producer.He introduced me to the MPC and that was all it took.

Bought the MPC 2000xl and taught myself in my closet turned "studio" at home.

Good ol' ebay.I was 16,at that point.Piano lessons turned into discussions about hiphop and beats.(laughs)

Sometimes I wouldn't touch the piano at all.Then I started bringing my beats in.

I would give king Solomon all of the credit for getting me into hip hop,him and Gang Starr music.

Gang Starr was my gateway drug.



C.C.: Thats incredible, Do you have any other artist who has influenced you on that level?

EZD: Definitely ActOne.

I met him the first weekend I moved to Boston.



C.C. Tell me about how you guys met.



EZD Ok so,I was hanging out on a stoop in Berklee,with my roommate at the time

and there were these two Berklee students singing and playing blues guitar on the stoop.Everyone was drinking andre or some kind of cheap champagne, and we were all just chillin.

Then some kid started beat boxing to it and i was tryin to get my roommate to freestyle,though she would never haha...

ActOne (who i didnt know at the time), just appeared out of no where on the sidewalk and kicked the sickest freestyle I'd ever heard live in my life.

I'm not even kidding he has ridiculous freestyle skills.He was rapping bout the dunkin donuts coffee in his hand, and all this shit I wish I could remember a line,

but at the end of it he name dropped, and shouted out East Boston.

Then he walked away like right after.I had just moved to Boston so i was lookin for rappers to work with.I didnt know anyone.

So the next morning I googled "act one east boston" and his myspace came up.

long story short we met up a few days later, I passed him a beat cd, we drank 40's in the Boston Common, and started dating, and working together pretty much right away We also smoked that day and saw a squirrel do a crack dance. It was literally doin flips and shit.

C.C.: (laughs) You guys compliment each other well on tracks, was Overly Dope Crew the original concept for you guys?



EZD: O.D.Crew came before me.I started working heavily with ActOne and I worked my way into the crew pretty much.

we all work together,and everyone would end up doin collabos on my track, etc.Dudes would come through Act's apartment in East Boston and just do tracks,

recording all weekend. Sometimes I'd just chill on the mattress on the floor with my MPC while they would write and record.There wasnt furniture, haha.

Some nice beach chairs though,the foldy kind.








C.C.: (laughs) Sounds like the MA I remember.



C.C.: Other than the fact that you have dreads, is there a story behind the name EZDread?



EZD: It came from MF doom lyrics,the fine print off twisted metal vol 1, where he says: "Read the fine print and be like, "What's the big deal?"

Spun wheels-of-steel since broke wheel Big Wheel,Back when it was greasy S-curl, now it's easy dread".(MF DOOM)Had a rhyme on how they used to tease him 'bout his peasy head".

the easy dread always stood out to me,and I'm laid back.. easy goin ya knowww.So EzDread came to be! People started saying EZD for short.



C.C : Its all hot. Suits you nicely, EZD sounds gangsta fresh!(laughing) I like it.



EZD: Thanks!



C.C.: So I actually heard you DJing on WERS 88.9@night do you want to tell us a little about that?



EZD: Sure

I work as the Urban Music Director at WERS so I get to have all the fun making the play lists, finding new music, and DJing on-air.

i also get to kick it with all the rappers that come through for 88.9@night and pass them my beats and Electric Outlet demos.

Freeway and Jakk Frost just spit on one of them live on air.I can't complain about my job. (Laughs)

C.C.: Damn that's fresh.Definitely doing a great job, 88.9@night is the shit, I cant praise it enough.



EZD: I'm glad you like it! I love our listeners!



C.C.: Your also up for an award now? The New England Music Awards nominated you for Best Female Producer?



EZD: Yess!!! I am real excited bout that.. I just wanna get my name out there as much as possible and start to make big things happen.

Especially for The Electric Outlet.That is me on the beats and ActOne on the rhymes.

Yeah for everyone who likes my production vote for your girl!!!

http://ne.urbanmusicawards.org/nominees/

http://ne.urbanmusicawards.org/vote/

thats the votey link.








C.C.: What is in store for the Electric Outlet? The new track on WERS was DOPE!



EZD : yayy!! I'm glad you dig it. We have been gettin some great positive feedback on the new stuff.

We are in the process of finishing up our first album, Ivy League.

Which can be expected to drop in the next few months.

You can expect an emotionally charged, hard hitting, LP with not a single so-so track.



C.C.: Nice!! that's what we like to hear! Do you have any older stuff floating around for the diggers?



EZD: We have so many songs we could have put out 4 albums. We really want every cut on there to be a prime representation of O.D.

You will never wanna skip a track on this one.(laughing)The archives of O.D. music run so deep.

For everyone who wants to go back, go to ActOne's soundclick.There are 200+ full tracks on there.

But just keep ur eyes peeled for the new LP!



EZD: Did u get the tracks i sent you? In the email?



C.C.: Yes I did they're Dope!!! I really liked the track Methadone.



EZD: That's the intro to the album.we got that bumpin on 889@night right now.



c.c. DOPE! Thanks! I'm sure the DRC camp will dig it.



c.c. Any live shows or events planned for you guys as of yet?



EZD: Not yet,right now the focus is on making the beats, and recording for the album.



C.C: I did want to ask you, who would you like to get on a track, or get to work with in the future?



EZD : Guru is number one.I idolize Gang Starr like nobodys biz.I really hope Guru makes it through this coma.

Him and ActOne would be a dynamic duo. On my beats.Game over.lol.Also Sean Price.

I wanna have Sean Price do a feature on the Ivy League LP.



C.C.: HELL YEA.



C.C : Do you get starstruck by anyone you met or contacted through work?



EZD: I don't tend to get starstruck but basically the three i named would make me a lil star struck for sure (Guru, Premier & Sean Price) and also Q-Tip, and Busta Rhymes.



C.C.: I caught the "Nothing Else Matters" track on Soundclick, I think its a favorite of mine., Apocaliptaca(sample) right?

EZD: yes.They covered Metallica on that one.I used to be a metal head.I wore the plaid pants, with the chains, and did the eyeliner that went halfway down my face.



C.C.: (laughs)



EZD: My mom would drop me of at slipknot concerts,when I was 13.



C.C.: Thats cool, we all go through stages. Its a pretty eclectic blend of samples you use and i think it represents the style, and mood of the area for sure.

There (slipknot) first album was dope, and Starscream was intense when he was more hands on with the music.



EZD: yeah haha, Act is a big Deftones fan, I sampled them on the Spit beat on soundclick.



C.C.:Never been a fan, my friends love em. So how did you come up with the Electric Outlet?



EZD : We make electric music and it's our creative outlet.our hip hop is an electric outlet.



C.C.: Nice I like it!

Whats your top 5 favorite/ most influential albums ever?





EZD: Ahh there are so many...and this changes,but currently id have to say in no particular order, Slightly Stoopid- Chronchitis,

MF Doom- Twisted Metal Vol. 1, Busta Rhymes- the coming, Gang Starr- step in the arena/moment of truth, Alison Krauss & Robert Plant- raising sand,

and IVY LEAGUE by The Electric Outlet coming soon.All those albums heavily influenced my life,And if i put them on, it will remind me of a certain time/moment/slice of life.

Also should truly put in Sublime's self titled.No producer has influenced me more than DJ Premier.



C.C.: O.k. I'll make it six, that one kinda goes without saying for most people.



EZD : A lot of dance hall producers have been blowing my mind lately.



C.C. : Really? any recommendations?



EZD : Not Nice Productions, and anything from Russian (check out the go go club riddim, the bomb drop riddim & woman seh riddim instrumentals they are out of control... and so different sounding)



C.C.: Nice, have you gotten to work with any one that was a big deal to you outside of ActOne, O.D.Crew, or King Solomon?



EZD : Recently hearing Freeway smash one of my beats was great... even if it was one take it was still dope! I love working with anyone.



C.C.: That's gotta be a great feeling, anyway to hear that?



EZD: yes it's up on my myspace right now.. www.myspace.com/katiitornick.



C.C.: Oh Snap! I'ma have to check that out!!



C.C. :Any shout outs you wanna give?



EZD :Shoutout to everyone in O.D.Crew especially Act, Kontrast, Gr33n, TruSELF, Savage, Crafty, P Dawg (OD extended fam Khandii & Kristen)

and also Introspective Minds (LOW END), King Solomon & Sagacity, Booker Evans, Paw Dukes, M-Dot, & the WERS Urban Fam <3.



C.C.: Well thanks for your time EZD, we all have our ears peeled for the album drop!



EZD: Ok cool man this was mucho fun!!



C.C.: Hell yea we appreciate it greatly!





Both EZDread, and Actone have pages on soundclick jam packed with Bangin beats, fresh intelligent lyrics, and that gritty

east coast style you cant help but nod your head to. You can also find them on myspace individually or as the Electric outlet.

You can also catch EZD hosting Rockers, Bostons home for reggae 88.9 WERS from 8pm to 10pm Mon-Fri(DJ's Vary day to day),

and on 88.9@night Bostons real commercial free hip hop station 10Pm to 2am Mon-Fri (DJ's vary).

Don't forget to show your support and click the link to vote for EZD as best female producer!

The new album from the Electric Outlet, Ivy League, is set to drop in the coming months, so keep your ears peeled because these

two are killin it!
 
 
 
BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED FOR THESE FUTURE HIP HOP SUPERSTARS.
AND KEEP TUNING BACK INTO TO http://www.drugratz.com/ FOR MORE OF OUR FROM THE GROUND UNDA MUSIC SERIES!

INTERVIEW WITH BOSTON HIP HOP LEGENDS TYPE 4/ DRC FROM THE GROUND UNDA MUSIC SERIES: BY SHEMROK CHRIST

THE NEEDLE DROPS INTO  THE GROOVE AS THE RECORD CRACKLES! A FUNKY BASSLINE LOOP KICKS IN, THEN THE 808 BASS DRUM DROPS!TWO DUSTED MC'S START TRADING RHYMES BACK AND FORTH OVER A SONIC BREW OF OLD SCHOOL BREAKS, FOUND SOUNDS AND DIALOG,AND SCRATCHES FROM THE WHEELS OF STEEL. YOU HAVE ENTERED THE WORLD OF TYPE 4, AN INNOVATIVE BAND FROM BOSTON WHO'S LOVE FOR HIP HOP HAS GUIDED THE PATH THEY WALKED ON SINCE DAY ONE.FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW ABOUT TYPE 4 ,THEY WERE ONE OF THE FEW  RAP CREWS FROM MASS TO TRULY PUSH THE  ENVELOPE.HAVING PERFORMED ALL THROUGH OUT THE EASTCOAST  AND ALL ACROSS AMERICA AND MAKING WAVES WITH 3 LPS  "TRAILMIX "  "FOR SALE" AND  "AS IS" .THE  BLUNTED B-BOYS  HIT HARD TIMES  AND GOT SWALLOWED UP IN THEIR STRUGGLE FOR THE JIVE. LOSING ALL HOPE AND  SEVERAL BAND MEMBERS ON THE DARKSIDE FROM  HARD DRUG ABUSE.THE BAND TOOK A BREAK FOR A FEW YEARS TO BATTLE DEMONS AND EACH OTHER. NOW THEY HAVE RETURNED FROM THE DEPTHS OF HELL, WISER,STRONGER, AND DOPER THAN EVER. SHEMROK CHRIST(BOD / CTS)TOOK THE TIME TO TALK WITH  EMCEE  TOMMY O DEED TYPE 4'S RESIDENT MADMEN AND LEAD VOCALIST ABOUT BEATS,RHYMES AND LIFE.

SHEM: CAN YOU TELL THE DRUGRATZ OUT THERE HOW TYPE 4 CAME ABOUT AND HOW THE BAND FORMED

TOMMY O' DEED:.i first got into hip hop through break dancing in about 1984by 87-88 i was really into the music.the first two boogie down productions albums were what really brought me into for good it.i started DJing but couldnt afford good turntables,but i got by.i was secretly writing raps and recording them in my bedroom for the next couple years but knew i needed other peoplpe to do it with and would never persue it on my own..in the summer of 1991 i got a call from a kid who had a two man rap group with brian cantwell whom i founded type 4 with.we quickly realized that brian and i were a good match,but i will always be greatful for that third nameless MC who brought us together. brian and i were young,still in high school but we noticed (that when )we started smoking weed and recording our ryhmes over instrumentals into a ratty kareoke machine was when we really started to take it more seriously.a friend of a freind told us of a producer out in dedham with a home studio who would record us if he liked what he heard on our ratty demo.that was around christmas time 1992.once brian and i met producer matt reyes we were off and running.we recorded our first casseste single which we put out on our own called "bubbles in my bong" this was before cypress hill came out with all their weed soaked songs.we were just rappin about what we were doin,gettin baked being young and not really givin a fuck about much else.it all started out so innocent..through the years there have been quite a few guys in type 4 as far as the live band we eventually put together and toured the country with by the end of the 1990's but the core memebers were always myself brian cantwell and producer matt reyes,who i must mention has always been the glue that held it all together,someone had to be flying the ship who wasnt outta his fuckin mind! together the three of us wrote and recorded several cassette singles EP's ,a 12 inch, and the first full length TYPE 4 albums "TRAILMIX "1997 and 2001's "FOR SALE"

SHEM :.AFTER BLAZING YOUR OWN TRAIL THROUGH OUT THE EASTCOAST TOURING AMERICA ,AND RELEASING A NOW CULT CLASSIC LP "TRAIL MIX", WHAT INSPIRED THIS NEW L.P.?

TOMMY O DEED:. off the power of TRAILMIX the first full length released we played all over boston and did the whole touring thing..after returning from touring some really dark times layed ahead for us.we pretty much all had did drugs through out the years but after coming off the road and returning to the hum drum everyday life back home it wasnt enough and most of the guys in the band,myself included slipped into a period of serious drug abuse..the next few years were rough but we managed to record another album "FOR SALE" by that time the title said it all.the way we looked at it we were broken down yet skilled and for sale to the industry..even though the days of hard drug abuse were upon us we were getting some interest from some people in high places but that all came to a screeching hault in april of 2001 when brian cantwell my partner in rhyme died from an accidental heroin overdose..not too long after that we lost another memeber eric goodridge the original drummer from the live band days took his own life.it was another ugly drug death that marked some rough times for some years to come.. when brian died it was as if god him self had come down ,rang my door bell and said" all you dreamed for,all you did,all that that time,all the music,start over" and turned his back on me.. it would take sometime but i eventualy got together with matt a couple years later and we began work on the first TYPE 4 album with me as a solo artist.it was a weird and shaky time and the title from the album of them years pretty much says it all.the previous album was titled "FOR SALE" so "AS IS" was a fitting title. there were many false starts and stops and it took many years to finally call it a wrap.put the album in the can and release it which we did at the end of 2009. its a rather large album and it covers a pretty long period of time but its definitly something matt and i are proud of.. over the past year i have been able to remain alot more stable,i have been off the hard drugs for some years now and this new album 'WRITTIN IN RED" is the most focused of the TYPE 4 music since the early days before all the evil shit seeped into our souls and killed half the team..on this new album i feel as though im getting alot more across than i might have been able to get across say ten years ago.i have done alot,seen alot and lost alot..the title WRITTIN IN RED comes from a sense of urgency.it actually started out cuz the first couple rhymes i wrote for it were done in red ink.they came out dope so i just stuck with the red ink,so this whole album was literaly WRITTIN IN RED. it goes beyong just red ink though. it has a sense of urgency.tommorow is not promised and ya gotta say what ya can while ya can in the best fashion you know how.



SHEM:WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT INFLUENCE YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?

TOMMY O DEED: jesus christ thats a tough one to answer..so many things influence my music these days.for one thing i read alot more old books than i listen to new music..i do a shitload of reading and writting ..guys like jack kerouack charles bukowski,and hunter s thomposon have really helped me to get through some really hard times..musicaly im all over the place.im into everything from early KRS-ONE to Elvis Presley .but when it comes to makin music the one thing that really gets me fired up are the rap sounds from 1986-1989 even some of the early stuff from the 1990's was cool but after that i fell outta touch with current hip hop.thats around the time i started doing my own thing which i think really helped to keep me from sounding like anything else going on around me.by that time we were smokin weed and sampling shit like led zeppelin and black sabbath.



SHEM:.HOW DO YOU APPROACH CREATING MUSIC IN THE STUDIO ? DO YOU USE HARDWARE , SOFTWARE , OR BOTH?

TOMMY O DEED: we have always recorded the old school way with actual hardware components,although our DJ (DJ Daylate) records on software for alot of the preproduction stuff like loops,along with all of the scartching you hear on the last album and the new album.

SHEM :HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CURRENT STATE OF HIP HOP?

TOMMY DEED: as far as current hip hop goes im really out of touch with it and i dont pay it much mind, but when something good comes along worth checking out it will usually make it to my ears,it might be a year or 2 after it comes out cuz im not too plugged into day to day living like normal people but overall i think its all too glossy and hard to relate to.when i first got into it i had to tune into local college radio stations in the wee hours of the night with a coat hanger electrical taped to my antena in order to pick up the low rent rap shows that would air once a week,nowadays hip hop is part of everything from the cloths we wear to the cars we drive and how there sold to us..fuckin weird if ya ask me...

  


SHEM: BEING THAT THIS IST HE FIRST GENERATION OF HIP HOP WHERE THERE IS AN OLDER AUDIENCE NOW. WHERE DO YOU THINK TYPE 4 FITS IN?

TOMMY O DEED: .i think the style of production that we do is something that will be very farmilur and comfortable to the older people out there,even alot of the younger kids these days are goin back and diggin the thicker late 1980's early 90's style of production..some people have reviewed our last couple albums and called us"brave" for having such layered production but we make our brand of music the same way a group of 5 or 6 guys jaming in a room would.we are constantly building and taking the songs apart bringing you up on a high and puttin you back down into the groove,the same way a killer funk band would.weather its recycled drum loops, nasty breaks or movie samples, what ever if it feels good ends up in the mix. i think alot of crews are holding back and they are not even aware of it cuz they are younger and came up listening to a much lighter hip hop production.so yeah i think the older hip hop heads will get where it is we are coming from with the production and the rymes as far as havin been to hell and back and still being able to stand in front of a crowd and do it the way we feel fit and in the fashion we learned it.



SHEM:WHATS YOUR CRAZIEST LIVE SHOW EXPERIENCE?

TOMMY O DEED:so many crazy things have happened while touring and playing shows.but the one thing that sticks in my mind was during a pretty wild show at the middle east in cambridge mass. one of our fans took some idiot into the bathroom and broke the urinal with the kids head for saying some fucked up shit to a girl..i remember being on stage rapping while toilet water was making its way towards the stage. for the most part the crazy shit that went on happend after the shows or during the travel while touring.we emptied the septic tank from our tour bus in a few choice spots across the united states.im sure there are still a few piss stained areas that reek out there on the open road thanks to TYPE 4!!
(EDITORS NOTE BACK IN 1997  COOLER THAN SMACK PLAYED WITH TYPE 4 AT THE MIDDLEEAST ..........PRE-SHOW FOUND SHEMROK CHRIST IN THE BATHROOM SNORTING METH WITH TOMMY AND BRAIN FROM TYPE 4..................THE CRAZY DAYS!)


SHEM: WHAT ARE THE TOP 5 HIP HOP LPS THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

TOMMY O DEED :jesus thats a tough one,i gotta think..

1.criminal minded BDP

2.it take a nation of millions to hold us back PUBLIC ENEMY

3.staright outta compton NWA

4three feet high and rising DE LA SOUL

5.pauls boutique BEASTIE BOYS





SHEM: WHEN IS THE NEW TYPE 4 LP DROPPING AND WHAT ARE THE DISTRIBUTION PLANS?

TOMMY O DEED: "WRITTEN IN RED" should be finished and ready to go by late spring of this year..in 2009 we released all of the TYPE 4 full length albums on ITUNES and AMAZON so we will be doin same with the new album along pressing up CD's.the industry has changed so much,its pretty much downloads these days but people still like to have something in their hands that they payed for.along with the new "WRITTEN IN RED" album we are gonna be releasing an album of rare tracks and remixes of TYPE 4 stuff from when we started in early 1993 till 2010.its called "CATERPILLAR SNACKS" and will be a real treat for old fans as well as new.both albums will drop around the same time,but "WRITTEN IN RED" is what we have been working on for for almost a year now.its odd but its the most focused album we have done to date and will have taken the least amount of time.as you grow older and wiser i think you realize that your time in life is something you shouldnt take for granted so if yr gonna open ya mouth ya mine as well say what ya really mean.







SHEM: WILL YOU BE PLAYING LIVE TO SUPPORT THE RECORD?

TOMMY O DEED: hell yeah!! in the last year or so we have regained our hunger for the music and the stage.though we did play shows to support the last album"AS IS" lets just say i didnt have my sneakers planted to firmly on the ground during that time period,but now i do and,thanks to the internet we have been enjoying alot of love from fans from all over the globe .the first order of buisness performance wise will be an album release bash here in boston which we are working on booking right now for either may or june.after that we will keep on booking shows on through the summer in support of the new album.



SHEM: WHERE CAN HEADS FIND TYPE 4 ONLINE AND YOUR PREVIOUS ALBUMS

TOMMY O DEED: all three TYPE 4 full length album releases "TRAILMIX" "FOR SALE" "AS IS" along with the first single "IN CAHOOTS" off the new album featuring fellow bostonian NABO RAWK from THE PORN THEATER USHERS can be purchased through ITUNES or AMAZON the official TYPE 4 website WWW.TYPE4.BIZ has links to both of them sites along with our FACEBOOK fan page which contains a gang of TYPE 4 music people can check out for free in its entirety,theres gotta be over 60 TYPE 4 songs from all or albums including a handful of cuts off the new album..we got a shitload of music to share,come check us out!!!



SHEM: WHAT WITH YOUR TOMBSTONE SAY?

TOMMY O DEED: "LIVED LONG ,FOUGHT HARD,TRIPPED A BIT, BUT NEVER FELL" ....but if i am creamated id like my ashes to be flushed down the toilet at KFC

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT YALL ANOTHER DOPE WHAMMY FOR YOU TO BUG OUT TO
CHECK OUT TYPE 4 AT http://www.type4.biz/  TO STAY UPDATED WITH THE CREWS NEW LP RELEASE AND TOUR PLANS. REAL HIP HOP NEVER DIES , AND THESE GUYS ARE TRULY DEDICATED TO HIP HOP CULTURE .WITH  BOOMBAP BEATS ,CHEMICAL RYHMES FOR DAYS AND A NEW OUTLOOK ON LIFE. GUARD YOUR GRILLS ,CAUSE TYPE 4 IS BACK , HUNGRY AND  BLOWING UP LIKE YOUR UNCLES CRYSTAL METH LAB!!!!
 
 
 

HIP HOP ICON: MILK DEE ( AUDIO TWO) INTERVIEW BY DRC!

IN 1987 A 12 INCH RECORD DROPPED LIKE A BOMB ON THE CULTURE OF HIP HOP.THE RECORD "MAKE IT FUNKY" B/W "TOP BILLIN" , THE GROUP AUDIO 2. WHILE THE A-SIDE "MAKE IT FUNKY " MADE NOISE BUT DIDNT QUITE STAND OUT ,IT WAS THE B-SIDE " TOP BILLIN " THAT SET OFF A SONIC MEGABLAST THAT WAS FELT ACROSS DANCEFLOORS. IT WASNT LONG BEFORE EVERY BOOMBOX IN NEW YORK AND EVERY SOUND SYSTEM AROUND THE WORLD WAS BLASTING " MILK IS CHILLIN', GIZMO'S CHILLIN', WHAT MORE CAN I SAY? TOP BILLIN'". 25 YEARS LATER , THAT SINGLE REMAINS AS POTENT AS EVER. 50 CENT RECENTLY SAMPLED IT FOR HIS HIT 'I GET MONEY", AS WELL AS COUNTLESS OTHER SUPERSTARS WHO HAVE SAMPLED THE SONG( REMEMBER MARY J BLIGE'S REAL LOVE? IT SAMPLED "TOP BILLIN".)DRC'S OWN SHEMROK CAUGHT UP WITH MILK DEE, WHO TOOK THE TIME TO SPEAK WITH DRC ABOUT HIS PAST IMPACT ON HIP HOP MUSIC AND WHAT HE HAS INSTORE FOR LOYAL HIP HOP HEADS IN THE FUTURE.


DRC:HAVING A HIP HOP CLASSIC UNDER YOUR BELT LIKE "TOP BILLIN". HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT CURRENT MUSIC GENRES THAT COME OUT LIKE CRUNK, HYPHY OR JERK MUSIC THAT ALL SOUND LIKE THEY COULD HAVE COME OUT IN 1988?CONSIDERING "TOP BILLIN" IS THE BASIS OF SO MANY HIT SONGS IT SEEMS LIKE MORE AND MORE ARTIST LEAN ON THE MIDDLE SCHOOL ERA OF HIP HOP FOR INSPIRATION.

MILK DEE.
I really enjoy all types of music from Crunk, Hyphy, Jerk, Pop all the way to Rock. What I see is, all genres have been affected by Hip Hop you can definitely hear the influence. It makes me feel great to think that my song and my era has so much influence, It proves we created something extraordinary.


DRC:SPEAKING OF "TOP BILLIN". HOW DID IT FEEL WORKING WITH AD-ROCK AND MIKE D. OF THE BEASTIE BOYS ON "SPAM", FROM YOUR "NEVER DATED" E.P.SEEING AS BOTH OF YOU GUYS AS HIP HOP ARTIST HAVE BEEN HEAVILY SAMPLED BY OTHER ARTIST ON MANY SONGS? DID YOU GUYS EVER TALK ABOUT YOUR RESPECTIVE IMPACTS ON HIP-HOP?

MILK DEE:
Working with Ad-Rock and Mike D was a dream come true for me. I’ve always been the biggest Beastie Boys fan. We didn’t talk about our impacts but we kicked it a lot and had a great time working together. It was exactly what I expected and more.

DRC: WHAT WAS IT LIKE WORKING FOR RICK RUBIN ON AMERICAN RECORDS FOR "NEVER DATED'. SINCE IT DIDNT SEEM LIKE THEY WHERE SIGNING MANY HIP HOP GROUPS AT THE TIME? IT DOESNT SEEM LIKE THEY KNEW HOW TO PROMOTE A SOLO MILK DEE RECORD.








MILK DEE:
Rick Rubin was always an inspiration to me on a production level, I think he is a genius, I found out he is a fan of mine, so it was great. Although “Never Dated” wasn’t a big commercial success, I feel like we created a great piece of work and true Hip hop heads respect it.(EDITORS NOTE : MILK DEE'S SOLO RECORD IS IN FACT A UNDERGROUND HIP HOP CLASSIC , LISTEN TO A COPY OF THIS E.P. AND FIND OUT WHY?)

DRC:I KNOW YOU'VE GAIN ALOT OF NEW,AND YOUNGER FANS FROM THE 50 CENT " I GOT MONEY" SONG/REMIX. IS THERE A NEW MILK DEE LP IN THE WORKS OR LIVE SHOWS?


MILK DEE:
“Top Billin’” has been sampled over a hundred times. Every time it’s sampled, especially when someone as relevant as 50 uses it, it generates more interest in Milk Dee and keeps my name out there. It’s a wonderful thing. I always do shows and I’m in the lab working hard on some new Milk Dee music.

DRC:ITS GOOD TO STILL SEE FIRST PRIORITY IS GOING STRONG.IT WAS ONE OF THE FEW LABELS BACK IN THE DAY ,THAT YOU KNEW EVERYTHING WAS DOPE ON IT. DOES THE LABEL HAVE PLANS FOR RELEASING NEW ARTIST IN 2010?

MILK DEE:
Thanks. We will be releasing a bunch of new music. We have music from different genres. Look for music from Johnny Blk, June Luva, Tmarvin and Milk dee and some other surprises.

DRC: YOU COME FROM AN ERA OF HIP HOP WHERE ARTIST TRIED TO ALWAYS BE DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CURRENT STATE OF HIP HOP, WHERE MAIN STREAM ARTIST ALL GO AFTER THE SAME HOT PRODUCERS AND RAP TO THE SAME TYPE OF BEATS ?

MILK DEE:
Nothing is constant but change and this is the latest change. I do think Hip Hop is evolving and revolving. We may see the day when artist choose to be different and one producer can create a masterpiece for that artist, again.



DRC: AS AN EMCEE YOU ALWAYS HAD YOUR OWN STYLE OF RHYMING.WHETHER IT WAS LYRICALLY CONTENT, YOUR TONE , OR DELIVERY. IT SEEMS LIKE YOU WOULDNT BE OUT OF PLACE WITH TODAYS CURRENT TOP SELLING ARTIST, THE GOOD THING ABOUT YOUR RHYME STYLE IS IT DOESNT SOUND LIKE OLD SCHOOLISH OR TO QUOTE YOURSELF " NEVER DATED". DO YOU THINK A LOT OF THE NEWER CATS MIGHT HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE OLD AUDIO TWO RECORDS BUT JUST DONT SAY IT?

MILK DEE;
I hear my influence all the time, from rhyming style, production style, concepts etc.
Figure I said “I Get Money” and “I Get The Papers ” 25 years ago and now 90% of the hip hop songs on the radio are about getting money. Sometimes I hear an artist and I know I’ve influenced them and usually when I meet them they tell me how much they were influenced by me.
Usually they don’t front.


DRC:WHAT EVER HAPPEND TO THE LOST THIRD AUDIO TWO RECORD " FIRST DEAD INDIAN" AND WILL THOSE SESSIONS EVER GET A RE-RELEASE?


MILK DEE:
We get so many requests for it. We will be releasing it very soon.


DRC:ANY PLANS ON WORKING WITH MC LYTE ON NEW PROJECTS. ALOT OF FANS DONT REALIZE YOU WERE DOING PRODUCTION FOR ALOT OF HER EARLY HITS LIKE " I CRAM TO UNDERSTAND U (SAM)"

MILK DEE:
We talk about it all the time. Lyte is on “First Dead Indian” and I also have an un-released album for her that I produced that we might release.











DRC: IT SEEMS LIKE WITH YOU, GIZ, LYTE , AND CHARLES HAMILTON THERES A SUPER MUSIC GENE THROUGH- OUT YOUR FAMILY.DO YOU TRULY FEEL THAT THIS WAS WHAT YOU WAS PUT ON EARTH TO DO? IS THERE ANY OTHER AREA'S YOU WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE LIKE FILMS ECT.?

MILK DEE:
I do think music is my calling but I also feel the urge to help people. So I plan on getting involved in more charity work.

DRC: AND LASTLY TELL THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD WHERE THEY CAN FIND YOU ONLINE!

MILK DEE:
You can catch me @: firstprioritymusic.com, milkdee.com, myspace, facebook, youtube etc.

WE AT DRC WOULD LIKE TO THANK MILK DEE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO GIVE US THIS INTERVIEW. NOT ONLY IS MILK DEE A HIP HOP LEGEND IN HIS OWN RIGHT,BUT HE IS ALSO A INCREDIBLE SUPER PRODUCER WHO HAS PROUDUCED SUCH HITS AS EAMON'S "FUCK IT, I DON'T WANT YOU BACK" AS WELL AS HITS FOR MC LYTE AND COUNTRY/HIP HOP ARTIST JASON DOWNS. NOT TO MENTION THE ENDLESS LIST OF SONGS THAT HAVE HIT THE CHARTS THAT HAVE SAMPLED OR OWE CREDIT TO MILK DEE'S OWN AUDIO TWO PRODUCTIONS.AS HIP HOP MUSIC CONTINUES TO GROW AND EVOLOVE , KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR MILK DEE AND FIRST PRIORITY MUSIC IN 2010!!!

DRC INTERVIEWS TATTOO ARTIST LINDSAY PARROTTA

DRC IS ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT TO BRING YOU CUTTING EDGE FLAVOR AND FRESHNESS. THIS WEEK WE BRING YOU 25 YEAR OLD LOS ANGELES BASED (AND PITTSBURG NATIVE) TATTOO ARTIST AND DESIGNER LINDSAY PARROTTA. SHEMROK CHRIST NOT ONLY SAT IN HER CHAIR TO GET A SICK TATTOO OF LINDA BLAIR ( FROM THE MOVIE THE EXORCIST ) ON HIS FOREARM ,BUT ALSO GOT LINDSAY TO TAKE TIME OUT OF HER BUSY SCHEDULE TO LET DRC PICK AT THE MADNESS INSIDE HER HEAD.BELOW IS AN EXCERPT OF OUR TIME SITTING DOWN WITH THIS INCREDIBLY TALENTED ARTIST,AND WHAT MAKES THIS CREATIVE CHERRY BOMB TICK!


DRC: First things first, can you tell the D-Ratz out there a little bit about what influenced you into becoming a tattoo artist?

LINDSAY PARROTTA: From a very young age I was always visually expressive, and as I got older my style started to lend itself to tattoo designs. I got my first tattoo when I was 17 and fell in love with the whole process. One of my closest friends began tattooing which had a big influence on me getting started. So thanks, Matt!


DRC: Who are some of the tattoo artists that have influenced you?
LINDSAY P:
Billy Benson (Red White and Blue Tattoo, Ventura) has definitely been my mentor. Sailor Jerry is obviously a legend. Shanghai Kate Hellenbrand carved out a place for the ladies and is an original badass. And my absolute favorite artist right now is Jim Miner.



DRC: Do you prefer having someone with a good idea of what they want, or do you like designing a custom piece from scratch? Or Both?

LINDSAY P:
It all depends. Some of my best/favorite pieces have been custom designs. And its a great feeling when you draw something that the client gets super excited about. But if someone has a very specific idea of what they want its definitely easier on both of us if they have some references.

DRC: When was the first time you had to do a "Taz" tattoo; and how hard did you laugh?

LINDSAY P:
Haha, I haven't done a Taz tattoo yet, but I have done Yosemite Sam, which was actually pretty cool. Although I'm pretty sure that if I keep tattooing long enough I'm eventually going to encounter a Taz tattoo. It's inevitable.





DRC:Worst experience working for a tattoo shop? Best Experience?

LINDSAY P:
Everyone's had some bad experiences where things just didn't gel. I think it's tough if the owner of a shop isn't a tattoo artist, it makes it difficult for them to understand a lot of issues. But so far I've been pretty lucky and have learned from everything. My best experience so far was definitely at Pure Tattoo where I began my apprenticeship. We went through a lot in my time there. They were the first to give me a shot, and the first place I really felt at home in LA after moving here from Pittsburgh. That will always mean the world to me.

DRC: Do you feel like you get treated differently being a female tattoo artist in a mostly male dominated industry?

LINDSAY P:
Oh definitely. It can be either a good or a bad thing. Being a 5' tall girl helps me to stand out, that's for sure. I hope that most of the guys who are nice to me or want to get worked on by me are basing it on skill and not on something else, haha. The down side is that even though I'm 25 I look younger, and often people walk into the shop and look right past me to talk to one of the male artists. Usually they think I'm the receptionist. Not cute.


DRC: Being that you, aside from being a super talented tattoo artist, are a beautiful girl do you hate being constantly compared to people like "Kat Von D" just because you have black hair and tattoo's...and she's famous?

LINDSAY P:
Oh god I hear that all the time, it's the joke that never gets old. Except that it does. It really does. Please stop.

(No disrespect to Kat, haha. But no, seriously, stop it.)

DRC: What do you think really sets you apart from every other tattoo artist?and what do you think you bring to the art form?

LINDSAY P:
I like to think that I have an energy and a positivity that make my clients feel comfortable and excited about the process. Getting a tattoo can be a little daunting, and I've had a lot of people tell me how uncomfortable they've been made to feel at some of the shops they've visited. Its really an intimate thing, and I'm honored by every person that chooses to share this ritual with me and I really try to always treat it with that respect. I hope that my art conveys that love as well.






DRC: What is your favorite music to listen to while you tattoo?

LINDSAY P: Music makes all the difference. Especially on larger pieces I really need something to keep me focused and energetic. Right now it's usually either Young Jeezy or Every Time I Die, haha.

DRC: What is your favorite tattoo you've done do date? Worst? Most Difficult?

LINDSAY P:
One of my favorites is the Stanley Cup I did on my own arm (Go Pens!) and there's a stencil of Audrey Hepburn that I'm pretty fond of. The worst was probably tattooing "Fuck the World" on this guy's chest and then when I finished having him tell me that he "felt like we just had sex." Gross. My most difficult tattoo was on my friend's neck. The design wasn't difficult but the spot we did it was. The skin was tricky and my stencil disappeared about half way through, which is really stressful.

DRC: Whats your favorite style to tattoo?

LINDSAY P:
I love American Traditional tattoos. They are classic. They look good now and they'll look good 50 years from now. They may look like simple designs but it's a whole different way of thinking about lines and color. You boil the piece down to its essence so everything has to be executed cleanly.

DRC: do you notice a difference in what kinds of tattoos people get on the west coast compared to the east coast- or is it all pretty much the same? [example: a lot of east coast people get sports tattoos etc.]

LINDSAY P:
Black and gray is a lot more popular on the West Coast. Color and traditional work is more popular back East and that's had an influence on me. And I honestly think people from Pittsburgh get more sports tattoos than any other city, haha.



DRC: Do you have any future dreams of running your own shop? Or would you rather skip the headache and be an in-demand freelance artist who travels the world tattooing (private, conventions etc.) ?

LINDSAY P:
Jury is still out as to whether I would like to own my own shop, it's not something that's really on my radar right now. My only entrepreneurial inclination at the moment is to someday have my own line of tattoo inks. I've always been fascinated by chemistry and I think that is something I could really get into. So be on the lookout for that in the future!

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT KIDDIES. ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST INNOVATIVE UPCOMING TATTOO ARTIST IN LOS ANGELES. IF YOU WANT THIS INSANELY CREATIVE AND TALENTED ARTIST TO DO SOME WORK ON YOU( AND IF YOU PASS THE "DON'T BE A CRAZY PSYCHO FREAK WEIRDO , WHO TRIES TO LOCK PEOPLE IN BASEMENTS SAW STYLE" TEST. YOU CAN CONTACT HER THRU drugratcityent@yahoo.com AND WE WILL PASS ALONG YOUR INFO.IF YOU PASS THE TEST AND GOT YOUR PAPER RIGHT , SHE JUST MIGHT FIT YOU INTO HER BUSY AND HECTIC SCHEDULE


TO SEE MORE OF LINDSAY PARROTTA'S WORK GO TO http://littlelindsayink.tumblr.com/