Former producer/rapper of Secluded Journalists and current solo artist and Berkeley local, Ayentee shares some perspective:
Me: How and when did you first discover hip hop? Is there
a specific memory, moment, track or show that you can
pinpoint as the catalyst for your genesis as a hip hop
head? What era do you consider yourself a part of?
Ayentee: I guess I was just fortunate enough to grow up
immersed in it. My earliest childhood memories
include and sometimes revolve around hip hop. It
wasn't really a choice. In fact, I didn't even know
there was another option till I was 8 or 9 and my
cousin tried to get me to listen to Guns & Roses. But
by then I just wasn't interested.
When did you begin making music and why?
What was your motivation—were you trying to get
rich, champion battles, mack girls or just kick flows
for fun? Have you ever shifted in your
reasoning for making hip hop music?
I started making beats right after I heard Dr. Dre's
'The Chronic' in 92. I just started playing around
with a cheap keyboard trying to recreate the beats on
that album. I figured out a way to layer sounds using
a pause button method and a spliced cord going into my
aux input into my stereo. I was just bored, trying to
be creative. I tried to recreate a lot of my favorite
songs at the time. Good practice. A few years later
I met a kid in high school that had some real
equipment so I started getting down on his stuff. And
then around junior year of high school I had a part
time job and bought my own gear. Back then it was a
bit more difficult to make beats since you needed
hardware. Computer music was still very much in its
baby stages and was too expensive to afford. As for
writing lyrics, I started when I was real young.
Again, just trying to emulate my favorite songs, I'd
rewrite other people’s songs and rap them with my
words, but in their style. Who knew that that would
catch on and become a mixtape phenomenon. hahahah. I
didn't get serious as a writer until around senior
year of high school when I realized that I could think
of things to say that haven't been said yet. Or
at least I hadn't heard it. As far as motivation goes,
I was hangin around a lot of kids doing the same thing.
It was always competition for us, trying to one-up
each other. I'd hear a song that my boy did and be
like, ‘Damn, I wish I made that shit!’ So I'd go home
and try to make a song that made him say the same
thing.
Is there a particular vibe (musically, lyrically)
you’ve tried to capture with each of your
albums—Public Diary, The Manual and Peasant Symphony?
Could you condense the themes or messages of each
album?
‘Public Diary’ was my emo album before I knew there was
a word for it. I got the inspiration from such great
emo artists as Bushwick Bill, Tupac, Shock G, and
Boots from The Coup. They aren't "emo" but they knew
how to make a personal and moving song. I learned
from them. I figured if I was going to make a
personal album, I'd do it right. So it became a
diary. ‘The Manual’ I made during a time when I began
to realize that life on earth wasn't going to be
possible much longer if we didn't start making drastic
social changes. All the music I made around that time
had that theme to it. I wove a sub theme into that
album that had to do with underground hip hop. The
album was made to stand as a sort of instruction
manual for those two themes. With ‘Peasant Symphony’ I
directed my focus onto the people. People who were
struggling – whether it was with money, love, death,
whatever. It was an album dedicated to struggle. The
new album I’m working on which is nearly complete is
entitled ‘Curiosity Saved The Mouse’ and that album's
main theme is to focus in on the other side of things.
What’s your mission, Ayentee—as it pertains to the music
and giving it away free, and with your life in
general?
I think my mission is to express ideas that are
rattling around in my brain in an entertaining way. I
get the most satisfaction out of my life when I’m
creating, so I guess that’s what I'm supposed to do. I
think people just need to find ways to feel fulfilled,
useful, needed, and a part of something. I don’t
necessarily think giving away music free is the end
all be all answer to my problems. But it has helped
free me of some very cumbersome issues that I was
having with my music and the industry in general. I'm
pretty much free to live a normal life and go to work,
do my things that regular people do, come home and on
occasion put ideas down for songs. I just can’t be
apart of the sickness that seems to envelope aspiring
artists, actors, screenplay writers, whatever. It
just reminds me of a bunch of rats climbing over each
other trying to get out of the barrel.
How has being in
affected your music? Have you been influenced by
local artists or styles?
For sure I was influenced by the D-I-Y philosophy that
many artists around here took to. It was easy to see
results on a small scale by doing it that way. And
small scale results was really all I was after. As
far as being influenced by styles, man, I am
influenced by damn near everyone. That’s one thing
about me, I pull rhyme patterns from other songs all
the time. Different words, same feeling and style. I
am a biter and I can’t help it! But fuck it, what can
you do? I keep working and writing, hoping to find my
own way some day.
What does hip hop music mean to you?
For me it means relaxation, relating, vibing,
understanding, and building energy.
What do you think about the current state of the hip
hop industry?
It’s just like every other industry. Exploitive,
excessive, capitalistic, and wasteful. I don't really
listen to the shit that the industry is force feeding
the kids. I seek out the underground rappers. The
myspace rappers. I look out and check for the ones
that have their heads on straight, who refuse to
dance, the ones with integrity and character.
How do you stay healthy—mentally, emotionally,
spiritually?
I remind myself that I am on a decent path. I
remember to bring myself back to the moment when
possible. I try not to dwell on the past or worry
about the future. I make people laugh when I can and
try to find things to laugh and smile about often. I
breathe deep from time to time to remind myself that
I'm here right now and that’s all that really matters.
I do not worry about money—ever, really. But you
know, there's always things to work on.
Who are/were some of your greatest influences,
musically or otherwise?
Stevie Wonder is a big influence for me. I love that
guy. I don’t think I ever seen Stevie not smiling. I
am influenced by truly happy people.
If you were going to recommend a few artists you think
people should check out, who might they be?
Check out The Coup if you haven't got around to it.
Um, Bambu, formally of Native Guns.
www.myspace.com/bambumusic.
www.myspace.com/macklemore, myspace.com/onebelo, you
know the deal.
Any words of wisdom for the listeners?
Take it lite. Stop trippin off tomorrow and live
today. Love yourself and your neighbor (I know he's
an asshole, but try anyway). Create and share. Give
what you can when you can. Enjoy life.
Ayentee is currently in the lab working on another album ('Curiosity Saved the Mouse'). Check out his music -- it's free to stream and to download ('cause the dude's badass like that for ya'll) -- and other info on his web site:
ayentee.net
No comments:
Post a Comment