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 Esoteric

How's it going Eso?

Esoteric: Everything is going really well man, I'm in a good spot of my life right now. Loving the stuff we are doing musically, happy about the Celtics kicking ass and excited for the future. This Japan record is getting some really good responses from people..

Can you explain the concept of Eso vs. Japan?

Esoteric: The cd is a joint that I'm really proud of, something I cranked out in roughly a month's time because I just got so engrossed in it that it took control of me and I couldn't really talk to anyone except my dog until I finished it. It is funny, he barks at me at 6:30am every morning. I get up and feed him and let him out to do his business. Then I go back to bed but he immediately barks at me again until I get in the studio, and once I'm in there, he stops bothering me. He lays down next to me once I am sitting in the chair in front of the computer. It's like he is telling me to get to work. It's really amazing. Anyway, that's not what you asked. The album is based on using samples from 60's, 70's and 80's Japanese pop culture, anime and movies like Godzilla, Gaiking, Force 5, Shogun Warriors, Rodan, stuff like that. I then got a little carried away with it and started sampling psychedelic bands and disco and electro records from Japan. Then I got REALLY carried away and started sampling from Road Warriors wrestling matches that took place in Japan. There is about an album's worth of stuff that never made the record too. This record was a lot of fun to make.

What made you decide to create an album with Japanese based influences? Are you a previous fan of the films, music and culture?

Esoteric: I decided to do this because I feel like I can do whatever I want. All the hardcore battle shit I did on multiple albums, all the 120bpm fun-rap and tron-hop I already did a few years ago with A New Dope and the Tubeway record. I love all that stuff but I wanted a different theme this time. You know, with the uptempo shit. It became a big plastic trend and although I love that sound and love making it, I immediately wanted to get away from it. See, I did all that shit without faking the funk. You know, being true to myself, doing the party rap because I came up on MC Shy D and Luke. You know, for fun, and just that, without putting a glowstick on and bowing down to this paper-thin party-rap scene. You know the candy-painted sneaker, big hat/skinny jeans scene. There are some cool kids in that scene, no pun intended, but for the most part it's a bunch of kids playing gay-chicken and I'm chicken when it comes to that shit. I can get into the music though and its really easy to make, so I'll probably have some more shit in that vein eventually, but I laugh at the scene, it's very temporary and see-through.

Speaking of that, it's nice to see Urban Outfitters hiring black kids now. Remember you would go in that store and it would be Lisa Loeb at the register? Now its Skateboard P. It's good to see that because over the years, Urban Outfiitters have made that product-shift into the boomboxes, graf books, Dunks, and Pumas and all that stuff, so it is good to get the genuine article in there. It's good to see them put the "urban" in the outfitters in more ways than just selling the look to you. I'm talking about the Boston area stores now, not LA and NY and all that. They are always ahead of Boston on cultural things, not sports, but cultural things, if you will accept such a vague description. You always should be careful using the word "cultural" because people love to point out what's cultural and what's not, that's so uncultured. Anyway, I made this record because I've done a lot of themed stuff in the past, under a different producer name and realized I could do it some more. And actually, this isn't the first stuff I've used from Japanese sources. I guess after I produced "Dump the Clip" on the AOTP album, I was looking at all the stuff I had that came from that side of the planet, and I just thought it was a unique concept so I did it. I just made all the beats, turned the mic on, and just said whatever I thought sounded cool and clever at the moment.

Did you already have most of the records/samples or did you seek them out when you decided to create the album?

Esoteric: All the stuff that I sampled were from movies and dvd's that I already had. I did a little bit of researching once I got into the project and started taking things from some bands from the 70's and 80's to even things out. Some things are even originally songs from Europe or the US but they are Japanese cover-version of the songs. Like you'll see a Japanese version of Beethoven on there, so I just alluded to the originator by calling it "Beat Oven." As long as it was a Japanese artist's interpretation or Japanese film or cartoon, I'd find a way to use it. Stuff you would never think of, like Johnny Sokko or Space Giants. Then I had my man Chris Lee from Japan help me translate some of the stuff, so I wasn't sampling some guy singing in Japanese talking about how he wants to have a sex change or something.

Would you consider doing this with any other country?

Esoteric: Maybe Uganda. I've got a Kamala dvd I could use. Nah, not really. It was just a fun project for me to do, because after the good feedback I got on Esoteric vs. Gary Numan; I figured I should, and that I could bang another disc like that out again. But who would it be that I'd use? Eso versus who? Then I thought to myself, that concept is so played out, like taking one artist and making an album out of all his stuff, I mean even when I was doing the Gary Numan thing I knew that "versus" thing was played but I couldn't help it, I was so drawn to the project. But for this one I said "fuck it, I'll take on a whole country. One that really epitomizes the heavy emphasis on art and creativity and style. I was inspired by the country

Who are some of the guests artists you worked with for the project?

Esoteric: I wanted to work with artists that I never did stuff with before and do something different, have some different voices and styles on there, so I reached out to some people that I've been cool with for a long time and respected as artists and made it happen. King Magnetic from AOTP, Eddie Meeks from Memphis, Moe Pope from Boston, Nejel Mongrel from Japan, voices that you wouldn't really hear on some of my stuff. Main Flow and Karma, who I've done a ton of stuff with and have good chemistry with. Also my man Will C made his debut appearance on this cd so this cd it's kinda like a collector's item cause that kid will be famous one day...

As a promotion for the Eso vs. Japan album, Fly Casual released a YouTube video involving numerous action figures. How did that come together?

Esoteric: That's me spending an afternoon the way I would have spent it when I was 5 or 6 years old. Playing with action figures and records and shit. I just shot the footage in the guest room of my house, all the vintage action figures, including the custom-made figure of myself and then I edited it with my own voice and the classic voices taken from the Power Records 45 rpm series. It was some grade F stop-motion animation. Go to www.youtube.com/pterolab and check it out. I wanted to make a mini-movie to show people how I came to the conclusion that I should "attack" Japan. In short, Godzilla and the Shogun Warriors killed Spiderman and his friends. Not a good look. I had to get back at them. We really didn't sink a lot of money into the promotion of this record because we know what we are doing and wanted to do it in a more creative fashion.

You have one song called "24 Karat Fiction". What's the concept behind that?

Esoteric: It was a freestyle for the most part. It took me a few takes as I wanted to change some of the stuff I was saying but it was really me just playing the beat and rhyming off the top of the head. I chose to tell a fictional story of the 24K Gold rope with me starring as the rope. Kind of a fucking silly concept now that I think about it, but honestly, I didn't think about it too much as I was recording it and mixing it. That's the beauty of Fly Casual. It's our label and we can do whatever the fuck we want. I don't really have to think about something first, I can just do whatever comes to mind and not sweat it afterward. I mean, if I want to stop promoting this record right now in order to watch the Celts in the playoffs and then spend the rest of the month with my dog, I can do that. Nobody can tell me shit. As long as the cd is selling and the merch is moving, we are happy.

DJ Premier played "God Less America" last week. It must feel good to be basically co-signed by Premo.

Esoteric: Yeah totally man. In reality, when I was listening to Gang Starr way back when the "Positivity" video was on, like late 80's, and trying to explain to people that Guru was from Boston originally and stuff, the idea of DJ Premier playing a record that I produced would have been so far-fetched that I couldn't even grasp it. But it happens now and I am damn grateful. He's the greatest producer of this generation and it kinda puts a tag of legitimacy to your product when such a legend plays the shit. No question about it. So for anything I do to catch his ear, really means everything to me. Plus it gives the haters some steam.

Since we last spoke to you, you also put out Esoteric vs. Gary Numan. What can you tell us about that?

Esoteric: Man Gary Numan had the music that I was always into my whole life, but never really bragged about listening to. But it always struck me, like a lot of that 80's shit, drum machine, keyboard, synth shit. Stuff that wasn't Run DMC, stuff I liked but would never admit it because it was not hip-hop. But I liked it for some of the same reasons, it made you move. Like Gary Numan, Talking Heads, Information Society, the Beasties and 3rd Bass where the only white artists I'd accept in the 80's, but the only ones I'd admit to would be 3rd Bass or the Beastie Boys. It's funny because back then I was such a hardcore hip-hop kid I shunned everything non-hip-hop except for shit like Guy and Al B. Sure and dancehall shit. I was at a point where Cutty Ranks was right up with there Big Daddy Kane as one of my faves. Music is funny, like one good experience can really throw you for a loop man, take you on a ride.

For example 6 years ago I was at this pool down in South Beach and all this station at the pool played was old school latin freestyle shit like Stevie B or TKA or whatever, you know? I was loving that! But back in the 80's, you know I'd be waiting for "Diamond Girl" to end, because chances are, a hip-hop record would come on next. I didn't hate that shit, I mean they played it at the clubs and the beaches and shit where the girls would be so it was a staple, but I didn't ever buy freestyle shit, it was just on all the time. But hearing it these days I like it even more because it brings me back and honestly I have heard "Ain't No Half Steppin" and "true school hip-hop classics" enough times in my life to where I never have to hear them again. I don't know, electronic music in general man was just crazy back then. Like Egyptian Lover. I looooved that shit but mainly I just wanted hip-hop, but you hear shit at a certain time and place and realize you love it. I mean, that's a tangent, so as far as Gary Numan goes, his music would always catch me. That icy synthesizer and maybe the science fiction aesthetic, it sounded like computer sounds and I associated it with all the sci-fi movies. I applied it to a lot of stuff in my life and it clicked. Dude was on some sci-fi, post-apocalyptic hip-hop shit. He really was. Lyrically and sonically. Shit was crazy. Making that album using all his sounds, that was cathartic for me. I love that shit. He paved the way for a lot of people.

Sometimes you almost have songs within songs. When you start a track do you know where it's going to take you or do you just go with the flow?

Esoteric: Most of the time I go with the flow. Lately I definitely go with the flow, like on Egoclapper, this Japan record, A New Dope, and the Gary Numan record I definitely went with the flow. Our older stuff like Bars of Death and Soul Purpose were more structured and like "life-or-death" recordings. Like 1,2,3,4. This newer stuff is like 1,9,45,B,2,8. In fact I feel much better about our newer stuff than our older stuff but it's all relative. I know 7L does too, with his contributions stylistically on A New Dope and the creations he is making with Beyonder as the Bladerunners. We just have a new outlook on the industry and we really aren't so tight and rigid about it because it is really a joke to us, like a big fucking joke, so we have fun with it. We laugh at a lot of muthafuckas man, and never suck dick or kiss anybody's ass for favors. There are so many fake people and artists getting free hand-outs and shit, and so many fake smiles. You just get tired of humoring it. Everyone is doing the same shit. Fuck that. As far as making songs withing songs, I love switching the loops up and changing the feel of stuff. I love trying to keep people interested with an assault of shit to react and listen to. I've got a ton of shit to sample from, so I like to use it all if it's dope. It's a challenge but it's also a reflection of my ADD.

What's in store for Fly Casual Creative in the near future? How are things progressing on the clothing end?

Esoteric: Oh we have good stuff coming up, and we actually just sold the fuck out of our first run of Mecha Mecha Japan shirts in 2 days! We thought we had a good gauge on how much gear to manufacture from doing it with Egoclapper but we were way off, and that's a good thing for us! So we have a lot of shipping to do, and some repressing. The gear and merch biz has always been good for us, our supporters are real muthafuckas. Fly Casual is great. It is our own thing.

I have to ask the question, when can we expect Saving Seamus Ryan?

Esoteric: First thing in 2009. That's just how it has to be. I know dudes are pissed about that because I promised it in 08 but there are a few things that need to happen before we drop it. You will definitely hear music and even see a video before 08 ends though, that's for sure. We are working on a DVD to accompany it. This sound on Saving Seamus Ryan is really crazy and touches on all chambers of my career. There is really a lot to the record.

So that's in 2009, is there anything else for 08?

Esoteric: Hell yeah! Actually I'm really excited to announce a new project called East Coast Avengers, some of my favorite stuff I've done in ages and some of the most lyrical stuff I've done period. It's an album I've recorded with Trademarc, who heads heard on the track "Warlords" from Egoclapper and a lot of other crazy shit, and DC, who produced "Murder Death Kill" off of Bars of Death and "Gorillas" off of the AOTP Torture Papers album. His beats are fucking insane on this record, and it is a vicious step forward, but to the left, stomping on people. This is definitely some really dark shit, really introspective at times, very political, a lot of back to back rhyming with me and Trademarc, who is really saying some dope, dope shit on this record, touching on some crazy shit. It ain't all battle stuff between us. All in all it's a new chamber for me as a lyricist. There is a lot of chemistry between the three of us, and I think heads will notice that when the album drops at the end of the summer. East Coast Avengers. Do not forget that name. 

Your music has progressed differently than some of your past collaborators. Do you find it harder when you go back to work with AOTP or artists like that when you've went in a different direction?

Esoteric: Hell no! It is an easy switch. My heart can be in multiple places, because the stuff I am doing lately is more loose, stream-of-conciousness, don't-look-back type stuff. When I hop on an AOTP record I know those fans don't want me rhyming about the North Shore Mall and toys and girls and stuff, but I can't really rap about blowing somebody's head off with an uzi and the next day, hit a picnic with wifey or run with my dog, or just be myself and cook dinner. Actually I don't cook much but I'm the type to go see Iron Man on opening day even though I know it will not be a perfect movie. I owe it to Marvel, you know? They helped raise me plus I'm not in the streets like that, so I try and find a happy medium. Dudes in AOTP can say what they want on a record because they can back it up but I must admit, I do have a hard time dealing with them because they are all from Philly and all their sports teams suck so every big game Boston goes through I get antagonizing text messages from Vinnie and Planet. The Patriots collapse was tough to get through with those guys and now Vinnie is gettin on me about the C's.

As far as my adjustment from everyday topical shit to hardcore shit, I just make sure it's hardcore in the delivery and stuff, no realistic gun threats that I would never do. See when I listened to NWA back in the day, I'd hear their lyrics and my mind would be blown. Or the Geto Boys, and to think of me 15 years later saying some violent gun shit like that? Nah, I try to rhyme like an '81 Spidey would rhyme. You know witty and sarcastic but never killing you, just trapping you and outsmarting you. Like Lord Finesse punchlines and shit, but then Nas came out with that "Live at the BBQ" verse, his best verse ever, just breaking all the politically correct rules with the KKK line and that president's wife line. He changed the game with every bar cause the next man had to be crazier that that. Then years later you got Eminem who came out saying the craziest shit in the world, on every drug in the world, so it was nothing for him to slip a few lines in about toting a 9mm and then after that, everybody thinks it's safe to say they are crazy with guns and shit.

Not me, cause back in the day in Boston if you were faking jacks you got your ass whipped. If not your ass whipped, you'd definitely get tested, one way or another. And that stuck with me, being one of 3 white kids at Boston hip-hop shows back in the day kept your ego in check and your imagination from running away with itself. You had to watch your back and know your role. Be a fan. Don't be tough. It seems like in other cities, there are just so many emcees out that nobody knows who is a real gangsta and who is fake so everybody plays the role of a superthug and nobody checks your credentials. See, if it's violent shit coming from me, I'm bringing guillotines and machetes and chinese stars and all that. Cinematic shit, not real life United States shit like shooting you with a .22 or something. Stuff you'd know I was exaggerating and speaking from a lyrical standpoint. If I do mention a gun, I tie it into some type of metaphor or simile. I've seen people get shot and it ain't fun and ain't something to take lightly.

Are you still affiliated with the Demigodz and will you be on their new album?

Esoteric: Yeah definitely. I've been super-focused on my own shit right now and Ap knows that, but I'm definitely still workin with Demigodz. I'm just trying to find the right shit for it. Good stuff takes a lot of time in some cases, you can't rush a group project like that, it takes time.

Will you be producing on anyone else's projects?

Esoteric: Perhaps people close to me, like AOTP and Demigodz, etc. I've had a few offers here and there, but all my shit is overly sample-driven stuff, like 48 tracks of shit, and every Tom, Dick, and Noah thinks they are gonna sell a million so they don't want to get knocked for samples. So I don't really shop my beats to people. I'm not in it for that.

What's 7L up to and will you two be working on an album any time soon?

Esoteric: Yeah hopefully sooner than later, he just hit me with two heaters. Real heaters. I'd like a new 7l & Esoteric album to drop in 09, right after Saving Seamus Ryan.

Anything else you'd like to add?

Esoteric: Look out for the East Coast Avengers record dropping this summer, it's something I'm really proud of. That will be dropping on Brick Records actually. Oh and conservatives generally fear change, so vote for change. Check out our myspace and at www.myspace.com/7lesoteric and pick up some music or gear. Peace!


Andy & Joel