FATHOM 9

EMCEE AND PRODUCER
@FATHOM92754
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DO YOU TEND TO LIKE BEATS YOU BUILT YOURSELF AS OPPOSED TO SAMPLED BEATS?

It depends. I love the challenge of building my own beats, because it makes me feel as though I have earned the fruit of the labor. Some sampled beats are dope too.

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVE PRODUCERS?

Premo, Dilla (R.I.P.), DJ Quick who is severely underrated, Treblefree, Pete Rock—to name a few.

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU’RE FINISHED WITH THE BEAT?

Truthfully…I don’t know. But being that I’m an emcee first, and I really began making beats for that purpose-I guess when I feel the song has said all it can say.  I never see a beat or a song as truly ending…just one of many pages in a larger story…

 HAVE YOU EVER MADE WHAT YOU FELT LIKE WAS A NIICE BEAT AND SOMEONE GOT ON IT AND DID IT NO JUSTICE?

Hell yes!  I take that quite serious.

DO YOU PREFER TO HAVE YOUR BEATS AS INSTRUMENTALS OR DO YOU LIKE TO MAKE BEATS FOR OTHER ARTISTS?

Instrumental albums are awesome, so I would say that’s what I would prefer. But-being an emcee-I make beats I could hear myself on.  In a few instances I have made artist-specific beats, but not too many times.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT NEWER EQUIPMENT VS THE OLDER EQUIPMENT?

I used to be highly bias to newer software like Fruity Loops-even called computer producers ‘mouse clickers.’ Lol. I’m an MPC head, so I’m used to constructing/composing everything-and its hard work—but I feel better having my hands immersed in the entire process. I have—as of late become a bit more accepting of the computer producers. Ultimately-whatever you use-if you have the ear for music—your creations will reflect that. If not, well…

HOW DID YOU GET INTO PRODUCING?

As I stated before-I am an emcee first, and when I began emceeing seriously, I was hard-pressed to find a producer who had a sound I felt comfortable with, so I took it upon myself-with encouragement from a couple friends-to make my own beats. The rest is history.

 WHO/WHAT INFLUENCES YOUR STYLE?

Jay Dee is definitely a huge influence on my sound-and several have highlighted similarities. I’m an ATCQ head-so the heavy jazz-influenced Native Tongue sound was love to my ears. RZA, among others who brought the darkness out of me. I have come to realize that my sound reflects the groove and the rage within me. I make music from emotion, and even when I became more immersed in beat making than emceeing, I feel I was still emceeing, but thru the music.

 WHO ARE SOME OF THE ARTISTS YOUR HAVE WORKED WITH SO FAR?

My first group the Genesis Experiment (DVSJ, G-Sicks, J Mecca-DJ, and moi),

The Iron Mic Coalition, Scott X, a slew of others and most recently some international artists like Jae Fresh (UK).

 WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT PEOPLE THAT AREN'T FANS OF YOU MUSIC TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?

I just want them to know I make what I feel, and it is not catered to the status quo. My reservoir is limitless..

WHO TAUGHT YOU ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE LESSONS IN LIFE?

Life is the best teacher. Experiences have given me insight, but I am still growing…

IF YOU COULD CHANGE 1 THING ABOUT YOUR LIFE WOULD YOU? WHAT WOULD IT BE? AND WHY?

Hmmmm… I would be a little more emotionally open. I write my emotions vividly, but it is difficult sometimes in relationships to say the words, and no matter how many ways you express thru action, words will always retain their power.

WHY DO YOU LOVE MUSIC?

Music is the language that can adequately convey the conversations of my soul. I am incomplete without it.

WHAT ARE YOU TOP 5 MOVIES?

1. V for Vendetta, 2. LOTR Trilogy, 3.Dark Knight, 4.Back 2 the Future Trilogy, 5. Star Wars series.

IF YOU COULD PICK 3 ARTISTS PAST OR PRESENT TO WORK WITH WHO WOULD YOU PICK?

Monche, GZA, Large Professor.

WHAT ARE 3 THINGS YOU CANT LIVE WITHOUT?

Music, pen and paper, books.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE COOL LAID BACK, INYOUR FACE, CONSCIOUS?

All of the above and more. Lol.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO TO RELAX?

Relax? What does that even mean anymore? Lol

WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU LOVED MUSIC MORE THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON?

As a child when I would sing Motown songs to my classmates.

HOW DOES THE BEAT COME TO YOU? I KNOW SOME PRODUCERS SAMPLE BUT LIKE YOUR OWN ORIGINAL BEAT HOW DOES IT COME TO YOU?

That’s a question difficult to answer. To me—it’s a matter of ‘the Blue Note.’ I can’t exactly tell you how, but when it comes—it’s a monsoon.

HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT YOUR ENVIRONMENT HAS INFLUENCED YOUR STYLE AND YOUR RHYMES?

Unless my imagination is a direct counter-narrative to my environment—and I’m not saying it is or isn’t—I would simply say that my internal Universe has more of a profound influence on my expression.

DO YOU DO PERFORMANCES? IF SO WHERE CAN PEOPLE CATCH YOU?

I have begun performing more often, Saturday-November 5^th is the release of my decade-plus long overdue solo project Revenge of the Nice Guy.

HOW MANY MIXTAPES/ALBUMS HAVE YOU MADE

If I count my projects from The Genesis Experiment to now—which have been mostly instrumental albums-Revenge of the Nice Guy will be my 9^th project.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU?

Music, touring hopefully, and a kiss somewhere in that mix. Lol.

HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR STYLE HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?

I really don’t know. I feel I have evolved in many ways personally, and that evolution is thus reflected thru my art.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST EMOTIONAL SONG FOR YOU TO WRITE?

Letter 2 Isis. It took me over 6months to write that song. It was about an old relationship.

WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE WHEN SOMEONE TELLS YOU THEY LOVE YOUR SONG/S?

Sometimes, it’s difficult to process, because I am never satisfied with what I do, but all-in-all—I’m elated when people are moved when hearing/experiencing my music. Perhaps they see what I cannot. Perhaps it is not for me to see, but rather conduit the music.

YOU'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A MINUTE NOW WOULD YOU SAY OPPORTUNITIES ARE EASIER FOR ARTISTS TO COME BY NOWADAYS OR IN THE PAST?

Opportunities have to some extent become easier, but the work has become uniquely greater. On the one hand, artists have access to home studios. Conversely, so does everyone else—and everyone else feels their music is great-so they clog up the various social networks etc. and you have to grind that much more to set yourself apart. But ultimately—the music will speak for itself…hopefully.  We do, however—live in an age of sonic apathy and mass mediocrity, so what many consider ‘good music’ is…not.