Interview: Da Foundation

youtu.be/R6Gz-TXVMWs
Twitter @da_foundation @mannybeatschi
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East Orange, NJ duo Da Foundation presents the Pablo Productions-directed music video for "By Any Means", the new single produced by MannyBeats Chi from their forthcoming debut album Live... Suffer... Celebrate... Now residing in Greensboro, North Carolina, Da Foundation is comprised of brothers Mustaiin a.k.a. Mu and Malcolm a.k.a. Casso (watch the music video for previous single "33.6.20" on Youtube). Mu says the new single is about "beating the odds going against the set standard for society. Fk the rules.”

What inspired you guys to name your group Da Foundation?

Well thinking back when we first started we had no name just making music. As we started to take the craft more seriously and research the business of music we started to understand the importance of brand identity. Needless to say the actual name Da Foundation came in a day dream. From there it was brought up in a conversation and immediately loved and accepted. The name resonates with us because all things, big or small, are built from the bottom up and any form of greatness is as strong as its foundation.

You guys are relative newcomers to the national stage, yet you have the aura of vets. Tell us about your journey to this point in the game.

We've been grinding for 10 years and furthermore we have burned a lot of stages down from showcases to open mics. We spent two years in the streets moving our own mixtapes out the trunk where we used to post up at the BP and the Shell. In doing this we dropped 7 tapes from there we went on tour three different times. The first being 3 cities to 5 then the last time being 11 keeping in mind typos was self funded. After experiencing life on the road we felt it necessary to focus on the catalog and ultimately the Album and here we are a reflection on the hustle.

Why did you guys relocate from NJ to NC? What are the pros and cons of the move?

We didn’t really relocate, we were in school at the time and our choice of schools were located in North Carolina. I will say far as we are concerned there were less distractions towards the grind not to say we wouldn’t have accomplished the same in Jersey but NC is where we landed.

“By Any Means” evokes lots of dark imagery. What was the inspiration?

The “By Any Means” video is a direct reflection of the song which coincides with the perception that when an African-American man reaches a certain level in life and wealth means the devil or the illuminati is responsible for it. Music is energy positive and negative; you can’t have one without the other. With that said it is also art and dark art is a form of art we have chosen to step into. We sound different so our imagery is different. The message behind it vibrates stronger because the video is captivating.

Predictions for the rest of 2021?

2021 Da Foundation will continue to push forward. We will continue to release thought provoking music and videos. Keep the national stage tuned in and on notice. Growth will be seen and heard as we will continue morphing as artists for fans to live and adore. We so Alleyway 2 Broadway & Everything Foundation Fly!

Interview- I-K-E

youtube.com/watch?v=c9xc5hwLfYs
@ikeaka2020 | Instagram | Spotify

Los Angeles, CA-based emcee/producer I-K-E- (Inspiring Kings Everywhere) presents the Reece Cross-directed music video for "Yo Soy Un Rey", the new self-produced single from I-K-E's forthcoming album _Corazón de Selena_. The "Rey" visual comes on the heels of the music video for previous single "Illusions" (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbSqQgYXWPA">watch on Youtube</a>) as well as previous singles such as "The Master" and "The World" which can be found on his <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/0yoxu9lCDAks1fKCx0rLaO?si=LKyjM4DkQReAs0fikK7O-Q">Spotify page</a>. "'Yo Soy Un Rey' means 'I am a king' in Spanish," I-K-E says when asked about the new track. "As Latinos in America, we've experienced our share of oppression, racism, and marginalization, and this can crush the spirit and cause us to see ourselves as less than we really are. I wrote this song to empower myself and others, Latino or not, who have been slighted by the current social structure."

What can you tell us about the track "Yo Soy Un Rey"? What was your inspiration? Thoughts behind the hook? Music video?

Yo Soy Un Rey is the intro to a themed album heavily inspired by Selena, my upbringing in Texas as a Mexican American, and my work to uplift the Latino community. "Yo Soy Un Rey" translates to "I am a King", which is a simple, yet defiant declaration. It's dedicated to Latinos and anybody else working hard to overcome obstacles and have their voice heard. The video was shot in the Fashion District of Downtown Los Angeles. It always reminds me of Mexico when I go: the hustle, the hard work, the Latino people and music, etc. The video ends at the Novo, where a group of fans first approached me and made the comparison to Selena, touching on the overall lack of Latino representation in mainstream and underground Hip Hop.

How has living in Los Angeles influenced your style of music?

Living in Los Angeles has forced me to step up my overall production and songwriting value.There's so much talent here in Los Angeles, and I love that it inspires me and brings out the competitive edge in many ways. Demographic wise, Los Angeles is overwhelmingly Latino. Even when I perform at a Dilated Peoples or Rakim show, Latinos are there and rolling deep. Without feedback from the group of fans I mentioned above, I'm not sure that I would have ever internalized the need to make this album. I kept the lyricism and production value a focus as usual, but sonically, language wise, and content wise, I made a conscious effort to tap into my Tejano and Latino roots.

What can we expect to see /hear from you in the future? New Projects?

I have several projects and collaborations completed or in the works, but this album, "Corazón de Selena" is priority. The album is complete, so listeners can expect more singles and more music videos. I think people will be surprised by some of the content and production, and hopefully inspired when they hear the complete body of work. I produce too, so while rolling out this album, I'm staying creative by making beats for other artists, or one-off singles for my self.

Who are you often compared to that's out now. How do you distinguish yourself from those artists?

Over the years, I've gotten comparisons to everyone from Evidence to Drake to J Cole. Those are probably the most common. I've heard Mac Miller as well. I think the common thread is the love for the art, and the emphasis on lyricism. With this particular album, I think what really distinguishes me from those artists is the content, the incorporation of Spanish, and the production.

What are your thoughts on the industry today?

I think there is a lot of talent and great music, and there's some music that I personally don't care for too much. As a hip hop head, of course I love seeing J Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and similar artists win, but I also love listening to and learning from everything else that is out, especially from a production standpoint. I think there is a recent increase in successful Latino artists, so that's dope to see as well. Overall, there's so much talent out there and I'm excited to see the cream rise to the top.

With Trump gone, how do you think the Biden administration will impact the Hispanic American community?

You know they say, "never put your hope in a politician", but after Trump, I'm just anxious for more civilized and productive dialogue. I feel like he really contributed to polarizing the country further, and that makes compromise and communication more difficult. I hope we see policies that directly impact the Hispanic American community, whether that's through education funding and policy, immigration policy, minimum wage, criminal justice reform, etc. There's complicated issues that continue to impact the Hispanic American community, and we need thoughtful solutions. I'm always weary of lip service, but I'll be trying to do my part to stay informed and check for action.--