1. Encore, What do you think of the state of hip hop? LOL just kidding, really though, What are some of your earliest memories of hip hop culture?  
   You scared me man! haha! My earliest memories of the culture is me seeing my best friend's Curtis Blow record and losing my mind. Also, my weak ass attempt at graf back in 5th grade. Wow.
   
   
2. How would you describe the sound of Layover compared to Self Preservation?
   Layover is more colorful musically - Self Preservation was a little darker musically. It wasn't something I planned on, but that was the state of mind I was in. I felt lyrically I had something to prove. On this album there are more facets to my personality, more focused concepts and more swagger. The lyrics, self evaluation, and consciousness are all there. You're always going to get me at each given point in my life. I do my best to use my music as a tool to be as honest with myself as I can. Although both records are completely different, the idea of 'self preservation' is basically the theme of most of music. Layover is my attempt to become more comfortable sharing that with my audience. 
   
   
3. Do you feel like there are added expectations from people after signing with Hiero Emperium?
   Of course! We're talking the Mighty Hieroglyphics. This is the West Coast's unofficial link to the native tongues. They have had almost, if not as much of, an influence on hip hop from '94 on as any groups that came out around the time of PE and later. Think about that. Hiero is known for lyricists. I take that as a great honor to be even offered a deal. The Hiero fanbase is on some Grateful Dead shit man. I know there are going to be cats who may never fool with music simply because I'm not directly affiliated. But at some point, I know I win a lot of them over.
   
   
4. Word is Vitamin D and Jake One out of Seattle handled most of the production. How did that collaboration come about?
   Jake did a remix to a single I put three years ago on certified records. I had heard he had heat from DJ Fingaz out of San Diego, and finally heard the remix. Absolute fire. I got Jakes number and we built on music and what we liked and didn't like and where we were trying to go. Plus we clicked on some sports shit too. So it was inevitable we had to get down. Then Jake was telling me about Vitamin and sent me a beat cd. Maaaaaaaan - it was over. I'm telling you, when Vitamin REALLLLLY hits, he is going to impact the game on a level that Timbaland hit it. No Bullshit. Seattle has become my second simply based on these two dudes. I would also like to add that my man Architect supplies absolute fire on my album. We did one of the two more introspective cuts together and it's probably one of my favorite songs I've made.
   
   
5. You've worked with huge producers in the past (Automator, Prince Paul, Peanut Butter Wolf), Did you learn anything from them being a relatively new artist on the scene at the time?
   Automator taught me alot about the business. He taught me about doing what fits you the best and crafting actual songs as opposed to just spitting all the time.  
   
   
6. Have you been influenced by any artists in the last 5 years?
   Slum Village, Lewis Taylor, Jay-Z, Madlib and Automator. A lot of my influences come from older cats though - Rakim, Kane, Stevie and Donny, Native Tongues, Gangstarr, PE, Run DMC, NWA.
   
   
7. What up and coming artists are you into right now?
   My man Turbin, Robin Thicke, Z-man, Lewis Taylor, Tweet, Anthony Hamilton, Donny's dope, Lacks. My man Big Pooh from Little Brother just put me on to Coldplay. I'm digging them. 
   
   
8. Do you have any stories of a show or shows that went totally un-according to plan?
   Yeah I was in Boulder, Colorado a few years back promoting Self Preseveration, and this Native American put his hand out for me to give him some dap - so I thought. Dude was trying to get me to bring him up on stage to talk about "reservations". He thought I was talking about reservations - he thought I was dissing Native Americans. Shit was crazy.. 
   
   
9. What are two of your favorite tour stops and why?
   Boulder is live as hell. They get juiced for the first act to the last. I think
   my second favorite is Orlando. We did a small venue, but damn was it live. I'm a big believer in a show being only as good as the crowd wants it to be. Don't be in the front and not want to get water thrown on you. Ya know? But I haven't performed in Seattle yet. Lawrence, Kansas was good too.
   
   
10. What is your opinion of the term underground?
    The term was cool when was initially used for dope artists who couldn't get major deals and did it independently. Now it's got a whole 'sound' attached to it that I'm not necessarily feeling. Now to be 'underground', you have to have no regard for production quality, skills or songwriting. It's a mess. Underground now is the average kid who has some money (*cough* trustfund *cough*) to buy an MPC, ASR, etc. That says nothing about talent and that bothers me.
    
    (I just realized, you just snuck in a "state of hip hop" question - slick man...slick)
    
    
11. Do you practice any other elements of Hip Hop culture other than Emceeing?
    Not anymore. I figured out my place in the culture. Jake tells me I should try producing because I do have a good ear for music - but I'm not going to do if it means my lyrics suffer.
    
    
12. Do you have any aspirations to start up your own label someday?
    Absolutely. But again, I have alot to say musically. I want to stay focused on that first.
    

Is there anyone you want to shout out?
Architect, Jake One, Vitamin D. Big up to the Executive Lounge and the
Hieroglyphics Crew. Layover 2004..