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me but to name a few I would have to start with my biggest which would be my mother and then individuals such as Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters, Lee Williams, Betty Wright, Johnny Taylor, Shirley Murdock, Anthony Hamilton, John Legend, I mean the people that when you hear their words you feel it in your soul.
Murdock What’s your background? I was born in Queens, New York raised in the North and South. I was brought up in the church where my love of music began and I also had my times in the street, which helped me appreciate music that spoke on the struggles of real life. I am also ex-military (Army) a Ranger through and through. As of this year I just lost my mother in February and the loss of my angel is what inspired me to write my current single “A Letter to Momma”. What does your work aim to say? My work aims to say love the ones you love while there here like my song said “Momma said give me my flowers while I am here”. How does your work comment on current social or political issues? Every day we lose someone to natural causes, accidents, and senseless violence and mainly the first thing you hear is how they wish they had said this or did that and my work on a social level is saying don’t wish it do it while they’re here. This is how I feel my work is commenting on current social issues. Who are your biggest influences? There are so many people that truly influenced
How have you developed your career? I have developed my music by getting my song on the most used digital media platforms, pushing my music out to as many radio and digital dj’s as possible also while my crew and I promote my current single by literally walking these streets and passing out my cd no matter where we are at. How do you navigate the art world? In the words of my friend 420, “I don’t navigate the art world I put the art world on cruise control and ride the waves while taking all new information in. How do you price your work? I price my work through the value of the message being sent through it and if I am sending it out in a way that touches a person emotionally and mentally. What keeps you going and why do you what you do? What keeps me going and doing what I do is knowing my words from my music can touch many even with the future tracks that are coming. For me to know that I could touch the hearts and souls of even a few is like walking out on Christmas morning and you see that one main gift you wanted. What’s your dream goal with your art”? My dream goal for my art is simple to get my music art out there to the masses and like I said earlier touch some hearts and souls, but to give people music that is authentic, honest, and unapologetic from the heart that we seem to still be missing in majority of today’s music.
ty much a male dominated world. Not only is it dominated by men, there are very few female Djs. What makes you different from any other Djs?..... What makes me different from any other Dj is, my style, which every Dj has their very own individual style that sets them apart from any other.
shimmer Tell us a little about yourself... I am a 39yr old mother of four wonderful kids and a grandma to one. Associates degree in Entertainment Software Development with 15 plus years in nursing. I’ve always had a love for music which made it fairly easy to get into Deejaying. How long have you been Deejaying?.... I’ve been Deejaying for 7 and a half years now. What got you started?... It wasn’t the what that got me started Deejaying it was more so the who got me started, which my dad is a Dj for over 20 plus years and an ex who was and still is a Dj. What genre of music do you work with? I work with all genre of music, however I’m really big on Southern Soul
What is your feedback on between hip hop and politics?...... My feedback on hip hop is, hip hop isn’t what it used to be. It’s mostly mumble jumble and somewhat related to rap music. When it comes to politics, I’m not real big on politics. It’s just a bunch of people voicing their opinions while trying to force them on others. What makes a great record and why? A great record is one that doesn’t sound just like everyone else’s, it’s also got to be relatable and carry a message and, of course it has to have a nice beat to it. Most importantly it has to be consistent. Where do you feel music will be in the next 5-10 years from now?..... In the next 5 to 10 years I see music transforming into both bad and good. It just really depends on the genre you prefer. Who are some of your favorite Southern Soul artists? And where can we find them?...... Some of my favorite artists are, Portia Portia, Amazing Prince of Blues, Karen Wolfe,Summer Wolfe, Mr.Sam, I mean the list goes on. They’re all great. They all can be found on YouTube, Facebook, CD baby and on most of your digital platforms.
We heard you are a big supporter of Southern Soul music?... Yes. I’m a huge supporter of southern soul
So who is one of the greatest Southern Soul artist you can think of and why?...... The greatest Southern Soul artist?... I would have to go with T.K Soul because his deliverance and performances are outstanding. His songs are relatable and carry a message.
What made you get into Southern Soul music?.... I got off into Southern Soul because it’s different. It not only keeps you moving, some- most people can relate to. It’s the feel good music...
What is your DJ name you go by and why?.... Dj.LadyFlex is what I go by. The name was given to me by the people of the VFW 9191and it just stuck with me
So is it hard being a female DJ in an all male field?.... It’s very hard being a female Dj when it’s pret-
per. I grew up listening to him, but all of the local talent from Camouflage, to Heat, to A-Mutt influenced who I am today. How have you developed your career? I have developed my career through marketing on the internet. Over the years I realized that the internet is the gateway to everything. YouTube, Apple Music, Tidal, etc. has jumpstarted many careers including mine. How do you seek out opportunities? I put my money into my craft from any open mic nights, to buying cds to pass out, anything to network.
T.Willz What is your background? I was born in Newark, NJ, raised in Walthourville, GA, I grew up as an only child, and found music as my outlet. At 9 years old, I recorded my first song, I knew I always wanted to make music, but I started taking my craft serious when I turned 18. What does your work aim to say? My work is diverse, and aims to uplift others. I like to bring positive & upbeat vibes, but still touch those topics that others are scared to speak on. How does your work comment on current social or political issues? I’ve always been an outspoken person. One thing I will always do is speak my mind, and be a man of my word. I write lyrics that will make you ponder whether or not you’re seeing an issue from all sides. Nowadays, people are on a one minded track, that they’re afraid to stray away from what’s socially or politically correct. My work gives another way of looking at things. Who are your biggest influences? Hands down, I’ll say Jadakiss is my favorite rap-
How do you cultivate a collector base? I show support where support is due, be on time, keep business away from personal, and show my loyalty to the game. How do you navigate the art world? To navigate the art world, I took the time to network with artists from all genres, watches videos & blogs to have a better understanding. How do you price your work? I base it off the amount of money I put into it, and the follower base that I have behind it. What keeps you going? Why do you do what you do? My kids, my family, my team. God put me in this position for a reason, and I’m going to see it through. What is your dream goal with your art? My dream goal is to accomplish my dream while helping others reach their dreams. I want to help my community, uplift my culture, and be a guide for the generations to come. What’s the highest thing you felt from continuing to practice your art? From meeting my agent, to having my song played across the country, it’s truly a blessing to reach this point thus far. The Marathon continues.
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Afrika Bambaataa www.zulunation.com TrueSchool.airtime.pro www.Streetwireradio.com Every Tuesday 8 pm to 1
Everyone in Hip Hop owes a bit of gratitude to Hip Hop pioneerAfrika Bambaataa and his Universal Zulu Nation. We caught up with the legendary pioneer Afrika Bambaataa during one of in between times.
When was Universal Zulu Nation founded and why? The Universal Zulu Nation was founded in the Year of 1973 at the same time when we were in a street Movement called a Black Spades and a group called the organization. This was the year I started pushing the ideal of a Universal Zulu Nation and started renaming many brothers and sisters down with me in the gang era and organization by African names slowly planning the time to bring the Zulu Nation into full force by having a selected few who were running with me in the High School Adlai E Stevenson High School and into the Bronx River Houses. The reason was because, I was always conscious even in my gang banging days and was always into music and dance of the scene of that time. I wanted to bring on a change in our gang mentality of destroying each other to an organize movement of controlling our communities from negative to a positive one but was first had to put the seed of wisdom in a few who in quite and secretly knew that I was making out a new plan order to take root in our community. But since we were still in a gang mentality from Black Spades and other groups I was in or had strong influences with I had to wait some to the right time to bring the Zulu Nation to the fore front. Once we started the Movement of Hip Hop which at first had no name but we were doing the do as James Brown says in his song then it was time from the few I had down in 1973 to bring into movement by 1975 which took a while to break the mentality of the Early Zulu Nation or Organization because it was still made up of many members from different gangs who follow me to the Organization and to the Zulu Nation. We here at Xs10magazine want to thank you for giving us this opportunity to interview you? Name your inspirations & mentors that helped guide & mold you to become a Musician/Dj & role model for your community in the 70’s. First I Give Honors to the Great Supreme Force, to whom goes by many names ALLAH, Jehovah, Jah, Eloheem, Åmėn Ra, my Mother, Father, family and relatives, our community Elders who watch over us and show concern to change our ways. Then to Malcolm X, Martin Luther King,
Mariam Makeba, Last Poets, Sonia Sanchez, Wanda Ramos, the King James Brown, The Great Sly and the Family Stone, Uncle George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, All groups of Motown and all their labels, Dr. Malachi Z York and The Ansaru ALLAH Community, Gary Bryrd (WWRL/ WBLS) Eddie O Jay( WLIB) Cousin Brucie (WABC) Radio Stations, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, KHALID Muhammad, Young Lords, Joe Cuba Sextext, Willie Colon, Kraftwerk, Sidney Poitier, The Holy Bible, The Glorius Qu’Ran, The Book Coming Forth By Day, Dionne Warrick, Grand Funk Rail Road, Mighty Sparrow, Salsa, Reggae, Clarence 13 X, The 5 Percenters, Bob Marley, Trinity, !Gil Scot Heroine, Fela Kuti, Isley Brothers, Temptations, Bobby Byrd, The Beatles, Credence Clearwater Revival, Calypso Rose, Woodstock, The Apollo, The Brooklyn Fox with Murray D Kay, Dark Shadows, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeanie, all for know about the occult, Science, Africa, The Great Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad, The Universe and the list goes on. Now you can see how deep my Mind has become. How did you help mold & influence this culture in the 70’s to create a positive & creative outlet for the youth of South Bronx NYC? Who assisted & co-organized this movement? By organizing, teaching, dropping wisdom, uniting, waring, conjuring, and bringing the words into the culture like Elements, calling it a culture, getting others to see the vision where this can go on a bigger level and taking it to the next phase. There were sisters and brothers from different communities who help me in our task from other areas of the Bronx and later on the rest of New York then into other states, then the world. I give Honors to all these pioneers and Warriors of War and Peace who help in our task to move and spread the culture. There so many that help that I can write a book on them all and their greatness. To all the greats of all the housing projects like Our family in Bronxdale Houses, Monroe, Lafayette, Soundview, Castle Hill, Lambert, Throgs Neck, Mott Haven, Forrest, Mitchell, Edenwall, Gun Hill, The Valley, Eastchester, Queens,
Brooklyn, Staten Island and Long Island. All the warriors from all these different hoods and areas who stood with me and by me, I thank and Honor you all. Special Shout out to my Brothers Disco King Mario, Kool DJ Dee and Tyrone, Roy, Tex DJ Hollywood, Nicky D, Sinbad, Superman, Jazzy Jay, Red Alert, Grandmaster Flash, Dough E Fresh, Crash Crew, Collins Brothers, DJ Rob the Gold, Infinity Machine, Afrika ISLAM Funk Machine, Lovebug Starski, Kool Herc, DJ Breakout and Baron, Casanova Fly, Smokey and Smokeatrons, Mean Gene, Theodore, Kool DJ AJ, Hollywood. To all my Groups all early Pioneers thank you all. In the Mid to late 70’s how did Hip Hop Culture come to be? Were all the elements (Bboy’n – Mcee’n – Dj’n & Writing) all separate subcultures but tied together because of the demographic (Bronx NYC)? Please explain? There was no togetherness until we organize it under Elements to called all who were into their own thing until the First Family of Hip Hop pulled it all together into a culture under the banner Hip Hop Culture and that First Family is
The Almighty Zulu Nation to the Universal Zulu Nation. Make no mistake in this. No one was talking culture but the Universal Zulu Nation and all who stood with us. Many others were doing their separate thing until we started uniting the areas in unity and solidarity and the ones who gave problems knew they had to face a serious army we were building up. We in Universal Zulu Nation were more Sovereign in our own Power, Force, Status and had ties with other groups which we became a Force in Power thanks to all our early gang mentality to bring about Peace after all the wars. Did Hip Hop have a name before it was labeled? Who Labeled it Hip Hop? During the birth, Hip Hop was a wave of new & emerging trends in the Bronx that youths were involved with & Hip Hop later developed into a culture or was the cultural aspect involved from the birth? There is a powerful documentary that all need to see by Kurtis Blow which never came out and much real deal talk it’s in this video. The words Hip Hop was spoken n raps by Keith Cowboy from Flash and Lovebug Starski who Cowboy
was of Grandmaster Flash but he also was part of our family in Universal Zulu Nation through our brother MC Pow Wow and Lovebug Starski been with me from a very young age in The Spades and both of us played many times on my brother and Black Spades leader Kool DJ Dee Sound System as well we played on Disco King Mario System and we played on Pete DJ Jones system. As you can see all us Spades started to get DJ systems and was doing the do before any word called Hip Hop the same as when Kool Herc was doing his DJ on the West Side of the Bronx. When journalists came to me to ask what we called this I could of said many other things but took the cliche of LoveBug and Cowboy raps and called it Hip Hop cause I love the word how it was sounding in the raps they spit. There are many who are trying to write their versions of the facts and all got a type of story which yes they can add on but don’t even try it with me or all who was with Me, Mario, Sinbad, Tex, even SINBAD also use to say the word oh Bam and Mario doing that hipity Hop shit way before anyone was taking anything called Hip Hop. But We all was doing the do and the Culture came when the First Family of Hip Hop pulled it all together.thats when more started paying attention to Hip Hop is when I took it downtown to punk rockers causing a new wave panic in the white community of Punk Rockers or New Wavers to start enjoying our culture of Hip Hop. But that’s another long story when Hip Hop move to the clubs of downtown. Describe the social climate during the 70’s during the birth of Hip Hop. Was Hip Hop a product of the social & economical struggle within NYC? The Social Climate of the 70s were off the backs of what went on in the 1960s with Civil Rights to Human Rights, to Racism, to hangings, Ku Klux Klan and White Supremacy, to The Black Panther Party, The Nation of Islam, SNCC, Kwrame Toure,Us Organization, Riots, Uprisings, Black Power, White Power, Young Lords, Weathermen,Symbolize Liberation Army, Justice and Injustice, John Wayne, Indians, Cowboys, the Jeffersons, Julia, Putney Swope Movie,Virginia Slims, Up The Down Staircase Movie, Shaft,Superfly Movie,Fires,Hoods burnings, Blackouts, Son of Sam, Sly Stones Hot Fun In The Summer
Time, Motown, The Jackson 5, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Laugh In, Sony and Cher, Salsa, Salsoul, Boogaloo, Olatunji, Ike and His Drummers and Dancers, Hair Play, Jesus Christ Superstar Play, The Me Nobody Knows Play, Crash Crew, Morton Hall, Winston Collection, Graham Central Station, Barkays, Curt’s Mayfield, Crime, Killings,Shootings, Police Murders, Mayor Kotch, Mayor Dinkins, Ray Baretto Machito, Celia Cruz, lord Nelson, The Mighty Shadow, The Black Falcons, The Ching A Lings, Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Gangs, The Colgate, The Webster Ballroom, The Cadet Core, The Harlem Renaissance, BBKing, Tony Joe White, Johnny Cash, Charlie Pride, Dolly Parton, Country Music, Mongo Santermaria, Santana, El Co Co, Donna Summers, Gloria Gaynor,President John F Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, President Cater, Mayor Beam, Mayor John Linsey, The 5 Percenters, Job Core, Dayton Village, Junkies, Weed,Coke, Dust, Drugs, Mafia,War Pigs, Bronx Aliens, The 5 Corners, The Warriors Movie,The Wanders Movie, Little Richard,The Delfonics,The Stlistics,The Chi Lites,Gladys Knight and The Pips, The Three Dogs Night, Say It Loud I’m Black and I’m Proud, Brown Power, Witches, Voodoo or Voodoun, Chirch, Fire Hydrants Water sprinklers, 5 cent Newspapers, 50cent movie theaters, Karate Flicks , Bruce Lee, Cohinese Gangs, Noon Chucks, Slingy, Silly Puddy, 45 plastic records On cereal boxes, Gidget, The Munsters,The Flying Nun,The Adams Family, All the different I Love Lucy Shows, 5 On The Black Hand Side Movie, The Learning Tree Movie, 50 cent Parties, Double Dutch,Pig Feet,Nast Chitlings, Pork, Ham Sandwiches, Coke and Pepsi, I like To Teach the world to sing commercial, Burger King, McDonalds, White Castles, Bodegas, Barbecue Chicken,West Indian Food, Spanish Food, Chinese Food, Italian Food,Forth of July with Fire Works, Halloween Movie, Frankenstein, Dracula, Rapes, Hate, Diseases, Mind Control, Father Knows Best, Batman series, Star trek,The Outer Limits, The Twilight Zone. Thousands of more was the scene of The 60s and 70s and every thing I have mention here those from those eras of time know exactly what I’m talking about here.
How important are the other facets of Hip Hop (Knowledge – True History & current events) other than the 4 primary elements that everyone embraces & why? Every Element is important to each other but The 5th Element in Facts is over all of it cause Knowledge of the know or even if you don’t know which you do the know is knowledge in it self so knowing what you didn’t know but knew to do rules all. Are there any Hip Hop Pioneers from your generation that never got the recognition & respect they deserve? Breakdown a little about them & their role in building the Culture. I have mentioned many before and there are hundreds of more who were doing things in their areas of the city even it they were djs are Sol writers, dancers, teaching wisdom, Rapping or toasting they all was doing something in their respected hoods to make some type of noise to help in movement of a people. Soul Music, R&B, Jazz, Funk, Calypso, Soca, Salsa, Merengue, Ska, Talent Shows I can write books on all the different movements that happen in all the many hoods that predate a word called Hip Hop to become a Culture. Giving Honors to DJ Hollywood from Monroe and DJ Kenny Ken, DJ Tommy from Bronx River, Lil Akbar or Lil Starski, Mercedes Ladies, Pebbly Poo, Debbie D, Lisa Lee SHA Rock, Queen KENYA, DJ Cowboy, DJ Barry Monroe Projects, Africa Zambu, Africa Issac from Monroe Projects, Tex DJ Hollywood and WC from Bronxdale Projects, Pambaataa, Kid Flash, Also have to give shout outs to my brothers in Brooklyn and Queens who were slamming that Soul and Disco ,the Disco Twins Long Island, Plummer’s and Mbeya, Pete DJ Jones, DJ Flowers, Coke la Rock, Rocky Bucano, Timmy Smalls, Clark Kent, The Nigga Twins, Charlie Chase and Tony Tone, Lord Yoda, Darryl C, Spoonie G, Treacherous 3, Cool Clyde and cuz Lance, Cool Aid, and so many more. What are your thoughts on these new mumble rappers coming out and & all the hype? What are your predictions? I love all styles of Hip Hop rap but do not give props to so called radio stations that claim to play hip Hop music not playing the old with the new to keep it all True School. Many have started doing
apartheid in all music category and should always play old songs with the new songs. Why not to here Bambaataa, Flash, Kurtis Blow, KRS, Latifah, MC Lyte along with Cardi B, Wu Tang, Drake, Same in Rock, Jazz, Funk, RNB, House, Teckno, Electro Funk or Miami Bass, Go Go old with he new Mash up all on the radio even going back to the 30s 40s 50s 60s all the way to now, why not play songs from them eras with the Now? I do it all the time and many love when I mash all type of music together to wake up a new generation to good music even from around the world in different music. What has Bambaataa been doing as of late? Afrika Bambaataa has been making many new songs which you can only get from online Digital Music stores from many different places in the world on my travels. I have songs out in South America where people hear may not heard of case of Apartheid DJs or so called Program directors who try to stay in a safe mode and have other categories of different music in other countries and still doing calibrations with many old and new artists from different countries and still rocking the turntables as a DJ . We have True School Radio on line as Trueschool.airtime.pro and a show on Tuesday Night wit Lord Yoda, Dr. Shaka, DJ Steettech On Streetwireradio.comand release a few new songs on my label Planet Rock Music which you can get online like “Funk On The 1”, “ Do Them Old Dances”,” Tama RE Project”, Rio Funk” “Sally”, “On The Dance Floor”, If You Don’t Work”, we have other artist like a Ntelek 9, Lord 7, E Dollaz, “D Collins” Check their songs out. Still teach where ever I go in Spirituality, Respect, Love and Honor to all people of Earth and Beings beyond. With the release of the hip house style jam ‘Get Up and Dance’, a lot of folks would argue that what you did isn’t really ‘hip hop’? I did so many types of Music and don’t care what they think isn’t Hip Hop or not, I know one thing I have pave a big way for any Hip Hop Artist to do what ever style of music they feel to do because I was never stuck on doing any one type of music
and that’s why I’m still traveling because I have so many different music that gave me hits in other styles of music by the grace of God to still be traveling to still get humans to have a good time in music and to dance. If you worry to much of what people think n you or your music, you never get no where. Keep your trust in the Lord of All the Worlds and move in Gods Grace. As a pioneer and Godfather of hip hop of music how do you define hip hop? Hip is to be Hip in to the happenings of now and Hip into the knowing what came before the Now and Hip to jump up Hop over and get your Freedom Dance On in Life. What would not make a hip hop record? Do acts like lil pump, and other white rappers, New Kids On the Block or Bell Biv Devoe qualify as hip hop? There’s different styles of Hip Hop Records Hip House, Jung Hop from Jungle or Drum N Bass, Electro Funk, Miami Bass, Rio Funk, Funk of Hip Hop music. There R& B hip Hop songs with Break beats, there Hip Hop Jazz, Salsa Hip Hop, Gospel Hip Hop, Reggae Hip Hop Break Beats has jump into many styles of music to make many songs fall into Hip Hop Music. Most people when they say Hip Hop they automatically think a Rapper or rap songs and that far from the facts. There Hip Hop music or Rap records then there the true culture of Hip Hop as a whole unit in all the Elements of Hip Hop. Can’t forget our cousins in Hip Hop music that Washington DC Go go where I was the first to ever play Go Go in Hip Hop which the Go Go gave you that Teddy Riley’s New Jack swing RNB so we all got from each other and there be no Hip Hop music if it was for the breaks of many other types of music especially if there was no King of Soul Not the Godfather time to put this man back in his rightful status and that’s the King of Soul James Brown. Stop calling him The Godfather because many don’t even know the story why he started using that and how that makes him less than a King. James Brown is The King of Soul and the God of Hip Hop Beats and let’s honor the King back in his Rightful Status. You are not going to call Elvis Presley the Godfather of Rock and Roll or The Beatles the Godfather’s of Pop. No stop It, James Brown is The King of Soul and Aretha is the Queen. And since they pass on
honor those that still around you like Patti Labelle who Now is a Queen of Soul because she was the Princess of it like Tina Turner Queen of Acid Rock Donna Summer Queen of Disco. Michael King of Pop! Prince his Royal Badness. Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, Diana Ross, still here and still can sing the socks off of others. Rolling Stones still here, Shaba, Yellow man, Mighty Sparrow, Calypso Rose, Willie Colon, Santana still here Honors to them all Stevie Wonder, Lionel Ritchie, Chaka Kahn, Grace Jones, Cher, Nona Hendryx, Uncle George Clinton, Sly Tone, Chic, Charlie, Ronald Isley all still here, Smokey, HALL’s and Oats, Yolanda Adams, still here Honors to them all and all the new school who make it happen now. As an ambassador of hip hop, you’ve traveled all over the world. How is hip hop being received in other places? Hip Hop is a Super Hugh success all over Earth and Honors to every artist and pioneers who I have met or help in many countries who work hard in spreading Hip Hop Culture and Universal Zulu Nation all over Earth. Thank you over 1 million times. A lot of people don’t realize your reputation. Back in the days you use to shock everybody because you had so many records and so many beats from different sources of music. You definitely earned that title. When we talk about Hip-Hop how would you define it? Is it just one type of music? Is it a way that you present it? Or is it a conglomeration of a lot of different things? Hip Ho Music In Facts is made from all types of other music that’s already been here as well as music that those in the know who know how to produce or play instruments to make u new styles of music they can call their own. Sampling also is an art if you know how to make it funky or danceable or even to kool out but remember to always give credit due to ones you sample from. Don’t be scare to put them down as writers with you or to even invite them to be on a song with you old to the new, new to the old to become all True School. So is music on the west coast considered Hip Hop? I ask that because you have a lot of people who keep insisting that artist like Too Short or E-40 is not real Hip Hop. Is that a false definition?
All f them is Hip Hop. As I said before there is many different styles of music in Hip Hop and we will have none of this arguments if djs or program directors would be playing all types of music or hip Hop old and new on the radio. To much apartheid in the music industry and to much brainwashing. Now can you repeat that again. I keep telling people all the time that Latin Freestyle and Hi Energy music is part of Hip Hop. I keep telling people that a lot of the early freestyle producers were original Hip Hoppers. I keep telling them how the Puerto Ricans took the fast up-tempo break beats from songs like ‘Apache’ and developed freestyle. Puerto Rican’s to the Electro Funk Hip Hop We made as in Planet Rock, Looking for The Perfect Beat and just change the name I called it to Do Freestyle which is exactly Electro Funk just as Brazil took it Miami took it and so many others took Electro Funk ,and kept renaming it to fit their own but all of it is the up tempo Hip Hop of Electro Funk which started with Myself !Arthur Baker, John Robbie and The Soul sonic Force as well as the Techno Pop of Kraftwerk ,Gary Numan and Yellow Magic Orchestra they did Techno Pop or Electronic Music when I got it we add that Break Beats and that Funk to Electromagnetism Sound that became Electro Funk. I thank them all for keep it going my other Indigenous so called Latinos(Moors) for keep rocking that Electro Funk to Freestyle to Miami Bass to Rio Funk to Germany Techno Electro. How has Hip Hop changed over the years? There are those who keep the culture going and there are those who only follow rappers or what’s hot on the radio. What do you like about it? The Longevity of it all Hip Hop will be Intergalactic as we become Space Travelers watch and see and it will take on another style as we get more meetings with our Extraterrestrials beings in our Universe. Watch and see we are now in the Jetsons age of Electro cars, flying cars, Robots, I as I said many years ago will come in our time and it here. Welcome to The Matrix.
What do you think is hurting it? Radio stations that don’t open up to all music and brainwashing the minds of the people and Youth. What do you think we need to do to take things to the next level? Get back to Spirituality, Study Study Study for we don’t make the same mistakes over and over and pay attention to what really going on with our planet, in and outside of it. It’s speaking to us before the serous Wrath of Nature a God in-itself sends its destruction-upon all who didn’t take heed of Mother Nature hurt. Can you speak on the relationship between Hip Hop and violence? Hip Hop is not violence, People are. If these radio stations tv shows keep going the ways they doing in music programming and tv programming, then you will see a super tidal wave effect of chaos on the planet like you never seen before. Earth is being watch by others in n the Universe as well as those in subterranean worlds, this is no joke. Can you speak on the relationship between Hip Hop and politics? Hip Hop can be a serious movement in politics but there are those who keeping many blind death and dumb to stay stagnated and just keep a part mentality and know nothing in Science or Economic Survival and will lose all their jobs to Robots and AÍ watch and see. Where do you see Hip Hop going in the next couple of years? It will be at a standstill until a next messiah comes to get it back on course to get ready for the Galactic Inner stellar age of Space Hip Hop. Time to get your mind back working. Read books of knowledge that will advance you to a higher state of consciousness in mathematics and science but don’t fool around messing with the Gods of the One Supreme Force. Respect yourselves, Love and honor with each other and upliftment of our neighborhoods and each one, Feed one, help one and send books to all who are on lock down for they can have encouragement to do for self and mind and honor thy mother and fathers as we use to.
Miguel, John Legend, Andre 3000, Janet Evra, J Cole, Drake, Old Kanye, Jay Z, and few others. I would LOVE to have the chance to collab with all of them, really. If i had a choice though, my number 1 option would be Andre 3000. I know we’d create something legendary. I think a StringZ EMB & MIguel project would do serious numbers also.
stringz How long have you been in the music game and how did you get started in the first place? I released my very 1st song in June of 2014. It’s a track that I titled “Time.” Honestly, I’ve been singing my entire life.... shower singing, at least lol. My older cousin, Gerald, was & is the singer of the family. I guess it just naturally trickled over to me. I remember my very 1st performance was at my kindergarten graduation. I led the choir in “Wake up Everybody,” & “Lean on me.” As far as taking it seriously, back in 2014, I fell into a deep depression due to a loss of employment. Instead of allowing the darkness of the depression to get the better of me, I became more prayerful. As I begun to get closer to God, the songwriting began to flow. And now we’re here! Who were your first musical influences that you can remember? My first musical influences would be some of your usuals; Michael Jackson, of course. My father is fan of the great Peabo Bryson. Outside of his most recent allegations, R. Kelly. James Brown & Ray Charles are some legendary influences of mine as well. Which artists are you currently listening to? And is there anyone of these that you’d like to collaborate with? The artists I’m currently listening to are Masego,
Old school R&B and Soul as done by the fathers Al Green, Teddy Pendergrass, Marvin Gaye or Urban R&B by Usher and R.Kelly, which do you prefer and do you think there is any difference at all? Between old school & modern R&B, I’d have to say that my registry & delivery puts you more in the mind of the old school soul singers. Your Al Greens, Marvin Gayes, James Browns, & Ray Charles for sure. From my perspective, there’s definitely a difference. Not a bad thing, of course, but the old school legends tend to be a bit more story driven in their song lyrics. New school does the same, but I think production plays a big roll in the newer genres of music. With that being said, my vision is to merge the old school stories with the new school production vibe. Have you suffered any ‘resistance’ or skepticism from within the industry, or from other artists? I’ve suffered resistance on a few things. I think, as a new artist, we all have. Just like anything, there are levels to it though. When i 1st started, the level of resistance was much higher because most people tend to shy away from what they don’t understand(what they don’t see other people cosign), but as I continue to cover more ground, the welcoming arms tend to increase more and more. Then again, that’s based upon my current level. My plan is to continue to increase & surpass levels, so I anticipate a new level of resistance. I guess this is where i insert the cliche statement of “The grind continues;” I’m up for the challenge though. The best piece of advice that I followed was to stay true to me. In doing that, I am able to feel good about everything that progresses. I know that i’m not attempting to be something, I’m not posing, & I’m not acting. This is the real me accomplishing real goals.
How does your work comment on current social or political issues? My craft exploits the inner city communities current affairs in Seattle. Who are your biggest influences? My biggest influence is my dad (Mr. Benjamin 2008). He has been embedded in the Seattle hip hop scene before I was even born.
MARI BASED 1 What’s your background? MARI BASED 1 I come from up out Pacific Northwest, out of the inner city of Seattle Washington. I’ve won numerous awards from my region including the “Best Mixtape” award from the Seattle Sound Music Awards in 2018, “Breakout Artist” for the West Coast Hip-Hop Awards in 2018, and “Top 20 Movers N Shakers” in Seattle’s Best of the Best Crane City Awards coming. I’ve also received an award from my Label BJ&J ENTERTAINMENT for achieving 1 million views on Facebook for my single “Ripping & Running” off my mixtape “Mariotto the Mixtape Vol 1”. I currently have 2 music videos in rotation on BET JAMS right now called (“Bouncin” & “Score’n”), I have opened up for Ace Hood, Trinidad James, B Legit, Lil Mosey, Rob Vicious of Shoreline Mafia, and I made a special appearance down at South By Southwest music festival in Austin Texas this year just to name of few. I’ve also Collaborated with ScottyATL out of Atlanta, Seattle’s very own DJFunkDaddy, BrandonThePro, ChildishBoys116, NorthWe$tB1 just to name a few. SEATTLE MUSIC IS REAL! All my music is available now on all digital platforms worldwide on Sony orchard, Apple Music, Spotify, google play, amazon, SoundCloud, YouTube, and jay pay for the B.O.P. What does your work aim to say? My craft is giving out a message of today’s youth! That next generation new era type of vibe.
How have you developed your career? I am still in the development of my career. At this point my goal is to achieve a gold or platinum plaque. How do you seek out opportunities? My team BJ&J ENTERTAINMENT keeps me busy. Shout out to my team! SEATTLE MUSIC IS REAL! How do you cultivate a collector base? To give the people what they want. It’s not about what I want, it’s about what they want. It’s all about my fans! What keeps you going and why do you what you do? What keeps me going is I just love doing music! What’s your dream goal with your art? My dream goal is to achieve a gold or platinum plaque. What’s the highest thing you’ve felt from continuing to practice your art? My music is immortal! Seattle music is real! MARIBASED1 is real! Ya dig! It would be a sin for the world to go unexposed to what Maribased1 has to offer! Go out and buy my records! It is avaliable on all digital platforms! SEATTLE MUSIC IS REAL! YA DIG!