Clarity. I thought most musicologists were just overgrown fans first, striving for some sort of clarity in the art of the culture. For D.r.e.s. the Beatnix, his scholarly knowledge of, and life’s lessons are a pure treasure trove; where the history of hip-hop culture resides. His name is an acronym for the Divine Real Essence of Sound (D.R.E.S.) and his voice is the instrument from which the beats make you dance.
D.r.e.s. affirms, “Every day I talk to my manager Jason. I get some sort of lesson from him. I am very blessed and very happy to have a man like that in my life. Keep in mind, I hold two college degrees, but there is always something I am going to miss. Every artist, no matter what the discipline, should have a healthy balance of culturalism and capitalism. This is good advice, “especially if you’re looking for your art to sustain you until your six feet under.”
So, let’s consider D.r.e.s. as the artist using his voice as a tool- the art is in how he tricks the audience to open up. He is the master on the stage using the voice instrument as verbal articulation and improvisation- this is crafty. It’s like connecting the mic to the orator; D.r.e.s. the Beatnik has worked on his abilities so well that the sound is a poetic spit.
You won the Amateur World Beatbox Championships. How was that experience for you? But did you start out as a Beat Boxer?
The experiences since then have been pretty incredible. There have been good days and bad days. With regards to this business I started young in my career and all the guys in my neighborhood, West Oak Lane, Philadelphia could actually spit. We’d get on a beat and it would take a while for it to get back to me. I begin beat boxing as a time filer. It became a cypher filer; if I am not gonna spit in the cypher I’d better learn how to ‘spit box’ in the cypher. That’s where it all started for me. Just honing those skills; training my ear, listening, and then re-creating what I am hearing in real time. Then have the opportunity to compete amongst those just like me. I thought I was an anomaly until I met Rahzel and Scratch. They are my mentors. I remember once, negating a feature fee; so that I could compete. Thinking my manger is gonna kill me. Negating the talent purse is something you don’t do. I did this in order to compete. As luck would have it; I won the competition and defended the title. I took a gamble that day and a risk but it paid off. That was my knock on the door. Everything that came after that was part blessing part hustle, part hard work, and part dedication.
The Mic Club started at Club Apache 2002- 2008. Would you say that you’re a contributor Club Apache position in Hip-Hop?
Absolutely…the World Famous Mic Club was an event that we ran out of The Apache Cape the moment the doors opened. The event at its core was not ground breaking. It was a free-style battle and there had been plenty of those before 2002. We wanted to bring a fair experience to the participants. At the time every MC battle had elements of inconsistencies. The judges, hosts, and DJ’s weren’t masters of the art they are asked to judge. The promoters would have ringers especially when the prize was cash. These ringers couldn’t rhyme not decently enough to slay on their own merit. If it gets tight the promoters opted for the ringer. The end of the night the guy went from paper boy to Rakim in under four bars. That was the issue we attempted to address. No DJ a live band and no cash purse; we did it for respect. We put the power of choice in the hands of the audience. Eventually, the series gained popularity and we added the Mic club Court. If a MC got caught spiting written verses during a battle court was held. The MC was given random topics and 2 bars to free style; if he went off topic…band for life. There were 47 MC’s banded during that time. We brought a series of producer battles and producer interviews series with Diamond Dee called behind the Boards. This was innovative and the first in Atlanta and in the region. Some of the creative aspects of mic club translated to the screen in the film 8 Mile.
Some business is now easy. They come and go. But the good idea is a consistent. Talk to us about Four Kings and Beats Brew and Views.
Four kings as a business is dissolved now. Currently I am focused on myself. Yeah… (First Human Beat boxer on Forbes interviewer everyone laughs). She really did her research!! I like you…No one ever asks about ‘Beats Brews and Views’ in an interview (We all are laughing). I wanted to have a night with some folks that I know and folks that I don’t know; who might know some folks. We all get together and meet in my back yard and watch movies. We would get into the cult stuff and classic stuff. Movies I liked The Warriors,Blazing Saddles, and Coming to America; with a fire- pit going on with the bar outside. I would sell tickets invite with some chefs’ friends of mine. The menus would change depending on what the theme of the movie might be for the evening. Currently, we’re searching for a space to do this again. For now, Atlanta doesn’t have a space that offers an outdoor movie night that caters to ‘black and brown folks.’ We are looking to change that here in the Atlanta. I feel confident that this will happen sooner than later. I like a good movie. That’s what this is all about I don’t what to be in the club all the time. Really, this builds community.
This is the music business. For the new artist who begins touring; whether in the United States or Abroad. Is there any advice you can offer them about their money?
That a good question and recently I advised a young lady traveling to the Middle East for a jazz club residency. The object of touring is to come home with as much money as you earned on the road as possible. There should be a certain amount of money you should take with you when you are leaving the country. You must know currency exchange rates. Long stays require apartment’s shorts stays don’t and your needs are different for each type of residency. Eat and shop healthy. Go to a farmers market instead of McDonalds. When you get your money send it home immediately. Give yourself 20% and send 80% home. The name of the game is to keep as much money as possible. Talk to old heads. If you have some old heads that what to be around your young ass you best ta listen.
Moments at A3C Not being the brick in the wall but speak about that history in the moments.
There are a couple: Year one…Not really knowing whether or not this was something that was going to last. Was definitely a memorable moment. When you get done with the first festival and the first time with this idea and your done the people are asking when are you going to do it again. That’s memorable. Watching the organizers give a platk in honor of MC Chris “Jax” Thurston of the group Binkis Recs. (an Acronym- Before Ignorant N*ggas Killed Intelligent Songs Hip-hop crew, based in Atlanta). The day before election of Obama right. Knowing that you’re rolling with the right time of people. Last year’s festival closing out with the Ok Player Best Block Party Ever. I asked everyone in the audience to make a point to be more socially responsible. To be more active, just not here in Old 4th ward Atlanta, but in their respective communities and to use hip-hop in a manner that is be fitting our forefathers of this culture. Taking these experiences with back with us and use them for great purposes. We have a festival where people come from all over the world; yet there’s a lot of hurt in the world, but we are a family. A3C is the biggest hip-hop family reunion of all time. You’ve experienced it…everyone has…You see people in those 5 days that you might not get to see in the other 51 weeks of the year. Perhaps just online, with an e-mail, or a call; but that physical face to face… the catching up…how’s your family…is those are the ties that bind. Having moments like that help to drive that point home. In this past year we’ve lost two family members in 2015 Sean Du-Val Price half of the duo Heltah Skeltah and Brooklyn rapper Alan Diaz, a.k.a. Pumpkinhead. This hurts, but the show must go on. There no way on earth that this festival goes on or takes place without their legacies’ garnering respect and remembrance. We must make a point to remind the younger generations as these cats begin their matriculations through A3C.
Who do you like?
Logic, Run the Jewels, Kendrick Lamar, Black Hippy The Internet, and Bodega Brovas. Although some might not be considered main stream. I starting to believe that Kendrick Lamar is every old heads hip-hop response answer. I am trying to ween myself away from that but I can’t deny the young boys talent. He is saying something he is using his platform to say something and that’s what you’re supposed to do. Like Rhapsody is another artist that does that Bull Brown there aren’t that many that do it. I cant wait for the day when it comes where MC’s. This new generation of MC’s spit with conviction will be common placed. I kind of hate the fact that Kendrick Lamar is elevated as kind of the golden boy because his doing something that already had been done. His generation is not caught up and that is sad. There is so much shit going on out here in society. There was a college shooting an old man was shoot who was in a wheel chair. Yet rap has not sad shit. So, it’s important to keep good company like Bun B. who teaches at Rice University. There are rappers who take out the time and show their responsibility to being popular. Hip hop has become the new basketball. The newest ticket out the ghetto. Hip-hop and its’ history should be part of every core curriculum in an education. The main reason why public education has not incorporated hip-hop history and culture into their core curriculum is they cannot get passed the music. If you teach hip-hop history you must teach the music history too.
“Every day I talk to my manger Jason. I get some sort of lesson from him and I am very blessed and very happy to have a man like that in my life” Keep in mind, I hold two college degrees, but there is always something I am going to miss. He’s going to fill in and Vis versa. Every artist no matter what the discipline is should have a healthy balance of culturalism and capitalism. Especially if they are looking to do this and if this is to sustain them until their six feet under.
Moments at A3C Not being the brick in the wall but speak about that history in the monets.
There are a couple: Year one…Not really knowing whether or not this was something that was going to last. Was definitely a memorable moment. When you get done with the first festival and the first time with this idea and your done the people are asking when are you going to do it again. That’s memorable. Watching the organizers give a plaque in honor of MC Chris “Jax” Thurston of the group Binkis Recs. (an Acronym- Before Ignorant N*ggas Killed Intelligent Songs Hip-hop crew, based in Atlanta). The day before election of Obama right. Knowing that you’re rolling with the right time of people. Last year’s festival closing out with the Ok Player Best Block Party Ever. I asked everyone in the audience to make a point to be more socially responsible. To be more active, just not here in Old 4th ward Atlanta, but in their respective communities and to use hip-hop in a manner that is be fitting our forefathers of this culture. Taking these experiences with back with us and use them for great purposes. We have a festival where people come from all over the world; yet there’s a lot of hurt in the world, but we are a family. A3C is the biggest hip-hop family reunion of all time. You’ve experienced it…everyone has…You see people in those 5 days that you might not get to see in the other 51 weeks of the year. Perhaps just online, with an e-mail, or a call; but that physical face to face… the catching up…how’s your family…is those are the ties that bind. Having moments like that help to drive that point home. In this past year we’ve lost two family members in 2015 Sean Du-Val Price half of the duo Heltah Skeltah and Brooklyn rapper Alan Diaz, a.k.a. Pumpkinhead. This hurts, but the show must go on. There no way on earth that this festival goes on or takes place without their legacies’ garnering respect and remembrance. We must make a point to remind the younger generations as these cats begin their matriculations through A3C.
Panel: SKYYHOOK RADIO presents WHY WE AREN'T HEARING YOUR MUSIC (Panel)
Friday October 9th @ 5:00 PM
Room Two (Loudermilk Center)
Performance: DJ Revolution Presents: ...And Then What? (Showcase)
Friday October 9th @ 10:00 PM
529 (East Atlanta Village)