The Science of Grey Matter. Hip-Hop Interview Exclusive by JasmineKay Word Up Source
The Science of Grey Matter. Hip-Hop Interviews. Exclusive interviews with Hip-Hop artists. JasmineKay Word Up Source Up close Interviews with your favorite Hip-Hop Rap artists.
Grey matter (or gray matter) is a major component of the central nervous system, consisting of nerve cell bodies (neurons), glial cells (astroglia and oligodendrocytes), capillaries, and short nerve cell extensions/processes (axons and dendrites). In this case, Grey Matter consists of the major foundation elements of hip hop mc’ing, breaking, dj’ing and graffiti, catching the attention of the true hip hop artist to create a response. With a 12-year track record under his belt the Inland Empire, the Southern California, native is out to hit us with his intelligence once again. On his solo album entitled “GRAVE MATTERS”, not only his skills as a MC but with his record label Ruben Young Entertainment & Media, got my response and full attention. We had a chance to sit down to discuss music, and offer the intelligence and truth beyond the mere black & white of the existing Grey Matter in hip hop culture.
Jasmine Kay Word Up Source: Where did Grey Matter come from? We know the science of Grey Matter from the intro paragraph supporting intelligence? How did you get that name?
Grey Matter: Basically, when I began rhyming seriously around 1998, I felt I needed a name and direction. I had used my old Graffiti Moniker so long, I felt it was time to move on and become something greater in the hip-hop and underground communities. My lyrics have always focused on truth, honesty, politics, religion, crime, violence, ignorance and education. Grey Matter is simply what came to be from all of that which flowed around in my head.
JasmineKay Word Up Source Exclusive: The calm of the storm is gone so what motivates you? How do you re- aline your thinking? How do you do that? I listened to Divine Lines and thought to ask you. How do you get back on your feet when shit happens? Or how do you just stay motivated?
Grey Matter: I have more songs that focus on controversy or the negative nature of man, so with Divine Lines, I wanted to remind people that I am a human being. I think I needed to remind myself that as well. Writing and rhyming about war and violence in the media is harsh stuff to deal with. If I don’t bring myself down from all of that when I’m done or in a good mood, I can’t very well get a positive message to the people. I need to remain diverse and speak about the good things in life, such as Hip-Hop, which me along with my fellow men and women create everyday. And it’s beautiful.
JasmineKay Word Up Source Exclusive: You’re cool and you keep your stance focused with definition! So what makes you break under pressure, what makes you, what throws you off the wall, and makes you want to freak and block intelligence. What Im asking you is what pisses you off, what makes you not Hush?
Grey Matter: Ignorance and lies and the people who use them directly to hurt others and gain from it. That’s what war is to me. That’s what racism is to me. That’s why Hip-Hop is in existence today; because it is what grows from the frustration of people who go through these things. If you live on planet Earth, you should be concerned with what’s going on within it. You should especially be involved with what is going on in it. If you do not live on Earth, disregard that last word of advice.
JasmineKay Word Up Source Exclusive: Hip Has many elements mc’ing, breaking, dj’ing and graffiti and you cover them all and more?
Grey Matter: I’ve been an MC for about 12 years, serious about music for the last 6 years. My involvement in Hip-Hop actually started with my passion for Graffiti, which I began writing when I was 12 or 13. Before that, I did some breaking with the neighborhood kids and I’ve dabbled in DJ’ing. Not so good with the last 2, which is why I respect all those hardworking DJ’s and B-Boys. You know who you are. I love it when I see graff in videos and B-Boys on stage or at shows or in the streets sometimes. It’s the combination of these things that gives us our unique culture, and even if you are not involved in one or more of them, don’t be ashamed or ignorant to the fact they exist. I love them all, and let’s not forget Beatboxing, everyone that’s ever been in a real cypher knows what’s up with that.
JasmineKay Word Up Source Exclusive: What your rhyme and reazon?
Grey Matter: “I represent hip hop in its purest form, including the elements, mc’ing, breaking, dj’ing and graffiti for sure! I’ve been involved in graffiti and hip hop for 17 years and have loved it all my life! I love to create hip hop in various forms, such as hardcore, political, political, lyrically challenging, battle, raps, poetic flows, conscious and positive hip hop, latin and experimental”.
JasmineKay Word Up Source Exclusive: Tell me what happened when your broke up with Graffic Aphliktionz your cousin ” The Rage”? And tell us how you felt about splitting up with your own cousin, breaking up with your family since you both started together and which led you into rhyming at open mics and freestyling!
Grey Matter: Well, fortunately for him, he’s extremely talented (and a new father! Congrats!) so, he’s moved on to bigger things. He’s a hardcore top vocalist in the Metal scene in So. Cal. right now, just got signed, so I’m proud of him. I will say it was hard when we started doing our thing, but so much good has come from it, I can’t say I have any regrets or bitterness. He’s happy and I’m about to release my new album and between us, there’s always been Blood connecting us, so our success is just a tribute in all to our friends, fans and family who support us. Thanks.
JasmineKay Word Up Source Exclusive: What else has been going on in your world, past present and future?
Grey Matter: Grey Matter can be seen in a scene from “Grand Theft Parsons”, a dark comedy film directed by David Caffrey. With Jamie McShane, Johnny Knoxville, Danielle Sapia and Christina Applegate. Watch it on Showtime Regularly or you can rent or buy it from your local video store. We also opened for, performed with and booked various well known underground acts from the west coast so many to name. I am looking at working on possibly producing a film, but I’m merely looking at scripts and can’t really talk about that just yet.
In the future, I hope to be releasing a series of compilations featuring mainly West Coast artists from the Inland Empire and Sacramento areas under my company, RYME.
JasmineKay Word Up Source Exclusive: You busy! Which do you enjoy more being involved in creating media such as websites, fliers and promotional materials or the production side of things?
Grey Matter: Well, since working in design and also working in music and film production and promotion, I’d say I want to stay true to the Hip-Hop culture which is based a lot, I think, on the music. So, I will hopefully grow as a producer, in music and film, although I’m looking at music videos next. We’ll see.
JasmineKay Word Up Source Exclusive: And currently what do you have for us?
Grey Matter: I want to invite artists from everywhere to get in contact with me for promotion, artwork and collaborations. I have a lot in store for the compilations I want to put out, especially one with multi-lingual rhyming, that means a multi-national Hip-Hop compilation featuring MC’s of any and all nationalities & lyrics in various languages. Also, Grave Matters producer Bobby-Lo, I owe him a lot and DJ Seizure; will be released Spring of 2008, date not exact, but keep posted on Hip-Hop.net and MySpace for that! The “4 Elements and 33 Particles: The Mixtape” has been delayed for numerous reasons, but it will be out around the same time as the album. The mixtape will be mainly to promote my joining forces with DJ Seizure.
Jasmine Kay Word Up Source Exclusive: I know your first album “IMMACKULATE MISCONCEPTIONS” was highly politically charged so what do you have in store for us now? Give us a head up!
Grey Matter: This year, I am releasing my long awaited second album entitled ‘Grave Matters’ which largely focuses on True School, Hardcore, Underground and West Coast flavors of Hip-Hop. With my recent exposure and connection to various underground companies, artists and labels, I feel this release will give me a solid place in the underground West Coast Hip-Hop scene.
Jasmine Kay Word Up Source Exclusive: Thank you for your time and thanks for hooking up with me and kickin it today, GREY MATTER with his own Ruben Young Entertainment & Media, a mixtape with long friend Dj Seizure and producers from Hood League Records and a solo album entitled “GRAVE MATTERS” coming soon. Grey Matter the artist got me listening, with his science there its simply Hip Hop ingenuity and intelligence.
Grey Matter: Big Respect, California where I’m from and represent. Check it out. Peace.
Check the music and for that matter keep in check with Grey Matter at:
Grey Matter. Myspace Link
Interview RYME & REAZON by: JasmineKay Hip Hop Word Up Source Hip Hop Corner. Interviews. Exclusive interviews with Hip-Hop artists. JasmineKay Word Up Source Up close Interviews with your favorite Hip-Hop Rap artists. Contact JasmineKay at blowthesound@yahoo.com. for interview services. All Rights Reserved. 2008.
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Behind the Scenes RYME & REAZON with Thadd Williams
Jasmine Kay Source: On your page I read what you wrote ” These days it’s hard out here for a rapper. Being lyrical is not enough. You have to make up the complete package. You have to look the part, act the part, and be the part. The girls have to love you and the guys have to want to be you”. with Hip Hop. But you also said that you are exactly that. I feel it too and now that i got introduced to you, what is the truth in your own words. So, with this album, what did you set out to do?
Thadd Williams: Basically with this project I wanted to give myself the proper introduction. You only get one chance to get introduced to the world, and the first impression is usually the last impression. What I wanted to do is give you insight about who I am and what I stand for. Nowadays hip hop has everyone believing that you have to act, and carry yourself a certain way. I’m here to show you that you can get that love and respect without compromising who you are as a person. A lot of these artist are totally different people when the cameras cut off. I’m going against the grain, because whether you like me or not nobody will ever be able to say that I’m not authentic.
Jasmine Kay: Hi, Thadd Willams, thanks for getting down with the truth, and we gonna get down to it, Word Up Source is here to hear you out. I got a chance to listen in to your page. And its bangin. What it is. So lets get down to it, why do you think its hard out here for a rapper?
Thadd Williams: On some levels I think that 50% of it is an internal struggle within that artist. On a personal level an artist might not want to talk about a certain subject, but feel if he or she doesn’t do that they might not get that love or respect that they want. Which results in artificial music, just like in life everybody wants to fit in with something. On another level the artist might feel pressure from a label to deliver a certain type of song just so it can get radio play. Or the label may want to put out a certain record to try boost sales. That’s why nowadays a lot of artists are taking the independent route. Those are some of the difficulties that we go through when trying to be in this business.
Jasmine Kay: What it is? I listened to the track and the organ sound is the bomb. The production is tight. And The arrangement is full on! How did that come about, damn. Shit What it is, is just that! People gonna be feelin this track for real!
Thadd Williams: I appreciate that, right now I’m working with an up and coming producer from Dayton Ohio by the name of Kayn. We have a real good chemistry when we get in the studio, I like more of the live instrument sounds. It’s always an event when me and him get to work together.
JasmineKay: Tell the people out there where you from? Where did you grow up? And where your crib at now?
Thadd Williams: I’m from Columbia SC, born and raised…better known as the Metro. Right now I’m living in Hampton VA, for a short period of time.
JasmineKay: My bad, Do you think the image of bad is cool? Do you think it sells nowadays? And how can people be hating you when you just hatin them. Arent you the same? They hating you and you hating them for getting money? How do you figure?
Thadd Williams: I think that’s not for me to say. I think that anything that you’re portraying that’s not the truth isn’t cool. It’s the same as lying to a person in they’re face. Music is a powerful tool, some people’s music gets other people through they’re day. Fans go out and spend money because they believe in that artist and they want the best product. As far as hating is concerned everybody has been a hater at one point or another, it’s just human nature. A lot of it is just jealousy, wishing that they could do what you or be in the position that you’re in. What they fail to realize is what person had to do to get to where they are at. So many of us want to take short cuts instead of grinding and working, everybody has to pay dues. In the record, “I’m saying I’m sorry for keeping on my grind. I’m sorry that you didn’t follow suite and grind like I did”.
If you listen I’m not really hating I’m kinda schooling you that you need to get on ya grind, and you won’t have to hate, but like I said hate is everywhere. Everyone has hated on someone. Me, you, the consumers, some of us just take it to another level and live off of hating instead of using it as a motivational tool. Goodie Mobb/ Outkast said it best: “Get up Get out and get Something, don’t let the days of your life pass by”.
JasmineKay: What is making hip hop commercial and not true anymore? Supply and Demand?
Thadd Williams: Hiphop it’s self isn’t commercial the artist is.
When you make certain records for that overwhelming attention that is when your music becomes commercial. When you no longer yearn to be creative only stagnant in what is going on right now. With my music I try to live in the future, I try to live in the realism of the world. That’s why I can’t talk about anything I haven’t done. I can’t talk about drugs and guns, because I didn’t live that life but I lived around it, so I might be able to tell you a heart felt tale about someone I knew, but I can’t tell you about how to ship keys of coke, and poppin bottles at the club, because 9 times out of ten I was at school, work or the studio. The only thing to make HipHop true is the artists and people engulfed in it. Hiphop was meant to not have boundaries. I’m not like snap music is made out of, its something creative that came out, and got peoples attention. Supply and Demand is a major factor, you gotta give the people what they want, but if you not giving them a variety then they gonna want what is out.
JasmineKay: Dope Boy; what makes a hip hop artist Dope or just a Dope Head?
Thadd Williams: What’s makes an artist dope entails a few factors: lyrics, content, swagger, and originality. Artist aren’t challenging themselves creatively anymore. It’s just become really repetitive instead of competitive. The dope part was just a spin off, it had nothing to do with being on dope, if anything is was the opposite of selling Dope, thus the name Dope Boy.
JasmineKay: How important is it to have your own record team? What should other rappers who are starting out know about the hip hop game?
Thadd Williams: To have a good team behind you could be what makes or breaks your career. It’s just like sports one person can’t win a super bowl by themselves. As an artist you can’t be in ten different places at once, having a good team and a label that believes in you are essential. As far what other rappers need to know about the hip hop game I can’t say. I’m still learning the ropes about what this business has to offer. If I had to offer any advice I would say take your time and don’t rush anything, don’t take the first deal that you’re offered. A lot of artist end up owing more money than they make, and read educate yourself there are a lot of things to know out there. Ask questions; that doesn’t make you look stupid, it makes you look professional.
JasmineKay: What’s your plans? Next shows? Against the grain whats that about? New Tracks? Tell the people what you doing and what motivates you when you wake up? Cause its time for your wake up call, its time for your wake up call, DONT SLEEP DONT SLEEP?
Thadd Williams: The plan for 08 is to grind, grind, grind. I want to be exhausted by the end of this year. Right now we’re getting ready to perform at the Southern Entertainment Awards down in Mississippi. My first major mix tape entitled “Diamond In The Rough” should be out in February. Shortly after that I will be releasing the second installment entitled “Beginner’s Luck”. Just be on the look out for Thadd Williams, I’m a hustler’s hope and a gangster’s alternative I’m permanently inspired. If you haven’t heard of me, I’m not working hard enough.
JasmineKay Word Up Source
Check out Thadd Williams at
Thadd Williams Music where you can download some of his hottest tracks.
Info at: 5 Star District Music Group 757.256.3542- cell
JASMINE KAY WORD UP SOURCE INTERVIEW Jan 20th 2008.
Word Up Source Interview. Hip-Hop Interviews. Exclusive interviews with Hip-Hop artists. News: All Hip Hop Interview. Interviewing upcoming stars of hip hop and cutting edge music.
All rights reserved.
If you would like me to interview you or your band. Shot me an email, I will get back to your shortly. Peace. wordupsource | Artist Manager
Behind the Scenes RYME & REAZON with DAMIR - D's Hip-Hop RAP ALTERNATIVE
Jasmine Kay Source: How did you get started:
DAMIR: Reason 4 Rapping, I’m not really good at anything else, whenever I worked doing something else, I would crack, and it’s not for me. Sure I did my time doing dead end jobs; we all got to do what we gotta do to get somewhere where we truly belong. So I started writing rhymes when I was 13, then started rhyming at school when I was 15, and I got my hands on a sequence keyboard that I started putting the lyrics and beats together and I haven’t stopped. The first party I performed at, led to the next and each show after that, gave me back-up to continue, and as I continued to finish songs I got more positive feedback by friends and fans, and that was the sign to continue.
Jasmine Kay Source: Whats your favorite quote:
Damir: “Everyone’s in the spotlight, you just have to find your light.” and “War is in the minds of the individual, not in my mind”. People say life is short, well they are wrong, life is long, ya can do all the things you want”. Ya and music is what I’m doing now. You just have to find what your good at and stick to it.
Jasmine Kay Source: Whats your first track your did:
Damir: My first track was Business, when I knew I wanted in to this club in the lower East side, but I knew the boogie man “bouncers” weren’t gonna let me in. I tried to get in, I even ran through the line, they found me out after and, I had to leave… Every time I pass a club with a line up, I know that won’t be me. I’d rather go somewhere else. “I’ll take my business elsewhere.” Everyone be feelin this hook for sure!
Jasmine Kay Source: What inspires you to make music:
Damir: I come from a huge family so I learned quite fast about fending for yourself; they taught me survival skills; working hard, and working hard damn. I like mixing up beats and tempos, I can’t tell you exactly, cause I don’t know myself, I just know I like it and it sounds good to me. Sometimes at shows, that’s where I get the most inspiration or a song idea comes to me.
Jasmine Kay Source: Do you have a favorite Artist or band:
A favorite song is hard to say, every artist is good and some are bad for many reasons, depends on my mood, or how many times I’ve heard them sung on the radio in the last week, or the last hour, as a matter a fact, hearing the same song over and over again, can drive you crazy.
Jasmine Kay Source: What motivated you to write Kick in the Mind, or is it Kick in the A##?
Damir: Its the same thing, meaning kick to do something. You need a kick in the mind, pull a rush in the front when yo till it to yo face, cause it don’t make sense and it won’t make sense, if you blind the eye, the eye you see, if you close the mind, the mind you need, if you walk the way, the way to nowhere, get on track on track to somewhere. I just made that up, and it sounded good, so I worked on it last night in my studio, I went crazy, at least 5 pages of lyrics, a couple of bass lines and a drum loop. I couldn’t sleep until I finished it. I’d rather be awake and be productive, I just like doing and keeping busy.”
Jasmine Kay Source: Any favorite city of location you enjoy playing at?
Live performances are the ultimate, that’s the best part of doing what I do. The mic in your hand and the sound speakers crisp, and the crowd bug-eyed, bopping up and down and tilting side to side. Everywhere was cool, but in Japan, its quite interesting, out of respect to the performer the audience doesn’t whistle, scream or clap until someone else does and when they do, all are in sync and they stop in sync.
Jasmine Kay Source: Tell me about the Lawless track:
Damir: I was tired of all the rules and what people think about the rap and hip hop the tempo and stuff so I wanted to change it up. I put a drum and bass beat down and worked with a keyboard to get the drums right. The lyrics came easy. I wanted my brother in law who’s a rapper too, to rap on the track, but he wanted to do his own thing! I did the track on my own. So I called the song LAWLESS – without my brother in law.
Jasmine Kay Source: What made you write Take it, its yours?:
Damir: I wanted to go off track with this idea and make a song with a cool hook with subtle changes in the hook and that’s it. As for the music, the music changing to push the song. I figured that people would question why there aren’t a lot of words but when they hear the arrangement they would appreciate it. “Take it, it’s yours”, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, I don’t dwell in problems, I just accept situations and move on. Let the people decide this one! It’s completed and i like it, thats what counts at the end, and if the listeners like it, its a bonus!
Jasmine Kay Source: What influenced you?
Damir: My lyrics are stories of my life they tell me what to do, and what I’ve done, and where I want to go. And all the fun I’ve had, who doesn’t want to have fun. I’ve been influenced by many sounds, types of music, especially the club scene, I’d rather hear the songs in clubs and bars where there’s people. So if you wait around for something to happen, it will never come your way. And have an opinion, cause having no opinion sucks.” People should speak up and question what they read or hear, as simple as that. Never give up, keep fighting and refuse to listen to the nay sayers. Big respect 2 dem people! One luv! Safe.
Check DAMIR – World www.damirworld.com site which features discography, interviews, video’s, media and merchandise.
Check out DAMIR – World @ Myspace and see what everyone’s getting tanked about – Business.
Interview RYME & REAZON by: Jasmine Kay Word Up Source Hip Hop Corner; rap hip hop journalist containing music, alternative information, editorials, pictures, press archives and tour info. Hip Hop, history of Hip Hop, history of rap, hiphop, rapper,dissent,political,conscious,radio
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