About 2 months ago I heard the first single off of Ghost’s latest Apollo Kids LP. It was a song titled “Together Baby”. The horns were big, the vocal sample was soulful as all outdoors, and the drums were knockin’. It felt like Ghost was back on some Supreme Clientele vibes and I was in metaphor heaven. I had to find out who produced this banger. After 0.38 seconds, Google had an answer for me. Yakub is an MC/producer from Minnesota that has beats. Did I mention he got beats? Anyways, I had a chance to ask him some questions and thought I’d share it with you nerds. Enjoy!

FreshNerd: Whats the meaning behind your name? Is Yakub your government name?

Yakub: Not really a meaning behind it. In a sense it is my gov name.. My gov name is Jacob and yakub or yakov are the arabic and hebrew translations.

FN: You MC and produce….which came first and which do you prefer more?

Yakub: I was rappin before I made beats.. I’m 20. I been rappin since like 10 (or before) and makin beats since like 14. It varies but usually I enjoy rappin more than beat making.

FN: What’s the last personal goal you set for yourself?

Yakub: My last personal goal I set is to make a classic first album in 2011. One that’s revered in the future.. Somethin true to myself. And also to get more beat placements !

FN: How did the Ghostface placement come about and what were you doing when you found out you got it?

Yakub: That ghostface stuff came about from my mom having the dopest musical taste in the universe and puttin me up on sooo much old music.. And from me makin beats out of songs and passin beat CDs out to artists when they stop in my city on tour.. Another thing that played a part is me entering redbull bigtune in 09. Bigtune is a huge producer battle in which producers battle head to head to rep their city in the national finals. But by jus havin my name/beats out there, things jus alligned. Someone who knew me , knew someone else who knew someone else. Shoutout to G MO (MN producer) and J Moore (BigTune).  But Ghostface liked that joint (2getha baby) .. The rest is history. I was sleeping and woke up to that phone call.

FN: Tell us about your equipment list and if you have anything on your wish list.

Yakub: Right now I use a macbook , mbox 2 for protools, reason(software), m audio axiom 25(midi keyboard), audacity (for sample chopping) , an old technic b202 turntable.. My brain.. That’s about it.

FN: How many beats do you do on average per week (rough estimate)? And how many of those do you throw away (if any)?

Yakub: Back in 07 08 I made like 10-15 beats a week  not throwing any away .. Recently it’s round 3 -4 a week. I got lots of beats that I started before and I go back n touch em up.. I’m getting into gear now though so more and better beats are comin!

FN: We all have recurring dreams, tell us about one that you have.

Yakub: Most of my dreams are pretty random. But In some dreams I can understand/talk to animals.

FN: What’s your favorite Ghostface song (you can’t say the one you produced)?

Yakub: “All That I Got Is You” ft Mary J

FN: Name a beat that every time you hear it makes you say “F*CK, I wish I would’ve made that.”

Yakub: C.R.E.A.M.

FN: Do you remember the first beat you ever played for someone? What was their reaction?

Yakub: I dont know exactly what beat it was, but it was for my older sister and she was prolly like “that’s a good start but u gotta make it do somethin else”

FN: What’s your stance on free downloads, for or against? Why?

Yakub: I think like anything it’s good and bad. Bad because it almost devalues music and artists don’t get as much money, but it can be good too. If an artist wants to give his fans some good music for free that’s wassup if his/her presentation  and integrity is respected.. But if music is leaked or released and D/L’ed against the artist will thats bad.. Music needs integrity. Fans really hurt themselves sometimes when they listen to a work that’s not completed or out of context.. Patience!

FN: What’s an obstacle (if any) that you have recently faced in regards to the business side of the industry?

Yakub: I think that with business the main thing is to realize it’s just that. Business, you can’t expect personal sympathy or consideration. You gotta be on your business. Put emotion and ego asside. I think that’s why artists get all type of business personel beacuse that shits alot! And it lets the artist focus on art. I’m tryna do as much as I can for myself. Let’s see how it goes..

FN: Have you ever thought about getting shot 12 times so you can be the 50 Cent of producers?

Yakub: no. Not at all b *cam voice*

FN: If you could go back to the past from the future to deliver the young “you” a piece of vital information, what would it be?

Yakub: Be original, do what u feel, be careful!

FN: Lets talk big picture, long term goals…..what are a few of them?

Yakub: I want to have my family living comfortable.. Make music that makes people think and smile. Laugh and cry. Get hype. Live. Try to make the best music which is most true to me. Have fun. Make a mark on this earth. Teach the youth. All that

FN: Name two of your main influences. And if both of these people were trapped in a burning car and you could only save one….which one would you save and why?

Yakub: My mother and my father. I would save my mother because she is my world.

FN: What non-essential item do you always carry with you?

Yakub: Chapstick

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Be sure to stop by Yakub’s Bandcamp and as well, go cop that Ghostface album.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnRuetUirJI

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTQOAvvHb8E

“Makin’ Sound” will be released on September 27th 2010 via Vinyl x Digital.
http://kilawattmusic.bandcamp.com/album/makin-sound-out-sep-27th

Whatup nerds and nerdettes? Today I bring you a fresh interview from Ghana born MC, Blitz the Ambassador. If you’re not up on Blitz as of yet, he’s one of the hardest working indie dudes I’ve seen in a minute as a result of labels frontin and sleepin’ on him. His music is an organic mix of live instruments, African influences, and raw hip hop. I had a chance to catch up with Blitz for a quick interview…..

FN: Being from Ghana, what was it like when you first moved to NYC? Any culture shock at all?
Blitz: Absolutely…there was an element of culture shock but I feel like I was a bit prepared for it. I had been living Hip-Hop culture vicariously for many years so everything felt knew but familiar at the same time.

FN: It wasn’t until I moved to London that I realized how heavily influential Reggae is upon Africa. How has reggae influenced you and your music?
Blitz: Reggae music has a strong presence in Africa for obvious reasons. Most conscious Reggae artist look to Ethiopia and the rest of Africa as their source of religious and cultural inspiration so that connection is very strong. The are lots of Rastafarians in Ghana where I’m from so its no surprise Reggae music is the soundtrack to our lives. Two of the biggest African artist, Alpha Blondy and Lucky Dube (R.I.P) were both Reggae artist, that should sum it up.

FN: What do you actively boycott?
Blitz: Wack Rappers…..hahaha. Nah seriously Alcohol and Tobacco. I have never spent a dime on either and never will. Not knocking anyone who drinks and smokes, but for very personal reasons I never support either product.

FN: Big ups for putting out your own music and being indie. With that being said, would you ever sign a major label deal? What would they have to offer?
Blitz: No smart person ever says never to anything. I have had deals in front of me and they have never been artist friendly. Especially in the age of slumping record sales most labels aggressively push for 360 deals where they take every piece of your artistry. It makes no sense. I’m not waiting for a traditional record deal. I always keep an eye out for strategic partnerships that can help me expand my brand.

FN: Tell us about an obstacle you’ve encountered along the way as a result of being an indie artist.
Blitz: There is the obvious difficulty in breaking as a new artist without major label support. We have encountered many such obstacles. Never being played on the radio is one example. Fortunately the climate is changing rapidly and indie artist are getting similar access media outlets so the tide is shifting in our favor.

FN: You were recently in the Bay area and linked up with Goapele to collab on a record. Let’s say you’re on a raft and Goapele and Lauryn Hill are overboard drowning, who would you save? And why?
Blitz: I love Goapele and all but come on….Lauryn Hill all day. Just so I can hear another album like Miseducation. That album changed my life.

FN: That recurring dream you have, what is it about?
Blitz: I don’t have a recurring dream…I do have a recurring day dream though, where I am on stage rocking a stadium with my name in lights and all of a sudden 2pac and Biggie join me for a re make of the Beatles ‘Strawberry Fileds’…..weird right?

FN: Take us through a day in the life of Blitz….
Blitz: I wake up around 4:30 because thats when my son wakes up and no one can go back to sleep once he is up. I try to remember what ever sounds I was hearing before I passed out. If I remember it I will work a bit in my head to build the composition. Middle part of my day is usually chill, maybe play records and take my son out for walks in my lovely Bedstuy neighborhood. most nights I am either recording or rehearsing with my band the Mighty Embassy Ensemble. I write at night so I go to sleep very late, wake up and start all over again.

FN: What’s one change you would like to see in Hip Hop in 2011?
Blitz: I wish for the same thing every year and it never happens, but I will try again….’BALANCE’ between the commercial radio music and socio political rap music. If not for us, for the kids coming up.

FN: You’re about to be shipped off to a desert island and you’re allowed to bring one Dave Chapelle episode and one hip hop album with you, what would they be?
Blitz: I’m definitely bring the ‘Black White Supremacist’ episode…..Dave Chapelle killed that one. Of course Eric B and Rakim ‘Paid in Full’.

FN: If you could change one misconception people have about Africa, what would it be and why?
Blitz: I will want people to see Africa for what it truly is.  A very diverse rich and progressive continent and not a poster child for charity death and disease. Some of these problems do exist but they are also global problems. Africa has somehow been stigmatized with everything negative and thats one perception I will like to erase.

FN: The StereoLive record is pretty sick…..what’s next? Do you have plans bigger than Hip Hop?
Blitz: Thanks, absolutely love Hip-Hop but its all about expanding. I am working on a screen play and getting ready to shoot a feature film in Ghana. Its time to show the world a new picture of the continent.

And also look out for his new record, Native Son, which will be out March 6th, 2011 (Ghanaian Independence Day).

Interview conducted by Sweeney Kovar
Directed and shot by Eric Coleman
Edited by Luke Lynch

This interview took place in September 2009 when Bilal flew to Los Angeles to be a part of Shafiq Husayn’s “cheeba” music video.

Interview inside of post…

Alex & his vinyl

Greetings nerds….this is one of the things I love about my non-job….job, interviewing intelligent folks in the business that aren’t afraid to deliver the music they love. I had the chance to catch up with Mr. Alex Chase of One Handed Music (UK)/Stones Throw (U.S.). As the owner of One Handed, he prides himself on putting out quality music while not focusing on making a quick buck which is rare in today’s musical climate. Its always great to see people adding to the culture as opposed to taking away from it. We spoke on everything from the current state of the industry to which producer he would save from drowning….

FN: Tell us a little about One-Handed. How long have you been feeding the ears and what makes you different from other indie labels here in London?

Alex: One-Handed started in 2007 with Paul White’s debut 7”, The Dragon Fly, and we took nearly a year to follow it up with Bullion’s Get Familiar. That was a hit (in the most modest underground sense) and suddenly it felt like we were onto something. The OHM family has grown haphazardly from there.
We have plenty in common with lots of indie labels but in terms of our peers, I think a big difference is that none of us are especially interested in making club music, and that reflects our listening habits. You’re more likely to hear a Lithuanian fiddle solo than to be wobbled to death. It’s a crate-digging hip-hop aesthetic that I suppose is a bit old school nowadays. Also, OHM artists get regular statements and get paid on time, and you’d be surprised how rare that is!

FN: What is your role and what is a day in the life of Alex Chase like?

Alex: OHM is pretty much a one-man show though I’ve had a lot of help with the new website and the odd great intern. As for a day in the life, my job is to run Stones Throw Records in Europe so I fit OHM in around that. My colleagues in LA get up about 4pm UK time so I work all sorts of hours. Until recently my job involved sending hundreds of emails a day and groaning when they generated hundreds more. I’ve cut down, it’s a bad habit.

FN: I get the notion you’re a vinyl junkie. Do you have a deep collection? What’s the most you’ve ever spent on a record?

Alex: I love vinyl. I still buy a lot, mainly old stuff. I wouldn’t say it’s deep compared to some people I know, something over 3000 records. Since I moved in with my girlfriend I’ve decided to keep my record collection the same size, so for everything I buy I have to get rid of something else. Luckily, I bought a lot of crap when I was DJing regularly so it’s only been an improvement. As for the most expensive, I still haven’t hit 3 figures! Got fairly close once or twice. This one just got reissued.

FN: What’s One-Handed’s relationship with Stones Throw and how did that come about?

Alex: There isn’t one, except that I run OHM and work for Stones Throw. I co-released Paul White & The Purple Brain with Now-Again, which is owned by Egon (Stones Throw’s General Manager) as he helped get it together and we could promote & distribute it better as a team.

FN: One-Handed Music’s roster is fairly small but filled with quality artists/producers. Do you plan to keep the roster small? Is there a certain aesthetic you look for when it comes to acts to sign?

Alex: Thanks! Yes, we’ll always have a small roster. It makes much more sense in the long term to develop artists and an identity than to fire out one-off singles and hope they stick. It’s also crucial that an artist is doing his or her own thing and not trying to fit in; it’s the hard road but it’s the only one worth taking. Stubbornness and single-mindedness are key qualities in an artist. Mainly though, it’s about enjoying a working relationship with someone whose music inspires me.

FN: I had the chance to interview Onra (producer from Paris) and one thing he stated was that he feels music should not be free. What are your thoughts on the current state of the music industry and the effects the digital world is having on it?
Are you a believer in free content at all?

Alex: I’m afraid Onra is in for many years of disappointment! I could write about this for hours but in short, the digital revolution has improved much, much more than it’s harmed. Most artists who complain about piracy and free music culture would never have had a deal in the first place under the capital-intensive pre-digital system, and don’t mind promoting their music via soundcloud, facebook etc for (close to) free. I do get frustrated when I see some of the idiotic arguments people wheel out to justify the fact they don’t want to pay for something they can easily take, but then I also used to resent spending £15 on a CD when I’d only heard one track on the radio, only to find out the rest of it was shit. Most music will be free for the foreseeable future, and yet many artists have more opportunities than ever. It requires a significant change of perspective.

FN: If you had the power to build a new business model for everyone to follow, what would it look like?

Alex: It’s increasingly,(and brilliantly) impossible. I think the key today is to play to your strengths. If you’re the next Grateful Dead, give your music away and tour yourselves to death. If you’re an anonymous drone artist, sell intriguing pieces of vinyl to enhance your mystique. I can’t think of any way to make everyone rich & famous, but I do know we can dispense with the cookie cutters.

FN: Tell me about the last major life lesson you learned in regards to One-Handed Music.

Alex: Here’s one I learned the hard way: trust your instincts. If you feel uneasy about something, don’t continue till you’ve worked out why & responded accordingly. Regret is such an unpleasant emotion.

FN: I read a funny quote today:
“If you’re going to be an independent record label owner, you’re going to have to be kind of insane” Jac Holzman, Elektra. Any validity to this?

Alex: Of course – in an industry with a failure rate of well over 90% what kind of person can stay optimistic? Only the deluded survive, and we cherish our delusions. Did I mention I’ve just signed a huge hit?

FN: And last but not least, you’re on a raft and Paul White and Bullion are overboard drowning. You can only save one of them. Who do you save and why?

Alex: I suppose it depends who I owed the most money to at the time…

Be sure to check out One Handed’s latest release by Ahu/PaulWhite (free download) & the video as well
One Handed Music Website