May | 2008 | Amalgam Digital Blog

Live & Uncut from Newark, NJ Artist: Tame One Interviewer: Ritz Carlton

Live & Uncut from Newark, NJ

Interviewed by Ritz Carlton 05-23-08

AmalgamDigital.com: You’re a pretty crazy dude. How do you manage your lifestyle with making music, paying the bills, being on the road and eating mushrooms and partying?

Tame One: I make music, to pay bills, to be comfortable enough to party, which inspires me to make music, to pay bills, etc. etc.

AmalgamDigital.com: Your new joint- Da Ol’ Jersey Bastard- is super bugged out and very spontaneous. What were the recording sessions like and what was the inspiration behind the lyrics?

Tame One: The sessions were more or less a creative bonding process between Parallel Thought and myself. Their music spoke to me, so lyrically I had to answer back. My inspiration comes from my ‘instant gratification” generation. Meaning once I hear a hot track in the studio, I instantly want to add on to it and add my flavor to the musical situation. For the most part, I’m not hearing the kinda music I want to hear, so it’s up to me to personally make the shit I wanna vibe to.

AmalgamDigital.com: Do you feel like you have been pigeonholed as a “graffiti writer who raps”? I checked out some other interviews with you and people always bring it up. Do you feel like people need to pay more attention to the music and less attention to the graffiti aspect?

Tame One: Early in my career I did, because that’s how I was marketed, but presently I feel more like I’m accepted and respected as a lyricist, because of my artist peers’ acceptance of my material.

AmalgamDigital.com: When I think of New Jersey, I think of Tame One. What is it about NJ artists not only repping their city, but their whole state? Is it a whole different way of life out there? Would you ever leave for good?

Tame One: I can’t speak for other NJ artists…I just know I have New Jersey on my ‘represent radar’ simply because of hometown pride. Its only right I acknowledge the land that helped mold me. Coming up I remember idolizing NY emcees/deejays/graf writers who always repped where they were from, so in turn I did the same.

AmalgamDigital.com: In addition to Da Ol’ Jersey Bastard, you also have a digital only release coming out on Amalgam Digital. With both albums being produced by Parallel Thought how will this album be different than OJB? What made you want to do a digital only album?

Tame One: I try to make every project I release different be it production styles, lyrical approach, concepts or general attitude. I feel as though I have the freedom to do so being that my ‘core’ fan base from day one expects it as well as any new listeners I can grab who may not be familiar with my past accomplishments. I feel as an artist in an over saturated market one owes it to the public to switch shit up,as long as one keeps shit true to self.

Parallel Thought switch up styles musically… naturally… so I vibe out n switch up right along with them.

As far as the decision to go digital I’m just trying to keep up with the current practice of how to get the music to the consumers. Downloading is the now. I’ve got material now… if not, why not?

AmalgamDigital.com: What’s going on with the Boom Skwad?

Tame One: Painting, writing, recording, grinding, holdin’ each other down.. business as usual, handling our handles..doin’ us.

AmalgamDigital.com: Will there ever be a full length Weathermen album?

Tame One: Yeah… It’s been discussed. We’re going to record all new shit. Not just drop a compilation of previous work within the crew, its just everybody is grinding separately so its hard to get time in collectively.

AmalgamDigital.com: Let’s get to know Tame beyond the surface. What are some of your interests besides hip hop and mind altering substances?

Tame One: Excuse you?

AmalgamDigital.com: What made you stay in the game and keep at it for so long?

Tame One: Peace, unity, love, and havin’ fun (pun intended). Determination, talent, drive, patience, drive and respect.

AmalgamDigital.com: What’s the biggest difference between Tame in 1994 and Tame in 2008?

Tame One: In a word… growth.

Brooklyn Keeps On Takin’ It Artist: Bekay Interviewer: Ritz Carlton

Brooklyn Keeps On Takin’ It

Interviewed by Ritz Carlton 05-13-08

AmalgamDigital.com: You’ve been in the game creeping just below the surface for a minute. How has the game changed since you got in and where do you see it going?

Bekay: On a real “hip hop” level everything is everything. I mean when you are in the guts of this shit, the core of it, it’s always gonna be that real hip hop. That hardcore MC’ing, DJ’ing, graffiti, and B-Boyin. That’s what makes this culture that myself and so many others grew up on. It’s not just about music, it’s a life and that lifestyle and type of real hip hop music it brings is always gonna be there. On the flip side, the commercial aspect of it has gotten so out of control it makes me wanna burn down some major label offices and take a steamy hot piss on the remains. They figured out a way to make so much money off of “rap music” that they lost the core of what this shit was all about. I don’t remember listening to the Beastie Boys, or Illmatic and thinking any thing about “blinging” or how big the size of their rims on their cars were. The music had a message, and something unique that made the listener relate to the artist. That’s what real music is in all genres. So I guess I would say on a major scale the young kids getting into it right now are being robbed of what real hip hop music and culture is and it just keeps getting worse. On another note, the talent level of some of these so called new MC’s is just non existent. It’s a fucking joke.

AmalgamDigital.com: What makes you different from the average hardcore white MC from Brooklyn?

Bekay: The same shit that makes me different from every person, white or black in Brooklyn or any place else in the world. I got my own life. In that life a lot of fucked up shit has happened. A lot of good things have happened too. I just put myself in the pad and try to reach those ears that could relate. Maybe you went through some similar shit and I could help you get it off ya chest by spittin’ it out for the both of us, nah mean? I am also a very opinionated dude, and I don’t give a shit about what anyone thinks about what I have to say. I’m gonna tell you how it is and if you don’t like it, I really don’t give a shit. These other cats are just emulating some shit they seen on TV. I’m talking my real life and my real thoughts with no regard for anyone’s opinion or feelings.

AmalgamDigital.com: How did you link up with Coalmine records and how is that working out so far?

Bekay: My man Matt Diamond/Dj Dutchmaster started Coalmine and through our affiliation and existing business and friendship relationship we decided to take this to the next level. Things are going well and with the help of the people at Coalmine I have completed “HUNGER PAINS” which is in my opinion the best work I’ve ever done to date. That’s my next full LP coming out. If you don’t buy it, you suck at everything.

AmalgamDigital.com: Talk about you upcoming release, The Horror Flick Remix EP. What can the fans expect? Do you have any cameos or exciting productions collabs?

Bekay: It’s some straight gritty, raw, east coast, Brooklyn hip hop shit. We took a few joints from “The Horror Flick LP” and had some allstar producers remix them. My man Domingo blessed me on there. Big up to my man Unknown in Australia he’s on that joint too. And of course my dog, Coalmine affiliate M-Phazes laced a remix for my single “I’m The Reason” which is currently the #1 charted hip hop song in the nation right now on all college radio!

AmalgamDigital.com: Do you go on the road often? What’s the craziest shit you’ve seen either on the road or playing out in NYC?

Bekay: I’m gonna go with being fucked up on more drugs then I can mention and being tricked into busting in on some groupie chick blowing my dude ODB (may he rest in peace). That’s just one that comes to mind. That was funny as shit cause we were abusing her and her friends the whole night and told them they would end up with someone’s dick in their mouths before the night was over. AND WE WERE RIGHT. Ahahahahaha. Rest in pace my dude Russell.

AmalgamDigital.com: What do you think of the current state of New York hip hop? Do you think NYC is getting pushed to the back?

Bekay: I think a lotta young cats don’t know what real hip hop is. They are spoon-fed horseshit until they are brainwashed into it. For some reason right now NYC hip hop has been deemed unprofitable by the powers that be and the money men. And us real artists will always put out dope music that’s why I urge everyone to seek out that real music!!! On a major scale it’s only about money to these industry cats, and if they don’t think they can make doe, the shit ain’t getting played. I guarantee if we got some real NYC gritty hip-hop back in serious rotation it would be embraced by all the younger cats who aren’t getting a fair chance at hearing it.

AmalgamDigital.com: I heard a rumor some time back that you were beefing with Ill Bill and Necro. Is there any truth to this? If so, how did this happen and is it an ongoing beef?

Bekay: Hmmmmm. I don’t have beef with them, but if they both had a horrific bass fishing accident, it wouldn’t affect my life. I used to be cool with Bill, some dumb shit went down. I don’t even know Necro. I was never “beefing” with either of them. I guess I’ll leave it at that, right?

AmalgamDigital.com: How did you hook up the joint “Where Brooklyn At??” with Ol’ Dirty Bastard?

Bekay: My man Sean was really tight with Dirty. One night he brought Dirty to a show I was headlining and Dirt was just feeling my whole shit. He asked me if he could rock with me on stage and of course I said yes and He blew the roof off that place. It was a great night. After that we just started kickin it, and Me and Sean asked him if he would drop on this record produced by Kanye’s team Konman, and he was all about it. He was a really good dude who went out of his way on numerous occasions to help me, put me on, and befriend me and I’ll always be appreciative and grateful for his friendship. RIP my dude!

AmalgamDigital.com: Do you think illegal downloading is really hurting record sales? How do you feel about the digital revolution?

Bekay: I think it helps and it hurts. If you’re an artist on a major label with a 1,000,000 budget, you gonna do your numbers regardless. A guy like 50 Cent doesn’t have to worry about that since his budget and presence is overwhelming in the media, and music networks. Someone like me it hurts more in my opinion. If I’m gonna sell 100,000 records, now I’m gonna sell less then half cause motherfuckers could just get the music for free on the internet. I don’t have a million bucks to create the same kind of awareness to “new” fans as these big budget dudes. So my loyal fanbase who seeks out Bekay music is the majority of my sales. If they can now get the music free, it leaves a smaller number of paying fans. Kinda blows ass but what could ya do. GRIND GRIND GRIND.

AmalgamDigital.com: What do you want the fans to know about Bekay that no one ever asks you?

Bekay: I don’t hate Eminem!!! I hate “YOU” yea “YOU” the motherfuckers reading this, and the bitch ass label execs who got a job because their dad knew someone. I hate you for making me discuss, and try to justify pointless, shallow comparisons to Eminem cause of my skin color. I don’t hate Eminem I hate you! Die, and when you’re reborn, I’ll come murder you again. I want people to know that and also to know that ummmmmmm I really really like cheese. Add cheese to anything and it tastes better. Ok I need my medicine now, buy my shit or be prepared to pay the ultimate price of treason. One.