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BMOC & DJ SHAN | ||
We have an exciting interview for you music lovers out there. Meet two of the freshest cats in the music industry currently. They are re-shaping the Hip-Hop/Rap industry with their fly style and no apologetic lyrics. They are taking no prisoners. Meet BMOC & DJ SHAN.
Isaac: Briefly describe how you entered into the music industry.
BMOC: I started flowing back in 1991 when I moved out to Long Beach and got an apartment with my boy Marsmoov who’s a dope ass producer. So every morning I’d wake up and come downstairs to a new beat. We formed a group called KNEW BREED and started throwing house parties in Long Beach passing the mic around. We entered an amateur contest in Alhambra, won it, and it was on from there.
DJ SHAN: Began DJing in a local group around 1994-95. After that, I started producing 1995-96 using a 8 second sampler on a Numark mixer and a Boss drum machine. Then, I recorded to a Tascam 4 track then would bring everything to a bigger studio to record and super size the sound. Had an uncle who would take me to Starlight Studios (or something like that, I can’t remember if that was the name) and I would see engineering and mixing done on Digital Underground albums.
Isaac: What is the most rewarding aspect to making music currently for you?
BMOC: Understanding; Understanding the business aspect, marketing, contracts, budget, publishing and all that. Also, the response from people who hear the album has been extremely rewarding. And the fact that in an era of “SLDR” (Same Lyrics Different Rapper disease), knowing that I have original lyrics is comforting.
DJ SHAN: I just enjoy creating music and finding new ways to manipulate sounds. Getting a thought out that a few moments before did not exist.
Isaac: What has discouraged you the most about making music?
BMOC: In the past, it was not having the funds to put anything out! It can also be discouraging trying to get a good song recognized by those in a position to play it. But it takes time to develop those relationships, so we keep pushing hard in other directions.
DJ SHAN: Trying to find a match for the instrumental that I actually like and agree with the content that the artist is bringing. Some songs sound hot but, I don’t necessarily agree with the subject matter in the way it’s being performed. Many artists think it’s the producer’s job to impress them with a beat but, I see it the other way around in most circumstances. Dealing with artists that are not open enough to push artistic limits is something that I say discourages me. Plus, I write my own rhymes and perform my own songs, so I don’t need someone telling me to change something in beat when their not willing to pay top dollar for the beat.
Isaac: Do you have a personal philosophy about music? If so, what is it?
BMOC: I’m addicted to subwoofers. Every vehicle I’ve owned since I was 16 had big bass in it, it‘s something I can’t live without (sorry neighbors). Also, biting is illegal, but mc’s seem to forget that. Other than that, keep striving to get to the next level in lyrics.
DJ SHAN: No, not really. It’s not like it’s a right or wrong way to approach making music. I just go in and let the music flow. Sometimes it’s hard because I may not have any idea for a song. I just have a feeling about what I want to hear. Since I sample/chop, which is not as easy as it sounds once a song is finished, and also play. I just go in and create two separate musical themes and sometimes mesh them together or leave them separate. I’m good for making drums to a sample and having a whole sounds cape built around that sample. Then removing the sample and changing the entire flow of the beat. Or, starting with some keys and sound F/X and adding a sample and removing the keys. It’s just whatever works. But, most of the time it’s takes time to get into the creative process.
Isaac: When you are performing live in front of an audience, what are the thoughts that are running through you head?
BMOC: Kill it. Shock it. Give em their money’s worth. Make them look forward to seeing you again. Turn this shit out! Tear the roof off! Concentrate. Enunciate. Get the crowd involved. Make them want to buy a digipak on the way out. Oh, and don’t forget the lyrics!
DJ SHAN: The energy of the crowd is what always amazes me. Different crowds carry different energy, so I’m conscious of that. I’m always thinking how my every movement is being perceived by the audience. Everyone sees you but, they all see and grab different things from the experience. Little movements can affect the whole crowd like a trickle becoming a wave, that’s sick as f#@&, in a good way, feel me.
Isaac: Why is being an independent musician important to you?
BMOC: Freedom, Control, Power, Ownership, and Dj Shan and I are the owners of Ghettofog Ent., LLC. We get $7 off every sale instead of 7 cents like a lot of artists signed to majors. So we don’t have to sell a million records even though that would be savage. BMOC doesn’t have the time to sit around waiting to get signed by some major label. I believe in putting ya mouthpiece to it and making it happen.
DJ SHAN: I want to be able to make my music from my standpoint. Not to be told what I should or should not do. I don’t want anyone messing with my recipe. You don’t see nobody coming on Emril, Rachel Ray, or Iron Chef telling them, “Do it this way”. I’m not on Hell’s Kitchen getting yelled at by some fool giving me crumbs cause I did good or cussing me out and not promoting me (Record Label politics), cause I didn’t do it their way. I am the chef in my studio. What I and B have is a trust. I can give him a beat and not have to tell him what it is I want as far his artistic expression. We got that chemistry that you don’t find anymore. Being independent allows that. Other wise you got an A&R trying to be a producer and labels trying to tell you that something is or is not needed; messing up the whole vibe. Plus, I’d be in the whole from an advance.
Isaac: Do you think the Internet has altered the path of music as an industry? If so, how?
BMOC: I’d say the Internet has made all types of music accessible to the world. The beauty of a download is it requires no physical product. Our music now has the potential of being popular anywhere in the world. That’s inspiring, and could lead to sales and performances in places previously unlikely.
DJ SHAN: Yes, it’s easier to be seen and heard. Do something wacked out (laughs), and you’ll most likely get some hits on your site or page. It’s just opened up a lot of avenues that weren’t there before. I like it myself.
Isaac: Any advice for other musicians out there when it comes to using the Internet as a medium for getting their music heard to the masses?
BMOC: Outsource when it’s affordable. I was in the process of researching and contacting online radio stations and magazines when I saw a little banner ad for Musicsubmit.com. They did what would have taken weeks to do for a great price. Live online mix shows are also a great tool we hope to take advantage of.
DJ SHAN: Sign up for services like Music Submit. If you can get 300 - 400 or more sites hearing you, then pay the fee and take that route. You can have your MySpasces and other players but to have someone hear you and then request a CD based off of hearing a few songs is what you want. You can end up doing interviews and shows.
Isaac: What kind of recording software do you use?
BMOC: As an MC, I listen to DJ Shan’s instrumentals pretty much everywhere I go. So I carry a Sony digital voice recorder so I can capture a rhyme on the spot.
DJ SHAN: Garage Band. I have Logic 7 but I don’t use it.
Isaac: I know that everybody has his or her idea of a dream artist, someone who for whatever reasons that person would just love to listen to and admire. As an entertainer yourself, if you could play with one of your "dream" musicians, anyone at all, who would it be and why?
BMOC: Man, let me fully consume a Dr. Dre beat, I’ll smash it. I’d also love to work with Outkast, Badu, E-40 and Damien Marley. My all time favorite (dream) artist is Sade. I feel like we have something in common in that nobody else, in our respective genres, has our lyrics.
DJ SHAN: Thelonius Munk. Culture changing.
Isaac: What are you hoping to gain from your experience of being a musician and making music?
BMOC: Well, I certainly hope to get wealthy; I’m not caring about the famous. Ultimately, if I could just be one person’s truly favorite rapper, or "dream" artist as you put it, that would be cool with me when it’s all said and done.
DJ SHAN: I want to be able to make living off this music. Get my mortgage paid. I already have a love for what I do. So I’m not some wide eyed, tree hugger, giving music out for free hoping to change the world. I just want to touch on subject matter that’s not touched on, in the way that I’m doing it. The music will speak for it self. What I want are the fruits from my labor.
Isaac: What are you hopes for your music in the year 2008?
BMOC: I hope people will recognize us as a group of substance with something very unique to offer. I hope to be fortunate enough to sell lots of these "SPARK PLUG" digipaks as it is a truly phenomenal album! We hope to play more shows, build a solid fanbase and carve out our little niche in this rap shit. We hope all the DJ's who got our 12" vinyl and/or our CD’s, will give it a listen and bang it in the clubs. We hope to continue to build relationships with writers like you. Maybe a movie soundtrack will pop up, who knows. The Ozone’s the limit for us. I’m just super ambitious.
DJ SHAN: Getting Spark Plug Vol.2 ready for release. Marketing Spark Plug, so that the masses get up on this Ghettofog Entertainment. Just staying productive.
Isaac: This is our Shout Out time. Please give props to anyone and everyone that matters the most to you.
BMOC: I’ll start out with a shout out to Junior’s Cave Online Magazine for this interview opportunity, we truly appreciate it. Shout out to anyone and everyone playing our music, we love you. To all of our supporters, those who come to our shows, it means the world to us. To everybody slump dumpin this Ghettofog music, shout out. To my family who puts up with these long hours, super shout out. To all my friends, too many to name, shout out!
DJ SHAN: I want to give it up to those that have supported us. A lot of people left us for dead because of our drive. That’s a trip; because we haven’t stopped people have said we were crazy. So, thank you haters! Shot out to my family that keeps me inspired. C Sicc in Lithonia and Mac Deez in College Park a true DJ, also. Stre’bor Productions and Shan Alah Music Group.
Isaac: This is Shameless Plug time: Give us some updates on new releases and other projects in the works.
BMOC: Look for the “SPARK PLUG” commercial we’ll be running on late night cable all over Cali soon. This is a classic album that I really hope people check out. The mixtape, “SPARK PLUG vol. 2” is so ill I can’t even explain it, and that’s coming up later in 2008. We got some well over due Youtube videos in the works. My homie Dj Mike Colossal is possibly gonna have us up on his mixtape later this year. We’ll be performing and looking for more shows in July and August. For booking, call Brian Carter (916) 801-5706 or gritsandeg@sbcglobal.net. Stores, to order cd’s contact BCD music group. To purchase “SPARK PLUG” on I-TUNES click the link below:
click here
DJ SHAN: We’re working on this energy drink so we need investors. It’ll be a great promotional tool in branding our company Ghettofog Entertainment, LLC. I always have to stay innovating the game. It’s a great idea so I’m working on that. We’ll have that up and running real soon for the release of Spark Plug Vol. 2 which will be a mix CD. Not the same type of mix CD that’s out there, either. I’m a real DJ, not someone just yelling over other artist songs. I’m blending and cutting our own original recordings. Check me out myspace.com/djshan and indiecharts.com/ghettofog
Isaac: Final Thoughts:
BMOC: If you’re looking for something new and fresh and different, this is it! This album is ripe for today’s political climate and we even do familiar topics in our own special way. Keep on keeping it sucka free.
DJ SHAN: I want to thank you guys at Juniors Cave for giving us this opportunity and supporting our work. We have a whole lot more in the pipeline. From progressive to party slaps, to drunken bubbles that knock hard. To music that will prepare your mind for the media onslaught, as they try to get you to support more wars for no reason. Stay tuned in or else you’ll be tuned out.
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