"I rather take my time with how I wanna give the world content" - Blackout The Rebel
The world will put certain folks in your path to teach you how to become better as a person. But for me, I was lucky to have a rebel at my side over the past 4 years. See, the legendary fashion icon, (and Queens, New York native) Iris Apfel once said: "I'm not going to be a rebel and offend anybody, but I'm not going to live in somebody else image". A man whose looking to bring a reimagination of who he is an artist is fellow Queens native... Blackout The Rebel.
QGTM.
Mainstream: My longtime friend and the man whose better than me at
interviews, Blackout the Rebel, what’s going on man?
Blackout The Rebel: (Laughs) what’s good man how you
I’m good I’m good. So new project is out entitled “Far From
Home”. For those who weren’t listening in on the highly popular dark side radio
episode which I spoke on the project, why did you give the album that title?
The reason I gave the album that title was from a dream I
had where I was walking around in my neighborhood and the words "Far From
Home" kept flashing in my mind. I wouldn't say someone who is in their
neighborhood is far from home so when I got up I started to explore what else
it could mean. I then referred back to a few previous conversations with one of
my friends "Gritty Panda" who always told me to change my music
content up so it could appeal to the youth who are into drippy and wavey
records. From there I thought of what would happen if I were to give into what
the music biz wants me to do and the dark road that could entail by
compromising my morals and integrity.
And that’s a rare feat: maintaining integrity in the music
business. And based on my early listening’s last year, this was one of the most
well thought out concept albums. Where did that inspiration come from, especially
in a world full random album drops?
I've always been a fan of great storytelling. I remember how
blown away I was when I heard Nas' "Rewind" off of his Stillmatic
album or Slick Ricks classic "A Children's Story". Being able to lay
in my bed with my eyes closed, my headphones blaring and just being able to
visualize every single scene was so beautiful. I wanted to be able to do the
same with my music. I don't want you to just listen to music I want you to feel
an experience. I want you to empathize with the characters, see things from
different perspectives, see yourself in the story, to become one with the
project. Random album drops is cool but I rather take my time with how I wanna
give the world content which is why I haven't dropped anything in a while. I
wanna make sure that everything sounds right and is 100% the way I envisioned
it in my head.
It’s amazing because I always admire artists who take that
extra step and use the past to represent them in their present. Especially when
it comes to Hip Hop. I admire that your turn to the greats. But even greats use
the experience for personal achievements. What’s one thing during this release
that you’ve learned about yourself?
I learned to take my time. Listening back to my previous
work I am so angry with myself because I was so adamant about getting the
project out that I didn't make sure that my flow, delivery, mix, mastering was
correct which it wasn't and you can tell very easily. It’s not just about the
lyrics. I wanted to make sure there's not one thing negative that can be said
this time around. I learned how to infuse the Hip-Hop I grew up on and love
with today's trends and climate without compromising my sound and content. I
learned how to convey my thoughts better when executive producing my records.
Every sound effect, transition, feature, adlib is there for a reason. I learned
more with this project than any other project and I think a lot of it had to do
with the fact that I was really in the moment and having fun with it. I wasn't
putting unnecessary pressure on myself to get it out. I naturally went with the
flow of the music and concepts and it just came out better in my opinion.
So in a sense you’re a rapper's rapper: a person
knowledgeable on the genre, it’s cadence, it’s history and it’s talent needed
for it but you understand how it has to reflect for yourself. This has to come
with years of learning so an ol' head like me appreciates that. But of course, your storytelling may go unnoticed in today’s market because the focus is
different. How do you feel about today’s rap genre and it’s artists?
Rap overall is still going strong since the 70's when they
thought it was just a passing phase so I am happy and proud of that. Today the
spectrum of Hip-Hop/Rap is so vast that everything is in subgenres. You have
Trap, Trill, Drill, Backpack, Gangsta, Mumble so on and so forth. Depending on
the song, artist, (the) beat will determine if I like it or not but I won’t lie there
isn't that much new music that truly inspires me on a commercial level.
Thankfully there's people like Live Johnson, Hookz Murdock, Juanito Jones,
Bizzy Bee, Kwoat and many others on the underground scene who give fresh air to
this genre.
That’s a fact which makes Voiceless Music a constant hub for
all those talented people you’ve mentioned. But speaking of all that talent, I
realized you have no features on Far From Home. We’re you trying to J. Cole
this project or did you not see a use for a feature?
(Laughs) I had voice features like my guy Gritty Panda, Live
Johnson and Meko Sky but as far as people rapping on my songs I didn’t see that
being part of my vision. Maybe with the next one, we'll see but sometimes you
have to deal with people's schedules and their writing/recording process it
just complicates things. Much easier to just do it by yourself.
Especially with scheduling studio time, their time, etc so I
get it. But in our interview on Darkside Radio, I asked would this be your last
project. And you just said, “we will see on the next one”. Are you or have you
been contemplating retirement from music?
At that moment in time, I was feeling and dealing with a lot.
Personal life as well as trivial nonsense in the indiestry so I felt like
backing away was the best option before people got hurt but with a clearer head
I can say that's not the case. You WILL be hearing more music from The Rebel in
the future. In the meantime, I will be focusing on more visuals for the album.
I really want it to be a big theatric piece of art.
Listen we both we through a lot because of insignificant
situations and people we had in our lives. But I am glad to hear you are back
in the game officially. Now the project itself based on my listening, it’s an
industry story of a rise and subsequent fall of an artist in the business. This
is such a story that’s seen on a constant basis. Have you ever had any real-life experience of what you discussed on this album?
Not to the degree that the character has, no. This character
was the hottest rapper in the world because the people in the shadows pulling
the strings allowed it to be thanks to the compromises he so willingly made in
the beginning. These experiences I doubt would happen to me because I know what
to look out for and have people around me to help keep me grounded.
Amen to that. Not many of us in the business are privy to
the world around us especially when it comes to the music business. But
speaking on experiences, you had one of the highest rated shows on air. Are you
ever planning to come back to radio?
I plan on coming back to the media. I don't want to be
pigeonholed to just radio that's why I had to rebrand myself. Darkside Radio is
gone... say hello to Forever Black Media! An outlet that promotes and uplifts
people of color in all fields.
Now that’s inspiring. And I am glad we Segway to that
because when we discussed you being a part of an upcoming showcase I’m planning
to told me to remove the Darkside Radio logo and I wondered why. Tell me
something about Forever Black Media that people out there should know will do?
As I said it will promote people of color. Too many
tabloids, media and people themselves show us in a negative light so I want to
counteract that with professional and positive content. Interviews will still
be conducted, We will show/preview videos/songs, Have taste tests for all the
chefs out there, red carpet events. I'll be back to hosting and possibly
running events again so there's a lot to be expected from FBM
Wow. It sounds exciting and can’t wait to see more. And I’m
sure others can’t wait either. As we wrap up, the last question... what’s one goal
you’ve set for yourself for the near future?
Well, I do want to have these videos released but more
importantly, my goal is to enjoy life and the process of creating content. When
I was running DSR and releasing those past albums it wasn't always fun. Some of
it felt forced because this is who I am and this is what's expected of me and
my brand but now I'm just more focused on taking my time to make sure
everything comes out right and being able to live in those moments comfortably.
Enjoy all those moments man. Thanks for the interview.
I shall, Thank you for having me.
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