I recall awhile back walking down the streets of Chicago searching for a reason to stop walking. The harvest was upon me as I walked amongst fallen leaves and dying trees. The surreal atmosphere and tumbling winds hindering my movements had me seeking a place of escape. Just then, I felt the urge to stop walking. I looked to my left and realized I was standing outside a pawnshop.

I walked inside to a murky front room filled with dusty vinyl, antique toys and abandoned music instruments. They could have been the tools of Chicago legends; missing artifacts hidden from museums ready to be found by a young musician seeking the same life they once lived. I had walked into a time capsule for forgotten love and memories.

I approached the clerk at the desk and introduced myself. Between puffs from a cigarette he told his name was Qwel and he was a member of the group Typical Cats. I was familiar with his work, but never put a face to it.

I noticed a rubber duckie sitting next to him and when I looked at his notebook the title of the poem he was writing said “The Rubber Duckie Experiment.” Curious, I asked what was with the duckie.

He said, ” Well the title, the words “rubber duckie” and how it’s pertinent is that I started bugging after Sept. 11 with the significance and I think it was just a fucked up thing. Everything like food, the weather, and stress just felt phony to me, like a rubber duckie. So, I really wanted to do something so pertinent to see how it would manifest itself. The experiment came from the blues and how I feel emotionally and I often wonder how words manifest, but I couldn’t really detail it.

Then, I was in a shirt shop in El Paso, it was some Gadzooks shit, and I saw this shirt that was army green, with a World War II silkscreen with a side view of a trench, at the bottom in big propaganda letters it said “DUCK”, and it had a rubber duckie in the middle of the battlefield.

Even in the very beginning of the movie Waking Life, the dude is talking about the journey thru life and there’s a duckie on the dashboard like yakking and shit. It’s an imitation of him or a distraction to him.

It’s a way for me to express and it’s also an attack on how serious motherfuckers take their shit; like my name is “Archangel Abyss Death”, you know what I’m saying..man rubber duckie ..shut up!”

I was drawn back at all this man had to say from such a simple question. Everything I once was confused by made perfect sense to me after he spoke. I asked if he thought emcees these days take themselves to serious.

He responded with, “No, mother fuckers don’t take it serious enough. You can say what ever you want in the tone you want as long as it’s the truth. That’s it. I could do a song on how I feel about murder, if I feel like a murderer and I could do it from that perspective. If I feel like the victim I could do it from that perspective. Basically you can say whatever you want, but it’s got to be true.

Example would be the piano has a shift in tone, like range, you can go from low C to ending C. (imitates a piano) and lyricism, the tone is painted by the emotion of our words and the truth of your song is the beauty in it. (Imitates a Beethoven piece) It’s like encapsulating breathtaking and motherfuckers don’t do that no more.

I asked if he had a new album out. He explained Maker, a producer from Chicago, would be handling all the production. I asked Qwel what to expect from the album.

“Its time to harvest, we came up with the concept on the harvest moon, I’ve been having fucked up dreams. We’re going to harvest, because if you let a grape sit on a vine too long, it will swell with so much juice that it will burst itself and be a useless grape. You have to save it and so we’re going to incorporate some of these fat and happy grapes. Also, tell me if I’m wrong, but there are some people here still communicating, but there’s a lot of bullshit that has to go,” he said.

I definitely agreed with him.

He continued with, “Plus, Maker is the like a fucking Mastodon that plays the harp. He provides the kick in it, just like the song Chicago Barbeque, you know what it feels like, no matter what I’m talking about and all I did was be the muscles to the skeleton of that beat.”

Some how, I knew exactly what he was talking about. I asked him to tell me more about the Rubber Duckie. I had to know more. He said, “I could talk about however I want to in the voice I want to, but if my honesty bleeds truth, souls will hear it. I’ve had so many people come up to me and say “yo I like the Duckie” and I’ll be like “yo the Pinocchio Syndrome is about money”. You know what I mean, “seven blasphemous heads” and “the gentlemen’s drug.” But, they still like the shit.”

I felt his transformation as an artist really shocked people. He came with raw hip hop on the Typical Cats album and opened his solo career with If it Ain’t Been in a Pawnshop then it Can’t Play the Blues. He managed to hide a completely different artistic side to his work and catch everyone off guard. I asked how he decided the directions to take with his music.

At first he seemed unsure of even his own actions, but said, “Every song I write has to be better than the last one or else I won’t do it or else I’m done. I’ll be done one day when I have nothing else to say and I’ll be wack.

“By the time you catch us we’ll be wack so laugh”

I swear to God, I write my raps one word at a time one beat at a time and if we (Typical Cats) never do shit again, so what? Those motherfuckers are raw. To be able to be on shit with me and me be on shit with them, we’re the raw mother fuckers out of Chicago in a long fucking time and the raw shit out of earth in a long time.”

I asked him how he met up with Denizen and Qwazaar. Qwel said, “At HBK, Pugs (Puglsee Atomz) brought me up there first and it was just a testosterone battle to see who had the illest shit, which was me. Qwa was just raw, he was someone I felt digged this shit as much as I did and I felt like I didn’t even have to check him. I barely met Denizen, he came up to me and spit a poem and I was like “this motherfucker’s on some shit.” Before we did Typical Cats, I spit him the pawnshop (If it ain’t been in a pawnshop then it can’t play the blues). When I first wrote the main track it was just a poem I wrote on a napkin at work. I spit that for him and he spit me a poem he put on the Typical Cats shit and he spit it so vivid.”

He started kicking rhymes to me—giving me a better taste of his work. One thing I notice about him is when I heard and I read the rhymes he never wasted words. He never said something to just keep his flow; going every word fits perfectly.

He said, “Still sometimes I think people are dissing me like their shit is so horrible they got to be cynically dissing what I do, because I intentionally try to do skill. Motherfuckers say shit like “flabbergasted turtle armpit” and you’re just saying words that link with no rhyme and reason.

Man, there were two records elected for Grammy’s, not mine, not yours, not this dude in the red shirt (points to a customer looking at Qwel’s cd for sale) the shit was Nelly and Eminem. It wasn’t nobody else; it wasn’t Aesop or anybody trying to fucking say shit with meaning.

“It’s getting hot in here so take off all your clothes”

For real, write it down and read it, what if you read that? And somebody said “this is what I believe as a universal emotion.” It’s all image rapping. I think motherfuckers used to walk around with boom boxes on theirs shoulders now they walk around with TVs on their shoulder.

In one of my songs (Ugly Window) I put 588-2300; I just said that phone number in one of my songs really low. People emailed me asking why I said the Empire Carpet commercial number. I said well how do you know it’s the number?”

I responded by saying it is how companies plant their product in your head; they come up with catchy slogans.

He agreed and added, “The dude who did the Coca-cola commercials was a doctor in psychology initially. He painted the shape of the bottle and ads to the shape of a women’s curve. Vincent Van Gogh Coke AD. It’s still referred to as the most beautiful shape on a woman to a male human being; the Coke bottle figure.”

Familiar with the song he was referring to I asked if he could explain the song so without question, people will understand “Vincent Van Gogh Coke AD.”

He said, “The premise of the song is an artist trades his life for his art. The first verse describes a painting, a man’s canvas. “I seen this sleek Graf piece.” The first four lines are about a pilot that drops the nuclear bomb on Hiroshima.

“How can the artist catch the perfect and exact beauty of their little faces from 10,000 stacked feet?”

So it’s like children playing in the schoolyard and that is like the background of this painting and the nuclear blast will burn your shadow on the wall. But any-who it goes into describing a shotgun blast of an artist laying his head on the canvas. Sacrificing himself for the cause of artistic expression.”

Blown away from what he just told me, I felt this whole discussion we had to be entirely dreamlike. I could not believe any of this truthfully happened. I walked over to the nearest light switch and attempted to flick it on and off, but nothing happened. Then, I became conscious I was dreaming. Determined to know more, but quickly floating out of my REM, I shouted as I drifted out the door, “what’s the meaning behind all this?”

He calmly said, “The realest emcees have to be able to arm wrestle.”

And then I woke up.

Edan is a pure hip hop person. No, not a pseudo street thug that profiles and poses about owning 50 crack houses from New York to Virginia. I’m talking about those real people who have fond memories of growing up to hip hop and using it as not only a means to an end, but as a way to express themselves for personal gratification and the sake of dopeness. I had a good time interviewing this guy back in November, and I wanted to shed some light on the “Humble Magnificent”.

Darcwonn: My first question for you Edan is…where have you been, man?

I’ve been working on a new album.

Oh, okay. I didn’t know that, man. You could have been doing anything.

Yeah, I do a lot of different things, you know. I probably be doin’ the same shit that you do. I don’t know what you do to nurture your soul, you know what I mean. But, its probably music related from what I gather. I eat, sleep, shit, hang out with friends and family and other than that…I’m into the music and the art. Going to the movies, literature and just enjoying myself, y’know.

Yeah, man…that’s a beautiful thang.

(Laughter)

It is, man! It is!

No question! No question!

So explain to the people who you are and what you are about.

On the surface, I’m just another musician out there. More specifically, I’m into hip hop. Among others things, that seems to be how I express myself even though I play the guitar and all types of shit. As far as hip hop goes, I’m a producer, deejay, emcee. Basically, just a song creator. Anything I need to do to get a song done, that’s me. So, hey, I’m a nice person, I would like to think. I’m just a human being, first off, you know what I mean.

So tell me, where you originally from?

I’m from Maryland, which is 20 minutes away from Washington D.C. You can say like the Maryland D.C. area.

Well, I’m from Indiana, so you know how that goes.

Oh…right. Yeah. So anyway…when it was time to do a college or higher education thing, I ended up going to music school in Boston. I’ve been here for the past six years. I took a year off and moved back to D.C., but for six years more or less I have been in Boston.

So, how is Boston, man?

Hey, I like it, y’know. Anyone that lives her will tell you its cold. Its alright other that that. It is very college based. A lot of college kids. So, you are gonna have this youthful energy, but they don’t stay too long. You get some kids that stay around for 3-4 years and then they move on. You see new faces all the time. That sort of dominates the city. You have native residents just like everywhere else. It’s like New York Lite.

New York Lite? (Laughter)

Yeah, its on some toned down city shit. A little more relaxed than a big city like London or New York, you know what I mean?

Explain your childhood and the part it played in hip hop for you?

Yo, man, I’m not proud to say, but I had a pretty mundane Caucasian upbringing. And there is nothing wrong with that. But, its like..a lot of our heroes in hip hop have led extraordinary lives.

Right.

But, y’know, I’m basically a kid who grew up and fell in love with it (hiphop). From the outside looking in, I grew up in a relaxed environment. I don’t want to call it the ‘burbs, but it wasn’t the city. I would say it was in-between. I was a lover of music and I was an only child, so my imagination was going every which way. Always alone…Making faces in the mirror, doing dances…just being stupid and creative. Basically, as I fell into this hip hop shit, no one was really around. I didn’t have a neighborhood where cats were battling on the block or anything. And I just pretty much realized that I wanted to make songs, and I had to do it on my own to have a finished product. In the long run, it was a blessing. It turned out to be the best thing. It was kids everywhere that was into this shit. But, back into Maryland, I was just into the crib, exploring my CD’s and shit. I wasn’t really out going to shows or anything.

Yeah. That’s cool, man. No doubt. So, the next question: how much of a Kool Keith fan are you, anyway?

Hey, I’m just a big fan of Ultramagnetic MC’s. I feel like they are a very significant group in the history of hip hop. These days now, I can’t say I listen to too much Keith because, for whatever reason, he isn’t what he used to be.

Well, part of the thing with that is he’s trying to reach towards the Black audience…I don’t know how the hell you do that shit…

Well, y’know, artists in general start to see their fan base pop up at their shows and they start to feel like “I don’t know if I can relate to my fans”. I don’t want to speak for anyone else, but maybe in his case he wants to make sure that all of his fans aren’t college kids who think he is all about some space shit. I mean, he grew up in the projects and he probably wants to see more of his people. And, hey, I don’t know what to say…I think that De La went through the same shit. But, I can’t speak for them. I don’t want to say that they are trying to do this or do that because I have no idea. I do feel that may be happening with Keith: that he wants to make sure that Black folks are buying his records, but I don’t know if he is going about it the right way.

I don’t think he is going about it the right way at all. I think he should just make the music he believes in and just forget about that shit.

You know what you should add to that? Add this: I have no idea what that man is going through and he is in control of his own affairs. I shouldn’t try to make any judgement on it. I mean, I’m entitled to my own opinion, but I don’t want it to be misconstrued to be me telling someone how to live.

Do you listen to artists outside of yourself? I only ask that because I have read some other artists say some old off the wall bullshit like “I only listen to Patti Labelle records”, but yet they are hip hop artists.

Yo, man, I listen to a whole lotta shit, but as far as new shit? I don’t consume as much as I used to. Now..yeah, there is shit that comes my way, but honestly I listen to some rock and roll shit. You might think that Patti Labelle is some way out shit, but I got some crazy shit for you. I listen to anything and everything. But, lets try to be specific because a lot of people give that answer. I listen to: Old hip hop, late 70’s hip hop, early 80’s hip hop, early 90’s hip hop, 2004 hip hop, James Brown, funk, soul, jazz, blues from the 30’s and 40’s, psychedelic rock from the late 50’s. Y’know, I just like to explore every realm that I can get my mind on, y’know.

So, do you believe that artists need to be fans first and artists second?

Well…yeah just for the fundamental principles and morals that influence positivity. What I am saying is that being a fan is a good thing because it means that you love what you are doing and if you don’t love what you are doing, then I can’t see how you can spread love to others. Yeah, I think it is good to be a fan, definitely.

What do you call your music? Cause some people add titles to their shit nowadays.

I mean…you can put it in the hip hop section of the record store. But, I don’t get into all that extracurricular shit. There’s no need for that. You know…put it next to Jay-Z, I don’t care. It’s all good.

When is the next time you’re going on tour?

Sometime in March cause I’m working on this next album. I think the album will be entitled Beauty and the Beat.

Dope, man! I like that plug!

Good looking out. But, that is a tentative title. I have a single coming out in January because I haven’t put out a record in a good while. I don’t really want to put it out there unless you ask me. I don’t know if it is appropriate.

I mean…shoot away.

Single coming out in January called “I See Colors” and the B side is called “The Science of the Tomb” with Insight. That’ll be like mid to late January. I got a mix tape called “Sound of the Funky Drummer”, should be coming out in February. Its basically all hip hop songs that used “Funky Drummer”, the James Brown joint. It’s a continuous mix. Oh, and there is another mixtape that I did a while back called “Fast Rap”. It details the late 80’s hip hop when they used to murder tracks over fast beats. I might have to send you a copy unless you can find it. Cause I love making mix tapes, man. If I’m not putting out my own shit, I’ll be making those hopefully to reach out to some kids with some music.

The Midwest is slowly showing it can hang with the coasts when it comes to making hip hop and making dope music is nothing new to the Chicago scene. But, Common is caught up in Badu-ism and Twista is getting the shaft at the ROC. So, it’s up to the underground to hold the city down. The Nacrobats appeared to be one of the most talented groups in the Windy City, but they have now disbanded as well. Through a few emails and phone calls I got the low down from Overflo, formerly of the Nacrobats, on the status of the Bats and we agreed to meet at Scribble Jam for some further conversation. The following is our conversation while admiring the graffiti and other sights Scribble Jam had to offer.

Blake G: How does it feel to be at Scribble, how many times you been?

Overflo: This is actually my third year here. The first year I came was in 2001. I always have a good time. It’s good to see people and build.

Sell your product?

Right! In form.

So tell us what you’re pushing today.

I just finished up this summer a CD called Unrap. It’s a collection of instrumentals and rap beats. I’m working on recording some new stuff with Psalm One, a record with Lord360, some 12 inches, a lot of nice things. We’re just trying to keep the music coming.

What about you personally, you’ve got the EP, now what is the next step?

Well, I did a beat for Diverse for his album which comes out this fall. Basically, I think he’s got a lot of talent and I really look forward to working on some more music with him. He’s going to be on this compilation I’m working on tentatively titled Albert Jenkins Goes Mad. It’s basically going to be a compilation with rappers, with rapper beats. Its pretty much going to be an upbeat album with some bangers that DJs can spin and I hope to also get some nice storytelling out of some guys. Also I’m working with Blueprint, Illogic and Brother Ali.

Brother Ali? Did you do a beat for his new EP coming out?

No, he’s going to be on the compilation and he’s going to be on Psalm One’s album as well. The 12 inch will be out this fall and it’s a song with him and Psalm over an ANT beat.

What’s your process when it comes to composing a beat?

For me, the beats start from the records, man. I really enjoy listening to records, going into record stores, and really just hearing music. When I hear good music it inspires me, you know what I’m saying. Music to me is letting people hear how I hear the world. What I hear I want other people to hear. Actually, a guy I know, Caural from Chocolate Industries, he said he kind of imagines using a record and making the beat as his imagination to picture what would happen next. So, I really just want to explain to people the shit that I’ve gone thru in my life. Let’em hear it. I really enjoy listening to jazz, rock n roll, classic rock, psych-rock, funk, soul music, modern shit, and rap that’s out now. Just to see what inspires me and going from that and making something into my own piece.

What are some of your standout inspirations?

I listen to a very wide variety of music; I’d say everyone from Jay Dee to Radiohead. Haha. I really like a lot of the stuff that is coming out these days. I like MF Doom a lot, Madlib, Galapagos4. I love the new Radiohead album, Massive Attack; I can’t wait for a new Portishead record. Zero 7, Quantic, Dabrye. Shit who else? Break Reform, Attica Blues, and Nirvana haha. I’m inspired by all types of shit and Lord 360 and Psalm definitely give me all types of inspiration. Thai-One, Memo?. I could go on for days. I love coming to a place like Scribble and seeing everybody has this music they want to just let people hear. That’s what I feel a lot, building with people on some music.

What are you thoughts on Common? Would you say he’s caught up in Badu-ism? Because for me, I’ve got Resurrection and that keeps me satisfied.

I think common is one of the greatest rappers of all time. I like every album he has released. I think he has grown as an individual and isn’t scared to let that illuminate his work.

Give me a view of what the scene is like in Chicago.

The Chicago scene is incredible. There are several stores that support independent rap. There are venues that will let you play. There is many outlets; a hundred colleges in the area, 9 million people. There are not a lot of huge acts from Chicago. The independent scene is awesome and I really feel that. The labels are putting in a lot of work and a lot of petty things in the past; people are really looking through those and really starting to build with each other and collaborate on some shit for the better cause to make a living out of it.

Is it competitive?

I’d say yes, due to the fact there is 6 independent labels with 10 releases or more. So there is some competition, but in the past year seeing people put things behind them like “ohh this record is not that style and that sound “or “that’s not some shit I would make.” But, realizing there is 9 million people there, we can all find people that will like our music, lets do that and do what is beneficial for all of us. It narrows down to people just being cool with each other, having a conversation and being professional. Which is cool.

I remember reading on your website of you possibly doing a soundtrack for a movie. What is the status on that?

Yeah, I was working on a soundtrack for this film called Blind. I didn’t get to do it, but some of the pieces will go towards my instrumental stuff. Not my rap stuff, but its something I really feel in the next year or two as it comes out people will enjoy it. It’s more soundtrack shit. Basically its mood music. My number one goal is to be original. It’s not the same old thing, its looking for people to have an open mind. A closed mind is a terrible thing. A mind is a terrible thing to waste; a closed mind is a terrible thing. Ok. I really want to open people’s minds and ears to what I’m doing. I’ve been trying to work with some films and skateboard videos. I’m actually working on a full-length DVD to go with my album.

What is the album called?

The album is called Down. There is going to be a prequel to it called Brown Skin Solo. It’s a reflection on African American life and Down is more of a down-tempo album with some really cool sounds and there is not going to be any vocal appearances on those albums.

Earlier you were talking with an old friend, you used to skate with. So do you get into the skating scene?

I haven’t, I used to roller blade up until I was about 14 or 15 and I started getting into chicks? I was a rollerblader. I wasn’t a competition rollerblader, but I rolled with some peeps that skated. When I moved to Chicago, I was in the city and didn’t really know a lot kids that skated, but I think that it’s the same shit. We feel their music; they feel ours; let’s break the walls. Over the past decade that has happened. I think skateboarding videos are very interesting.

Word, like I watch it and I recognize I can’t do that, but he can and they work hard to get where they can do that. You definitely see the musical barriers breaking as well. People write off that skaters all listen to punk, but then you see some guy skating to Wu-tang.

Right, Right, they hate rap as much as I do.

Hey now?

I say that a bit sarcastically, most of the skaters I grew up around were anti-hip hop, but now a days the cultures have overlapped exponentially.

How should we close this out?

Well, we can close it out like this man. The good things in life stay the same. Birthwrite is here to stay. We’re not only going to make rap music, we’re going to expand?..hahahaha.

You can stay updated on the Overflo and the rest of the Birthwrite family on birthwriterecords.com and make sure to check out the Nacrobats album while it is still available.

Chaps: Introduce yourself, crew affiliations etc.

Ira Lee: My name is Ira Lee, Frek Sho and dead can’t bounce.

How does a kid from Regina become a member of the legendary Frek Sho crew? What form did this journey take?

Remember Roxy? Master T’s Keyboard on whatever that show he used to host on Much music was (X-tendamix)? I liked that keyboard a lot. It was so shiny and the vocoder effects sounded so feminine.

Would you say growing up in an isolated prairie city helped or hindered you hip hop aspirations?

You can buy Gangstarr Records everywhere.

How would you describe your style?

Somewhere between drowning at a Pentecostal baptism and strawberry marshmallows.

What is the significance behind the name of the new dead can’t bounce album I ain’t afraid of no ghost?

None to succumb to. A lot of things Bill Murray says are genius.

What was the course of action that lead to you and Def 3 creating the group dead can’t bounce?

I get jealous of Danny sometimes because he’s an amazing person. Everyone wants to be like their favorite rappers.

How did you come up with the name dead can’t bounce?

If you we’re to drop a dead animal carcass on the floor in front of you it wouldn’t bounce. Unless their was a trampoline underneath you. You shouldn’t play with decrepid wild animals while recreating. If you say dead cat bounce and replace the word cat with can’t, Girls that go to the bar ‘to dance’ are lying to themselves and you, it’s an ego gratification complex, I get the visual of a thirteen year old girl with huge hoop earrings and peacock blue eye makeup. We’re all disintegrating slowly, everyday. Sorry. Until the world blows up or the sun dies.

What is the next move for Ira Lee and dead can’t bounce?

Forward. Preferably.

If I said the new dead can’t bounce album was wack how would you describe it to change my mind otherwise?

I try really hard. I’m proud of what I will become, unless I die. God forbid and bless. Thank you with a big hug.

Who produced the new album and are there any guest spots?

I produced 5 tracks, Kutdown produced 3, No How Produced 1, Merk Produced 2 and Soso produced 1. Guest spots are Ismailla, Hollow tips, Brad Basik, Saratonin and No How.

How would you describe the hip hop scene in your home town growing up?

Shitty Deals.

What makes Ira Lee, Ira Lee?

Ira Lee.

At what point as a listener did you decide to make the transition to contributer and progressor of the art form known as mc’ing?

When you love something too much, passion fools you into believing you have the same importance to it, that it does you. It’s a privilege to occupy valuable space with my insignificance.

What is your earliest hip hop moment?

Dancing at Camp Tawasi in Hammer pants to DU’s humpty hump while my favourite camp counselor Birdoc laughed his ass off. Driving around Regina in Dj Sets’s parents Tempo pumping Thuggish Ruggish Bone on the way to high school parties.

What is your most memorable hip hop moment?

Almost seeing James Brown Live.

Who do you want to work with in the future as far as producers and mc’s?

Gruf, Dj Moves, Epic, Soso, EL-P, Vex Cobo, Busdriver, Mad Lib, Stewart Copeland, Bjork, Timbaland, Esthero, Maki, Nobs, Sinead O’connor, Alanis Morissette, Ben Harper, Trent Reznor.

What is the biggest obstacle facing independent hip hop groups in Canada?

Dj Fresh

What is your favourite hip hop group? Has it changed over the years or stayed the same?

Ummm.

What other artists are you feeling lately?

Sting and the fucking Police Man. Phil Collins, Annie Lenox, Sinead O’Connor, White Stripes, Duran Duran, Pre haircut Metallica, Kyuss, Jay Z, Yy and Gum, Elton John, L.S.

Has the hip hop market become oversaturated or is there enough room and ample niche markets for everyone?

I make Rap. Mothafuckaz!

How would you describe Def 3’s style?

Lyrically speaking.

Do you have any crazy stories that you would like to share with the fans out there?

I went to a party with my Lebanese Godfather once and this guy was hunched in the corner with both hands covering his stomach screaming, or more like squelching, ‘help me.’ He had been attacked blindly by a second assailant during a drug deal gone bad with a fishing blade and his stomach was split wide open from side to side leaking entrails on the rug. He was screaming so loud I had to cover my ears while I ran.

How much do you weigh? Illogic considers himself weightless as he prepares for his long awaited LP: Celestial Clockwork. No one can question this man’s work ethic as him and Blueprint have been on a relentless tour schedule. Since this interview, Illogic has gone back out on tour and has released a nice little teaser entitled Write to Death. These are exerts from a conversation at Scribble Jam and at a show I caught him at later.

Blake G: First, of all tell me about Celestial Clockwork and when it’s coming out.

Illogic: Celestial Clockwork is the follow-up to Unforeseen Shadows. I wrote that album after I wrote US. It took a lot of writing and a lot of planning. But, it will be out this year and its some good stuff. It’s a concept album; really about a lot of stuff I’ve been through, a lot of stories about different music.

How does it compare to your first two albums?

To me personally, I think it’s the best writing that I’ve ever done and I’ve done other albums since then but it’s still the best writing I’ve done. Some may not agree, but I think it is.

So this album is more personal than typical hip hop?

It is extremely personal and most of the stories on the album are true or are different ways I feel about different parts of life. You understand what I’m talking about and understand that it is me. It’s how I really feel about this aspect of life or this situation or this story really happened to me.

Which is better for you: recording or performing?

Well they are both different; you know what I’m saying. Performing is more of an energy release and recording you can get as intricate as you want. It’s more like taking care of a baby. It’s a project; you can mix it master it, go back and re-record it. Just form it into whatever you want to form it into. So, I like both.

How old were you when you wrote Unforeseen Shadows?

A lot of it I wrote when I was sixteen. Most of it was between 16 and 18. A lot of the stuff I used is from when I was in high school. A couple of the songs I wrote in college.

When did you write “Hate in a Puddle” because that is one of your most impressive tracks to me.

I wrote that when I was 18 years old

So why did you cut the dreds?

It was just time for me to cut them. I believe they have spiritual purpose and it was just time for me to start over because I had a lot of memories and history in my hair. I had to get rid of it.

So will it be the same with your music?

Not necessarily. I mean, I’m always doing something new. I try and expand what I’m doing with my music and re-invent myself lyrically. So, it’s a lot of stuff in store.

What else are you working on? How about 8076?

Yeah, that is me and Walter Rocktight; he’s a producer out of Columbus, Ohio. He did a track on the S.A. Smash album that was on Def Jux. We’ve done a 7 inch for a hip hop site. Other than that we’ve got an album done and we’re waiting to see what we’re going to do with it, because Celestial isn’t even out yet. So, I have time to plan it out. But, it’s a more crowd rocking - show album.

Oh Definitely, I’ve heard you perform “Wyld Out” a few times at shows. So I was hanging out with Qwel when you approached him about doing a track. I felt like history was going down in front of me, but along with him who else would you like to collaborate with?

Well, Lord 360 from Chicago. He’s definitely somebody to look out for. He’s going to do big things. He’s amazing. He’s a writer, seriously! On weightless we’ve got CJ the Cynic; he’s on the Weightroom album. Bahdaddy Shabazz, also on the Weightroom. There’s so many people that I have worked with that I want to work with again and there are people I haven’t even met and hopefully I’ll get that opportunity. I would like to do something with Murs. I’d like to do something with (MF) Doom! That would be great!

I think just about anybody would like to do something with Doom.

Yeah everybody wants to do a song with Doom.

Did you catch his performance last night? (Friday at Scribble Jam).

Yeah! Doom has hits. Doom has hits! He just commands presence, he commands attention on stage. He doesn’t have to move a lot. He has that mask on and he just goes and?..yeah.

Well what haven’t we talked about?

Well, Blueprint, Przm and I are doing an album. We started working on a few songs and it will either be an album or an EP, one of the two. We’ve got 3 songs done and it’s a work in progress. We’ll probably put it out sometime next year, maybe, that’s the plan but you know this is hip hop.

I definitely appreciate how Weightless is honest with your release dates and keep the fans informed that release dates probably will be pushed back.

Real Quick, Plead the 5th, he really blew me away with his appearances on the Weightroom and what is the status with him?

Well, Plead went back to school and had some family stuff he had to take care of. He made a choice and he’s doing what is right for him. He’ll probably still do things, but right now he’s concentrating on himself and his family.

You guys just got off tour. Got any good stories from the road?

What happens on the road stays on the road?.haha. Road Rules.

That’s fair enough. Let’s close it out with a fun question. If you were a super hero what would your power be?

If I was a super hero, my power would be psychic. I would want to know the future; so I can know what choices I have to make because life is about choices.