Artist Spotlight: Blaq Poet

Veterans in hip hop are overlooked and underappreciated. They either get no love on their early work and perhaps too-little-too-late love on their more recent work, or, they get tons of love on their early stuff and get ostracized from the hip hop community for “selling out.” Blaq Poet may be better known now for his work with legendary DJ Premier, however, Poet was also one of the first emcees to fire back at KRS One‘s onslaught against Queensbridge (check his diss track to KRS, “Beat you Down”). Po was also a member of Screwball, a group consisting of Hostyle, KL, Blaq Poet, & Solo. Hopefully some of these quick facts are ringing bells, but Poet is certainly no stranger to the old school hip hop head. His longevity is tried and true, being in the game for over 20 years and dropping one of his best pieces of work to date with DJ Premier, Tha Blaqprint, Blaq shows that his hunger is still evident and very persistent. KevinNottingham.com got a chance to sit down with Blaq Poet and discuss this aforementioned hip hop stamina, DJ Premier, his part in the Bridge Wars, overseas hip hop fans, the changes he has seen over the last 20 years, amongst other topics. Loads of content, of course. Peep after the jump.

KN: Poet, first off, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us over here at KevinNottingham.com. Have you been busy with promo for the latest project?

BP: Yeah I’ve been busy promoting the album. I just got back from Spain, then I went to Boston. Spreading that real hip hop.

KN: Care to talk a little bit about Tha Blaqprint? What can we expect from it? Naturally, with Premier behind the boards and you on the microphone, heads are anxious to hear more about it.

BP: Yeah, it is hard street core, street hip hop. A lot of “boom bap”. There’s really nothing out there like it.

KN: Speaking of DJ Premier, both of you guys have been in the game for a very, very long time. How do artist like yourself and Preem stay in hip hop so long and remain so true to your original sound? We see many artists, without naming names of course, who start off as one artist and end up as another, almost disowning their original style that gained loyalty in the first place. Why will Blaq Poet never change (or) why will Blaq Poet always be changing?

BP: It’s easy to stay true to the game when you’re a real nigga from the gate. I think a lot of people get the money and lose the hunger.

KN: Could you talk about your relationship with DJ Premier and how you guys came to have such a tight bond? This isn’t your first rodeo over a Premier cut, in fact you already have a few under your belt prior to the upcoming Blaqprint album. How did you two connect in the first place and how has he impacted you as an artist?

BP: We met in the early 90′s. We lost touch and got back together again in 2000 for the Screwball album. I like that Premier has made me more of a perfectionist.

KN: It’s kind of crazy because you pretty much have the best of the best at your disposal for production in DJ Premier. Not only Preemo, but you also have Easy Mo Bee on the album too, correct? Do you think you’ll ever venture into the younger, newer producers out there? I ask this because the site is very producer heavy and loaded with talent, I’m sure they’d love to holler at you with their beautiful creations.

BP: Yes. I don’t look for the names of the producers. I just look for that fire. Who got that heat. That’s what it is.

KN: Did you have a concept when you went into the booth with it? The title entails a type of plan/plot to follow; it could also mean a variety of other things too. Is there anything in particular you had in mind when naming the album what you named it?

BP: Nah. Just showing I got the Blaqprint to the hood and the map to this hip-hop shit. That’s the concept.

KN: Most people new to Poet may not remember your confrontation with KRS One back in the late 80′s. You were a significant part in the infamous Bridge Wars, of course, representing Queens. I’m sure you’ve told the story a few times, but do you think you could talk a bit about that whole situation in a nut shell

BP: KRS-One, Boogie Down Productions tried to diss Queensbridge, and I wasn’t having it. I had to rep for my hood.

KN: Of course, you are talking about “Beat You Down.” Still, we saw a beautiful thing on KRS and Marley’s album Hip Hop Lives when you appeared on it (and undoubtedly stole the show). How did you feel when you heard Marley and Kris were creating an album and then reached out to you to appear on it?

BP: At first I wasn’t with it. Then I thought about it and realized it would be a good thing for hip-hop to do it.

KN: We spoke briefly about you representing Queens and whatnot, but there has been an immense amount of hip hop talent coming out of Queens ever since the birth of hip hop. What is about Queens that inspires these great artists, and given the fact that just about everyone today raps, what makes a Queens MC special?

BP: We have to live up to the Run DMC era when Queens took over.

KN: Given the development (or downfall, depending on how you look at it) of Hip Hop since you first entered in the mid to late 80′s, how do you think it has changed in those 20 years? What are the most significant difference and similarities you see in the music, in the business, and in the culture?

BP: The impact of the Internet has definitely changed hip-hop. We can reach more people now than we could back then. One thing I noticed is that everyone is still trying to shine.

KN: Speaking of “everyone trying to shine,” is there any new emcee catching your attention or even a new producer that is worthy of Blaq Poet’s “repeat” function on your iPod? Is there anyone you are consistently checking for and naturally, what is it about an artist that catches your eye/ear?

BP: Usually I’m just in a zone. I usually don’t listen to the radio or anything.

KN: Will you be touring to promote this album? Where can we expect to see a Blaq Poet show?

BP: I have things is in the works. I will keep you posted!

KN: How important is a live show to an artist? Is there anything you do that is unique to your art and craft that other artists may not be able to duplicate? We’ve seen some great artists falter with their live acts, how can that translate to the listener when checking out their LP or next project?

BP: You have to just come from the heart while you’re out there, and just leave it all behind. Fans have a certain image of you by listening to the album. So if you don’t give to them their experience in watching, the performance is ruined.

KN: In a few other interviews I’ve seen, you’ve talked about hip-hop in the US and Overseas. You seem to have quite a huge fan base outside of North America. Why do you think that particular artists resonate more with European fans, for example, more so than American fans?

BP: Hip-hop is not over saturated over there…its not everywhere over there…they know the history and respect the craft.

KN: Regardless, our site is loaded with fans all over the world and I’m sure they appreciate you donating your time to the interview and spreading the word of Blaq Poet. Any last words? What’s next after the album?

BP: Working on the Screwball project right now. And working on a top secret project. Whhoooooo haaaaaa to all the fans and fuck all you bitch ass niggaz!!!