Labor Of Love Music

30 Days Of Dopeness: #24 Scheme - Manifesto

Scheme has stepped up his game for 2009.  The homie has really honed his craft as an emcee and that comes across on his latest release, Manifesto.  He sounds really refined on this release.

The EP comes in at really eight tracks, so all it takes is a quick listen to realize this emerging talent that resides in Chicago.  Spotlight is easily one of my favorite tracks.  It sounds like a song that was destined to have a video made for it.  The sound is filled with synth and a subtle bass line that just moves you. The vocal sample that makes its way in the background is also a very nice touch.  It is an uplifting song that the listener can identify with easily.

Jean Grae stops by to drop a verse on the next track, Let Me Do My Thing.  The track is simplistic.  But both emcees take the sparse production and rip it impressively.  This is one of those tracks where the production can not hide an emcees flaws.  Jean Grae and Scheme really hold up their end of the bargain, verbally displaying their gifts.

Scheme's evolution as an artists is no more apparent than on the next track, Modern Day Warfare. The production is intense on the cut as is Scheme's flow.  Scheme puts into his perspective what it's like for him in his environment to compete with everyone else for a similar prize.  The track is dark and hit lyrics force you to take a plunge into his life and mentality.  Very dope indeed.

The Manifesto EP forces the listener to take notice to this emcee and makes you want to listen to more of his music which will hopefully be coming very soon.

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30 Days Of Dopeness: #25 Esso - Lifestyles Of The Young And Ignorant

I have spoken on this release at least a couple of times this year in a variety of different places, but this time it is time to add it to the Top 30 this year.  I know a lot of people who probably felt is Michael Jackson inspired release more than this, and that probably is more on people's mind.  I feel that this one let me focus on the artist though more and with the unfettered production I choose this one. 

I leave you with the review that I wrote earlier this year...DL link at the bottom...

Normally I would not do a write up on an EP.  A FREE EP at that.  But every once in a while you have to make exceptions to the rules and that is clearly the case here.  This EP is so compelling that it bears mentioning.

The EP is only six tracks long but each track delivers something unique to the listening experience and the only way to address the music is to do it track by track.

Change Your Life is a track that talks about accepting your ways or changing them.  He drops a short autobiography telling the listener about his background. Everyone has a different moral code.  What's right for one person may be condemned as immoral by the next man.  It's a track that speaks on the subject of 'perspective'.  We all have different hustles going on and Esso uses this track to let us walk a mile in someone elses shoes before we go around judging them.  Appreciate what you have while you have it is the moral of the story.  The beat is brought to you by Frequency and sprinkles a little bit of everything from the musical pallet. A little piano, a little synth, and some hand claps will get the head nodding in no time

On Get It How You Live, producer Rena1ssance is behind the boards on this one and shows and proves his skill with the beat he crafted for this gem.  The sound is filled with horns and symbols while Esso flips his conversational style as though he was giving some advice to a little brother.  Dropping wisdom on how to be successful in the world of adults. 

"..It aint peaches, it's grapefruit, you just appreciate the bitter sweet shit..." 

"Is it a failure to fail or failure not to act."

Just line by line of words we can all relate to.

With Young and Ignorant, the beat by Whurld Ent. knocks.  It works a heavy laid synth track with a kicking bass drum driving Esso's clever verses where he states:  "I hold myself high like a baby at a christening...".  Esso not a punchline emcee by any stretch of the imagination continues to drop a metaphor every now and again that just makes you smile. It's just another solid track driving home the point that this guy is talented.

Track number four leads us to Living Doll. This is probably the most uptempo track on the EP.  It's subject matter relates to a woman  who lives in the "surreal" life.  It's a glamour thing.  It's a posterity thing.  It's all about who you know and who you are with.  I feel like it's a social commentary not only on a particular type of lady but of a society that propagates and supports these ideas.

Doing It Again is a super smooth track laced with some piano and sparse beats again provided by Rena1ssance. If added soul needed to be added to the recipe, on comes John Legend to provide the hook.  Esso narrates the story of love and then love lost, and perhaps unrequited love at the end.  His emotional and personal approach to the song make it felt by the listener, dropping resonating words and phrases like..."to know sweet, you got to know bitter".  Relationships are a combination of the good and the bad and we either learn to accept or we learn to live with regret.  This is a very powerful cut.

Nicotine is my personal favorite of the bunch.  I can really relate to Nicotine as a listener.  It again appears to be a personal narration of what's going on his life.  The best way to describe the cut is by letting Esso's lyrics speak for themselves.

"I want my life to feel good like the last cigarette in the pack.  Inhale...Exhale, watch the smoke react.  Niggers hate the way I live, they the least of my worries.  Throw a party when I die and my corpse is buried.  I got some heavy shit on my head.  Parents rather me in office, but I vision me a supernova...launch me in orbit.  Ain't meant for this world.  I live among the stars, but niggas caught up in the money and fuckin' cars..."

The female vocals are by Lydia Caesar and usually I don't mention vocals like this but her voice really moves you when it gets to the chorus. The Stereotypes provide a soothing yet aggressive (if that's possible) track for Esso's verses.  The music is very meditative but the I can easily see this being a video and can see that video being played out in my mind.  This cut is classic to me because it hits home.  People want 'real' talk?  Well this right here is real talk.

Esso has done this the right way.  A very short but poignant introduction to the hip hop community.  Every verse sounds like an observation he is making directly to you or a reflection of something from his life.  Beautiful music is made when the artist is honest with his product and I never got the sense that Esso was any less than that.  That type of honesty puts the listener at attention.  You wanted to listen to each verse and savor the hook.  The lyrics weren't flying over your head, they were staring right back at you.  At the end of the EP, you will want to mark Esso as one of the artists to look out for  in the not so distant future and mark this short but dope EP for heavy rotation NOW.

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30 Days Of Dopeness: #26 Cookin' Soul - 1:00AM And Rising

At #26, we check in with our first release that was offered free on a variety of blogs.  It is also the first producer album.  This album showcases so many dope emcees.  Slaughterhouse emcees Crooked I and Joell Ortiz put in work, and also Sha Stimuli, Donny Goines, Skyzoo, Emilio Rojas, Tek (Smif N Wesson), Ali Vegas, and Mickey Factz among others. 

The trio of producers hails from Valencia, Spain and they definitely have an ear for beats.  When you also have a production camp, rather than a solo producer, you tend to get a diversity of production.  The first two tacks, featuring Mickey Factz and St. Laz respectively are relatively down tempo, while on the third track, Emilio Rojas rips on a more uptempo track with a very layered sound.  What all three tracks have in common, is that they are filled with a very soulful sound.

One of the stand out tracks on this album are Joell Ortiz's, Food For Thought. I love the sound of this track.  We all know Joell is one of the best in the game right now and on this track he talks about his relationship with hip hop and closes with "...how can hip hop be dead when she's a spirit".  The production and Joell's flow go hand in hand on this one.

Crooked I, One-2, and K-Young drop verses on the track Money Talks, which is yet another display in the diverse repertoire of Cookin' Soul.  On this track they use keyboard and heavy degrees synth to create a perfect feel for a west coast banger.  The emcees really thrive on this track.

The best track on this joint is arguably the On Fire (Remix) featuring the mic skills of Skyzoo, Sha Stimuli, and Donny Goines.  This track is so smooth and Skyzoo sounds at his best when he's on tracks like this.  This track defines soul!  The samples are placed perfectly, the beat has the nod factor, and soul simply pervades throughout.

This was my first exposure to Cookin' Soul and they are production crew we should now all be made aware of.  Incredibly dope sounds coming from over seas.  What makes this release even better is that they have given it to you for free so there is no reason not to give it a chance.  

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30 Days Of Dopeness: #27 Solo For Dolo - The Truth For The Youth

 

This is the best kept secret this year.  And it shouldn't be!  This is really an ill, ill, ill release.  Solo For Dolo really puts together a complete release to have listeners get acquainted with what he can do with the microphone.  Domingo (yes, that Domingo) cosigns on this release by producing a handful of heaters for Solo.  

Solo For Dolo is aggressive  with his delivery and clever with his punchlines.  That voracity is perfectly executed on such tracks as Crown Royal, The Glass House Theory, and Ain't No Love. Crown Royal is a true banger with Domingo lacing the beat that is set up using a perfect choral sample as the back drop. By contrast, the tack Highlife, also produced by Domingo, sounds like a horror movie theme song which suits Solo For Dolo perfectly.  He murders that track with his sharp delivery. All together, The Truth For The Youth is truly memorable and should definitely have staying rotation.

   

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UGGH

30 Days Of Dopeness: #28 Grayskul + Maker - Graymaker

#28 didn't drop all that long ago but it has already made a strong impression on me.  I can truly appreciate the approach that Grayskul takes when flowing over beats.  It's not orthodox, but it's not too out there either.  JFK and Onry Ozzborn tear through tracks, but at different paces.  JFK is a master at breath control with his rapid fire and intense delivery.  Onry is his antithesis as his flow is slower and more deliberate.  It all becomes somewhat of a lyrical yin and yang.  It's really a beautiful sound to the ears when it all comes together.

But what really makes this album distinct is the supherb production  from Maker.  Such a diversity in beats on this joint for there only to be eleven songs.  Each song knocks with impeccable production. There are so many layers of production that it very well might be the best produced album this year. Maker seamlessly melds samples into melodies and provides sensational sonic landscapes for the emcees to spit over.

I really feel Crazy Talk, Duece Duece, and Let's Go Ahead And Go Do That, but with that being said there are really no skippable tracks on this album.  It a total package.  If I had more time with this album I feel it  would be higher up on the list, but as it is, if you like Grayskul you are going to love this album.  If you are not up on Grayskul, this is also the album I would send people to for first impression.  I put this one slightly above, Bloody Radio, which really says a lot because that was a great release.

Here is the first single if you are skeptical:  Crazy Talk

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30 Days Of Dopeness: #29 Rite Hook - E.ye A.ssume D.amage

#29 on our list of dopest releases in 2009 is Boston product, Rite Hook's, E.ye A.ssume D.Amage.  Leedz Entertainment has been very busy this year.  They have released a compilation album, Amadeus The Stampede's solo, Blak Madeen solo, Matty Trump solo, and Rite Hook's.  Out of all of those releases I really favor this one. 

E.ye A.ssume D.amage is one of the grimiest releases this year period.  It is chocked full of what I will call gritty production.  Sounds like it was produced in a dungeon which I find is a lost art.  Rite Hook's flow is not overly complex, actually it's not complex at all.  But here, there is dopeness in simplicity.  The verses blend seamlessly with the choruses.  Rite Hook's raspy voice slinks over the beats and when he sings various hooks, it really adds to the quality of the album.  A good hook can push an album to be better, but a bad one can ruin even the best verses.  Rite Hook's consistency in this department really makes this a great album instead of simply a good one.

Some of my favorite tracks include, Go For The Eyes, Watch My Every Move, This Time, Face Down, and Belly (Full Of Posion).  Guest shots on the album include Reef The Lost Cause, Copywrite, Amadeus The Stampede, among others.  Rite Hook in some ways reminds me of RA THe Rugged Man in terms of his content. He's giving you an insight into the other side of the tracks. It's a solid album from start to finish and if you appreciate self-depricating rhymes, gritty beats, and overall sound with a nasty edge, you will love this album as much as I do.

Check it out and cop...

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UGHH

30 Days Of Dopeness: #30 Rise and The Avid Record Collector - Risen

As the year winds down I will be posting one post a day for thirty days of what I consider to be the thirty dopest releases of 2009.  The releases will come from a variety of places.  They can be freebies that artists have graciously given us.  They can be mixtapes.  They can be compilations.  They can be EPs.  Anything is fair game.  I am just going to give you what I consider to be the best.

So as you can see the first installment is Rise and The Avid Record Collector's effort, Risen, which was released in February of this year.  I have copied and pasted my original review of the album below.  I strongly suggest you support the artists and their release.  This was a very impressive release.

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UGHH

I have been saying to myself for months that Rise needs to put out some new material.  He has released a few best of CDs in the past few years, but nothing substantial has hit the indie scene in quite sometime...until now.

Rise, accompanied by The Avid Record Collector, drop eighteen cuts of non stop dopeness. It was a long time coming, but once it was all said and done, we have an excellent piece of work.

Rise Anthem sets the stage with a very smooth beat and a crisp Rise delivery.  "Put the word out, you know who's back in town.." or so the chorus goes.  Rise has come to state his claim in an oversaturated hip hop market, as he so poignantly points out, "...there's a rapper every three feet."

Rise has always had that laid back delivery but never fails to remain clever.  He seemingly always has these clever lines that stick in your head, and this release is filled with vintage material.

On Born, Rise, gives us the story of his birth to his destiny.   The Avid Record Collector laces the jawn with some flute music to which Rise can just continue to write his story to.  This song is what I would consider to be quintessential Rise material.

Really, there are no songs that are skippable on this record.  You can listen to this straight through and you need no chaser.  Just filled with dope flows and a variety of dope beats. But sticking to the script of mentioning the highlights, the true banger on this joint is New York, which features Extended Famm member Substantial.  The track on this one is damn near impeccable.  Consistently using an electric guitar riff, The Avid Record Collector, shows off his production skill as both emcees rep New York, New York and it's five boroughs. Substantial drops these few bars on the Knicks and their fans caught my ear:

 "...you might get jumped for screamin'' "Go Lakers!/Every single year they swear the Knicks going to take it/Even when they suck, fans hold their team sacred/Though many hate it, you got to respect it..."

Daddy Left, details the feelings and the realities that are involved when the man of the household leaves.  The song approaches it from the children's perspective and addresses the immediate and long term repercusions. I really can not effectively do this song justice by writing a paragraph about it.  It is one of the best social commentaries I have ever heard on the topic.  Check out the song and check out the lyrics below.

"These homes broken, Can you glue them or tape them?/ They miss daddy and who can replace him?/Respect for single women that are raising them proper/but don't have the time to watch them playing in soccer/Daddy said he needed smokes, already had some in his coat, when he left he said "I'm ghost!"/Left his children on the ropes...."

Stuttering Fine, is an extremely fresh track with superb production from Avid.   In the backdrop of the entire song, he creates the vocal of someone stuttering...."fi...fi...fi....".  He adds some slick strings and a hot beat and Rise details the story of how his game was broken by a goddess and all he could do was stutter....."fi-fi-fi...fine...".  I was actually left wishing this song was a little longer and will have to hope for an extended version.

This is by far is the most complete release this year.  It is a great return to the forefront for Rise and for those that have not heard heard him before, you are bound to be a fan after this release.  The production isn't just good, it is near impeccable.  The beats are kept fresh and never stagnant.   Do these musicians a solid and pick up this release...this album is for people who love the art form and will not disappoint at any level.

 

December Emcee Spotlight: Drekidd

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Drekidd is responsible for one of the best albums this year.   The Fix dropped in October and  everyone needs to bare witness to this emerging talent coming out of LA.  Drekidd is armed with poise and drive on the microphone.   He has a unique combination of intelligence and flow and when combined some really good hip hop is going to be made.

Check out the interview and be sure to download The Fix above!

Interview

Darius: What influenced you to become an emcee?  There are a lot of fans and listeners but what compelled you actively participate in hip hop?   What was the tipping point for you that said, "I can and want to do this..."

 

Drekidd: Umm me and my homeboys was always into finding cyphers and complaining about "the state of hip-hop" (like the rap nerds that we are lol) but what made me take it more serious was somethin a friend told me while I was away a college. He asked me "why you always complaining about Hip-Hop?  If you love it so much why don't you change it?"  So you can say Im taking him up on the challenge.


Darius: As you were coming up, who or what inspired you both personally and musically?  What were some tracks that you grew up with that you bumped consistently?

Drekidd: Damn, I'd really would have to read off a seriously long list for that one.lol But on the short list of rappers I'd have to say Tupac, Eminem, DMX, Common, and Jay-Z.  Like when I was young, not having a father, listening to to these dudes taught me about manhood.  Especially Pac because he touched on so many subjects in a real way.  When I listen to "Smile" it puts life in a perspective that makes it easier to deal with. I look at it like each of these dudes helped me through a stage of growing up.  Eminem's "I Am" helped me with being a misunderstood kid always in trouble.  DMX's "Slippin'" was playing on repeat around that same time because I was fucking up alot and I knew it.lol Funny enough, those songs helped me get focused.  Jay-Z showed me how to be cool.  I live my life by the words off "Hey Papi".lol  Later on seeing Common perform his album "Be" live at Howard Homecoming made me realize how the show was sposed to feel and how Hip-Hop can make you feel proud and happy through positive energy and message. 

  
Darius: What kind of adversity does an emcee face in getting his name known, getting shows, and eventually selling records?  Have any personal stories to share as an independent emcee?

Drekidd: Well, first off EVERYBODIES A RAPPER.lol And that's all good but the competitive energy is insane and listeners ears are exhausted. Really you have to create your own lane to where it expresses your uniqueness but still appeals to folk.  That's hard because people get too caught up looking at what worked for other rapper's then next thing you know everything is auto-tune and tight ass jeans.lmao

Darius: You are in a small segment of emcees that actually pursued and succeeded in attaining their college degree.  What does that mean to you personally and what does it add to your career as an emcee?

Drekidd: It adds a back up plan and a solid resume.lol Nah, but foreal for myself it helped me gather more perspective, which is always dope.  I mean, I barely made it out of High School.  I immediately thought I would rap for a living then I saw a few contracts like "damn, that's just a bad loan..lemme try this school shit". With some hard work, I ended up at Howard But it wasn't really where my head was at. I knew I wanted to do some community work so my major was Psychology but I'd be in class thinking of tracks like "Imagine".  I'd really be pushing it because I would have a show one night then class at 9 am in the morning.  I actually tried telling a teacher "I can't do this project, I have a show in San Diego". FAIL.lol  But what school mainly showed me was that you can condition yourself to do anything.  I was a horrible student in High School but with a little focus I was on dean's honor in college.  Go figure. 

Darius: Talk about your project that just dropped earlier this year, The Fix.  How long did it take for the project to come together from beginning to end.  What can the listener expect from the album or rather, what do you think they should leave with?

Drekidd: Well, it's kinda funny.  I had tracks for The Fix since like 2007 like the song Imagine but like 90% of the tracks was made in September and October. Initially it was just a "jacking for beats" style mixtape but then my producer slash friend, Heart Beat, stepped up with all these fire beats and the whole project changed basically.

Darius: My personal favorite cut off the album is Stepping Stone.  It's track that I am sure a lot of people can relate to and is very heartfelt.  Can you dig a little deeper into the song for us? Was it important for you to make a song like that, or did that idea just pop up?  What does family mean to you?

 

Drekidd: Family means alot man.  I grew up without my parents but my granma took me and one of my older brothers in.  It was hard but she showed us alot. My granma has a fighter's spirit and has always had a huge influence on my personality.  Originally when Serg (Heart Beat) showed me the track it was going to be a record about some girl I knew (my ex lol).   Then I took a trip where I met up with Raekwon, his camp and some other folks I look up to and I came back to L.A. high off life.  On my first day back, my granma brought me back to earth with the news that she had breast cancer.  I was hurt. When I got back to work Heart Beat's track meant something totally different to me.  The Stepping Stone sample, to me, turned into my granma's voice and the words to her story just fell inline.  The best feeling ever was showing her the song and seeing her reaction for the first time.  She was very proud to say the least telling all her friends at the Beauty shop she owns.lol  Craziest thing about is that since then she overcame the cancer and has a full bill of health.

Darius: Another thing I recognized in the album was the great chemistry from emcee and producer.   These beats seem to fit you like a glove.  How did you hook up with the primary producer Heart Beat for this project and how is this kind of chemistry achieved in an album?

Drekidd: Thanks fam. I first met Serg (Heart Beat) a couple years back.  He was just starting in recording school at the time and didn't even know how to count bars!lmao The first beat he emailed me sounded so depressing and wack, I clown him til this day for that one.  What kept me messing with him though was his genuine passion for the music.  The more I kicked it with him the more we got closer as homeboys. The more conversations we had about Hip-Hop the better and better he got.  I feel proud of him when I listen to a track like "Sunny Day" or "Frustration" because I remember those first joints and I saw first hand the work to get to that point. 

Darius: You described in a previous interview, that you wanted to go into the music scene on your own two feet and not riding the coat tails of a more established artist and scene, can you elaborate on that choice?  What's ultimately at stake in making that decision?  What did you give up and what did you gain?

Drekidd: Well it seems, its pretty easy to get a deal under a rapper because they wanna build themselves up with a team of dudes under them and for you, it gets you a co-sign that fans sometimes need to even give a new dude a listen.  But at the end of the day you're not really looked at as you're own man.  Besides, with exception to Eminem what rapper is really gone let you shine anyway?  Call me a ass but I'd rather stand on my own two and win or fail that way.

Darius: It's evident that you love your city, describe for people who may not know, the many colors of LA and the diversity the hip hop scene that exists in your hometown.

 

Drekidd: Wow.  That's a loaded question.lol There's so much to say here I'd have to write a book on L.A. and have maad co-auhors to do it justice.  Well first of all, you have whites, asians, latinos and blacks and we all mix in some way or another, mostly in 405 (freeway) traffic or at Laker games.lol  As far as Hip-Hop scene, its always been a weird mix between the underground Hip-Hop vibe like a Pharcyde to a ganster rap sound like a Snoop.  The gangster rap sound got more to the mainstream because of it's colorful take on how life was out here and that's what people remember most.  Now fast forward gang bangin is less popular out here, not to say that dudes aren't still dying over that but there was a time when chicks wouldn't even speak to you unless you had a rag on and now its looked at as more of a turn off.  The youth out here now is more concerned with fashion and shopping and the newer music kinda reflects that.

Darius: What do you have in store for fans of your music in the near future?  Any new projects in the works for the masses?   Any other thoughts to leave with us? 

Drekidd: Well, first off all thanks for the support and of course new music is on the way. Be on the look out for True Connosseurs and do check out trueconns.com for the updates on the team!

 

Artist Video: The Closers - Closing The Game

I am really feeling this group.  All of the tracks I have heard have been heat.  Recognize.

November Producer Spotlight: Hannibal King

Myspace                           Twitter                    Eating Cornbread...      

Hannibal King truly appreciates the art of hip hop production.  This appreciation is evident on his album, Eating Cornbread On The Millenium Falcon.  He flexes his gifts as a producer on each and every track giving you a cohesive but diverse effort in the end.  

It is for his obvious potential and gifts that I wanted to showcase his talents on the November Producer Spotlight.  Be sure to download his work, read the interview, and show him some love on his Myspace or Twitter.

Support good hip hop music!

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Interview

Darius: When did you start producing? Have you only done hip hop production up to this point?

Hannibal King: I started producing a few years ago...I used to rap for a while but production grew on me a little more. It took off and I put rapping in the background. The feeling that comes when a track is just unbelievable. I've done mostly hip hop, a few rnb tracks but nothing I've ever released. Hip hop is my heart.

Darius: How long does it generally take you to lace a track? Describe the process that you use to make that perfect beat.

Hannibal King: Hmmm...I would say it could be an hour or two to a week to a month. I have beats I made months ago that I still touch up every now and again. Sometimes I have beats I made an hour or so that I send out to a rapper who rips in soon after. It all depends how the track comes out. The process though usually begins with finding a sample..chopping it up...etc etc. I don't make to many tracks without samples, not to say I can't I just prefer the sounds of sampled songs. Some differ. Though there are many times I need to make a track without a sample.

Darius: I see producers debate this every now and again and wanted to get your take on it. Some producers say that using music programs like Reason for instance gives them the ability to do a lot more with a track than with the traditional equipment like and MPC. Those producers who use the MPC sometimes shun using programs like this, citing that it's not pure production. Have you heard this argument before? Do you have any thoughts on this issue? What programs or equipment are you using (without giving away your trade secrets, haha)?

Hannibal King: I personally prefer music programs over hardware and that is just because that is the way I learned to produce. I rock out with Cubase and FL Studio...Technics Tables...Midi Keys...MPC 2000XL. See I have an MPC but I can't freak it the way I can freak a track on the computer. The MPC gives a much warmer sound, this I can't deny but its possible to create a similar warmth on the computer and thats what I like to do when I work. I feel if you can make it work one way there shouldn't be a reason why you shouldn't work a certain way. People like to say if you use a computer you're producing southern esque beats but that is in no way the case. A lot of cats have made the move to the computer, but like I said either way, as long as you make it do what it do..you're cool with me.

Darius: From a production standpoint, give me a couple of hip hop tracks from your youth, that served as inspiration or that you continued to bump repeatedly.

Hannibal King: I have a heavy influence from Black Star...early Talib and alot of Tribe. Get By by Talib was one of those songs that to this day still makes me want to step my game up. Kanye's production gave me alot of inspiration, early Kanye. New Kanye by no means moves me in any way compared to early Kanye. I heard a lot of Tribe coming up so tracks like Electric Relaxation contributes to my sound. Ali Shaheed, Dilla and Tip's work are some of my favorite works of all time. Dilla is perhaps my favorite producer of all time...from his work with Pharcyde, Tribe, Common, Erykah Badu, Busta to his most recent Stonesthrow records...RIP to perhaps the greatest producer in hip hop history. (In my opinion)

Darius: Where do you draw musical inspiration from?

Hannibal King: Seems I might've answered this one before but like I said alot of Tribe, Black Star, Dilla...Kanye's early work. I also grew up listening to alot of old soul in my houses and as such that was the type of music I was attracted to. I feel too much of todays music lacks soul and that is what hip hop was built on you know. And that has nothing to do with digital versus sampled, just the lack of SOUL in music.

Darius: Some of your production can be found on Jabee's, Blood Is The New Black. How did that musical relationship come to fruition?

Hannibal King: Jabee is one the coolest cats I know honestly. We started talking over myspace a while ago because we were fans of each others work and one thing led to another. We started talking about doing an EP together and that track was supposed to be for the EP but it came out so dope we threw it on the album and it took off from there. We still have an EP in the works and we have for well over a year and honestly its dope but its not perfect yet. Its beautiful music though...Jabee makes beautiful music and thats why I get along with the brotha. Hes a good soulful cat...go DL his new work with Mick Boogie if you haven't...it features XV, Black Spade, L.E.G.A.C.Y, 9th Wonder, Johnny Polygon and some others. It is worth it.

Darius: Talk about Eating Cornbread On The Millennium Falcon. How long was this project in the works? How did you connect with the emcees project?

Hannibal King: That project was in the works for quite sometime yet it still ended up rushed. Don't ask me how but it did. Most of the cats I had just met throughout my time trying to place records and in the long run they were all willing to contribute which was beautiful. Some of the tracks were for projects of theirs that I ended up using in the same. I also work with this cat PDA and he has helped me alot in my career, he runs a photography studio and cats should hit him up and get their pictures done! WWW.PDASTUDIOS.COM

Darius: This is a question I have for everyone, what do you want people to walk away with when they listen to some Hannibal King production? What do you think makes that production distinct?

Hannibal King: I just want people to be moved. I love to hear someone say my music affected them. I don't make music to get rich or get famous, I just want to move the world. We are stuck somewhere in the world where we forgot how to love, how to have a soul, how to DREAM and thats a real shame. I hope I can open a few eyes before I'm done here.

Darius: Give the readers the names of some artists that you think they should be checking for.

Hannibal King: Jabee for one...his music continues to move me. Also peep my homie Mike Milan...hes a creative cat when he wants to be. Also definitely look out for the homie K. Sparks! K. Sparks is changing the game right now and his recent project received love EVERYWHERE and that is a good sign that hip hop is moving in a good direction. I wish nothing but success for my homie. If you could work with a couple of artists of your choice who would they be. You are not limited only to hip hop artists. Dilla! I wish I could've studied dude in the studio. The way he worked was probably one of a kind! I really want to do some work with Mos Def, Blu and D'angelo for sure. D'angelo makes some great music, a homie of mine put me on to him and I've been addicted ever since.

Darius: You are in your career's infancy, so there is a lot of music yet to be made, so what do you have in store for the masses in the months and years to come?

Hannibal King: Beautiful Music. That I can promise you. Music with soul...music that bleeds. Music you can feel.

Darius: Any other thoughts or statements?

Hannibal King: Free Love...