Flawless Hustle.com Exclusive: The 10 Question(s) Q&A Session Series: D-Black

Interview by Dub MD
www.twitter.com/dubmd84

Starting this week off with the 7th Q&A session in the 10 question(s) series. This week we get into the mind of up and coming Bronx native, D-Black. Coming off the back of releasing his well received latest fee mixtape download ”New Black City.” D-Black is preparing to unleash whole host of new product onto the streets/online over the next year, with new albums with super producers Illmind and Khrysis, as well new solo mixtapes, he’s one emcee that isn’t planning on letting up any time soon. D-Black chops it up with us about all his new forthcoming projects, his thoughts on New York Hip Hop and his inspiration/writing process.

Dub MD: D-Black, what’s good fam? For those who don’t know, could you just give a short review of what you’ve experienced in your music career up until now?

D-Black: I’m D-Black from Harlem/the Bronx, NY. I started writing at a young age but didn’t start pursuing a career until July 2007. I have been on several mixtapes, Rapper Pooh’s “Delightful Bars” album, released my first full-length mixtape, did a blog series, and opened for Wale at a show back in May of this year to name a few things I’ve done in my short career so far.

Dub MD: Coming from the Bronx, how does coming from there shape your attitude to the music/culture? and what do you think of the New York music scene right now?

D-Black: I have mixed feelings. New York is very mixed, but it seems like all of the new artists representing us are similar in style. Everyone is a hipster now, which is not cool. First off, it’s not indicative of the people that are living here. We still have street savvy people. Second off, the music that they’re making is about pie in the sky bullshit, mars this, pluto that. Isn’t anybody still living on Earth and breathing oxygen like myself?

The music that hipsters make is respectable at times but I think they’re genre is closer to alternative/dance/techno than it is to hip-hop. Coming from uptown, I am naturally a fan of rappers with a penchant for the flair, super-lyrical, witty, etc. I am not seeing too many people who fit that criteria.

On the other hand, the sky is the limit for anyone looking for an opportunity to shine in this biz. What really makes the NY music scene basura right now is the fact that there are more artists than there are fans. It really sucks to do shows and not be able to rock a crowd because the nigga in the audience is wondering when can he get on the stage or he is only interested in building with you. People seem to have no appreciation for the art. Too many cooks in the kitchen right now.

Dub MD: You’ve got a new collaboration album with Illmind in the works right now, can you give us a little background on the album, and when can we expect to hear it?

D-Black: The album has been in the works since February and sounds nothing short of great according to everyone who has heard snippets. My engineer believes our music has a low-end theory kind of feel with the way Illmind has been flipping basslines and drum loops. You can expect to hear some real witty, lyrical shit this time around, as I am only getting better.

I used several different flows on the tracks we have recorded thus far. After getting nothing but glowing remarks about New Black City, I knew it was time to take it to the next level. So I went back and studied some of the greatest emcees (Big L, Big Pun, Notorious, Jay, Beanie Sigel, BDK, 50 Cent, Nas, LL, 3000, Eminem, Kool G Rap) flows, wordplay, cadences and all that to make my own little melting pot. It’s working out great, I can’t wait for the people to hear what I have brewing.

I didn’t wanna come back with a second effort and have people say that I show no growth, and I wanted to stand out from the rest of the artists we hear on a daily basis. If you look at all of our present stars, they all bring something different to the table, that shit that can change the game at any given time. The people that want to be where the stars are at find it hard to step out of the box, they conform to trends.

Back to the subject though, I have been recording a mixtape and working on another project while Illmind has been really tied up with other projects so I don’t really wanna put a date on when you can expect it, but I guess you can expect something during 1st Quarter of 2010. We start shooting videos for the project in Mid-September. It’s an exciting time in my life to say the least.

Dub MD: With this new album, what artists are you connecting with this time around? and what’s your label situation like just now?

D-Black: I really don’t like to discuss collaborations before they are already in the bag but you can pretty much expect the usual suspects from New Black City in Skyzoo, Chaundon and Rapper Pooh. Some people that we’ve spoken to about getting on the project that are possibilities as of right now are KRS-One, Rakim, Jessie Boykins III, Carlitta Durand, Truck North, Emilio Rojas, Donny Goines, Crooked I, Lil’ Fame of MOP and Travie of Gym Class Heroes.

None of these collaborations are a definite, but if the right songs up, their services would definitely be called upon. We still wanna maintain the integrity behind out music and not force shit. Besides, I am in the business of making great solo music, not compilation CDs. If I don’t get every one of these collaborations, I’ll survive. So far, I have received a few offers for digital distribution and a few other situations. Everything is under review and nothing is imminent. When I know something, the whole world will  def know.

Dub MD: Your latest mixtape “New Black City” with Mick Boogie is out and available online for free, can you tell us the concept behind that and why should heads download it over the hundreds of other mixtapes out there?

D-Black: The concept of “New Black City” was just to bring people into my state of mind, describing how I was living, how I am living, and how I aspire to live. Me and my homie Matik were throwing around ideas for a mixtape and one day I was watching New Jack City and it hit me. We had so much material recorded dating back to July 2007, all we had to do was arrange the songs as if we were scoring the movie. This was my first project EVER to be exact. So what people heard on the mixtape they may never hear again from me, as time changes and I am constantly have to change with the times.

New Black City allows people to look into my life and  for the most part, people have been able to relate the music and see a little bit of themselves in me. I only hope to improve the more I mature as an artist and come into my own. Everyone can get lyrical, to a certain extent. What separated New Black City from everything else was the polished sound. The songs were conceptual, the production was tight, the mixes were great, the hooks were really catchy, everything just hit! There were really no glaring holes in the mixtape, there were songs where I had a chance to get lyrical, songs that I was able to spit something for the ladies, songs where I was able to show my confidence, all of that in just 50 minutes.

It’s probably as close to an album you can get with a mixtape, the replay value is incredible. I even produced a few songs on there myself! If anyone ever wants an introspective view of what life is like in the hood, if you ever had a dirty trunk, if you’ve ever been down and out, this is your mixtape. This ain’t for the people who rock skinny jeans, bright color t-shirts size medium, glitter belts and all that. This is Timbs and hoodies music!

Dub MD: Where do you get the inspiration to write the type of material you do? what is the writing process like when it comes to working on your projects? and why do you think mc’s that keep integrity in their music, never make a real mark on soundscan?

D-Black: Inspiration can come from literally anywhere. It can be a quote I heard in a movie, a story in the newspaper, something troubling me or others around me, anything. Usually, I start writing when a certain word, catchphrase or quote catches my attention and I figure out how it relates to me. What makes me strange and quite different from most artists is, i usually hear a beat once and never write to it. If a beat has really caught my attention, I usually have it memorized and never have to hear it again until it’s time to record.

I write in complete silence (TV muted, fans off, all that good stuff), usually before I rest at night or while I’m on the train going to the studio. I create so many songs, I don’t usually write with one project in mind. I’m not one to throw away tracks either, if I record 25 tracks they’ll all make one of my projects, one way or another. Kind of how Jay included Ignorant Shit on American Gangster like 4 years after it was recorded. MCs that keep integrity can make a real mark on soundscan, they just have to make real music. Hate to shit on some artists but it doesn’t hurt to be original, get creative, change with the times and make songs for the fans.

Let’s take Drake for instance. I heard of him before the phenomenon occurred, when he was relatively unknown. He was the same artist, just not as commercially accessible. HIs beat selection has improved, he has a good team of writers who help him pen hooks, and he has some catch lines tucked in his verses. Wish I had a better example but he is the only person who came to mind right now, I drew a blank. It also doesn’t help that artists with integrity don’t get the same push from major labels as some of these cornballs we’re forced to hear everyday.

The important thing to remember is, keep the fan in mind. Always pick the best beats possible, don’t be afraid to step outside the box, make an outstanding hook, and don’t get too caught up in lyricism. While I’m a big fan of Lupe’s, I can see why some people would rather hear Jeezy. The hip-hop consumer’s ear has changed considerably over the years, from yearning more lyrical and spitfire flows to a more slowed down, swagged out flow, with lyrics that doesn’t lose anyone.

Not for nothing, this new style has more room for growth than the spitfire lyrical shit cuz it’s more of a sing-song style, more melodic, and simple enough for younger heads to tune in, just as well as older cats. It’s not like an expanded fan base means anything when your album is released but it does make a difference when it’s time to tour.

Dub MD: Over the past few years, you’ve worked with a lot of different producers including Nottz, Illmind, Khrysis, who do you have the best relationship with in and outside the studio?

D-Black: Honestly, I have never walked into a studio with any of the three, but I have the biggest connection with Khrysis. That nigga there is too cool for school. While we live in separate states, he’s constantly sending tracks over to work on, we keep the lines of communication open at all times. The cats I chill with in the studio for the most part is an up and coming producer/engineer/blogger named Matik. I met Matik in college and we been homies ever since.

But as far as some of the big names go, Khrysis is like a brother to the kid. Nottz and Illmind are extremely busy guys, but I can’t wait to finally get into the studio with each one of these great producers, exchange ideas, and create classic material. People really underestimate the importance of making music with a producer in person as opposed to a producer over the internet. If you look back to all of our most classic records, artists reached out to producers, the producers came through, expressed their views, told the artist what kind of flow he could hear on the record, gave the artist an idea about what the hook should sound like, topics, all the above.

This internet shit has really killed personal interaction, which sucks. Can’t lie though, if it wasn’t for the internet, I would have never connected with any one of these three producers, especially since Khrysis is located in NC and Nottz is in VA. I’m speaking about nobody in particular when I say this though: There are far more beatmakers than there are producers at this point. With the technology advancing so much, I don’t see how human interaction will improve, so this is your future young rapper!

I hope you know how to use gmail, twitter, skype, meebo, etc. I also hope that you are creative enough to make every concept, every hook, and all that good stuff, because the more technology we get, the less Illmatics, Reasonable Doubts, Get Rich Or Die Trying, Makaveli’s and Life After Death’s you’re gonna see. We probably will get another 5 mic album when artists and producers can get together and vibe, creating a synergy that cannot be broken.

Dub MD: What do you think is your most defining and unique characteristic that sets you apart from every other emcee out there? and how would you describe your style to those who still haven’t heard your music?

D-Black: I don’t think I do anything that much different than anyone else out there. What separates me from the pack is hard work, dedication and integrity. I heard people say that I have a distinctive voice which is a plus. If I had to choose a defining or unique characteristic that sets me apart from every other emcee I would have to go back to beat selection and charisma. I think there’s several cats out there with potential to be the next best thing but they are surrounded by yes men. In a time of short attention spans, too many people are making recyclable music. My focus is on making shit with replay value.

Dub MD: You’ve done shows in alots of different places, If I’m coming to a D-Black show. What am I going to experience, that I won’t experience from just listening to your material on CD?

D-Black: The charisma comes out a little more. When I create material for CDs, I always have performances in mind. The tracks are set up for call-and-response sections and all that. It’s just a matter of execution when I get on stage. I’m still working to improve my stage presence, but I feel that I am closer to great than I am trash.

Dub MD: What is on tap for D-Black for the rest of 2009 and beyond? do you have anything to say to the fans? anything you wanna get off your chest? any shout outs?

D-Black: You can expect a light mixtape in late September to get myself back out in the spotlight, get the internet talking again. After that, I am doing the follow up to New Black City with Part 2 being even more explosive. That should be out this December. Next year will get bigger and better, as I will drop an album with Khrysis and another one with Illmind. I am shooting videos, an EPK and everything to get my visual game up because I feel like that was part of what I was lacking my first time out the gate.

Now that I have some experience under my belt, it is all about learning from mistakes and making adjustments. I hope everyone takes the time out to download New Black City, follow me on twitter (www.twitter.com/dblack408) and play a part in my success. I am nothing without fans. Thank you all for being tuned in!