A little interview with Slo Mo by Rago Magazine.. Check the Homey Slo out below..
SLO-MO from The Bay, USA
Thanks for taking the time out to do this interview for Rago Magazine. Where are you from and what's the Hip-Hop scene/industry like there?
Im originaly from Hawaii (the Island Of Oahu), but Ive been in the bay area for long time. The scene in hawaii is still new, and theres a lot of new talent coming out.
How long have you been rapping and what or who influenced you to pick up the microphone and start writing?
I been writing seriously since 2000, before that I used to freestyle just for fun in the neighborhood, but after I listened to blacc thought on illadelph halflife, I wanted to picc up a pen and see if I could write a rhyme
When did you get your first break and was there anyone person who helped along with your music career?
Honestly mayn, everyone in my life helped me out in some shape or form, but my first release was on a 12 inch vinyl called "Everything must change" with a group from Jersey called "Organic Thoughts".
What have you released so far and what has the response been like?
I dropped 2 projects. One was a Digital Download through Westcoast2k.net bacc in the day called "One Man Gang", and the other was a mixtape I did with The Demolition men (Bay Area) called "Move In Silence". They both turned a few heads and the response was good enough to keep my interest in music up.
What would say is the most popular track that you have released to date?
I cant really say, a grip of people like different songs from me. I do music for everybody so it all depends on what you in to... If your on some hood shit you might like a different song of mine from a person whos more into the Hip-Hop side of things. But like I said I got cuts for everybody.
What producers do you work with?
I work with a few, Im in a group with my boy Mush Mouf and our boy illmind (producer) called Fortilive, I also fucc producers from my sole vibe family, Keelay, Zaire, and J.Fish. I work with my boy from cali Veterano, and another cat from Australia named m-phaze. Cant forget my folks from Hawaii , Slapp Symphony, and my boy from jerz jonnyfraze... a whole list of folks really
What studio do you record in?
Im in the Torta Oven All day, with Keelay cookin up slaps mayn...Off top
What artists have you collaborated with and what’s the most memorable collaboration that you have recorded?
Ive had the chance to work with a lot of people, from every where. From hawaii I worked with Emirc, Prophit, Bladez Whyte, Jik, Wun, E-dub, and a few more. From the east, my folks, 84, Completion, Fel Sweetenberg. Of course all my sole vibe fam, da evangelist, The AVE, Mario Dones. I gotta say the most memorable though was Saafir. Dude got a crazy presence and hes down to earth plus I been a fan from jump.
What's your label situation? Who you signed to and do they have distribution?
Right now Im somewhat of a free agent, but as a solo artist I fuccs with Right Lane Entertainment, and the situation is nice... we got plans
What are your views on the mixtape game? Is it saturating the marketplace with bootlegs or are they creative masterpieces to help rappers blow?
Well, they used to be hittin', but now days theres just a lot of bull shit out there. Plus hearing freestyles is starting to get overrated, and me personaly, Id rather hear some original music. I think the game is salvageable though, as long as cats do more original shit and keep pushing the line for real shit
With so many rappers in the game how are you planning to make noise and get noticed?
I guess I would say that im just gonna continue to make the best music I can. People will notice... Im confident in that, lol
Have you featured or hosted any mixtapes?
Im planning on dropping more of a compilation through Right Lane Ent. / Uce Muz1c, called "The Uce Movement", where im trying to spot light other Samoan Talent like myself.
Are you working on new material?
Yeah, Im working on a EP with my group "Fortilive" and Im trying to wrap up my Solo LP "Flag Day".
Have you done many live shows or tours? Tell us more about your live show.
Not so much Tours, but yeah I been puttin it in on the live show hype. I performed in Hawaii, San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Philadelphia, NYC, etc. As far as my live show, I try to give people there moneys worth and just leave it all on stage.
What's been the most memorable gig and why?
Dayuuuum, lol... I gotta say NYC, just cause Im from Hawaii and I never thought Id be out there performing music when I was younger.
Any tips for someone just coming into the game?
If you dont genuinely love doin it, your not gonna last. Its one of the toughest professions, but like I said, doing anything you love is worth it.
Any major plans for 2007? Anything big in the pipeline?
Well, in 08, of course I got the LP "Flag Day" dropping late summer / and the Fortilive Ep, along with the LP "24 hrs to life"
What radio stations in your area are supporting your music?
Ive been getting some play on wild 94.9 and KMEL, out here in the bay, and in Hawaii I been getting play on 102.7 The Bomb, and I-94. So Im hoping to get more play with the future projects.
Big name collaborations seem to be the way for ‘underground artists’ to get more exposure. Do you plan to do this?
To an extent. Im always trying to work with people I genuinely feel on the music level, so im selective when it comes to that.
Have you done any music videos to promote your latest release? If so what TV Stations have played it and who made the video?
We got some things in the works, we just getting into the Video aspect, so its bubblin'
How are you finding the MySpace revolution? Love it or hate it? What are your views?
Well I gotta give it its due, just off the fact that helps you network, and it gets your music out... but there is a lot of garbage out there so its hard for people to dig through the "Dirty Clothes" to find the good shit, lol
Do you have a My Space page or a website?
Both, Im at http://www.myspace.com/slomo, and www.Rightlane.biz
What other rappers are you feeling at the moment?
Right now man, Im really diggin this cat from San Diego named "Ecay Uno", aside from that, honestly I like most of the cats in my camp (Sole Vibe, Fortilive, gritty 50, etc.)
What other producers are you feeling at the moment?
Other than the ones I work with, Im diggin Nottz, Dj Khalil, Jake One, Preemo, Ecay Uno, Dj Quik, Battle Cat, Terrace Martin, Jelly roll, jazzy pha, etc.
Describe your style in 5 words.
Real, Raw, Slap, Hood, Truthful
Do you a direct link for people wanting to buy your music on-line?
Just go to my page www.myspace.com/slomo and you can buy my mixtape "Move In Silence"
Would you ever sign to a major label?
$ ... Thats all Im gonna say, haha
Do you have a manager or booking agent?
Yeah, just hit them up at charles@rightlane.biz
Do you know anything about the UK Rap scene? Heard any UK Hip-Hop?
Well, I seen a lot of things out there but im not sure if its more rap, or grime... but I know about a few of them, it doesnt get enough press out here, but I noticed that girl M.I.A., Im diggin her music cause its creative. I want to get more into the scene though
Why should people buy your music?
Cause if they dont ima slap them all individually, haha... naw, but seriously, Your going to get a lot out of my music. Im not goin g to kill you with filler, every verse is gonna hit, and every beat is gonna hit, thats my guarantee.
Any shout-outs or anything you wanna add?
1st and foremost my fam, my pops and my brother off top, they inspire me the most, my neighborhood, 94 blocc Aniwood, all my foot soldiers from the set. My musical co-horts Fortilive, Mush, illmind, my gritty fifty fam, Wun, C-gutta, Repo,Jik, joekerr my laborynth fam, Prophit, Bladez, oddisey, dj sub zero, dj jrama, My sole vibe fam, Keelay, Zaire, J.Fish, The Ave, Mario Dones, my Aiga Fam, e-dub, means, cold gunnaz, the whole clicc, 84, fel sweets, Its so many to name man, so ill just say "everybody!" lol, and I gotta give a shout to Dj Late and Dj Tricksta from Wolf Town! feel me!
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