Saturday, August 4 2007 Chaundon Interviews...Chaundon
Chaundon Interviews...Chaundon!? 3:25am. The music filled room is now silent. The smoke of the "cloud 9" has been aired out and the ash trays are empty. The company of the finest women just walked out the door. All that's left is one shot glass filled with Henney and an emcee eager to tell his story. I've known this guy all my life and its time that we had an in depth interview and ask the questions no one has dared to ask. So after taking a shot of Henney I stood up, looked in the mirror and began the interview.
Q. Why is your music so mysoginistic?
A. For the record, ALL of my music is not mysoginistic. Yes, I tell tales of the women I've exploited, adult films I've made, women I've dated and so forth. Its just a reflection of what I've been through. I'm telling my story the best way I know how. I understand it is very graphic and demeaning at times but that is just the harsh reality of it all. I don't want to blame my enviornment but I grew up in Hunts Point, famous for prostitiution. Growing up that's what I witnessed. I saw the pimps, and like any impressionable child, I was amazed by their lifestyle. So part of that stuck with me as I grew up. I was raised in a house of women and was raised to respect, value, and appreciate women. I guess you can say I have my feet planted on both sides of the street. Q. You say that you value, respect, and appreciate women. Why doesn't that come accross in your music?
A. It does! I have plenty songs about love and catering to the women in my life but it goes unheard because of my "Back Twista" moniker. People love to hear me talk slick so that's all they here. Its funny, number of women hit me on myspace quoting my line from "We Got Now" on Little Brother's Minstrel Show. "Twist hoes leave em knock kneed smile for paparazzi". Going off that, can you blame me for tellin it like it is lol.
Q. Good point. Let's talk about TriPod Films. I hear it a lot in your music, see it in your blogs, and recent interviews. Are you really a porn star?
A. I am an amateur porn star! Lol. What can I say I love porn. Its the most honest business in the world. Plus its great money. Now I haven't made a dime yet lol but its on the way. TriPod Films is an adult company I started last year. I won't be starring in them any more because I'm directing now. My vision is to make them a little more tasteful for the ladies. They watch porn just as much as men do. I won't go in depth about the format because I don't want anyone else to capitalize on my brilliant ideas ya dig!
Q. What's good with the music? When is the album dropping?
A. That's a great fucking question. I would love to know when its coming out. Contract negotiations are still happening, so I gotta wait. I'm recording more that Pac in his prime, I have tons of music. What I do know is, September 5th 2007 I am releasing 2 mixtapes, "Ambitions Of A Writer" with DJ Vega Benetton, and "Venom" with DJ Peter Parker. They are albums more then they are mixtapes especially the "Venom" mixtape. It has 100% original music, no freestyles! I have 3 more projects like that on the way, STAY TUNED!
Q. Who are the features? Who's on production?
A. Ah man I got Pete Rock, 9th Wonder, Ill Mind, Khrysis, E. Jones, Pavaratti, Analogic, & D-1 on the boards. The emcees are incredible! I got Little Brother, L.E.G.A.C.Y., Joe Scudda, Jozeemo, Skyzoo, Torae, DV Alias Khrist, Stimuli, G.O.D., MaG, Emilio Rojas, Sean P, Rock, Camp Lo, and Poison Pen. My mixtapes are better than most albums bwhahahahaha!
Q. I hear you got a show coming up.
A. Yeah man, the "Venom"/"Ambitions Of A Writer" release party @ S.O.B's on September 5th!! I started a company called Major Events with Jonathan Master and Mr. Peter Parker. We will be throwing a lot of historic hip hop functions like this one! Q. Wow! You got a lot going on. Do you ever sleep?
A. No sir!!
Q. Lol. Who will be performing?
A. Just a few of members of my family. Skyzoo, Torae, DV Alias Khrist, Stimuli, G.O.D., Emilio Rojas, MaG, Joe Scudda, Jozeemo, Poison Pen, NYOIL, L.E.G.A.C.Y, Retsam, and a few others I can't mention right now.
Q. Are you serious?
A. There aint an unsigned rapper in the world that can pull this shit off. I am unstoppable! Imagine what I can do if I had financial backing from a major, whoa!
Q. Damn!! So who's on your album?
A. I'll save that info for the next interview.
Q. Since you are unsigned, how the hell did you get all those artists to contribute to your projects?
A. C'mon I can't release that information. If I do then everbody will have joints like me. Let's just say we all respect eachothers craft and share the same goal, TO MAKE DOPE MUSIC AND KEEP HIP HOP ALIVE!!
Q. What's your take on the state of Hip Hop today?
A. Hip Hop is incredible! What they play on the radio is garbage! This is the ringtone era.
Q. Why do you say that?
A. The real shit, they don't play on the radio. If they do play it, its on at 3 in the morning when most people are asleep. As for the state of Hip Hop, its the ringtone era. Labels only want that one song. This is why albums suck these days. The artists or the 1 trick ponies as I like to call them, don't take the time to create a classic. They will be the one hit wonders, get a check, then fade to black as the next ringtone superstar emerges. Looks like the meek inherited the earth! Q. So what will you do to stop this?
A. Continue to be consitant by making incredible music. Align myself with other great artists like those I mentioned earlier and give the upcoming emcees a chance to be heard and build their careers. Not a damn ringtone.
Q. Are you against being mainstream?
A. Hell no! I want that mainstream money and opportunity. I just refuse to compromise my music to get it. I want to be all over the radio and tv. I want to go on 106 and Park wearing a pair of muddy Timbs, playin Rick James screaming "fuck yo couch nigga!". What artist doesn't want that kind of attention?
Q: Where do you see yourself in the next couple of years?
A: On Oprah's couch with the same muddy Timbs on. Telling her to invest some of her time and money to the Hip Hop community. Instead of attacking and saying what's bad with Hip Hop, she needs to help and promote what's good about it ya feel me!! Quit giving the middle age white women in the studio audience cars and make overs and give back to the underpriveleged in her own back yard.
Q. Who's the top 5 emcees of all time?
A. Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, Dylan, and Dylan. Hahahhaha. Nah, my top 5 is Chaundon, Phonte, B.I.G, Slick Rick, and Kane.
Q. Isn't that kind of arrogant to put yourself in the top 5?
A. Fuck no! I'm nice!! I'd be playin myself and selling myself short if I don't put myself up there. I pick dope beats, my hooks are money, and I do what most artist don't do any more, I punchline the track to death. I'm young, I'm pretty, I hit hard, I'm in the best shape of my life, and the ladies love me. With all these traits and no album under my belt how can I be anything less than great!!?
Q. Who would you like to work with next?
A. Easy Month Bee!!! I was just listening to Ready To Die, and I know if we work together, it'll be a classic. I also want to work with Alchemist, Evidence, Dr. Dre, Kwame, Lord Finesse, Dangerous LLC, Digga, Diamond D, and DJ Premier. As for emcees, Jewelz Santana, Slick Rick, Rakim, Black Thought, KRS-One, Ludacris, Joel Ortiz, man the list goes on!
Q. If you can change one thing in the industry, what would it be and why?
A. Get rid of soundscan! I feel that the whole 1st week numbers and how many records sold is destroying the quality of music. If artists didn't have the pressure of selling a certain amount of records, half the bullshit you hear now would not exist. The popcorn and fluff on the radio would just be parody and novelty records. The Hip Hop I grew up on would be stronger than ever. One generation after the next would carry the the torch with pride and continue the legacy that started out in the park!
Q. Thank you for you time. Any shout outs?
A. Big up to the Hall Of Justus, Da Govarmynt, Boot Camp, Custom Made Entertainment, DJ Vega Benetton, DJ Peter Parker, Jonathan Master (the fuckin genius), and to all the emcees and producers making quality music. Get at me at chaundonmusic@gmail.com for collabs, bookings, need cd's in your stores, or just to say what up.