Behold one and all, young and old, wack and fresh, the latest interview through the wonderful medium that is so perfect for interview, the revolutionary ICQ. Today, I sit down with 4th-Pyramid, producer extraordinaire, and chat about whatever I damn well feel like! Enjoy all!

Andy: First and foremost, “what set you claim”?

4th-Pyramid: what do you mean by that?

Andy: where are you from?

4th-Pyramid: hah, my bad. Toronto, born and raised.

A: any upcoming releases or current releases that the people need to know about?

4th: well….there’s obviously “The Light Is But The Shade Of The Darkness”, the full instrumental project right there. Then I got plans for a vinyl EP in spring. A little sooner than that, me and C Rayz Walz are about to do this collaboration that could pop up on a 12” this winter.

A: C Rayz Wallz? How did you get involved with him? And is that not the best name in hip hop?

4th: Well, I was in New York umm about 10 days ago and just there this last week actually, and me and him were just hanging out. My man Wax told him I was coming to town to link up with J-Zone, and he had heard that my beats were on some different shit, so me, him and J-Zone just hung out all day and C Rayz was feeling the vibe.

A: what did you do on this day of chilling?

4th: Well, I write for Rebirth Magazine too, so I was interviewing J-Zone. J-Zone’s DJ (can’t remember his name right now but he’s a cool kat) and C Rayz were with us. Just walked around NY, went to Fat Beats, ate at the Olive Garden. Like I said, we were just chilling….

A: Fresh! What artists are you currently loving?

4th: Loving? hmm….that new Apathy Compatible 12” is pretty sick. Ain’t really anyone out there that I can say I’m loving at the moment. Who am checking for of late…Necro (on the beats), that new J-Zone EP, and I’ve been loving this Godfather Don demo track “True Love”..shit’s banging

A: listening to any Canadian artists these days?

4th: Umm..not really. I’ll check what comes out but nothing comes to mind. I check for BrassMunk, Obscure Disorder, Serious….even the Halifax scene (Tachichi, Sebutones, etc…) but that ain’t really my steez. Musically, I’m in my own world. I keep an ear out for what’s dropping, but I’m more into going back and studying older shit

A: I noticed a lot of jazz influence on “The Light is But…,” Who are your favorite jazz artists or jazz records?

4th: You obviously have the classics, Miles Davis/John Coltrane and all that stuff. To be honest though, I rarely sit down and listen to a Jazz LP in its entirety. I’m more of a live jazz improv kat. Rather go to a jazz bar or a jazz festival. Did you hit up the Beaches Jazz Festival this year, shit was alright.

A: Beaches Jazz Festival? Cant say as I did. That’s the problem when you live in the prairies, there isn’t much musical exposure. the Edmonton “jazz festival” is basically jack soul and Paula Cole. I want to see someone like Jimmy Smith, but no such luck. That’s why I need to move to T.O. or Vancouver!

4th: Hah, word. Edmonton..never been there, don’t really feel the need to either

A: Avoid it at all costs. The scene here is so horrible, it makes me angry. What are your interests other than the all powerful hip hop?

4th: Traveling is dope. Chewing gum passes the time nicely. Can’t forget the other powerful drive or what we call ‘the 2nd head’..

A: The 2nd head, hahaha, well put! What is your favorite album?

4th: Nas - Illmatic probably, that or Nightmares on Wax - Smokers Delight

A: Was that one of your first hip-hop albums? (illmatic that is)

4th: hah..not really…Eric B & Rakim - Paid In Full would’ve probably been the first rap album I sat down and listened to and enjoyed

A: how would you describe the T.O. scene, Jamaican gangstas? classic hip hop haven? new york clone?

4th: a little bit of all those. NY Clone would be the best description though. Toronto’s really close minded, you have a metropolis who waits for shit to blow up in NY before buying it here. Hip-hop out here sounds generic, a dime a dozen hip-hop. Toronto doesn’t support their own, so why bother..

A: what is the scene in Montreal like?

4th: Well I was only there for a few days, but the English scene seemed tight knit, a little more of a community environment than down here. Remember though, I’m not in any type of click or crew, a lot of Toronto heads don’t know who am I, those that do kind of act like I don’t exist.

A: do you have any affiliation with say Bomb Shelta Association?

4th: No no no no….zero ties musically with the BSA. We’re friends, and that’s all. There’s some kind of misconception out there that 4th Pyramid & Bombshelta Association are like fam, probably because of this one picture of me with a couple of them that’s floating around. I speak to a few of them on a friendship level strictly. I was going to do a cut with Tyranny but that never materialized

A: any reason you’ve stayed away from the crews?

4th: No particular reason, but a lot of these ‘crews’ have been formed 6-7 years ago, I wasn’t even a teen then, and I wasn’t all that involved with the scene, so I’ve never really broken into one click. I’d also just rather do my thing as a soloist and work with whomever when it happens.

A: so how old are you then?

4th: 18

A: really? how did you get into production at such a young age?

4th: Don’t really know, started playing 4 years ago, got good at it, stuck with it. I started out as a rhymer and I still do rap, all those beats you heard on that album, I was supposed to rap on, just never got down to doing vocals on them and the beats held their own

A: i’m surprised at your age, I figured you’d be at least 22 or older! how did you get involved with rebirth?

4th: Man Rebirth runs some kind of sweatshop. Wax approached me when I was like 16 asking me to write and help him with audio stuff on the page. That dude would ask a 10 year old to join the staff if he saw potential (check Bermz)… haha just bugging

A: hahaha, wax is interesting to say the least! The staff and page continues to grow however, and much props on that stuff. Anything you want to ask me?

4th: you??… umm nothing in particular, you’re the harshest reviewer to write about my shit. You even called a few of those breaks right on. I got nothing left to say though. My album should be dropping in the UGS Store real soon so stay on the lookout for it and be sure to support it.

A: well, its been great talking to you, all the best with the new album and I hope it sells well. Everyone out in internet land, check out www.4thPyramid.com and support 4th-P! Thanks for the interview!

4th: word thanks for your time

Lazy of Red Tide is perhaps the most interesting hip-hopper I’ve ever had the pleasure of running into. Give this interview a good read, its “Hella Fresh, fooz”. It’s also done on the pinnacle of mediums, ICQ. Enjoy

Andy: first and foremost, who are you and what set you claim?

Lazy: I’m lazy from RED TIDE outta Tampa Florida. I dj and produce along with 2% while skoolz and bc provide the lyrics

Andy: well lazy, like most ugsmag.com readers, I’m new to red tide. any released/upcoming projects to speak of?

Lazy: why sure…glad you asked! It just so happens that we have a brand new 12” single called ‘fabric addicts’ out right now. It is available at our website at www.lostnation.net or at www.truehiphop.com/atak or www.foolblown.com (whew that’s a lot!) four songs two instrumentals big fun on vinyl! Yeah a shameless plug from me!

A: Ahh, I welcome shameless plugs! Speaking of shameless plugs, have you ever heard of the column Canadian Thynk Taynk? I hear it’s the most influential article in the world of hip-hop today! do you know who writes this column? he’s undoubtedly a genius!

L: No doubt his columns consistently redefine the very meaning of the word ‘journalist’!!!
excuse me I gotta wipe this brown stuff of my nose…

A: hahaha! yea, I don’t remember the cats name either, but I hear the ladies call him Johnny 15 inch. Well, enough about that, what are you listening to right now? or in the last little while?

L: I am really digging the Mike Ladd stuff like I mentioned before it is pretty tight, both production wise and lyrics

A: who do you think some of your major influences are?

L: for me it is Black Sabbath, Bad Brains, PE

A: Black Sabbath, on the real?

L: Gorilla Biscuits and quicksand etc. Gotta love black Sabbath for the riffs. They define a heavy rhythm section which I like for hip hop too. Love some Prince a lot

A: what do you think of anticon, fag poets or “the re-invention of sugar hill?”

L: anticon… respect their effort and output but sometimes it feels like some members attempt to deliberately alienate themselves from the culture that they want to be a part of. Fag poets… ummmm the re-invention of sugarhill… seeing as they were a re-invention of the authentic hip hop out in the park it would be a mimetic redundancy to re-reinvent them. How do you feel about the whole anticon ‘thing’? It seems like reaction to them is all over the place with regards to who you ask and which members you are asking about. Red Tide is just wandering around over here in Tampa so I guess I am pretty out of the loop.

A: Anticon, they have some of the most talented members in the world today with Slug, Dose One, Sole, Sixtoo, Buck65 and Eyedea, and that’s not even going into the production. Each of them bring an amazing element to the table and continues to make fabulous music, though it’s sometimes odd. However, Circus, Pedestrian, Awol One and the rest seem to be the “poppa wu’s” of anticon, pointless direction. It’s like Ba Ba Ach in cb4. they provide the “direction” and create the alienation projects of anticon that talk about obscure bullshit. However, I love obscure bullshit now and then! and I like the flip-flop of this interview, what do you think of a flip flop?

L: Oops sorry. I tend to question as much as answer in a discussion. I love obscure bullshit too. The only drawback is that it is hard to follow anyone or thing that seems to revel in their or its very obscurity.

A: But then again, something “obscure” provides the avenue to explore what some would deem pointless while others would call it a movement to the “next level”, an evolution of sorts.

L: I wish more of these groups (anticon) could or would tour

A: the opportunity to meet these cats would be amazing

L: For me and for RED TIDE as a crew we put a lot of emphasis on live performance (did I mention a lot?). I just wish we had the opportunity to play in front of everybody out there because if we could constantly tour I think we would.

A: anyone you’d like to meet? hip-hop or not

L: I wanna meet David Letterman

A: any particular reason?

L: Letterman just seems both honestly very funny and quick while at the same time down to earth and real enough that I could eat a sandwich get mustard on my face and he could make fun of me without me feeling self conscious about it you know?

A: what do you feel about the current state of hip hop?

L: Instead of State we should call it the current confederation (loose at that) of hip hop states…It seems to be both in a constant state of flux/change (which I think is positive) but also consistently seems to be in a precarious position given the nature of a ‘culture’ which has commodified itself to some extent. Which hip hop state can we reference at any given moment you know? Is it the online hip hop city? The urban hip hop villa? The international village?

A: But, not the state in the territorial sense, I mean state as in current mood, current popular artists, current direction!

L: I guess that is what I mean too…just playing with the concept a little really while still trying to tease out some ideas at the same time. The jiggified penthouse of puffy and his ilk?

A: ilk! What a word!!

L: oh shit don’t start that shit :-). I constantly get shit from reviewers for ‘weird words.’ I said ennui in an interview recently and the reporter girl had a cow hahha.

A: Yo man, I love your interview style. Reminds me of me, trying to confuse people with a barrage of socio-conscious words while trying to define hip-hop as some mass conspiracy of evil or someshit.

L: Well hip hop and culture in general is pretty confusing and I won’t even pretend to insult anybody’s intelligence by acting like I have the answers or even an ‘answer’ I just wanna talk about the things that I participate in and hopefully people will talk back to me and maybe (just maybe) together we could go in some mutually beneficial direction.

A: Now there’s some wishful thinking! I just mean to describe this hip-hop in conversation; you use a big ass dictionary! What do you think of CB4 and its shape on hip hop? That’s one of my all-time favs!

L: I like it but feel like fear of a black hat diluted its message because they were both released so close together
for me I will date myself hear it is Krush Groove that sets off the hip hop cinema

A: fear of a black hat? enlighten me!

L: fear of a black hat was ‘hip hop’ comedy that came out at about the same time that involved three cats who were gonna have a gimmick for their hip hop crew etc etc you know it was a lot like CB4 look for it , it was a little more indie than CB4 too
they wore big hats hahaha

A: which was better?

L: ummmm hard to say I think that they both had good ideas but CB4 had a more cohesive storyline while fear had a few really funny parts

A: ok, I need to find this! where’d you find it?

L: I saw it back in the day. Probably available at any mainstream video store or rental place with a big enough library of backstock

A: tight! Anything you’d like to ask me?

L: tell me what you wanna do at Wal-Mart?

A: I want to make money! Well, I want to work in electronics and play Nintendo all day.

L: No for real I want to know what you think will happen with this online hip hop culture that is starting to develop in the last couple years?

A: I think it will open up a whole new branch of music to suburban white kids, i.e. me, and completely revamp what we perceive to be a music industry. It will also make underground prosperity (living legends, hiero) even more accessible. Other than that, it will start a crew of computer backpackers. but really, I don’t think it will increase the number of core fans.

L: It takes hip hop out of the cities and places it in the hands of a more privileged section of our culture and also implicitly denies a human connection spatially because we can only ‘chat’ and interact virtually. Do you have an accent? what color are my eyes? what are my facial expressions etc.

A: id hardly call it more privileged. Computers are cheap now, anyone can get connected. It just means that now everyone can experience the beauty that is hip hop. but again, the core fans (those of the struggling artists) won’t increase drastically; it will just increase sales in that small group.

L: yup yup I feel you but will any of these groups cross over to the younger siblings of the online backpackers and thus eventually be incorporated into mainstream culture and the dreaded TRL cancer?

A: Nope. For the same reason the backpacker will not cross over into the young kids TRL loves. If the time and love isn’t there to begin with, the virus that is hip-hop cannot spread!

L: computers and online access is not cheap for a kid who gets a gov’t subsidy to eat a lunch at school that is the inner city youth revolution that started hip hop.

A: But it is available at his local school and library. You know what else isn’t cheap for those kids? Fubu clothes, iced down medallions, and Mobb Deep cds.

L: none of those things are cheap you are right but I don’t want those things because I have been relatively privileged in my childhood and wasn’t taught that those things represented status and prestige but some kids were taught that they did represent a status that they wanted thus they rhyme about that stuff and hold it up as important

A: That’s true, but I was indicating that being “poor” and having no disposable income are 2 different things. I just made a bad choice in showing the most “ghetto” items I could think of.

L: kids who could not afford to go anywhere but ‘out in the park’ and actually it is not available in inner city schools or libraries

A: But “out in the park” doesn’t exist anymore and it hasn’t for 10 years. And as for the hip-hop revolution started with ghetto youth, that’s like saying the industrial revolution started in England, yet they aren’t the most powerful industrial nation now.

L: I blame the government for that one (no internet/computers in low income neighborhoods)

A: Well, as a Canadian, it’s available to me, so fuck America

L: haha but is it available to inner city Canadian kids?

A: As far as I understand, ill say yes, but really, I don’t know. For me, as a suburban white kid living on the lively side of the poverty line, hip hop is incredible.

L: I just wonder if the online hip hop will remain as pure as it would like to be when the second generation of fans (the little brothers and sisters of the online backpackers) pick up their older brothers mp3 players and start listening to their stuff and then call mtv and want to hear stuff like it and then big business sees a market for that stuff and starts signing those acts or acts that act just like them you know what I mean?

A: That big market already exists, that’s why acts like eminem are immensely popular. But, there might be 500 internet “backpackers” who listen to the type of odd underground music that I do, I doubt more than 20 of the kids from there would get into that shit, let alone call MTV.

L: maybe but remember that blink 182 is around because that little sisters and brothers of kids who really like operation ivy let them hear their records and what is blink 182 if not a blatant rip off of the descendants?

A: Yea, you got a point, but I still think that the internet is nice for hip-hop. on a final note, what do you think of wrestling?

L: I loooooovvvveeeee wrestling we should have started the interview with that hahahaha

My dad and I have been watching it since I was knee high to a knee hi

A: which do you prefer? wwf or wcw? and are you a super mark who reads dirtsheets?

L: I revel in my mark iness!! but sometimes at get mad at the internet sheets because they reveal stuff that should really be a surprise!!!

A: so? which of the big2?

L: I like ric flair so I am WCW but they are so screwed up that it is hard to be a fan. I really enjoy both jericho and benoit and malenko and guerrero especially and vampiro.

A: but WCW has made such a strong move lately! My favorite wrestler is in constant debate. I love ECW Taz, WCW Raven, WCW Jericho, basically any heels with good mic skills and stiff moves. I love flair on the stick. I also absolutely love the outsiders.

L: I tend to like the heels rather than the faces but I really am a work rate fan rather than a storyline fan I like good performers

A: damn man, why haven’t we talked about wrestling earlier? were a couple of supermarks! do you like ECW at all?

L: I like it a lot only now I can just watch it on wwf television hahah they pirated so much of heyman’s innovations. I miss sabu.

A: I love ECW but I hate the bookers. I hate seeing the same jerry lynn RVD match for 4 months.

L: yup but they are shackled because they have fewer performers and they are always getting stolen by the big two. On the other hand heyman gets a lot of great new guys in so constantly that it is like watching a farm league for the big time then you can say you liked them back in the day hahaha

A: haymen is a genius. I also love bischoff!!

L: arrrgggg bischofff….what bad hair hahaha.

A: bischoff is amazing my friend, amazing like the old mick foley!! what a guy!!

L: mick foley is wonderful and bischoff loves each… and… every… one… of… us… I can feel the love in this room! hahaha

A: man, I love smart marks!! What’s your fav. finisher?

L: I am old school so I will say the figure four, but for new school I feel the kata hajime of Taz and the crippler crossface of benoit I like submission style stuff

A: my fav is the even flow DDT what a delivery! and nothing like a 5 star frog splash or Shooting Star Press

L: what old back in the day wrestler do you like?

A: back in the day? I was huge Hitman mark (Oh Canada!) massive and I always loved andre the giant and macho! I didn’t really start watching wrestling till last year. Do you remember spooky kool kid keen?

L: I am a big time fan of the American Dream Dusty Rhodes and the Road Warriors of old when they were the first to paint their faces and dress bad ass and just kick the crap outta people and of course they entered to a black Sabbath song ‘iron man ’ so you know I was feelin’ them never heard of spooky kool kid keen who is he?

A: he was an old wrestler with a klu klux klan gimmick. Ge used to fight these angry black mufuckers like ahmed johnson

L: really? that is kinda disturbing. I hate ahmed johnson so much but I guess that in that situation I would actually have to root for the fat tub of goo hahaha

A: he (Ahmed Johnson) used to be ripped, then he started taking his character too seriously and went crazy and got the boot from wwf

L: yeah and he couldn’t put three words together in a coherent sentence

A: hahaha, what a character, and angle is amazing

L: and he can actually wrestle too it’s true it’s true!

A: exactly. that’s my man right there

L: haha well now we have really shown our dork side in this interview I wonder if folks will just read this and shake their heads? hahaha

A: well man, I think its time to wrap this shit up, it’s gotten VERY long. ah well! Thanks to lazy, the undisputed king of interviews!

L: oops thanks to Andy the best interviewer on the planet haha. Check the RED TIDE stuff and our old cd is available at www.truehiphop.com/atak it is called rogue mc’s and our record should be out in the fall ‘free roaming radicals’ check us and e-mail us with your thoughts peace.

Shylow is an emcee/producer from Canada’s Bomb Shelta Association; he’s also a member of the groups Pillosnatchaz and H.L.I.

Andy: ok, first and foremost, who are you and what set you claim?

Shylow: hahahha. Name’s MC Shylow, of the BSA (Bomb Shelta Association)

Andy: What about age and geographical location?

Shylow: 22, From Parts Unknown

A: Parts unknown? Is that next to the great divide just south of Atlantis?

S: Could very well be

A: hahaha, alright. Well Shylow, what current projects or upcoming projects can we expect from you and the BSA?

S: Right now I got this little thang called Please Listen to My Demos. It’s a collection of all my demos from like 95 til now. I put it all over the net, and imma be handin out cassettes n shit, to help promote the 12” I’m aiming on putting out early 2001. As for the BSA, that’s all up in the air right now man, no definitive plans where the rest of these cats are concerned.

A: So you’re currently estranged from the rest of the BSA. Was there some sort of ugly, behind the scenes dispute? Was it the timeless argument of coke vs. pepsi that ended the group?

S: Estranged? What gave you that idea man?

A: Well, you released the album in 1997; it sounds like you’ve become completely removed from the rest of the group. You said no definite plans as the rest of the cats are concerned.

S: Let’s get something straight, the BSA ain’t no group, that’s why we’re called an Association. That compilation was just that, a compilation. Its purpose was to showcase all of the members beneath the shelter umbrella, with hopes to gain recognition as individuals, not as a group. Shit went the other way, couldn’t be helped, but the fact that we was never and never will be a group still stands.

I always was a solo emcee; I was before the BSA and still am now. Yeah, I got my thang wit the Pillosnatchaz and H.L.I, but the BSA has no intentions of doing an album, we never had an album. We all here to help each other out n shit, weather its wit cuts from one of our djs, guest appearances from one of our emcees, or beats from one of our producers, no obligations just associations, feel me?

A: Oh, well damn! I always thought you guys where a group! Sorry. What are you currently listening to?

S: Well right now I’m listening to Big Daddy Kane’s Taste of Chocolate LP. Lately, ain’t shit out that’s new that I’m feeling man? As far as emcees go, I’m feeling Copyright and the mHz crew, Encore, Planet Asia. On the production tip, well, DJ Premier, and that’s it man. Since everyone’s biting his shit, I gotta leave it at him; he’s the originator of a style that everyone wants but cant duplicate. Premo is the man, no question.

A: Do you see yourself as trying to reproduce the same vibe as a premier or Pete Rock on production or are you trying to bring a more innovative approach?

S: I see myself like a Premier or a Pete Rock, in that both have consistently kept their shit grounded to the roots of hip hop music, and their sound has always been dirty, so in that sense yeah. but when it comes to style and formula, man, you know that I gotta come wit my own shit, biting is for suckas man, that’s what’s killing hip hop today, too many mufuckaz biting shit, djs producers and emcees alike

A: For real! Which one figure do you think is ruining hip hop?

S: To answer that question imma say this, the biters know who they are, they do that shit consciously, and if they reading this, they know who they are, I don’t need to tell you.

A: who did you support during the hip hop coast battle? East/West? (Is that another bad situation question?)

S: I was impartial to the whole shit, because I got love for both coasts. At the time the west coast was mostly known for its gangster shit, and there was a lot of shit I was feeling at the time. MC Eiht is my favorite gangster rapper of all time man; I had love for the west. Of course being that I from the east my heart was always here, but on the real though I wasn’t about choosing sides man, both coasts got they shit equally.

A: From what I understand, you don’t seem to condone “name calling” to get attention. What do you think of artists like 50cent and Canibus who build careers on this “calling out?”

S: Personally man, people do what they do and they gonna do it no matter what kids think, and that’s cool, cause it don’t concern me. I let my skills on the mic do the talking for me. What’s the point of me starting up beef over rapping man, I wanna connect wit everybody in hip hop, this whole culture needs to ban together and help keep this shit alive, too much garbage out there and its killing this shit. Beef is when you fuck wit my family, not hip hop.

A: Do you have a hip hop “idol”?

S: A few man. Before anything else I’m a hip hop fan, straight up. Big Daddy Kane, Special Ed, Lord Finesse, King Tee and Ice T all inspired me as an emcee. As a producer, Marley Marl, Pete Rock, and the main man in this shit Dj Premier were all major factors in my decision to venture into beat making.

A: Who were you rooting for in the classic BDP vs. Juice Crew?

S: tracks or the real battle?

A: Both, which did you like better

S: I’d have to say that the battle was really between Krs One and MC Shan, not really a crew battle. Of course the two dissed each others crews, but the battle was never a crew thang, it was the individuals defending their respective turfs, and I’d have to go wit Krs One on that shit. It’s a known fact that hip hop was Bronx created; it was senseless to dispute that in the first place.

A: True, but KRS seemed a lil edgy. Do you think the battle was valid on KRS’ part or was he throwing one sample from “the bridge” way out of proportion?

S: man I don’t know, I’m not from NY, and I wasn’t there, so I don’t know if some shit went on or not, all I know is that when it came to the tracks that were cut in the studio, KRS One came out on top in my opinion

A: True! What’s your favourite sport?

S: I don’t watch sports. I watch sports entertainment (a/k/a wrestling).

A: My kind of guy! What do you think of the recent Benoit push?

S: I’m not sure just yet, imma wait and see how that develops, its cool so far though… lets keep this shit hip hop though man, that’s what this is all about right.

A: haha, alright. Do you buy the source?

S: Been boycotting the source since they gave Lord Finesse’ last LP 3 mics. I don’t buy any magazines, all they good for to me is posters for my bedroom walls.

A: I have to ask one more non hip hop question. What do you think of Americanization, the controlling most of the “1st world” by America?

S: Where are these questions coming from? Shit just ain’t relevant. I deal wit hip hop 24/7 man, that’s my life, its what I know and love, that’s me.

A: Sure it is man! I’m wondering what you think about domination of the world by one power.

S: A one world nation, I ain’t wit that shit, we survive as individuals by our cultural differences, without that what are we?

A: ah well, now for a wrap up question, what is hip hop?

S: Hip hop is the expression of the oppressed, hip hop is street, ghetto, black and Latino, hip hop is gritty dirty and as real as it gets. Yeah, on the TV and in your stores its bigger than that, but the roots have been forgotten, and everyday that I do this shit I do it knowing that I’m a contributor, and will never truly be that which is hip hop, though I love this with every ounce of my being, its a reality that I think most are afraid to face, one that as a realist I must.

A: Well Shylow, thanks for the interview, you’ve been great!

S: No doubt, peace kid

Welcome all loyal readers to the 2nd interview at the wonderfully beautiful ugsmag. This time I typed it out ICQ style with a featured artist here at ugsmag (in the store that is), Preach, the main contributor to the 7moonz foundation. Peep this interview; it gets good near the end when we start talking about porn. Sincerely, Johnny 15 inch.

Andy - Well, Preach, let’s get to know the man behind the MC. How old are you? And what set you claim?

Preach - I’ll be turning the big 1-7 August 23rd. And I live in Columbia, South Carolina (even though Manny’s in Philly).

A- Now, mannys in Philly you say? How does that hurt, or maybe help you as a group? How do you communicate over all the 7moonz decision?

Preach - It really doesn’t hurt the group at all if you are really dedicated (which I feel we are). We communicate by phone, email and ICQ in how we send music to each other (he sends beats I send the finished product). We have a really tight relationship; he’s my musical soul mate. In a sense, the way he feels about beats I do about lyrics. That’s hip hop to me.

A- And how did you initially meet?

P- I think (since it’s been like 3 yrs) that he had this site with beats on it asking for people’s opinions, and I emailed him because I actually recorded one of the beats and put vocals down on it. I sent him the track and asked if he’ll be cool with me using it (because it was just to say “hey, look I gotta song!” not on some let’s get rich shit you know?) He was diggin what I put on it and the rest is Moonz history.

A- Quite the modern technology fable! Where do you see 7moonz heading in the future, McDonalds or the BK Lounge?

P- Haha. Really, if 7 Moonz would be a restaurant/or food place it would be like a ‘Fresh Market’ type of place. Because you have the freshest fruit, veggies, original herbal teas and shit that hasn’t been tampered with like it has been at your local Food Lion. You know? We the real green tea, not Lipton you know? We the real fruits not artificial fruit flavors in ya Skittles. I think that’s why Manny and I go together like ass and toilet paper cuz we share that.

A-hahahaha, that was the biggest farce I’ve ever heard! Just playin, I like the answer.

Are there any major plans for future releases? Maybe a huge 7moonz development on the move that is strictly classified?

P- For the people who have bout the ‘Still Be…Ep’ or single (thanks you 500 people) there was an insert jacket explaining the new stuff coming out. The next release is the ‘ResuRecord: and the art of open mic’ album which the joints from the ‘Still Be…Ep’ will be on. I’m looking at a winter release on that, and for the extremely loyal Moonz fans, the first album ‘Distorted Mathematix LP’ will be re-released.

A- Now, as a friend of Preach, I’ve heard some of the distorted mathematix LP and noticed a MASSIVE jazz influence. Can you elaborate on that?

P- Really jazz is my first love to be honest. Because it’s the ability to ‘speak without words’ which I think is powerful. Like if you are with a lady friend, a guy can act like a playa all day long saying “Baby, you to me is like liquor to an alcoholic” but you know that you are most powerful when you don’t have to say a word and she knows what you feel by the way you carry yourself. So, being an emcee I can’t be silent, but production surrounding that aura is very powerful to me.

A- Pop quiz: How many feathers on a Purdue Chicken?

P- Hmm… I’m guessing 7? Like 7moonz.com! (Shameless plug, I’m sorry. That’s like a bad sin to be so shameless. Like 7 deadly sins, like 7moonz.com!) Okay, how many feathers really?

A- hehehe, that’s an old question from the 3 feet high and rising quiz show! Had to throw that in, and go de la soul! Who is your favorite mc and group today?

P- Ooo. Really, the emcees I’m feeling is Common and Mos Def. Common because I see myself in him. Think about it: He’s one of the few artists that gets better with every album, plus I see that my style of dress resemble his sometimes. And Mos because he’s more than just an emcee. I mean brother was on bank commercials (“You’re Deion Sanders!”) and on ‘The Cosby Mysteries’ and The Roots ‘cause, who can fuck with em really?

A- For sure man, you sound like your typical “new school” MC, maybe even a future member of THEM (native tongues). Now, I describe your flow as being a mix of common and Mos, I even call you Dante Lynn. Do you think that’s a fair comparison?

P- I mean it’s like a woman being told “You look like Halle Berry” in a sense because, shit HALLE’S FINE! I take it as a compliment because I respect them so much but in a sense I don’t wanna be the ‘baby common/mos’, I want to be in a position that I’m my own till in the future people are like “That’s the next Preach”, you know?

I consider myself a Tongue member even if they don’t fuckin’ know me! Because I tend to believe I create (or at least try) that high quality of hip hop music.

A- For sure man! Are you into a “lower level” of hip hop like the fine acts featured on ugsmag.com?

P- You know what I would say that the underground is needed for mainstream artists (not entertainers but artists). For example I was looking in my ‘97 Source mag today and they had a lil’ snippet (no more than 2 lines) talking about Mos Def when in ‘98 he was considered ‘an underground artists’. But it takes artists with the underground love to shake up things a lil’. Now, he’s gone gold and that let’s labels know that “hey, we may have something with artists doing it for the love.”

A- Yea, like providing a new wave of innovation right? Do you still buy the source?

P- Rarely now. I did recently cuz Eminem was on the cover (he’s so ill with his word choices) and the issue that 7Moonz is gonna be in I’ll get it. But ever since the Made Men 4.5 drama I was outraged, you know? It was really a respectable place to get accurate reports on artists no matter how much they spend or who they know. Now, for enough dough, Young MC could get a 5. But that’s like artists like 7 Moonz shines, cuz we don’t have big bucks, we do it for the love, ya know? Nothing to lose type of thing.

A- What’s your favorite album?

P- Of all time (it’s not a hip hop one) but gotta be Miles Davis’s ‘Kind of Blue’. Because for the fact that during that time period what he did on there (and later on ‘Bitches Brew’) people didn’t hear of. Even then it was ridiculed and called ‘a failure’, but now is considered the greatest jazz album of all times. And, also because I love the way Miles thinks. He’s like my mentor through his music and writings. I read that he was once arguing with someone in his home one day (during the times he secluded himself for days, just with his music without leaving the house) and they argued about what day it was? Miles said it was Tues. and the other guy claimed it was Wed. They argued that until the other guy got his NYTimes and it had a date of Wed., When he showed it to Miles to claim he was right, Miles responded “You see all those awards I got?” I got them because I forget about things that ain’t worth a gotdamn”. That’s right because to look back at things he did in ‘57 or ‘69 would clog up his vision of being new and innovative.

A- Do you have a CD that you would be ashamed to admit you owned?

P- A cd I’m ashamed of…Hmm, let me think on that one… Ain’t hating or nothing, but I remember one day in ‘94 I had a crush on Rap City’s Big Lez. And E-40 was on the show. Well, her fine self claimed “Buy E-40s cd, you know it’s hot. Trust me!” Now, my 11 year old horny ass was like “OK”. I got it, and let’s say the next week it was on used at the local record store.

A- Who do you hold as more innovative: BG or Nelly?

P- Well, not a real big fan of them (not to say they’re sorry, just I don’t have $15 bucks to spend on something I’m not fully into. Hell, I’m underground and broke.) But, I would say Nelly cuz he can do his lil’ singing thing you know? B.G. is cool though but repeats same thoughts and mind schemes.

A- Alright, I guess you’re not a down souf ridah like myself. What’s your favorite movie?

P- ‘Scarface’ (Pacino at his best!) and ‘Coolie High’ in which I got my name from.

A- Ahh, a Pacino fan! My kind of man! What’s your favorite godfather?

P- I would really say the first and last one equally. Part 2 just kinda was like “Okay, let’s do another one I guess.” It’s like in a race being 2nd is worse than bronze. Because, gold (I win!), bronze (at least I got something) but 2nd is like (if you were a lil’ better you could have won). Sorry, saw Seinfeld on Broadway yesterday. A lot of artists have that 2nd album slump too you know.

A- so you thought godfather 2 was a tackon? Blasphemy! Godfather 3 was easily the weakest. There were many problems that had to be resolved in the 2nd Godfather (the future of the family, the move to Nevada, Fredo) but the 3rd, that was just a tack on to finish up the story

P- Well, come on man. The first one broke ground, the last one was the finale, the second one was just the string beans with your dinner. I see this could draw out to be a big argument, next question :)

A- hehehe, alright. But the 2nd was great! You also had to see about the Abortion! Just rent that shit again, you’ll feel the flavor! (Sorry, just love godfather so much). Next question, CB4, funny or flop?

P- Fucking flop! “My sweaty, sweaty balls!” Come on that got played out like Cross Colors pants.

A- NO! Don’t say such awful things! Perhaps you’re forgetting Charlie Murphy as Gusto! Maybe the Cameos by Ice Cube and Ice T AND Eazy E AND Flava Flav And even Halle Barry! I own that movie; it’s the best comedy ever, except for maybe Half Baked.

P- Okay, I enjoyed ‘Half Baked’. That was funny. Funniest comedy? Not shit to original ‘Friday’ man!

A- Friday, that was an excellent picture. Plus, nia long is so fine. Are there any ladies most people think are not so attractive that you have a thing for? I hate to admit it, but there’s something about Molly Shannon from Saturday Night Live that gets me goin!

P- Hehe. Um, the closest thing I can think of to that was when I was like in the first grade I had a crush on MC Lyte and Lady Bug from Digable Planets. More Ladybug cuz she had that sexy voice on her side (let’s face it Lyte can’t be a phone sex operator).

A- Yea, but lady bug isn’t bad. I always liked Sade’s voice, she should try MCing “Smoooooth operator”

P- OOO! Sade on that joint (forgot the name of it) off her album with ‘Sweetest Taboo’, the 9th track that Mobb Deep sampled on ‘Where ya Heart At?’ while she was speaking Spanish? Ah, man! Female emcee wise I would love to work with Ursula Rucker (especially on this album).

A- She’s more of the poet type though, id hardly call her an MC. And I think she’s mad overrated. It’s pretty hard to come weak when you only do 1 song every 4 years

P- That’s not completely true because she does a lot of work on compilations that people don’t know about (are we still in the interview?:)

A- We are still in the interview! I like the back and forth conversation style. Any plans for the future (non hip hop?)

P- Well, non-my music but always hip hop is expanding with Rebirth magazine. We are going into print and I’m in charge of designing the layout and so fourth. College, majoring in journalism (not sure yet) and get a lil’ into radio thing. Um, 7 Moonz graf-x team are going head strong doing designs and things for companies etc. along with web designing if that ain’t enough. If that don’t work out back to the porn career on ‘Coochie Get Crushed Ent’ and sell drugs.

A- Man, you’ve got crazy stuff on the go! Yo, can I get in on the porno stuff? I’ve already got a name picked out Johnny 15 inch.

P- Haha! I’m ‘Caramel Mandingo’.

A- Caramel Mandingo! Maybe I can be sexual vanilla.

P- Damn, I wonder what folks will say about this part when they read it?

A- Probably, damn this is funny! And, 15 inches, he sounds like my kinda man.

P- Anything else you wanna ask? (Trying to get off porn:)

A- Sure, what did you think of this interview?

P- Calm and relaxing. (Not to mention this gun to my head forcing me to “Either answer Andy’s questions or it’ll be 6 Moonz”). Naw, it’s cool. People learn more about me personally than the music (which is pretty cool cuz I feel the music speaks for itself).

A- What advice do you have for all the 7moonz fans ? (Besides don’t mention porn in an interview w/ Andy)

P- To 7 Moonz fans, I would probably say honestly that I feel that no matter how big we get the key is to stay humble and in touch with fans. You know? I got this joint called ‘Sumvin’ and one of the lines go “house you grew up in (momma still livin in the same one)/ dissin supporters? (Where in the hell did u get your fame from?).” I’ll always be in touch with the fans because they let you know that my music and everything I put out is appreciated.

A- Well preach, we the illustrious staff of UGSMAG.com thank you for the interview and hope you and 7moonz keep it banging. To quote the great preach, I&I

P- Word. Thanks to you man, and yall please support and help us hit 1000 sold! ‘Still Be…Ep’ order now! I&I.