| In
1988 Specs started sampling, producing beats using a four track and
a Casio keyboard with four pads for his crew, Top
Notch Productions. Recalling the first song he produced with it he
told me, "It was called "Mode of Expression". I sampled
a chunk of the Little Rascals Theme, then reversed it and added some
808 and HR-16 over the top to make something interesting. This is when
I knew sampling was for me." Top Notch Productions eventually parted
ways but Specs continued producing for the next year and a half for a
group known as the MC Boys until '92. |
|
| Around
that time, Specs met Seattle emcee/DJ/Producer E-Sharp who he recalled, "Was
the first person I met who had an ear for music similar to my own. We
instantly formed a group called Elevators and almost blew up too." Elevators
success was cut short however, when E-Sharp quit music and converted
to Islam as
soon as they were getting known. I asked him exactly what he meant
by "Almost
blew up" and he said "It was just strange the reaction that
crew got...people were just amped like we were the northwest version
of Gangstarr
or some shit. I could just feel it. That group could have went far." Almost
immediately after the breakup of Elevators, Specs along with 10 other
graf artists/musicians including Bean One, Smere, Proh Mic, Verse Omega
and King
Otto among others started the True Believers Crew which create in his
words, "Pretty
much basic, yet progressive Hip Hop. We are graffiti artists
who make music and vice versa." Specs still represents to this
day even though some members have moved away or moved on, "It
was originally 11 of us and technically there still are. It's just
everyone grew up all of a sudden, started getting married and what
have you.
Some even quit hip hop all together, the members I have kept in touch
with are on their way back. Next year I think there will be a reemergence
of T.B.C, we're all trying to establish ourselves as artists. We've
spread out quite a bit, Vegas, LA, Minneapolis." Between 1996
and 2001 Specs self-produced 9, (yes 9 as in almost 2 a year) different
projects in Seattle's underground circuit and in 2002 was called
upon to record an album for some friends starting a label in the
San Francisco
bay area. It was never released due to differing artistic views between
himself and the label. Independent Seattle label Abduction Records
headed by Alan Bishop was more than interested in putting out the
album though which ended up being Specs newest release, " Return
of the Artist". |
|
" Return
of the Artist" is a self-produced
combination of elegantly laced straight forward sample-based songs
with Specs unique laid back mic control riding each track.
"Return" expresses Specs love for the art of music with tracks
such
as "Attack of the Clones" addressing the various uses of the name
Specs across the globe. I asked him the influences behind the song and he said, "Attack
of the Clones I wrote while hanging out in San Francisco. I was on the internet
doing google
searches on the name Specs. I was curious because I went to a show and saw
this kid rapping using the name Spex. At first I was pissed, then I was like "Fuck
it, I'm in the Bay." + he was a little wack, then I found this record
with a producer named Mr. Specs. I went on to find like
three more online and that was enough to inspire lyrics. |
| I
sat and wrote the song in one sitting. It made
me laugh." Other songs deal with his dedication to the origins of the
culture, people sleeping on him after 20+ years rapping, and one of the strongest
tracks
on the album "Ode to Mics" is a love song to the art of emceeing
and a warning to unrefined emcees who feel they own the mic with
a
chorus comprised of
memorable mentions of the microphone in Hip Hop history. "Ode to Mics" came
to me when I made that beat and was geeking on it. The lyrics just fell out
of me, the hook and all. It wasn't something I sat and thought about. I had
a group
Mic Makers which actually came from a song of the same name. Ode to Mics is
a continuation of that piece." 5 instrumentals with differing moods from
gloomy to lo-fi funky to bouncy to stripped down like a stolen car round out " Return
of the Artist". |
| Specs
is dedicated to preserving the essence of the culture, I asked if
he felt technology has altered the quality of music for better or
worse he replied, "I
can see how maybe the internet and pro-tools have made it easier in a lot of
ways. At first I was skeptical and stayed clear of that whole gold rush. I've
adapted somewhat though. You can't go through life disregarding new ways of
doing things. The lovely thing about it is, it all comes down to
raw fundamentals...Beats
and rhymes. You can change the sound or feel, but that raw essence stays solid
like a jewel lodged in the earth. As hippy as THAT sounds." |
 |
Who better to talk about
the differences in rap from 88 to now than a 15+ year vet. of rap,
he told me "The major difference would be, Hip Hop now is predominantly
gangster rap. In 88 you had Ultramagnetic, Public Enemy, Jungle Bros,
De La Soul, Stetsasonic, Mantronix, Special Ed, Tuff Crew, Audio Two,
Geto Boys, The list don't stop. Now I turn on MTV and see rappers throwing
money and attacking the camera. It's just become some whole other shit.
There are still some groups coming with progressive stuff but you have
to seek it out. Nothings really changed as far as the culture, but
the industry has warped what they found to be marketable into an abomination
of what it used to be. That's what corporations do though so it comes
as no surprise." Specs has been making music in the Northwest
so long, I wanted to know some groups he respected from different generations
of Northwest Hip Hop, "In the 80s, it was Westside Threat, Deputy
Rhyme, even Sir Mix-a-Lot Ray. (Sir Mix-A-Lots name before dropping
the Ray). In the 90s, PD2, Brothers of the Same Mind, Blind Council,
and Shabazz Coalition. Today I'm feeling Blak of Silent Lambs Project,
Verse Omega, and Vitamin D."
Although his production utilizes sampling on every track, he doesn't seem concerned
or even aware of the new ruling against sampling. (Where ANY portion deemed recognizable
or not will be protected under copyright law) "I can't keep up with this
can/ can not do business. I'm driven to make music. If it wasn't for sampling,
so much music would've gone unnoticed. Hip Hop made me buy more records. I think
that's a good thing... With Hip Hop eleven year olds are feeling some Rufus Thomas
or some Meters. No one cared until it started making money. Now they won't get
off our backs about music they used to ignore." His "First Love",
visual art, was summed up like this, "I've been drawing since I was a kid.
I was always tripping on Frank Frazetta paperback covers and reading a shitload
of comics. It's just something I've wanted to be good at for a while now. It's
hard being so dedicated to three different mediums...Lately I've been painting
up jean jackets. In the eighties graffiti was big in Seattle. I was right in
the middle of the first major graf movement in this area. It was dope, I still
can't begin to describe how that felt. We would actually have to do another interview
about the art. Lots of history there. |
Pick up the latest release from Specs One, " Return
of the Artist" right here, (real heads you won't be sorry!!!)
|
Next up from Specs, "I'm hoping
to get back in the studio asap. I've got a massive amount of material
I'm just sitting on. I'm pressing a vinyl only ep coming soon. I'm
thinking of releasing three albums next year, a conceptual album,
an instrumental
album
and a
compilation
of unreleased
joints from 92-98." With the very solid ground work layed
with "Return" I can't wait to see what Specs does next. Only one
quote comes to mind right now.... "Don't call it a comeback, I've been
here for years!!"
Specs One will be playing
Portland on Saturday, February 12th 2005 at the Tonic Lounge with Sleep,
Manic D & Fogatron, Brokaw and DJ Void. |
|
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