The 10 Question(s) Q&A Session Series: Vandalyzm

The 19th edition of the “10 question(s) Q&A series” we caught up with St. Louis, MO based emcee, Vandalyzm who is fresh from releasing his brand new mixtape Vandalyzm Is Not The Father which is available online everywhere right now. After releasing his debut project Megatron Majorz in 2008, Vandalyzm has been consistently releasing quality hip hop for publics consumption since then, as he prepares to release two albums later this year including A Vulgar Display Of Awesome and a re-release of Megatron Majorz. He sits down with us to talk about his new mixtape, his forthcoming albums and his thoughts on his hometowns music scene.

Dub MD: Vandalyzm, 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?

Vandalyzm: Whats hood bro, well it goes like this. I’m just a regular cat from the STL who rhymes/produces. Prolly got down with some of your favorite artist. Been in a lot of possible deal situations that seem to have fell through. Got wise, and decided to go the indie route and its been the smartest decision that I’ve ever made. Not ruling out a future with a major, I’m just rocking with what is working at the moment. Some might know me from formerly being with the Hall of Justus crew, or even my work with 9th Wonder. Its a lot to name, so if you not familiar is my job to make you even more knowledge in who I am this year. If you are, I hope I intrigue you to want to learn more. I got a lot to say. (Laughs)

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

Vandalyzm: Well you gotta look at it like this. My city is in the middle of everything, So just take it from there. We get everything from every coast, every major city in one city. We just take all of that and flip it with our own style, and you got STL music. We bred some of the greatest minds in music in this town, I’m just trying to do my part to be apart of that history hopefully. The music scene here is rich. So many different levels, not just hip hop, not just R&B, not just rock. Just so many great artists and groups. I’m proud to say I’m from such a richly talented city that folks don’t get to see often because once they do figure it out, its gonna be all over. I’m warning you now. (Laughs)

Dub MD: Do you have a new album in the works? whats it called? and can you give us a little background on it and when we can expect to hear it?

Vandalyzm: Yes yes, actually two projects. I’m re-releasing my first album Megatron Majorz in April sometime and my new album A Vulgar Display Of Awesome I’ve been working on for two years. Production on both from myself, Khrysis, 9th Wonder, Swiff D, Flying Lotus, 14kt, Soul Professa and others yo. Its sonically just dope music.

I just really tried to make some super aggressive music with Megatron, and AVDOA is just pure music. Had a little more fun on this one, but its just music, that’s the only way I can describe it. I’m really excited to see what the people think about it, even more so now that Vandalyzm is not the father has dropped with such fan fare.

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

Vandalyzm: Other artists? Besides myself, with the two new ones we are looking at Finale, Outasight, Marvwon, of course “The Force” my crew members Black Spade, gotta be Karim, Wafeek, and Rockwell Knuckles, and a few other surprises I don’t want to let out the bag yet. But things are going to be grand. I’m really amped about this newness (Laughs). The re-release of Megatron Majorz is dropping on Soulspazm Records, and we are finalizing the home for the new album.

Dub MD: You’ve got a brand new mixtape “Vandalyzm Is Not The Father” doing the rounds online right now, whats the concept behind the mixtape? and why should everyone download it above the countless other free mixtape out there?

Vandalyzm: The concept is kind of funny. Its like this. Lets say music is the sexiest female you’ve ever seen in your life but she’s a whore. So she’s letting every random ass dude smash. Your thugs, your drug dealers, your murderers, all these real un-savvy individuals you know? But she finally gave me a shot to hit, and of course I did, I mean look at her. But I was smarter than the rest, I wore protection. She ends up having this kid, we’ll call him hip hop.

Complete delinquent child, and of course I’m the only one who seems to have sense so she comes at me like “This is your child”. This is my DNA test in sound form. I mean I’m not denying I got down with music, but ain’t no way I could have created such a child (Laughs).

Hence the wording on the cover you know? Why folks should download it? Honestly because I feel like its some of the most fun music out right now. Its very serious, yet its not in the same sense. I’m showing folks they don’t have to be linear with their craft out here. Everything doesn’t have to sound one way. There is more than one road to get to your destination you know?

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?

Vandalyzm: Honestly, life. Life is my biggest motivation for music. I’m a big joker. I like making people laugh in regular life, so I try to do that in my rhymes as well. I’m very lighthearted about a lot of things. But when I need to be serious, and life gets that way, I can express that as well. I try and just keep a decent balance of that at all times. I just go with what I’m feeling at the moment. I sit down, and create the music, or if one of my many producers got something that will evoke that spirit that is in my out, I use their work and I just write. I try and go 4 bars at a time. And whenever I feel like I got out what i needed to get out, I stop. I try not to make my songs too long, but not too short.

Just enough to where if you think its dope, you will want to repeat it. You know? I’d rather you repeat my song, than to give you too much and you get tired of it. Other than that, I just wing it (Laughs), its all up to the Most High that it sounds good, and if it doesn’t, you’ll never hear it! (Laughs)

Dub MD: Back in 2008 you released a free album entitled “Megatron Majorz” which you showcased your versatility as an emcee, now that’s public property are you happy with how that release was received by everyone?

Vandalyzm: I was surprised to be honest. Its an album that I’ve been really wanting to put out, but I didn’t feel like I had the right situation to put it out to the world. On top of that I got tired of folks asking “when’s the album dropping?!” So I created Megatron as a appetizer to keep the folks cool till I got this deal situation settled. Well that deal situation ended up falling through, but Megatron picked up like crazy. And here I am. Still moving, we not done, but its all in the plan. I’m grateful for my progression in the game.

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?

Vandalyzm: My style? Honesty. I’m not so low that rich folks cant relate, I’m not so high that poor would shun my music. It has no color, no denomination. It just is. I’ve been blessed to have fans from strippers to pastors to elderly men and women. I cant explain it more than that. I can rhyme and produce with the best of them, but I feel as if I can rhyme to any beat given to me. Its hard talking about myself cause I feel like it comes off so arrogant, so if that is the case I apologize. But I just feel like I make really good music. But I would rather the people judge themselves and let me know how they feel about it. (Laughs)

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

Vandalyzm: Energy Energy Energy! I am a strong believer in giving the masses a show. I really like to wing it. Just be free and be myself on stage. I feel like being that way allows the folks watching to feel like they can be themselves. I feed off of the energy of the crowd. I feel like when I go to a live show, I don’t want a rapper to be on stage just standing in one place and rhyming. That’s the dumbest shit alive. I’d just play your cd if I wanted that. That’s no way to give a show to the people. And anyone who performs like that should be ashamed, and shot. (Laughs)

Dub MD: What is on tap for Vandalyzm for 2010 and beyond? do you have anything to say to the fans? anything you wanna get off your chest? any shout outs?

Vandalyzm: Like I said, Megatron Majorz, A Vulgar Display of Awesome, Vandalyzm is the Stepfather, and a few other projects I can’t let anyone in on yet. I want to shoutout my city of St Louis, Missouri, and my crew, The Force. Other than that, thank you sir for the opportunity, and I hope that everyone stays tuned. I’m here to do damage.