"IAR" Interview: $wagatha Chri$tie

She is not the girl next door.  She is neither a princess, nor a diva.  She is a skateboarding, tattooed, swagged out, "White Girl Wasted" rapper from Portland.  She is $wagatha Chri$tie.  In a predominantly male art form, the "Wicked Witch of the West" is carving a lane for herself in hip-hop.  $C has charisma, flow, and massive commercial appeal.  She is an artist in its truest form.  Her raw lyrics and party anthems are indicative of a rock star lifestyle that is in fact reality, not fabrication, which is a rarity among female artists.  $wagatha exudes an obvious sexiness, but is by no means making it the focal point for her career or persona, like many female MC's of the past.  The music and movement is a direct representation of what and who she is.  She's raw.  She's influential.  She possesses and exerts the ability to express taboo female subject matter and make it not only intriguing, but undoubtedly permissible, as well as just plain dope!  She is the type of artist that has the innate ability to transcend the rap game and conquer other facets of the entertainment industry, while remaining faithful to her ties and passion for hip-hop.  It's A Rap had the pleasure of discovering not only why other female MC's need to beware, but also what makes the "Wicked Witch" oh so wicked. 


IAR: How did you get the name $wagatha Chri$tie?
$C: "Well, Agatha Christie is a british crime/mystery writer of novels, short stories, and plays.  Growing up my sister and her friends would always used to play on her name, like Hagatha Christie or Lagatha Christie.  When I started rappin' I repped the SWAG movement hard, so it only made sense that I would come up wit' $wagatha Chri$tie.  Ive been the #1 Swag Hag ever since."


IAR: When did you get your start in hip-hop?
$C: "I used to rap and shit when I was younger and wasted at parties or at the skate park, but never really took it seriously.  Then I kind of realized, fu*k school and fu*k a 9-5.  I love rap so I decided to take it more seriously.  I wrote my first song and stepped into a studio for the first time a little over a year and a half ago.  It's been a crazy learnin' process, but I feel like I'm finding my niche and refining my style.  I can't wait to see my haters faces when they hear my next mixtape."


IAR: How would you classify your sound?
$C: "My sound is like a dirty south style mixed with a little bit of punk rock.  In your face, abstract, crazy and raw.  Influenced by skateboarding.  I call it "Hesh Rap." It's fu*kin' party music mostly!  WESTCOAST!"


IAR: What sets you apart from other female hip-hop artists?
$C: "Well as far as I know I'm the only female who raps and skateboards and is makin' moves.  I'm a gemini, so half of me is like, "yo let's go lurk out and skate and drink beers."  The other half is like, "yooo girl let's get our nails did and read girl magazines."  I'm a crazy bitch from Idaho. Also, I don't rap about having hella dough cuz im broke.  But I can't wait to rap about money when I get rich."


IAR: Do you plan on extending your brand outside of music?
$C: "I got a lot of shit in the works right now.  A fashion collabo line wit' my roll dawg Annie Angell, ( @AnnieAngell ) and some White Girl Wasted clothing/ accessories." 


IAR: Influences?
$C: "Tupac, Storm, NWA, AC/DC, UGK, Outkast, Mac Dre,  Yelawolf, ASAP Rocky, Tyler the Creator, 50 Cent, Eminem, Merle Haggard."


IAR: Future Plans/Projects?
$C: "A mixtape of remixes/original material comin' this spring. I'm just gonna' keep pumpin' projects out.  The biggest thing stopping me from releasing sh*t is how hard it is for me to find real DOPE producers who can give me a unique sound. I'm not tryna' lease beats on Soundclick. I wana make art!"


IAR: Artists you want to work with?
$C: "ASAP Rocky, Nacho Picasso, Rick Ross, Young Jeezy, and Waka Flocka."


IAR: Producers you want to work with?
$C: "Clams Casino, Beautiful Lou, ASAP Ty Beats, BSBD, Dr. Dre, GB Hitz, Lex Luger, School, Nima Fadavi, and Supahot Beats."


IAR: Where is the current state of hip-hop, in relation to female artists?
$C: "I feel like female artists are becoming accepted more recently.  You see bit*hes blowin' up all over the place and they ain't just a female who was swooped up by a dude and have their music written for 'em.  They have their own style, they know what they want.  They have more creative control.  I think a few ladies have opened the door for the rest of us and the gates gonna' be flooding soon.  Current state of rap is Bangin'!"


www.youtube.com/LMCmakesCutts
Follow on Twitter @itsLMC

"IAR" Interview: Nacho Picasso

It seems as if Nacho Picasso has become somewhat of a permanent fixture on  "IAR."  From the "Generation neXt" write up to the "Lord Of The Fly" album review, the appearance would be typical of a fan site.  It's not.  Nacho is just that dynamic of an artist.  Nacho Picasso is adding a dark and macabre twist to punch line flow, mixing in a hint of comedic relief, while maintaining complete relevance and connection among his listeners.  He's good.  He's REALLY good.  He's good to a point where you feel he's displaying all of his emotions through every bar and doing so in an effortless fashion.  His ego and swagger on record are easily identifiable, but his complexity is far reaching.  He's intricate, obscure, and methodical.  Nacho is also humorous, approachable, and an avid comic book fan.  His music and demeanor crosses boundaries within the culture and connects fans of all different walks and it seems his personality does the same.  It's A Rap had the opportunity to get a further look into what comprises Nacho Picasso and one thing is for certain, above everything, he's Hip-Hop.


IAR: When did you first get involved in hip-hop?
NP:  "I wrote my first rap when I was 9.  Then by middle school I was freestyle battling everybody."


IAR: How did you get the name Nacho Picasso?
NP:  "A shaman pimp came to me in a fever dream and blessed me with it, and said, "do my bidding."


IAR: Major influences musically?
NP: "My biggest are probably Mac Dre, Cam'ron, and Rick James."


IAR: How did you link up with BSBD?
NP: "I met him through Raised By Wolves who had done sh*t on BSBD's earlier stuff, and we're cousins. He did my first tape, "Blunt Raps." Then he introduced me to Kingston and we became friends. Then Young God moved up here from San Francisco and a while later we just all started working together as a unit, and it's been that way ever since."


IAR: How would you categorize yourself lyrically?
NP: "I would like to say I have some of the most clever bars out there.  I want people to hear my insight on dark humor.  I like to be a walking contradiction.  Call me the ignorant genius."


IAR: Artist/Producers you want to work with?
NP: "Blue Sky Black Death and Cam'ron.  I think me and Danny Brown could make a really good offensive song that would make old people cringe.  I'd like to make a spacey song with The Weeknd."


IAR: You a legit comic head or was "Marvel" just a song concept?
NP: "You can tell by the references and the way that I used them that I'm a genuine fan.  I didn't use the most popular dudes.  I made references to Cage, Beta Ray, and Eddie Brock. I grew up on that sh*t.  Wasn't nothing to do but smoke and read comics."


IAR: How has being independent enhanced your career, as opposed to being signed to a major label?
NP: "Freedom.  We can do what we want.  We don't have to answer to nobody, as long as the whole movement agrees with the move then we can move on it. No middle man either." 


IAR: You have some hilarious punch lines.  Is your music a direct reflection of your personality?
NP: "Hell yeah.  Definitely.  People tell me I'm funny but it's usually when I'm serious."


IAR: Future plans/upcoming projects?
NP: "We're just gonna keep cranking them out with BSBD and Raised By Wolves.  We'll definitely have another one pretty soon. All we do is work." 

Kid Named Breezy Contest!

Kid Named Breezy is giving away the ultimate Lifers appreciation package. One lucky Lifer will win a Kid Named Breezy t-shirt, autographed copy of Snap Back With A Life Full and 2 courtside seats to see the Washington Wizards vs Miami Heat game February 10, at the Verizon Center.  To qualify to win you must follow Kid Named Breezy on Twitter, like his Facebook fanpage, and tweet KNB your favorite song from Snap Back With A Life Full. Contest ends February 9 at 9 pm and winner will be contacted by 10 am on Friday!

Snapback With A Life Full: The Tape

Kid Named Breezy T-Shirt

"IAR" Interview: Mod Sun

 The embodying of hippie lifestyle may not be something that resonates with hip-hop culture.  In fact, some may make the argument that aside from the recreational "weed" use, the two cultures are actually polar opposite art forms.  The question I would subsequently ask those nay-sayers would be, "have you listened to Mod Sun?"  The 24 year old MC, (real name Derek Smith) has successfully combined raw hip-hop lyricism with the fun-loving, free spirited , beatnik attitude of a young adult from the Haight-Ashbury district circa 1965.  Mod Sun is a true artist.  One who preaches what he believes no matter what the initial perception may be.  Aside from rap, Mod is a true musician.  He plays a variety of instruments which enables him to be more involved in every aspect of his music, and it's evident in the product.  The majority of Mod Sun's lyrics are "herbal" friendly, however, his messages are inspiring.  He has adopted a "no fans, just friends" (#FriendBase) concept that has allowed him to connect with many faithful followers of his music.  It's A Rap had the opportunity to journey inside the mind of Hip-Hop's hippie to see just how powerful positivity can be in the rap game.  "Movement On Dreams, Stand Under None" is not only his acronym, but his way of demonstrating how doing for others and chasing your dreams can cultivate change.

Peace.  Love.  Mod Sun.

IAR: When did you get your start in hip-hop?

MS:  "No lie, Tupac "Changes" and DMX "Ruff Ryders Anthem" were the first hip- hop songs that I loved.  I started freestylin' when I was on tour playin' drums, I was 18 then.  From that point on, all I wanted to do was rap."

IAR: What/Who have been major influences on you so far?

MS: "Bob Dylan, the "Law of Attraction," Eyedea & Abilities, of course the #FriendBase, and my team." (Mike BryENT,  Pat Brown, Dave Beame, Cisco Adler, and JL Websites).

IAR: How would you classify your style of hip-hop?

MS: "Hippy-Hop, an audible smile."

IAR: Should marijuana be legalized?

MS: "Yes and No.  I don't want the government controlling how the weed is grown, I dont really trust them.  Buuuuuuut, I would love for people to feel more safe while smoking.

IAR: What inspired the #FriendBase concept?

MS: "I never enjoyed being called a "fan."  It puts a boundary between the producer and the consumer.  You must always remember you need the opposite to exist.  "Good" would not mean anything if "bad" wasn't a possibility."

IAR: Artists/Producers you want to work with?

MS: "So many....I'll just name one of each.  Artist: Tegan & Sara. Producer: Pharell."

IAR: Future plans/projects?

MS: "A new EP before summer called "Happy As Fuck."  A huge summer tour TBA.  Also, a new mixtape in August."

IAR: How are you able to connect hip-hop culture with a vastly different hippy culture?

MS: "I consider myself a "new hippy." The hippy part of what I do is not just cuz' I smoke weed and have long hair. It's all about the positivity within my music. I'm working to inspire and help people empower themselves. I believe being happy is the only way to truly "win" any situation."

IAR: Any musical influences outside of hip-hop?

MS: "Yes.  A LOT.  Allman Brothers are my favorite rock band. Bob Dylan is my favorite songwriter.  Miles Davis is my favorite musician.  Bad Brains is my favorite "punk" band.  Frank Sinatra is my favorite singer.  Jean-Michel Basquiat is my favorite painter. PJ Lad is my favorite skateboarder.  Mason Aguire is my favorite snowboarder."

IAR: Dopest moment you've had in your career so far?

MS: "The Rolling Stone cover contest was pretty amazing.  I mean just being in that magazine is truly breath-taking. Helping people out exceeds everything though."

www.modsunmusic.com

Follow on Twitter @MODSUN

The SwAze Playlist II

It's Friday, you know what that means.  "It's A Rap" gives you the SwAze Playlist II.  Here's the opportunity to see what were listening to and keep it as #SwAze as we do.  Same routine, no particular order, just equally dope...Certified.

1. FKi ft. Iggy Azalea- "I Think She Ready"

2. Nacho Picasso-"Benjamin Segal"

3. Mac Miller-"Good Evening"

4. Wale- "Breakup Song"

5. Kid Named Breezy-"Hands Up"

6. Vado-"All I Know (Freestyle)"

7. Kirko Bangz-"Drank In My Cup"

8. Dom Kennedy-"Bet You Want Me (Now)"

9. Mod Sun ft. Schoolboy Q-"Tye Dye Everything"

10. Gilbere Forte-"Humble F*cks"

"IAR" Interview: Blue Sky Black Death

Dynamic.  Duo.  Blue Sky Black Death.  BSBD consist of Kingston and Young God, a Seattle- based producer team who are slowly, but progressively, altering the face of hip-hop.  Methodically implementing and pioneering the use of ambient sound and melodic tones, BSBD are peaking the interests of not only a growing fan base, but artists alike.  Their collective drive and ambition for creating a new approach to hip-hop should serve as an inspiration to aspiring producers.  In an art form where drums and bass are imperative, these two are breaking it's normal structure and proving that obscure is the new normal, while still maintaining originality in an often rigidly confined "genre" label.  It's A Rap had the privilege of picking the brains of the forging, innovative producers, and one thing is eminently clear, for BSBD, only sky is the limit.

IAR: What/Who are your major influences?

BSBD: "When we started making beats our influences were RZA, Premo, Organized Noize, and then bands like Slowdive, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and just everything we listened to. So many different bands and artists. We've always been influenced by stuff outside of hip- hop too, but these days I wouldn't say we have as many influences. We're kind of insulated a little more these days, even though we still check for all the new stuff. "

IAR: Since you guys are located in Seattle, what was the experience like working with Nacho Picasso?

BSBD: "It's just like working with family now. We're all homies so it's just really fun and easy. Nacho is actually the easiest rapper we've ever worked with. He's really open minded as far as how the production sounds and with concepts, and despite his on record ego, he's totally humble and open to constructive criticism. He's at our studio almost every day, so we just play him beats and he writes to them. It's been one of the most fun experiences working with him. He's as funny as he is on his songs, so that helps too."

IAR: Who are some artists you want to work with?

BSBD: "Let's see. One of my favorite "new" rappers is definitely Danny Brown. We've been wanting to work with him for a while. Also, I like Main Attrakionz a lot. You can really hear their emotion on track and I like that they seem open minded when it comes to beats. We just did a remix for Mondre Man by the way, so check that out. We like Chuuwee from Sacramento, Frankenstein from LA, and that kid Perrion from NYC is really dope too. Been talking to G-side for a while and are definitely trying to put in work with them. There's plenty of people we'd be down to work with, it's just a matter of making it happen. Sometimes it's hard to get commitments though." 

IAR: What inspired the concept for Blue Sky Black Death?

BSBD: "The name was a title of one of our songs before it was our name.  Kingston introduced me to that concept which is a skydiving term. He skydives and his dad is a pro skydiver and base jumper. Musically, the concept was always just to make whatever we wanted to make and not be constricted by just hip- hop. So we've always made music outside of hip- hop too, and it's hard to tell whether it's been to our benefit or not, because it's hard for people to categorize us." 

IAR: Future plans/projects for BSBD?

BSBD: "More instrumental albums, more work with Nacho, and definitely trying to spread our production to more rappers and singers if possible. Also we have shows coming up with Nacho Picasso." 

IAR: What distinguishes your sound from other producers in hip-hop?

BSBD: "I think it's more common these days but when we started we didn't know of many other hip- hop producers that had the same influences and the same interests in music and I think it shows in our music. The ambient sound in hip- hop has become a lot more popular recently, and we've been doing it for a long time but it was mostly relegated to our instrumental or "dream pop" music, but now we're seeing rappers who are really open to that sound, so I think that's good for us. One thing that you can almost always expect from us that sets us apart is that our stuff is really big sounding. And we just dropped a straight up 13 minute ambient track with no drums. I don't know any other hip-hop producers that do that. So we have that going!" (Laughs)

IAR: What's been the most fulfilling project in hip-hop, or music to date?

BSBD: "Working with Nacho has been the most fun, and the fact that we've done everything ourselves (videos, production, recording, PR, artwork, etc.) makes it more fulfilling. "Slow Burning Lights" was cool too because that was the first time we introduced the world to our music that wasn't hip-hop at all."

http://bsbdmusic.com

Follow on Twitter @BSBDmusic