BL.ONE

Spotlight interview
November 2003
BL.ONE-Rap/Hip-Hop artist
by Tabitha Swan

Thank you for reading our interview with BL.ONE. We came across this young talent a couple of months ago. He is from Queens New York and he has an album available called "A Queens tale" which is filled with old school beats mixed with new school lyrics. I think we will be hearing much more from this artist in the future, so here's your first hand look at this artist if you hav'nt heard of him before. Enjoy.

Ocean View press- Lets start off by having you tell us a little about who you are. ?

BL.ONE- I be that BL .ONE from Killer Queens NYC, half vandalist - half lyricist. Due to the many " Hip Hop" influences in my life from graffiti to B-Boys, and from Mc's to Djay's. All these elements together have made me the MC I am and who knows what will be ... stick around !

How long have you been a performer?-

I've been doing this for so long its past the point of just performing, This is what I am. Every rhyme that comes out of my mouth is TRUE, and is from my own eyes and life experiences, not what I heard on the street. So lets just say im old school ...

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Ridgewood Queens, then I started hanging out in other neighborhoods at a young age like parts of Brooklyn, Bayside , The Village , Long Island, New Jersey, connecticut, whatever and where ever.

Who are some of your musical influences?

       Of course the old school hip hop like Run DMC, LL Cool J, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, KRS, EPMD ,Slick Rick , DeLa Soul, Tribe called Quest. Thats what made me want to do this and have fun and tell my own stories. Then again I respect music in general and all the creative sides to it, so lets say Life has been my biggest influence , not just Hip Hop.

Tell us about your album thats out. Where and when was it recorded and who produced it?

           This album is titled " A Queens Tale ", basically my story growing up in New York all my life. I fortunatelly have been blessed with tracks by my man STE - LO staight out the Q.U.   STE is no doubt an up and coming producer with many musical talents so yall remember the name because he sure comes with the game .... STE - LOOOOO !

And you have some guests on it as well?

             Yes I have many guest apperences on my album, we got my man Lordroc on some tracks , Jack Daniels , Dee Lyrik & Drastic ( First Power ) , we got my man KO - the Hip Hop Shaman from Detroit on there. I was even lucky enough to work with the very talented R&B singer Tia Thoms on my new single "Spare a Dime" coming out before X mas. Mostly all the people in my musical circle , I like to keep the family tight.

On songs like "pass the dutch" and " when I say so" have a very old school feel. Was that a deliberate decision?

            I'm definitily old school to the heart, but I never really try to make tracks sound a certain way. I guess its just the flow I get from the beats STE gives me. Some people like it and some people dont, the truth is im not trying to please anyone. I write what I'm feeling not what I think people wanna hear.

Do you feel that todays hip hop is all about flash and style now and less about feeling and heart?

Without a doubt hip hop has went through some changes, and i've just about been there through all of them. But YES, todays video's with showing the girls and cars the jewelry ideas and talking about the same crap is just annoying. The bottom line is labels have commercialized the hell out of hip hop and they think they have control over what people like, that might be true to some extent. REAL underground hip hop will always live on and its just a shame that alot of true hip hop fans dont know where to find it. Or let these stuffy office A&R jackasses tell US what the streets want to hear when were the ones in the club every night or out on the block making it happen.

Have you been out performing recently? Can we look forward to seeing you soon?

           I have been doing shows everywhere and anywhere I can get to spit. I mostly been in the NYC at spots like Speed, Limelight, Exit. Doing underground public access shows from Jersey to Boston. Going out to LA soon to rip some shows in early 2004, so keep ya ears open cause BK's coming boom bangin to a town near you, for updates check out my web page ..BLONE.4T.com

What type of recording equipment do you use?

         I mess around at home on my own joint using Cubasis and Sound Forge , but been recording the real at HitBound Studio's in Jamacia Queens. My man Woody Wooo got the jumpoff spot with Pro Tools in every room in the house . Big up Mike on the mixdowns.

What famous people have you gotten the pleasure of meeting lately?

           I definitily have had the enjoyment of perks in this business, from the record release parties, to all sorts of events i've met alot of wonderful people. I met everyone from Slick Rick, to Run DMC, to actress Annabella Sciorra, to pop Queen Tiffany, to gangsta actor Vinny Vella Sr ( Casino), to rapper Charlie Baltimore. Producers, models , actors , club owners, promoters, sponsors , groupies..... Ahhhhh its a beautiful thing this music business.

How can our readers get more info on you?

        Well they can go to my web page now for basic info on me and whats going on so if you want to get my album or just want to read about this King from Queens, Hollaaaaa . The address is BLONE.4T.com ,

Lastly, What words of encouragement would you give to kids looking to get started in rap/hip hop?

All I have to say is " Do You ", don't ever let anyone tell you what you should be doing with your life , your music, or whatever you want to do with yourself. The more you practice the better you'll be. So take what people have to say as constructive critisizm and move on, everyone is entitled to there opinion and you can't please everyone. What every makes you happy , thats the bottom line. Thanks for ya time ...... Peace