If you are not familiar with the name junclassic, you will be shortly as he is making a buzz on the net with his new album, BLVD Backdrop. A few moths ago he came through to the Art Of Lyrics show in Harlem and definitely held it down as the crowd was into his music. It was an honor to finally meet up with junclassic and chop it up a bit about his new album BLVD Backdrop, Queens hip hop, politics in the industry, Kendrick Lamar's King of NY line and more.
Sincere: What's good junclassic. Who were your musical influences coming up in the game?
junclassic: Peace fam. Thanx for doing this interview wit me my G. Influences... Hmmm... Black Moon's Enta Da Stage is my favorite album of all time, Buckshot, 5 FT, and the Beatminerz (Evil Dee and Mr. Walt) are a huge influence. I think Nas is the GOAT. He is a definite inspiration. Nas can tell stories, battle, drop knowledge, or just rip the mic to shreds on some "I'm Fly" Sh*t" all with equal efficiency. That's why I think he is the illest. BIG's voice and attention to detail in his storytelling, Pac's delivery and emotional connection with the listener... Method Man is truly underrated. The way he changes his flows and his lines are so crazy. Jigga Is A Beast Wit The Double Entendre. "What You Eat Don't Make Me Shit?" INSANITY. Big Daddy Kane's voice, delivery, flow and punchline prowess was a huge influence as well. I personally give it to Kane over Rakim. I should say that I bumped more of Kane's music coming up than the God. But the God is obviously... THEE GOD. Hova Bow Down Homie.
Sincere: Music and writing are therapy for most artists. What motivates you to do the kind of music you do?
junclassic: "I Do The Music Cause It's Therapeutic/I Used To Sit Secluded/Wit Clue Exclusives/And Catch Visions To It." That's Some Old Sh*t. The music, in particular and writing in general have always felt "Good" to me. I also said, "I'm Trying To Take Pain/And Flip It Into Cake Stains". Through writing, I feel like I can beautify the ugliness in my life. I talk about my struggles and feel better about them when I vocalize them in an ill poetical way. I also try to talk to the youth in my music and give them an uplifting message. Or at least speak from a point where I can sympathize with their anger and/or depression. And music is timeless. Hopefully, as Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan said after the series finale, "I am trying to create something that will be praised or revered long after I am gone."
Sincere: "Blvd Backdrop" is your 8th release and it's out in stores and I have to say it is really a dope album. Describe your working relationship with Bazooka Joe?
junclassic: Thanks For The Biggup. All praises due to the producer of BLVD Backdrop, DJ Bazooka Joe. Bazooka Joe is dope. His beat game is incredible. His sonic backdrops encapsulate hard hitting drums coupled with murky, soulful sampling. Joe is very easy to work with. We banged out this album in 3 months I think. I met Joe through my man X Ray back in, Ummm, March 2013? We been jaying ever since.
Sincere: Congratulations for having your hit single "NY Won't Stop" the #1 single on college radio. How does it feel to have that accomplishment under your belt?
junclassic: That felt good man. Shout to my man Shareef of Black Fist Radio, Bazooka Joe and my man Kevin Nottingham, CEO of HIPNOTT Records and all the college radio stations that supported BLVD backdrop and "NY Won't Stop".
Sincere: You have released the video "Rep Queens" recently showing all of the greats from Queens. I can honestly say you have great respect for the artists that came before you which is lacking these days. What made you decide to put this together?
junclassic: Shout to my man mixer aka WhoMixedThis? for putting together the "Rep Queens" video. I just gave that brother names of mad Queens heads and he did the rest. Mixer is a genius. I'm glad people are digging that video. I think its mad creative.
Sincere: I like how Bazooka Joe used the MC Lyte break "Survivors Of The Fittest" for the "Do Extra" track for your album. What made you and Bazooka come up with that concept?
junclassic: Gotta biggup Bazooka Joe for that one. Bazooka Joe came up with that dopeness. I just had to lace it after I heard it. Funny enough, the version of "Do Extra" on the album is actually a remix. People really seem to dig that jawn. Bazooka Joe pushed for that remix. It took me a second but I learned to trust that brother. He got a dope ear man.
Sincere: Shout out to Kevin Nottingham for representing good music on his blog and label. How did you hook up with Kevin and what made you decide to put out Blvd Backdrop on HiPNOTT Records?
junclassic: Kevin is good people man. He shoots straight from the hip too. If he don't like something he gon' let you know. I got down with HiPNOTT back in April 2011 through my Mode 7 project with Jazz Spastiks. In March 2013, I sent Kevin the BLVD Backdrop album and he told me he bumped it for 3 hours straight and called it "My Best Work To Date In His Honest Opinion."
Sincere: What I respect about your craft is that you do not glorify the ignorance that goes on in the hood. You would try to let people know there is always a positive route to go instead of letting the hood take you under. What are your thought about people who glorify the negative and not offer any solutions?
junclassic: I say to each his own man. To keep it a buck I'm a fan of the ignorant shit too. I'm a 50 cent fan, I bump Rick Ross' music, 2 Chainz is my hero right now. I LOVE M.O.P. I like that raw shit. But I don't listen to that music for solutions yaknow? I bump that new Prodigy to get me hype. And frankly, sometimes I can relate to wanting to knock somebody's head off. Every once in awhile anyway. I recently read something on one of my favorite websites, ughh.com, where they were criticizing Terminalogy for including a coke straw in his new album packaging. But I argued that he is catering to a fanbase. His packaging is the same reason why Breaking Bad is the number 1 show on television and why Scarface comes on TV once a week. People love violence. As 50 cent once said, "America Got a Thing For This Gangsta Shit." It's the world we live in. It's the same reason why traffic bottles up when a bad accident happens. People are rubbernecking. We want to see/hear the horrors of the world. We are intrigued by the macabre. It's human nature. On the contrary, I do have a problem when rappers speak on participating in acts of violence and gratuitous criminal activity when they "wouldn't bust a grape in a fruit fight" as Jigga succinctly put it. I love da raw Hip-Hop tho yo. I love Fat Joe's Music, for example. You can tell he lived that shit he rapping about, too.
Sincere: Jamaica, Queens was notorious for having the hottest mixtape spots from Hot Waxx, The Coliseum, and Mustapha @ 165th had the latest mixtape DJs who actually had skills. Some purists believe the DJ game is not the same anymore as anyone with a computer can call themselves a DJ. Do you miss the aspect of buying a Dirty Harry, Ron G or an S&S mixtape who not only has the exclusives but actually showed cats how a DJ is suppose to get down?
junclassic: Maaaaan Clue need to bring back them mixtapes. Those mixtapes really inspired me to want to rhyme. Ron G's blends were pure magic. Clue had them exclusives! I remember Biggie threatening Clue live on the air back in 93 on Hot 97 like "Clue, if I see you ANYWHERE in the spot It's ON!!" Hahahaaa. One of the biggest things I miss from the 90s are those mixtapes. It was a hunger on those tapes that you don't hear now. Plus you had to go find them! Hunting them down was a feat in and of itself. Now you don't have to hunt for anything with the 'net. I think the listeners nowadays are spoiled because of it. We don't appreciate the music as much because all we have to do is a click a button.
Sincere: Kendrick Lamar said he is the King Of New York, which caused a major backlash. You have artists from everywhere releasing diss records throwing bombs at him. Do you find his King Of N.Y." line a smart marketing move or did he go too far?
junclassic: I think Kendrick is a genius. He said 1 line that made everybody say huh? I think he was quoting Kurupt! But Chea, good move Kendrick. That was dope for Hip-Hop. I think Papoose response was hard tho. Joell did his numbers and Graph went in too.
Sincere: The political game is always an issue in this industry. Have you ever come across a situation in which someone wouldn't play your music unless you had a certain artist featured on a song?
junclassic: Yes. I have had labels front on me. Saying something to the effect of, "You're dope but you need something to make them pay attention." I guess they meant a big name feature or producer or something. It is what it is. I tell people often nowadays, "It's not what you know but who you know." I read an interview where Immortal Technique said, "Skills Don't Pay Bills. You can be the dopest but it takes more than that now." I agree wholeheartedly. You gotta have dope videos, marketing, radio connections, touring and show connections. Plus, having management also helps. I read an Action Bronson interview where he said something to the effect of, "If you're nice you will make it." As much as I would love to agree with that statement, I can't. Props to him cause he's a spitter and he made it. But I BEEN knowing a lotta nice emcees and I couldn't tell you where 90% are now. The illest freestyler I ever met, a brother who inspired me to rhyme, is facing life as we speak.
Sincere: Your ideal track: junclassic featuring an artist or artists produced by whom?
junclassic: junclassic featuring Jadakiss produced by Alchemist. Alchemist is my favorite producer. Just Blaze is a close 2nd. Madlib is #3. Large Pro #4. Preem #5.
Sincere: What are you bumping in your IPOD?
junclassic: I gave my Ipod to my nephew 'cause he had a 3 day bus trip last year to better his life. Ep Waddup! But I bump Gucci Mane, billy woods, Dirty Money, Nas of course, Biggie's Niggas Bleed J Period Remix, Jay-Z's La Familia Bowne by Large Pro, Styles P The Myth is one of the illest songs I have heard in years and I got to tell Styles that 2 weeks ago @ his Juice bar. New Edition and Coldplay.
Sincere: Let me change the subject a bit. Mayor Bloomberg's war on the poor just never ceases to amaze me. He announced on his radio show that he wants everyone in public housing to be fingerprinted. This guy is an elitist control freak. It's bad enough he wants stop and frisk to continue in this city. I am all for being tough on crime but this is not the way to do it. What do you think of the Mayor's warped view of the world?
junclassic: I think Bloomberg is The Antichrist. He single handedly destroyed the middle class of New York City. As soon as he got in he doubled fines and parking tickets and such. I argue with my father all the time about him. Pops said, "Guiliani left the city in debt, Bloomberg is a business man, he had to save the city." My argument is, "At what expense?" The standard of living has risen dramatically but our pay checks have not risen with it. The rich has gotten richer and the poor has gotten poorer thanks to people like Bloomberg. He pushed the term limits like, "You know what? I want 12 years not just 8. Fuck what the people think! I'm Bloomberg the Billionaire! I only get paid $1 a year!" Fuck outta here." That ain't right! But this is the same idiot who said that whites are unfairly targeted because of stop n frisk. huh? WHAT??? Look at the numbers homie. There have been more blacks harassed because of Stop N Frisk than there are blacks in NYC! That means brothers have been harassed more than once. I have had cops put guns to my head and literally threaten to blow me away because I have asked them, "Why are we being harassed?" Let's see how Bloomberg would feel if he or a family member went through that.
Sincere: Before we wrap up this interview. I would like for you to participate in a word association game. If you can describe in one or two words the artists you have worked with. What would it be?
Sincere: DJ Bazooka Joe?
junclassic: The Future
Sincere: Kevin Nottingham?
junclassic: Great People/BusinessMan
Sincere: MF Grimm?
junclassic: Gifted
Sincere: Jukstapose?
junclassic: Da Homie
Sincere: C-Rayz Walz?
junclassic: Lyrical Beast
Sincere: Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to allow me to interview you. Do you have any shoutouts and how can fans get in contact with you?
junclassic: Thanks again for the interview, Sincere. Shout out to YOU, the person reading this interview. Hit me up @ twitter/junclassic, facebook/junclassicchea, soundcloud.com/junclassic and junclassic.bandcamp.com to cop/stream/download my older material. Hit up HiPNOTT Records.com and peep junclassic in the artist section. Stay Up. Peace.
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