Q&A With Little Vic
Darius: At what time did making hip hop music, emceeing and producing, become a career choice for you? Has there been a lot of support for you as a musician from family and friends?
Little Vic: As soon as I moved out of my parents domicile @ 18. I worked at JFK airport loading & unloading freight, and also worked at a florist in the art department spray painting center pieces…the first time I made a dollar selling a beat, battling someone, or even just raising eyebrows It was a wrap. My parents have always been supportive & continue to encourage my involvement in the music biz, even though its full of greedy fucks. My friends are some of my biggest supporters. It was also a good career choice due to the fact that I have always had a problem with authority… I am my own boss, and I am also my hardest working employee.
Darius: Each Dawn I Die is where most people got familiar with Little Vic. But before that album what were you doing? Any other releases up that point? Were you doing shows at that point?
Little Vic: I was working on an album called “Hush Money”. At the time, my management was trying to attract me to the mainstream… I had a few tracks that could have been big, but I felt inhuman. I did enjoy myself during that time period though, me and John John were in LA & Miami living like the Entourage boys. I felt like I was a fuckin’ robot though, and ultimately I didn’t even really like the shit I was coming out with. Needless to say, I don’t have management anymore… But I am back where I always should have been…The Dungeon. Back then I released a mixtape called “For a Few Dollars More” and it resembled the days when we had our first basement studio… Me, John John, and Paulie O had axes and shit hanging on the wall above the MPC 3000.
Darius: For the readers who have or maybe even haven’t heard Each Dawn I Die, describe what went into making that album. How long was it in the making for? How many hours a day did you put in it? How did you go about getting the legend, Kool G. Rap to spit some bars on the joint and Premier behind the boards. Those are not names that wind up on just any and every release.
Little Vic: EDID wasn’t exactly a planned release. I worked like an animal to complete as many tracks as I felt necessary, and I kind of just threw it together. Domingo hooked me up with Kool G Rap, and my boy King (Lunatic Mind, the producer of the title track, “Each Dawn I Die”) hooked me up with Phat Gary who is Primo’s Manager. Once I had Caked Up, The Exorcist, and The Evil that Men Do (prod. Buckwild)… the rest of the album was completed at my house in between parties & cook outs. Me & Joey P banged out the album in about a months time. He basically lived at my house during that period2 months time. He was my personal engineer, guitarist & second set of ears.
Darius: Most people know you as an emcee because that is more visible but you have definitely put in work behind the boards too. If you needed to make a choice…production or emceeing…which one do you go with?
Little Vic: Shit… I was producing first, but if I had to choose between the two I would choose spitting. I trust a nice handful of producers, and could still put out banging material without my own joints on the album. Besides, variety is one of the most important keys to creating a quality album… I know that if I fuck with one producer too much my flow starts to become stale, so I try to listen & come up with a flow for every different producers style.
Darius: Give me one artist, past or present, that influences the music you make now and elaborate on why that artist has inspired you.
Little Vic: I am gonna go with OC. The reason why OC was my favorite MC is because he knew how to create an atmosphere. If you listen to Jewelz, it is one of the most balanced hip hop albums of all time. He has the street joints, the stories, the girl tracks, the deep shit, the dark shit, & the feel good shit. The most important part about that formula is to NOT make it sound planned, and he did that VERY well. Besides some of my underground compadres, the only artist that inspires me to write is Jay. He will say some slick shit, & make you want to say something back.
Darius: As a listener and a fan of hip hop, in your mind, what was the last classic hip hop album released and what made it a classic to you.
Little Vic: My idea of a classic is something that grows on you the more you dig into it. With that said, it obviously needs to be the full package. Beats, rhymes, flow, delivery, engineering, originality, content, & heart. cRITICAL’s “Medical Records” will be considered a classic once people start digging into it & grasping the content. It is all those things & it grew on me heavy. Before that, there are plenty of classics… You just need to scratch below the surface unfortunately.
Darius: What’s the biggest problem or obstacle that you have encountered in being an independent hip hop artist?
Little Vic: How the money has ruined music. How there are way more POP CULTURE fans than music fans. The worst part about it all, is radio. Music used to be able to inspire people to come together & make a difference. Due to pop culture, the radio stations & self proclaimed “Music Channels” are circumnavigating talent in order to bring something sellable to light, they have put a death grip on the Jimi Hendrixs/ John Lennons/ Aretha Franklins of our generation. Real talent is out there, and until MUSIC fans demand it be played & get the recognition it deserves… it won’t. That is one of the many things that bother me about the music business…It isn’t so much about being independent.
Darius: With so many emcees, producers, and artists in general putting out material these days via the internet, what is going to save the truly talented and gifted individuals from disappearing in the mix? Does true talent simply shine through? Or does it take something else? What’s your experience in differentiating yourself from the pack?
Little Vic: I am still fighting that everyday war. unfortunately… NO true talent doesn’t necessarily jump out and bite your ass. It may take years & years before an artist is even given his or her true homage & by that time, they might have already given up their dream. I try to just stick to what I think is hot. I am a student of music, and that includes EVERY type. I think you really need to give it your all, and get out there. If you are out there performing and showcasing your talent while dropping your best material, you will stand out no matter what.
Darius: When people listen to a Little Vic album what impression do you hope to leave with the listeners and your fans? What do you want your body of work to be remembered for when it’s all said and done?
Little Vic: I haven’t even started yet. I promise that the music will only increase in complexity & quality. I want people who become Little Vic fans down the line to be able to listen from my first piece of work to my last and notice the progression in flow, lyrics & production. I hope I am blessed enough to be able to do this for the rest of my life, and if I am… I will sacrifice my lifestyle to satisfy my listeners.
Darius: Ok…finally…give the people a heads up as to what they can expect from you in the remainder of 2009 and heading into 2010. What projects do you have dropping as a solo artist? What about collaboration efforts.
Little Vic: They can expect to love Suicide Mission as an appetizer for Autopsy. They can expect the Hidden Agenda movement to continuously grow. They can expect collaborations with legendary MC’s & Producers as well as modern marvels. They can expect a Little Vic production album with many interesting features. They can also expect the 3rd album, “Tonight we go to war”… hahaha, I am promoting the 3rd one already… Peace out & Godbless
