Flawless Hustle.com Exclusive: The 10 Question(s) Q&A Session Series: Torae Interview by Dub MD

Interview by Dub MD

From being brought into the game by Cam’ron back in 2000 to working with legends like DJ Premier and Pete Rock, the Brooklyn born emcee has packed a lot into the last 9 years. Which includes releasing the critical acclaimed album “Daily Conversation” to his newest release “Double Barrel” with Canadian producer Marco Polo, along with various mixtapes, tours, collaborations the list goes on and on, he takes time out to sit down with us for the first in “The 10 Question(s) Q&A Session Series” to chop it up about his up coming new album with Marco Polo, his thoughts on New York Hip-Hop in 2009 and the writing process when it comes to recording his albums.

Dub MD: Torae, 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 year or so?

Torae: Well in January ’08 I released the mixtape Daily Conversation, It received a lot of light critical acclaim, fair and all that from that project. I went out on the road touring and getting people familiar with the music.

Dub MD: New York Hip Hop seems to be coming back pretty strong in 2009, how you feeling about your city’s music scene right now?

Torae: New York’s underground scene is solid, there are definitely a few dope cats out here right now doing it!

Dub MD: Your on the verge of releasing your highly anticipated new collaboration album with Marco Polo entitled “Double Barrel” which is in stores June 2nd, can you give us a little background on the album and how it came together?

Torae: Yeah Marco and I met at the studio recording a skit for eMC’s album, he was working on a mixtape to promote his album and asked if I could get on it, pretty much one song led to two, two led to three and we got in a recording groove from there we went on tour together and formed a friendship. Once we decided we wanted to work on an album together, we sat down came with a concept and knocked it out.

Dub MD: Your releasing the new LP on independent powerhouse Duck Down Records, why did you choose to go with them to release the album? and what’s it like being signed to a legendary label like Duck Down?

Torae: Down Duck was a no-brainer, they are the best indie out there on some underground Hip-Hop shit period so we sat with them, played some music kicked it and decided it was the move to make. Marco had relationships with them from his production I was cool with Sean and Buck forever so it only made sense as far as being on the roster, it’s an honour I grew up listening to and copping every duck down release now to have that logo on my project is a beautiful thing!

Dub MD: How do you feel you’ve changed as an emcee from your time with The Diplomats back in 2000, up until now in 2009 with this new project you got coming with Marco Polo?

Torae: I mean I was always the same type of MC basically, hungry, focused and ready to rock. I feel like I’ve gotten better at making songs and having an identity, but aside from that I’m still the same old Tor.

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 albums? and do you have a solo album in the works?

Torae: Usually the track dictates what I’m gonna write, you can be on a beats that sounds like “Ante Up” rapping about your 1st love so I always listen to what the track is saying and then make a marriage. I like to work on and focus on 1 thing at a time so there will obviously be another project to come but right now it’s all about Marco Polo & Torae “Double Barrel”!

Dub MD: Being an original emcee that keeps his integrity in the music, why do you think it is that emcees with skills and creativity on the mic, never make a real mark on soundscan?

Torae: That’s all corporate bullsh*t! anything the machine gets behind and pushes will sell on a commercial level, they choose to market and promote a lot of bullshit music and that’s what’s popular people like variety but the music industry chooses to sell sex and nonsense only.

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?

Torae: It’s a double edged sword, it can be a great marketing tool and obviously helps you impact people across the world at the same time but a lot of the people who love you on the internet, download you on the internet, so it hurts your bottom line and record labels are about the bottom line so a lot of artists and companies that make underground music are struggling.

Dub MD: You done a good few guest spots on various records with the “Blapmaster” Illmind, how come you still haven’t worked on a Torae solo joint with him yet? and is there anything in the pipeline?

Torae: (Laughs) I saw Meezy last night it’s all about timing basically, we’ll knock some joints out when the timing is right, music should always be organic and never forced. Lord willing we have time to knock some bangers out!

Dub MD: What is on tap for Torae 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?

Torae: Right now it’s all about June 2nd. Marco and I spent the last year and a half working on this record and we want to spend that much time or more making sure it gets heard. If you’re a fan of hard hitting beats and gritty east coast lyrics you’ll love the project check out a song or 2 and if you like it support it.

Feel free to hit me on www.twitter.com/torae or at www.duckdown.com. Shouts to Brooklyn, Coney Island, Duck Down, Marco Polo, Dub MD and everyone reading this and supporting good hip hop music!