Posts Tagged ‘The Source Independent Hip Hop Network’

Online Exclusives - Friday, October 30, 2009 13:27 - 0 Comments

S.I.H.H.N. - The Jacka

The Source: Who or What has motivated you to become the artist you are today?
The Jacka: I get inspired by everything, even a young artist can inspire me. Artist like Jay-Z and Raekwon have inspired me to keep going, because they’re older and they’ve been doing it for a longtime. That just lets me know that this is a lifetime thing when you’re a part of Hip-Hop culture.

The Source: When you go out to check out a performance by The Jacka at, what can we expect?
The Jacka: A lot of High energy, water being thrown around across the stage you know, everything is possible. You get a big time performance, you’re going to see a whole different styles of a concert, you got the safe side, the jumping around side and the professionalism all at once.

The Source: Last summer you surprised many major recording artist @ The Ozone Award when you took home that Patiently Waiting: Cali award, what was going through your mind you got the word?
The Jacka: I kind of though that the politics and everything would get in the way. But it really showed me that its all in you’re ground work, even without getting as much radio play. It’s your fans that wanted it and push it, which put me in the position to win the Ozone Award. I didn’t get from radio and all that, I got it from hard work.

The Source: For those who are not familiar with MOB FIGAZ, can you explain the movement us?
The Jacka: Mobb Figaz is a group that consist of me Fed-X, Husalah, AP 9, and Rydah J. KLyde. We got discovered in Pittsburg California, that’s a city in the bay area by a rapper name C-Bo. He was from sacramento and an underground recording artist. When he was locked up in a pentitentary in pittsburg. He heard our music cause some cats in the pen were putting him on to us and he was feeling it. When he got out he came home looking for us, so ever since then we began working in the studio and putting our things together and made history.

We’re you surprised by the groups’ overnight success, selling over 80,000 indie in the late 90’s?
The Jacka: At the time I really didn’t look at that as much of a success, i didnt understand the difference between an indie and major. I wasn’t expecting to go platinum or gold, we weren’t really focused on that. We worked real hard doing anything that we had to do to get on. Cause we weren’t on the radio, we were going to state to state, every project, neighborhood. Setting up our own posters giving away cd’s do everything we had to do to get us out there.

The Source: Some say that “The Jack Artist” is a classic, would you agree?
The Jacka: My first solo album was self titled The Jacker, then The Jack Artist, and Tear Gas. Those were the three albums I put out on my own. They all came out in a time when you needed to hear something different you know, a different sound and it manage to work out. I put the same amount of energy on all three of them. My favorite is definitely Tear Gas, a lot of people like The Jack Artist, because I use a lot of samples. But Tear gas is new, it’s probably my best album I’ve ever did. In two in a half weeks I sold 15,000. I probably did that with The Jack Artist in like six or seven months.

The Source: A lot of your fans, have expressed how they feel that you’re the dude to bring the west back to the forefront of Hip Hop, Do you feel pressure to do so?
The Jacka: If that’s what their saying, well that’s what it is you know. Matter of fact, I’ve got Freeway out here right now nah mean, we’re in the lab working. But you know, I’m really just trying to bring the pride back to the grass roots period, not just the west coast. it’s like everybody needs to get sparked back, you know what I mean.

The Source: Where can we check you for new music and show dates?
The Jacka: You can check me out on myspace.com/thejackamobfigaz, you can also hit me up on twitter.com/TheJacka. Check out all my music and videos on myspace page.

The Source: Finally, what advice would you give to any artist trying to obtain?
The Jacka: The thing that I did you know is that I just stuck with it. A lot of people can get frustrated with it, but only thing I did was just hear what other people were saying about it and kept pushing. So keep driving because at the end of the day, the dude that’s grinding is the dude that’s doing it. Go real hard with yours, If you’re really serious about your music and you know you got something push it!

Online Exclusives - Friday, October 30, 2009 13:26 - 0 Comments

S.I.H.H.N. - Radikal The Loose Cannon

The Source: What inspired you to go by “Radikal the Loose Cannon”?
Radikal: My family gave me Radikal, but the streets named me “The Loose Cannon”

The Source: How long have you been spitting?
Radikal: Practically my whole life, since I was like nine years old, probably younger than that.

The Source: Growing up, what artist inspired you to take rapping seriously?
Radikal: There wasn’t a particular rapper that inspired me to take rapping seriously, it was certain situations that was happening in my life. I used rap as a way to express what a nigga’s going through

The Source: How would you define your style as an artist?
Radikal: I’ve got a lot of styles man, I’m versatile. I can do it east coast, west coast, down south, I got it all. Ever song I put out is something different.

The Source: Dead Game is that your label, How did it get started?
Radikal: Dead Game is my cousins label they started that label before they got locked up. That was their movement but since they’re not here, I’m a finish it off.

The Source: When you go out to the club to check out Radikal the loose Cannon performance, what can we expect?
Radikal: You can expect energy, some real shit, you can expect a show, a real show. Now in days niggas are not putting on shows they’re just down for what ever.

The Source: When can we expect to hear a new album from Radikal the loose cannon?
Radikal: You can expect an album from be on January or February, nah mean.

The Source: Are you planning to stay indie or are you planning to go major?
Radikal: I’m trying to go major with it man, I’m trying yo push it yo go main stream.

The Source: Finally, where can we check you out for show dates and new music?
Radikal: You can check me out on myspace.com/radikaltheloosekannon. I also got a show on November 6 that’s sponsored by The Source and Ed Hardy.

Online Exclusives - Friday, October 30, 2009 13:24 - 0 Comments

S.I.H.H.N. - Paper Route

The Source: For those who are not familiar with The Paper Route, can you briefly explain the movement?

Paper Route: Khali Hu$tle- The Paper Route movement is more like a lifestyle than just a name or a title. It’s for anybody that’s going to work, hustlin’ or doing what ever they have to do to, by any means to get paid. Being focus on the path to get to where you’re going in life.

The Source: How did you guys linked up to start this group?

O-Feava: We’ve been working together since high school, some of us are family members in the group, some are long time friends. We all have been working close together, networking with each other closely as a group. After we all branch out into our own separate careers or separate groups. As we got our own underground buzz since we wanted to get more we started Paper Route.

The Source: Being that you guys started as 3 separate groups, how have your fans respond to this super group?

Paper Route: O-Feava- It makes everything better, everybody knows the flavor you’ll get. We’ve got the young army that’s the F.O.E (Lil Kroon, Esco, and Chessecake), Felon Fam (Khali Hustle, Shorty Short Stop, DJ M-A-T, Money Hungry) and you got the 20 Boyz (O’Feava, Cyntrill, and Chain Gang). Everybody knows what they’re going to get from every other group. You put them all together, you get everything you want in one free show.

The Source: Growing up as fans of Hip-Hop culture, who were some of your greatest influences?

Paper Route: O’ Feava- Being out here in the west side we got to say pac, besides that we always followed that whole cash money movement. When Cash money first came out that was the hottest thing for us young cats. You grew up on that cash money, pac, biggie, snoop, and in the bay we definitely got to give a shout out to E40, Too short, and Mobb Figaz.

The Source: Being that certain movements like Jerking + Hyphy has taken over, how long do you think it will take for cats to get familiar with Paper Route?

Paper Route: O’Feava- Paper Route aint going no where, Paper route is staying back to how it was at first. This is real music, it’s from the heart, from the core of what it is. Ain’t no gimic in this, ain’t no playing, no funny “ish”. This is real straight, we know what we’re doing, this reality based; everything! This is real, you can have a movement or what ever where everything is cool, and dance and it’s fun for the kids. But real hood artist are going to be here forever. And that’s what we bring to the table, from all different angles you can have what ever you want, Paper Route!

The Source: When you go to check out a performance by Paper Route, what can we expect?

Paper Route: O’Feava- (laughing) We take it back to the old school, we’re one of the few groups that actually rehearse. So when we rehearse we do a little acting, we hop off the stage, we interact with the crowd, we’re going to dance with the girls shake hands with the dudes. We do everything, you’ll never know what you’ll get from the paper route boyz.

The Source: When you talk about NWA, Wu Tang, Ruff Ryder’s those movements launch the careers some of the best hip hop artists to ever bless the mic, Do you guys feel pressured in trying to achieve the same thing?

Paper Route: O’Feava- That’s exactly what we’re trying to do, we talk about our real experiences. We have content, we don’t just write songs about one thing. When we make a song we have content, we have stories, punch lines, everything you want.

The Source: You guys have worked with a lot of well respected industry cats in the rap game, but the one that stood out more for me was Tha Dogg Pound, How did ya manage to do that?

Paper Route: My cousin is a promoter and he works closely with their manager. One day He blessed us with an opening act appearance for one their shows.

The Source: I’ve listened The Paper Boyz volume one mix tape, and I’ve notice you guys utilize some southern-style production to your songs. Are there any southern producers you’d like to work with in the future?

Paper Route: We’d like to work with Drumma Boy, Jazzy Pha, and Mannie Fresh!

The Source: Where can we check you out for some new songs and show dates?

Paper Route: O’Feava:
You can check us out on myspace.com/paperroute123, twitter.com/ThePaperRoute, and also youtube.com/PaperRoutetube

Online Exclusives - Friday, October 30, 2009 13:23 - 5 Comments

S.I.H.H.N. - J. Rocka & Sarai Knowledge

The Source: J Rocka + Sarai Knowledge, for those who aren’t yet glued in to your sound as artist, can you introduce yourselfs to our readers.
J-Rocka: Well J-Rocka stands for Justice; justice for people, justice for everyone. Just Be Records was formulated back in 2008, and it stands for Justice-Unity-Strength-Truth to be Blessed Eternally.

Sarai K: And I’ll be Saria Knowledge; Saria is actually the mother of all nations, she’s the wife of Abraham in the bible. I was born in the Phillipines, I grew up in New Orleans and then move to the eastcoast to Boston. Now I’m here in California, So I feel as if my message on music is worldwide. In uniting and bringing a common formula which is music to the people.

The Source: You guys have a unique, spiritual hip hop tone, what inspired to go that direction?
J-Rocka: An artist is dwelling into the unknown when you go for creation, so for us we feel greatful and thankful for the messages that we receive. We don’t formulate personal opinions towards the message or gear towards the message. We are just hontly greatful for the message that is given.

Saria K: I grew up in a spiritual upbringing in a baptist household, so I grew up singing in choir and church and I also studied a vast array of other religions. So for me the creative process is from the devine, from the source, the creator. And it flows through us and we don’t really have a choice at what the gift is that’s offered. The message that we bring is devine, it’s positive and it’s inspiring. It’s for the generation, it’s for the people now, it’s for the next generation, it’s for all of us.

The Source: J Rocka, as a youth, who did you look up to as an emcee and why?
J-Rocka: Amongst my favorite, I’ll have to say it started off with “A Tribe Called Quest”, De La Soul, The Roots, Common, Black Thought, and Wu Tang. I’d say were my major influences throughout the 90’s and that of all I’ll groups like Zion-I, Slum Village, and J-Live.

Saria K: Since I lived in New Orleans, I grew up listening to Jazz music and when I moved to the coast, I started listening to funk music. George Clinton had so much influence in hip-hop music, I listened to “A Tribe Called Quest” and “De La Soul”. After that I found so much intelligence in hip hop that I became a deciple. I was drawn into mixtapes and listened to underground music. I found so much teachings in it and culture.

The Source: When did your love for hip-hop evolved to the point where you wanted to become an emcee?
J-Rocka: I’ve been writing and emceeing since 96’ I’ve been freestyling, but the song writing process started to build around 99’- 2000. I started taking the songwriting creative process a lot more serious around 2005 and 2006.

Saria K: I’ve been singing and writing, poems and songs playing the guitar and piano. But I never realize my coutrue was actually rhymes until I moved to the bay. There are so many street musicians here that I was just kickin’ it on the streets and flow. And not realizing that what flow was were just rhymes and I can create songs with it. And as a female, I can be a “femcee”, you know. So that’s what started it for me.

The Source: I understand you come from a long bloodline of singers/song writers and musicians; would like to share ?

Sara K: Absolutely, I grew up listening to Whitney Houston, Sade, Diana Ross and my aunts and uncles and cousins they all play instruments. In my bloodline there’s a ritual where the first nail you cut off. You take that first nail and place it inside of your guitar. And so trying to extend the bloodline of musicians and singers in my family so not only is it in my culture, but it’s a tradition with in my family to hold that root. So I feel that I’m carrying that with me in all my music with everything I do.

The Source: How did you guys find each other as artist?
J-Rocka: We originally connected back in Massachusetts, we stayed in touch
and reconnected out in California. We were both doing I own separate things, Syria finished school and I was out here working random jobs.

The Source: Since working together, have you witness a change in how your styles as artist?

Sarai K: Absolutely, J-Rocka has been an inspiration to me, since he’s been writing rhymes for a long time that he’s diffidently inspired me and helped me to stay positive. I’ve been writing songs for a long time so in that structure also I believe that I’ve also inspired him.

The Source: Are there any artists you would like to work with in the future?
J-Rocka: We hope to work with any and all artist that believe in hope and change. Striving to bring a message of a better day to their fans and to the people around the world. Its just about uniting, the music is about unity, peace, and love. So any artist that wants to unite people together

Sarai K: We look up to so many producers and artist that have possibly made us who we are. So if we were to give names, it would take forever.

The Source: Five years from now, what can we expect from J Rocka + Sir-rye Knowledge
J-Rocka: J- Rock and Sarai will be all over the world bringing the message of Hope, Peace, Love, and Unity.

Sarai K: We’re definitely looking forward to wash out a lot of evil things in the music industry. This is really a great time for any artist to rise, because what’s going on with the economy and world issues. Giving the chance for the people to actually choose what they want to hear with online availabilities. People are in need of hope and change… I diffidently see J-Rocka and Sarai having a longevity in the game.

The Source: Where can we check you for new music and show dates?
J-Rocka: We’ll be performing at The Source sponsored and Ed Hardy sponsored fashion show this November 6th.

Sarai K: It’s going to be an incredible event, neo soul, real hip-hop fashion show. Beautiful people, good music and good vibe so you show check it out!

Online Exclusives - Friday, September 11, 2009 18:44 - 4 Comments

S.I.H.H.N - EVENODDS

Young up-and-coming duo EVENODDS are comprised of M-A and D.E.O. M-A (born March 6, 1985), which stands for “Money Alwayz”, and D.E.O. (born February 28, 1985), which stands for “Doing Everything Official” have been friends since back in middle school and are now making some noise in San Francisco as a duo to be reckoned with. Recently, the duo chopped it with TheSource.com to see what they are up to.

TheSource.com: When people think of San Francisco and the Bay Area, they used to think more about the Hyphy movement. How do you feel about that?

D.E.O: As far as EVENODDS is concerned, we’ve always marched to our own sound. We never followed trends or anything like that. There was always respect with it, but at the end of the day we did our own thing. We like to call it our sound Fly Gangsta music. It’s fly shit with a message.

TheSource.com: How did you guys meet?

M.A. : We linked up in middle school and hang out in between and before and after classes. I would be beat boxing and D.E.O would be freestyling. It started with the real essence of what rapping and hip-hop embodies, you know? We always had ambitions to do music in one fashion or another, and the chemistry just worked. WE were just finding ways to record. We’d use an analog four track, a beat, and a mic. That’s how it started.

TheSource.com: Who were your earliest musical influneces growing up?

M.A.: First and foremost, it would be my father who influenced me. He would play in the church. He would play piano, sing, in the street, blues bands, jazz bands, reggae. As far as rapping goes and our generation, our influeces had to be OutKast, our regional rap pioneers like San Quinn, even guys like Jay-Z and Nas.

D.E.O. : San Quinn played a large part as far as lyricism. My cousin Coughnut, he died on September 4th, 2001 and we buried him the same day the towers dropped on the 11th. I loved early Snoop, and 50, Fabolous. Those are the guys that I’m bumping right now.

TheSource.com: If you can describe your sound to a fan in about 5 words or less, how would you describe it?

D.E.O.: I can do it one word, original. The reason why I say that is because there are a lot of ways that the music can influence us especially with the skinny jeans and the rockstar look. But we choose to ignore it and stay on our own lane.

M.A.: Yeah, we don’t follow all that. We have our own original sound, and it’s not one sided. It’s a song that feels good and has a colorful feel, but then we can have another song which is real dark. So we can cover all aspects.

TheSource.com: It seems like if you are from the West Coast and you aren’t getting cosigned by the guys like Snoop,. Dre, Cube, The Game or E-40, you might not get a fair shake when it comes to getting some attention. Is that a fair assumption?

D.E.O.: Dre is not no asset to the Bay Area because he never did work with anyone from the Bay Area, you know? As far as The Game is concerned, he got his start in the Bay Area. I feel like the people in the forefront have gotten there fair shake and they need to let the young guys step up and get our turn. You got guys like Pac Div, Bigg Rich, ourselves. It’s a lot of people waiting for their shot, basically.

M.A.: That’s what inspired us to take our own money and shoot our own videos and get it on TV ourselves cause no one is going to do it for us. There aren’t any record labels in the Bay.

TheSource.com: So tell us about some of your future projects.

D.E.O: Right now it’s all about the album. It’s called The Revision, it’s our first official album. We dropped a pre-album called The Rough Draft back in high school. We are just trying to give the fans a chance to know who we are as artists. We want to give the fans a chance to adapt to us, and not the other way around.

Check out EVENODDS feat. Big Rich Get Money All Day

Online Exclusives - Thursday, September 3, 2009 15:58 - 1 Comment

S.I.H.H.N. - Ultimate

Ultimate - Take Me There music video from Leonardo Gonzalez on Vimeo.

Currently promoting his new single, “Take Me There”, with a video already shot for it, Reggae artist, Ultimate, took a moment to speak with The Source Magazine. Take a second and learn a thing or two about the Jamaica born, artist making that “feel good” music; “It has people dancing, feeling happy and is spreading rapidly worldwide”.

Source: Where are you from originally? Tell the readers a little about yourself.
Ultimate: I was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica. I moved into the states at an early age where I attended Syracuse University. From Syracuse I moved to Miami, Texas and currently California, playing professional sports in all three States.

Source: Nice! So, I was checking out your video for your single, “Take Me There”, and could not help but notice the amazing quality and professionalism within it, is this your first project?

Ultimate: You can say that it is technically my first project. I’ve been making music for quite some time now; since 9th grade to be exact. I didn’t start recording in the studio until 2001, however. The video is real and the people we work with are very professional.

Source: So are you currently working under your own label?

Ultimate: Yes, I do. I am working under my own label, Ultimate Domination Records.

Source: Do you have any other artists on the label at the moment?

Ultimate: At this time, it is just me, Ultimate. We are getting it off of the ground and hope to sign new artists to the label in the future.

Source: What is the title of your album?

Ultimate: There is no set title at the moment; there is no album set. I will be releasing an EP in a few months entitled, “Ultimate”. It will contain six songs to give a feel of what Ultimate has to offer.

Source: What is your goal? Are you hoping to be mainstream or what?
Ultimate: Yes, we want to go main-stream and appeal to the masses and all demo graphs. We want them to enjoy the song. I want places like Germany and Europe dancing to my music. The Caribbean and Reggae vibe of my music is for all with worldly beats. Going mainstream is an understatement, we want to go global. I want to be on the Bob Marley level with the same fan base.

Source: Do you plan to hit overseas and the states?

Ultimate: “Take You There” is already playing in Jamaica. The video is also playing in Houston’s local video program, Street Flava as well as Miami’s local stations. We plan to hit BET and MTV soon! Check it out http://www.vimeo.com/6302318

Source: How is your online presence? Your website is amazing, by the way.

Ultimate: It’s coming along. I’m on all of the social networking sites such as MySpace (myspace.com/ultimateucx), FaceBook, Twitter (twitter.com/ultimateucx) and YouTube (youtube.com/ultimatedomination). The song is on iTunes right now, available for purchase. We are getting a good response; Rome wasn’t built in one day.

Source: How is it trying to separate you playing professional sports and being an artist?

Ultimate: I don’t want to be labeled. I’m not trying to do something just to be doing it, I have a talent and want to have fun with it. I’ve been making music before playing professional sports and I put my heart into it. In Miami the locals knew me as an artist and not an athlete.

Source: Is it an insult to you if they know you as an artist verse an athlete?

Ultimate: Honestly, it doesn’t matter how I am recognized – a fan is a fan. The music side of the fans will become fans of me playing sports. Anyone who watches me play, knows that I put on a show and on stage I have the same energy,

Source: That’s what’s up! So who are you working with on your album? Are there any features on the EP?

Ultimate: I am working with Blackout, he is most known for the Mims, “This is why I’m hot” remix. The EP has features with Calieb, Kevin Little, dred prez, Supa Neil of Houston and Mr. Vegas.

Source: I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me; I know you’re such a busy man, (laughing). Do you have any final words for the readers out there?

Ultimate: People need to go out and get the EP when it drops. Subcribe to my YouTube channel and befriend me on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter! Also, be sure to purchase, “Take You There” on iTunes. Thank You.