Flawless Hustle.com Exclusive: The 10 Question(s) Q&A Session Series: Kam Moye

Interview by Dub MD
www.twitter.com/dubmd84

Back with the 9th edition of the 10 question series. This week we caught up with underground hip hop mainstay and North Carolina native Kam Moye (f.k.a. Supastition). Kam has been consistently releasing quality Hip Hop music for several years, showcasing his creativity and great penmanship with every project he does. Now in 2009 his music is taking a whole new direction, new name, new label, new album “Splitting Image” is set to his shelves October 27th. Kam sits down to talk about his new album, North Carolina’s current Hip Hop scene, and what hes been doing to over the past year.

Dub MD: Kam, what’s good fam? its been a minute since our last Q&A session, and you’ve done a lot since then, for those who have been under a rock, what are some of the things you’ve done over the past couple of years?

Kam Moye: A lot of people know me from my own albums as well as my guests appearances on songs with KRS, Little Brother, Royce 5’9″, and some others. I’ve pretty much brought the Supastition side of my career to a close and started focusing on building something brand new. I wanted to make more thought-provoking music and I’m just going by my government name, Kam Moye, nowadays.

Ironically, I ended up with a more promising deal than before and I’m about to release my first album under the new name. Well, it’s new to everyone else but I’ve been Kam Moye all my life. It’s about to be an incredible year for me and I’m real excited about it.

Dub MD: Coming from North Carolina, how does coming from there shape your attitude to the music/culture? and what do you think of the N.C. music scene right. now?

Kam Moye: North Carolina is a real laid back place and people operate a lil’ slower than New York and California but I love my home state. Although I wish there was more going on down here sometimes, it just pushes me to work harder to be heard. North Carolina is unique because we’re in the South but its somewhat in the Middle East so we are influenced by other regions like New York and Atlanta. I come from a time before the south was really recognized and accepted in hip hop. Don’t be fooled though, a lot of these dope boys and southern dudes used to rock Timbs and locks about 10 years ago.

There’s plenty of talent in N.C. but there’s a serious lack of unity and support for regional artists. You might have someone like myself or Little Brother who get attention and support all over the world but nobody here will dare play our shit at home. I honestly think we have some of best rappers, producers, singers, and DJ’s though. Eventually the world will wake up and see what’s bubbling down here.

Dub MD: You’ve got an anticipated new album called “Splitting Image” just round the corner, can you give us a little background on the album, and when can we expect to hear it?

Kam Moye: Splitting Image is a new direction for me creatively. It’s the album where I say to hell with all the expectations from everyone else and I just make music that reflects my age and lifestyle. I like to refer to it as the album you make when an underground rapper grows up. The title refers to me changing within while I still appear to be the same on the outside.

It’s a very honest approach and it’s not filled with the anger and bitterness of my older music. I got songs dealing with marriage, unemployment, depression, being comfortable in your own skin, karma, and different concepts like that. I think it’s a powerful and heartfelt album and it will hopefully introduce me to a broader audience of listeners who enjoy hearing some real life music.

Dub MD: With this new album, what artists and producers are you connecting with this time around? and why did you choose to go with MYX Music to release it?

Kam Moye: This time around I didn’t try to build an album around my usual producers because I wanted a chance to establish myself and my own sound. I’ve got production from Jake One, Vitamin D, Khrysis, Marco Polo, Veterano, M-phazes, Illmind, D.R., and Sic Beats.

Usually my projects don’t have many guests but I wanted to bring in some fresh faces to add to the vibe this time. They all fit the concept and feel of the songs. As far as rappers, there’s Phonte, One Be Lo, Baba Zumbi from Zion I, and some others plus I’ve got some vocalists doing hooks such as Ayah, Tiffany Paige, Neenah, and more.

MYX was one of few labels who came to the table with a promising offer and a budget that would allow me to do everything that I needed to do. They were the ONLY label who was willing to take the chance to release this album as Kam Moye and not Supastition. I mean they still attach it to the release but I want the Kam Moye name to be respected in its own right.

Nobody else wanted to give it a chance and they weren’t trying to understand why I would abandon a name that already has a fan base. But this isn’t about the easiest way to make a dollar for me. If you make a great album then you need a label with some integrity to put your faith in. I’ve always stood by my beliefs and I refused to let any one steer me in a different direction.

Dub MD: How does “Splitting Image” differ from “Leave Of Absence” and “Chain Letters”, and how do you think you’ve changed as an artist since you released that album?

Kam Moye: Splitting Image isn’t a super underground album by any means so don’t expect scratch hooks on every song and 10 songs rapping about rappers. I’ve done that for years and it’s time to move forward and progress. Not to say that I feel like I’m too good for that now but if I’m gonna spend the rest of my career trying to remake my old albums then I’d rather not make music at all. I’m still hip hop to the core so you don’t have to worry about me doing no watered down bullshit. Instead of the ‘rap voice’ I used before, I rap with my speaking voice so it’s sounds more personal now.

The old Supastition albums were me trying to prove that I was ill enough and worthy enough to be respected. I wanted to prove that I could rap just as good as the best of them but at the same time write a concept or a story. It was almost like I had a checklist of things to do and speak about while making a Supa album. Nowadays, it feels more natural and I’m making music without trying to prove anything to anyone.

It’s like when you reach that point in life where you’re content with being yourself and you don’t give a damn what the rest of the world thinks about you. That’s where I’m at in life and on this album. Making Supastition albums were exciting when I first started but I’m a grown man with bills to pay and a family to feed. Life changes and your priorities change along with it.

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?

Kam Moye: I’m very observant of what goes on around me in my life and the people involved in it. If you take a look around right now you could probably find so many things to talk about but people overlook the simplest things. It’s all about how you pay attention to detail and the way to tell it back to people.

Like the Black Enough or Change of Heart songs on Self-Centered, those were all things that have ran across people’s minds but nobody had really spoken up about it before. For me, I might have a concept in mind but I’ll search through 50 beats until I find the right one that fits perfectly. Or if the beat has a sampled phrase in it then I’ll build off of that.

As far as soundscan goes, music and entertainment will always be based on cliches and trends. When it was cool to be black and intelligent back in the day, rappers followed that path and labels had no problem selling you theme music for your struggle. U think they cared about the message in the music? Hell no! It has and always will be about making a dollar. I don’t expect the masses to flock to my music because I don’t even live or carry myself like the average person.

I could care less what the latest sneakers are or the latest trend. I buy what I like and what I can afford. With that mentality, I can’t really expect to fit into that whole superstar lifestyle. I’m more about making timeless records. Ja Rule had #1 records and nobody plays his music at all anymore even the old stuff. A KRS-One or Rakim record still sets off the party 20+ years later.

Dub MD: You’ve got a lot of support from hip hop fans online, How important do you feel the internet is to underground hip hop these days? do you think its helping or hurting the game in the long term?

Kam Moye: I mean music is more accessible now so you can get heard by more people much faster than before. But buying music is no longer a necessity to people. Dudes will spend money on expensive clothes and then bitch about how music is overpriced. Well, so is that $40 hat and those jeans (Laughs). Nah, but its a double-edged sword sometimes. Bad thing is that instead of fighting for space in a DJ’s crate or someone’s CD collection, you’re fighting just to be remembered when next week rolls around.

It’s to the point where labels want you to release something every week to stay relevant. I just think some artists don’t really have to do that. Some fans like to be treated as genuine supporters and not part of your weekly press campaign.

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

Kam Moye: My main quality is the honesty and sincerity in my music. Everyone has a story to tell but it’s up to that person to make it appealing to the listener. That’s my strong point. Songs like Fountain of Youth, The Williams, Blue Skies, 3 Ladies, Let’s Be Honest and so on are all honestly speaking from the standpoint of a regular person. Not some super rap hero and not some brother too hard for his own damn good. That’s what you get when you listen to the music I’m making nowadays.

Dub MD: You’ve shared the bill with a lot of legendary hip hop artists, If I’m coming to a Kam Moye show. What am I going to experience, that I won’t experience from just listening to your material on CD?

Kam Moye: You’re going to get pure energy and an intimate show where you connect with me on stage. I’m not gonna come out on stage with 3 hypemen and my homies. It’s just me and sometimes my DJ, Forge doing our thing. I might freestyle, crack some jokes, or whatever I feel that night. I treat every show like I’m trying to win over some new fans so I never half ass a performance.

Dub MD: What is on tap for Kam Moye 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?

Kam Moye: I’m gonna be hitting the road soon to start promoting this album in the U.S. and overseas. I’m shooting about 4 or 5 videos for this project so you’ll be seeing those pop up all over the place soon. After this, I have a group project called Electric Avenue with my homie D.R. who is a producer/DJ from Charlotte. Other than that, I’m just trying to stay busy with the music as well as finish up some other projects that I have in the works.

I just wanna say thanks to all the fans who have stuck with me through thick and thin and all the ones who are just being introduced to my music now. You’re about to hear more music from me than ever. This is a new beginning for me.