Veggies, Whiskey, and "Blah, blah, blah."

He said "Right across from White Castle," and there it was: Merlins, what seemed to be a shabby hole-in-the-wall bar in South Minneapolis.
Crista and I were on a mission: to consume cold beverages and to get to know a musician that has recently appeared on the radar locally, and since this summer's release, Recession Music, nation-wide.

We sat and Prof spotted the pair of out-of-place girls in a booth and he kindly joined us for a little chat. Soon into the interview, a woman approached our table
and offered our guest a paper bag of...vegetables? "Home grown!", she yelled over the boisterous live band and pub chatter, "Get some fiber in your diet, get your ass pumpin out that poop!"

Suddenly humored and well into our first round, we started the interview inquiring about the relationship between Interlock and Stophouse (Interlock was a well-known Indie label
with such artists as Kanser/New MC, Twisted Linguistics, Prof & Rahzwell, St. Paul Slim, Acoustic Beatdown, and More Than Lights whose artists abruptly dispersed into other projects).

Jamee &Crista: "SO what's the deal with Interlock and Stophouse?"

Prof: "Big Zach met Dylan Parker, who was the head of Interlock...with Mike Campbell. And you know me, Slim, Rahzwell got together. I met all those dudes and I was a part of Interlock and blah, blah blah. I think 3 years ago?"

C: So you were a part of Interlock, which desintigrated, and now you're in Stophouse.

P: "Stophouse is a different label with a different focus."

C: Who is officially a part of Stophouse?

P: "Myself and Slim, Rahz comes with me, and helps me do the live shows."

J: "Is the label looking to sign anymore acts?"

P: "We're looking to get new artists, but...no one's really good right now. We want really, really good ones."

We all laughed.


The conversation rolled off our tongues easily. Then I thought of my Lethalville friends and asked:

J: "So how did you get associated with Black Clover?"

P: "Soulcrate had invited me to do a show in Sioux Falls and we had a really good time," he said, grabbing a tomato from his bag, "They were just really, really nice and that hospitality stuck with me."

As he took a bite, his tomato exploded.

As he attempted to clean up the mess, he contined, "They were doing sold out shows, I was definitely fuckin' with 'em. Definitely planning on doing more with them."

J: So are there any more projects coming up with Black Clover?

P: "Actually myself and Slim just made a song with Mac." Crista cooed over Mac "Aww I love him!" As we all giggled he contined, "It's over a mainstream beat. Mac texted me sayin "DUDE! HOW FAST CAN YOU WRITE A VERSE!?" And I was like "Pretty fuckin fast, since most of my verses take around 15 minutes to write. I said 'Why the hurry?' he said: "ONE WORD: NIKE!" I'm not sure he was serious, but yeah."

We chatted about studio renovations, the niceness of Black Clover, and the bacon guys at Beerfest.

J: What is your story until now?

P: "It's like a lot of people's. South Side Minneapolis, sorta hood, not a lot different than anybody else. I don't go outta my way to call myself "underground".

J: Do you find the over-saturation of rappers in Minneapolis a way to step your game up, or is it frustrating?

P: "I'm not sayin 'Yo, I'm another white rapper. It's a good pedigree of people coming out of Minneapolis, I just want people to remember my music. Not my story. Blah blah blah."

J: I've noticed a bit of playful aggression toward women, epecially in Recession Music, and I wanted to know if being raised by all women affects you.

P: When I'm with my people I'm myself. I've got black friends, I've got white friends, and when I'm with my girl friends I might slap 'em in the ass and call 'em sluts. It's funny that comedians can play on all sorts of racist and sexist issues, but when an artist contradicts himself or says something degrading, he's in trouble. I'll say shit about guys, I'll tell rappers "I'll murder you." If a dude is a douche bag I'll let him know. I almost think it's sexist if you don't hold women to the same level. Once I try to be politically correct here, then someone will pounce on the time I said something different there. When I'm on the dancefloor, sometimes I want ten of the best models, a bottle of champagne, and a blunt." He continued: "Sometimes when I feel like partying, it'll be like that. Other times my girl is the only thing in the world."

C: I've noticed there's a lot of party music, and a lot of songs about your mother. I haven't seen "this is my story" or typical hip hop songs about your past.

P: "Uuuhhh I dunno. I got a song called Baby Jacob about me being a little kid and being on welfare and my parents split. "

C: Yeah there usually is one serious song and the rest are rowdy

P: I've seen a bunch of fucked up shit, but sometimes I just laugh. When someones pissed at me, especially my girlfriend, I'll just laugh cuz the whole thing is funny. It's gotten me in some trouble, but if you take life too seriously then fuck.

C: What's Gampo??

P: Gampo is a person, gampo is a way of life. Deep in South Side, Richfield," he was interrupted by drunken singing from our favorite Irishman(who is on Recession Music) , "when we were kids, one of my best friends. A friend in LA right now, he was CRAZY. He'd make people cry. This dude Gampo was just crazy. He would do he craziest shit I've ever seen in my life. To be pretty Gampo, I'd just eat someone else's food, take someone's drink here, climb trees when you're drunk.

C: How did you meet Rahzwell and Fundo?

P: I met rahzwell when we had the same class when 9/11 happened and we were all watching the tv. I turned to him and said "This is pretty fucked up" and he said "yeah man" and we just started talking about stuff. And he evenually started making beats and I rapped to 'em. We had a setup at my hosue- keyboard, computer, mpc. We got in a big fight and he went to Chicago for 8 months, we never talked. Then he came back and we..." The Irish man interrupts again, and we just can't help but listen to him speak.

P: " I met fundo through the scene, and Slim through Dylan Parker. There was a million people in Interlock and money everywhere, and Dylan helped us focus up."

C: I NEVER knew who you were before now.

J: I remember seeing you and Rahz back like 3-4 years ago opening for Golden.

P: "We used to be the one's getting in fights. Halloween one year there was a fight outside Dinkytowner at a show. Everyone's all dressed-up fighting in the middle of the street, I was swingin and there were hockey players and everyone had costumes and whatnot. I didn't know if I was hittin someone I knew. It was crazy. These days fighting in or around shows is real fucking stupid. Me and Rahz constantly find ourselves liking to on the road... you'll get someone coming up to you after shows sayin you aint shit, your a fag, or something stupid. That's when you got to check your situation, take a step back and realize that your in a very lucky position, your in a public position, and you got to let that slide. I cant tour the country on some crusade mission. When you think about it, the more people who know you, like you, love your music, the more people would like to fight you, or at least try to get you angry. You'll always get those one in a hundred. You just got to keep your eyes on the other ninety nine who are very happy to see you, and focus on those relationships."

J: What should we expect in the next year?

P: "We're calling the project Gampo 2 but it's gonna change. Really good rap, singing, good shit."

C: Everyone is saying Recession Music is one of the best projects of the year. What do you think of that?

P: I expected it. We worked really hard. We put in a lot of work.
We breezed through his CalSurf sponsorship, his sold-out show at Fine Line (CD Release Party) and his plans "To sell out First Ave. That's my goal." We explained Lovefest and our goals to expose our favorite bands/artwork/and interests through awesome blogging. Apparently he was a little intimidated:

P: Were you hurt when I called a woman a chickenhead?

We laughed, and Crista explained: I respect what you do, and I think "you know, he's doing something totally different."

J: I see a lot of insecurity in hip hop, where some people are afraid to touch the issue, and others like to slap the bitches up. Your music finds the middle ground."

Prof explained that in a previous interview, a woman mentioned that "A Month From Now" really hurt her. P:When you get someone who's telling the truth, whether it's good or it's "Fuck that bitch" people are shocked by that, but it's real. Know what? That's a good thing. I'm a painter. I like movies, and sometimes I like being scared, some things make me hurt. It's real. I don't wanna be politically correct all the time."

My inner artist geeked out. "So do you do art anymore?" P: "I love painting. I did the artwork for Recession Music, I'm the creative director of Stophouse." We talked about paints and methods and art history, and the conversation began winding down.

The rest of the night included Jameson, an interesting horseshoe-like game called Quoits, and erotic vegetable photography. One reading this might feel there is no shortage of ego with Prof, but even if that's true, it's well-deserved. Living by a work-hard-play-hard ethic has payed off for Prof and Rhazwell (as well as his Minneapolis peers), and in typical Midwest fashion: if nothing else, Prof can drink you under the table. Don't make him bring out the Gampo side...

Catch Prof & Slim at First Avenue with P.O.S this Saturday (10.24.09) ALL AGES!!

To download Recession Music Click here!

THE FAMOUS IRISH MAN!

So You're Going to Beerfest . . .

. . . . Here's Someone You Should Be Familiar With


Most of us going to Black Clover Beerfest are already well versed in Mac Lethal and Soulcrate. Those of us that grew up in the Midwest may already be down with Prof, the newest Black Clover crew member. But I would bet that most of us hadn't heard of Akream - until now. I am here to solve the mystery.

Akream is one of the most genuine people I have never me and had the opportunity to interview this evening. On the verge of more national exposure with Mac Lethal guesting and producing his upcoming album, he will be hitting the road in November through 2010 and his album, "For The Kids," will be out in January. Akream's personal site - www.akream.com - is going to be getting a face-lift soon, so everyone needs to keep their eyes pealed. Until then - enjoy the Q & A.


Georgia (G)
You're traveling quite a ways for Black Clover Beerfest. How did it come about and what are you doing to prepare for it?

Akream (A)
I am! Further than anyone else I assume

G
it's true, i checked

A
I've brought Mac to Alaska a couple times for shows. Sku came the first time as well. We all hit it off pretty well. Then Mac asked me to come rock the Beerfest. While he was here in April, he offered to executive produce my album. Kinda oversee it creatively

G
How does one go about "brining Mac to Alaska"?

A
I contacted him, made an offer, bought tickets and made it happen. I'm linked with all the venues up here so it was a snap.



G
We tweeted earlier about your "hardcore past" what did that stem from?

A
Well my content has always kinda leaned that way. But I came up kinda fucked up and was involved in some unsavory practices for the better part of my life. I've chilled a bit the last few years.

G
"DP" is, what I gathered, a highly sexualized album - how has marriage and children affected your writing style?

A
It's not as sexualized as you might think. The title was an inside joke. I meant more of the hustle talk and all that. As well as my demeanor on my songs.
Marriage has help me to look at things from a different perspective. My goal now is while you're listening to my music, I want you to be able to smile the entire time. That goes for live performance as well. I may perform a little hardcore ish at beerfest though. IT'S BEERFEST! HAHA.

G
So talking a big game?

A
What I was speaking was complete truth. It's just a fucked up way to live and I have several friends in prison and have for years. I just woke up before I ever had to spend a day in jail. That was my life though.

G
Did the music help you get through all that?

A
The music did help. It was a constant reminder that I wanted better for myself than to be a life long drug dealer, ya know. I want to make people happy, not ruin lives.

G
A lot of people would think that hip hop and drugs go had in hand, there are definitely a lot of major label artists out there that started out dealing. Why do you think the two have become so closely related?

A
Well, i think when you come from nothing, drug dealing is easy to get into and I kinda grew up in it. Didn't have to seek it out. It was always there. the same people can't afford to buy instruments and start a band but anyone can rap. You have rappers now that didn't even listen to rap until 2004 and all of a sudden they are an MC. Hip hop was a fixture in my life from the time I was a baby. I was born in 80! That's what it was all about then.

G
How did Alaska influence your youth and your path with your music? How easy was it for you to get exposed to hip hop? (i grew up in North Dakota, it was hard enough up there)

A
Anchorage is a city like any other in America. The side of town I grew up on, hip hop was what was happening. I didn't listen to other types of music until I had girlfriends in my teens. See, hip hop was never a thing that I looked at from afar. My life was your typical hip hop upbringing. They just happened to have a name for it, ya know. I wrote my first rhyme in 88 when I was in 3rd grade.

G
One of our Lovefesters - Crista - is curious as to the scene in Alaska - how supportive are you all of each other? (some cities show more community love / respect than others)

A
Everyone is pretty supportive and we have a lot going on up here. I host b-boy events, I open up for every big act that comes up here. I won the Artist Of The Year Award at the Hip Hop awards here last year. I'm a fixture in the scene up here. A lot of people are inspired by the things I'm doing out of state now. Touring, beerfest, etc.

G
That's pretty remarkable- sounds like Beerfest is in for a real treat.

A
I surely hope so. I'm nervous because I'm not sure if I'm what they expect to see. I'm not a black clover boy. Kinda got my own thing going, ya know. But I come to rock!

G
Wanting to see bcr boys is why i wanted to cover you - so that people can get to know you before beerfest. So why travel for beerfest - how do you see that benefiting your career?

A
Well, I'm doing well enough financially to do it, first of all. I'll give out mad cds and sell merch and it gives me more time to bond and strategize with Mac and the boys. And he's my friend and he asked me to come. Some people go on vacation. I go rock shit around the world.

G
How did your label, Arctic Flow, come about?

A
Got the logo, got my paperwork in order, started recording and promoting. Pretty simple. It helps to be a good mc or else why would anyone give a shit? haha. At first, I just wanted to be respected in my state. A few years later, it was bigger than me and kinda took on a life of it's own. To the point where more people knew about the label than the artists on the label.Kinda became more of a group than a label. Kinda like wu-tang. but we were always solo artists. That's why when I wanted to sign someone else, I started my other company, Ice Box Entertainment so that there was no confusion.

G
5 things beerfesters should know about you.

A
1. I'm very down to earth and love being social. Not standoffish at all


2. I am in a transitional phase musically so they will notice a wide spectrum in my set

3. My upcoming album is entitled, 'For The Kids'. The kids being us, the heads, the general public who still dares to dream and loves to have fun


4. I'm a married father of 2 who wouldn't have it any other way


5. I often wish I could sing better or play a lot of instruments so that I had more to offer musically.

G
A lot of artists are going the way of the live band - do you see that happening in your artistic future

A
I won't say it wouldn't ever happen. When I can afford to tour with a band, I probably will. But I am also truly content with 2 turntables and a microphone~

G
What's the tour process like for you? how easy are the promoters to work with?

A
It depends. I personally do well with nearly no sleep, living out a suitcase, performing every night for a couple of weeks and still remaining mentally intact. The promoters are like anyone else. Some are on top of their shit and are a joy to work with, others make me wonder why they agreed to do a show in the first place.

G
Is it hard on the family situation?

A
It can be but my family is awesome. They don't make 'em like my wife anymore. She's a hardcore chick and she handles biz while I'm away. Being away from my babies is the hardest and they are too young to understand why daddy isn't home

G
Anything else you want to add?

A
Lovefesters do it better~


To Akream - Thank you very much for your time this evening. We are all looking forward to kicking it at Black Clover Beerfest.

To those going to Black Clover Beerfest - Make sure you get to the Pre-Party early so that you don't miss out on Akream.





(photos courtesy of Akreams's myspace)

Holy Mixtape Madness, Batman!

It's going to be a good summer. My favorite season. Poolside conversations, drinks with umbrellas, birthdays (holler, Cancers!), sunburns, and lots of air conditioning if you live in Phoenix, like me.

I define my summers by the jams I listen to, and this summer is not going to be a disappointment! There's a new trend going around to which I am never going to object:

FREE MUSIC!

The summer is off to a great start. Soundset. New artists. And mixtapes galore. Here are some gems that have recently come out that will surely give you something to bump to.

Prof and St. Paul Slim "Recession Music"

Mes the Jive Turkey "Stealing Stars"

Cage "I Never Knew You"

K. "Sangria Mixtape" (coming soon)

Brothers Backword "Stupid Intelligent Mixtape"

Drake "So Far Gone"

Cool Kids "Gone Fishin"

Themselves "Free Houdini"

DJ Hevehitta & DJ Unexpected "Flawless Hustle"

Lil Wayne "Red Rum"

Added: PPP "The Abundance"

Added: Girl Talk "Feed the Animals" (not necessarily free, but you choose your price)

Added: El Guante "Conscious Is Not Enough"

Added: Soundset Mixtape

Added: Rob Viktum's Snack Pack 2.5

Added: Jabee & aDDlib


I'm really stoked on the idea of free mixtapes and downloadable songs. Artists are beginning to branch out and away from depending on major record labels and music stores to distribute their material. The whole DIY vibe is much more accessable, realistic (it's hard to muster up the courage to spend $15 on an album unless I'm SURE I love it), and enables the fans to gobble up more releases from their favorite artists. Sure, losing the hard-copies of albums hurts artists like me a little bit, who depend on people buying the physical copies to display their cover art, but in the case of GahedinDIE, we always include the artwork to make the realeases more interactive.

Times in the music business are changing, but as far as I see it, differen't isn't necessarily worse!

Long Live Free Music.

(I'll edit this and include more mixtapes as I come across them in the next couple weeks, so keep an eye out)


-Jamee


P.S.- not sure what happened to the Kid Cudi mixtape. Can't find it anywhere on the net anymore! Anyone find a site hosting it? Or are we looking at a revoked leak?