TERMANOLOGY TALKS LIFE AFTER BAD DECISIONS WITH MJ

INTERVIEW: MJ SAVINO [@MJSHIPHOPCONNEX]

THERE ARE MANY EMPLACEMENTS THAT COME TO MIND WHEN THE NAME TERMANOLOGY IS MENTIONED, BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE MUSIC SCENE. THE WELL-DEFINED ARTIST IS RECOGNIZED AND RESPECTED FOR HIS RAW YET CLEVER LYRICISM, PRODUCTION, BUSINESS MINDED HUSTLE, AS WELL AS CEO AND BEING A PROMINENT STAPLE IN DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. DURING THE PAST DECADE TERM’S MUSIC, BRANDING, AND MOVEMENT HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PUSHING THE CULTURE OF HIP-HOP TO THE FOREFRONT WHILE RESHAPING AND REBUILDING FAMILIES ACROSS THE WORLD. I’VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW TERM SEVERAL TIMES DURING DIFFERENT WAVES OF HIS CAREER. ONE CAN REVEL IN HIS PURE HONESTY ABOUT HIS GROWTH AS AN ARTIST, SOCIETAL ISSUES HE ADDRESSES IN HIS MUSIC, AND THE ‘BAD DECISIONS’ THAT LED HIM TO WHERE HE IS NOW; INDIE G.O.A.T. ON THE RISE.

VALIDATED: HERE WE ARE 36 PROJECTS IN AND "BAD DECISIONS" HAS BEEN NOTED ON COUNTLESS TOP FIVE’S AS INDIE ALBUM OF THE YEAR FOR 2018. THE ALBUM UNDENIABLY GIVES LISTENERS AND FANS A CLEAR TIMELINE OF TERMANOLOGY BEGINNING WITH YOUR COME-UP TO PRESENT DAY. TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF "BAD DECISIONS" AND SHARE SOME PERSONAL INSIGHT ON YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE ALBUM.

TERMANOLOGY: I REALLY LOVE THE "BAD DECISIONS" ALBUM. THE ARTWORK IS ONE OF MY ALL-TIME FAVORITES. IT WAS CREATED BY ME AND MY BOY CAME ONE. I DREW THE CONCEPT WITH A PEN AND PAD AND STICK FIGURES AND I SENT IT TO CAME TO RECREATE AND ILLUSTRATE, AND HE KILLED IT. IT REALLY REPRESENTS MY LIFE AT THE TIME. I WAS BEING PULLED IN MANY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. I WAS TRYING TO BALANCE BEING A RAPPER, A RADIO PERSONALITY IN NYC, AND FINDING TIME TO BE A FATHER IN MASSACHUSETTS. THE CONCEPT OF THE PROJECT IS REFLECTING ON MY PAST LIFE THROUGH MUSIC, BUT ALSO GIVING YOU THE UPDATED VERSION OF MYSELF.

VALIDATED: THE ALBUM, TRACK FOR TRACK, EXUDES QUOTABLES THAT ALL WALKS OF LIFE CAN RELATE TO REGARDLESS OF CULTURE, GENDER, OR OCCUPATION. ALTHOUGH I CAN QUOTE THE ENTIRE ALBUM A COUPLE REALLY SUM UP TERM AS AN ARTIST; "I DON’T NEED THESE CHAINS OR THESE RINGS, I’LL TAKE ‘EM OFF RIGHT NOT", AND "YEAH MY PEN IS INDEPENDENT BUT IT’S BETTER OFF AND I AIN'T GOTTA MAKE ANOTHER ALBUM CAUSE I SET IT OFF." THE ALBUM STANDS AS AN ‘OLOGY TESTAMENT’ OR ‘TERM’S COMMANDMENTS’.

TERMANOLOGY: THANK YOU. I ALWAYS TRY TO DROP JEWELS IN MY MUSIC. GLAD YOU CAN SEE THE MESSAGE BEHIND WHAT I WRITE. I REALLY LIKE THE LINE "I’M TRYNA HAVE A COUPLE HUNDRED PRODUCTS ALL IN THE STORE" BECAUSE I AM AN INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OWNER AND THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN WATCHING SOMETHING YOU BUILT FROM NOTHING COME TO LIFE. GOOD DAD GANG AS A BRAND HAS BEEN DOING WELL WITH THE HELP OF ALL MY HARD WORK AND SACRIFICE, AND HOPEFULLY WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AND BE SOMETHING I CAN LEAVE FOR MY CHILDREN TO EAT OFF IN THE FUTURE.

VALIDATED: WHAT’S IN THE WORKS TO TOP "BAD DECISIONS"? YOU’VE EMBODIED A TIMELESS LYRICAL AUTOBIOGRAPHY AUTHENTIC TO THE ROOTS OF HIP-HOP FROM STORYTELLING TO PRODUCTION. WITH THAT BEING SAID, TERM FANS ARE LITERALLY ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEATS TWITCHING IN ANTICIPATION FOR YOUR NEXT MOVE. YOU DID RELEASE "STILL 1982" WITH STATIK SHORTLY AFTER "BAD DECISIONS". WAS THAT MORE OF A TEASER TO WHAT THE 'BOOTH MENACE' IS STIRRING UP?

TERMANOLOGY: I AM ALWAYS CREATING. EVERY DAY I WRITE RAPS OR HOOKS, OR FIND NEW TALENT TO COLLABORATE WITH, OR PICK BEATS AND PUT THEM ASIDE FOR WHEN I CATCH A VIBE. MY CREATIVITY NEVER STOPS. I DO HAVE A FEW PROJECTS DROPPING. I EXECUTIVELY PRODUCED A NEW PROJECT BY PRODUCER "SLIM ONE" DROPPING IN APRIL, WHICH HAS A LOT OF FIRE ON IT. AS FAR AS A NEW TERMANOLOGY PROJECT I HAVE A JOINT ALBUM DROPPING THIS YEAR WITH PRODUCER DAME GREASE. THAT ALBUM RIGHT THERE IS GOING TO SHOCK PEOPLE BECAUSE I WENT A DIFFERENT DIRECTION THAN I NORMALLY DO AS A SONGWRITER. I CAN’T WAIT FOR Y’ALL TO HEAR BOTH PROJECTS.

VALIDATED: I CAN RECALL OUR VERY FIRST INTERVIEW IN ‘07 WHEN WE BRIEFLY SPOKE ON PUN AND HIS IMPACT ON YOUR MUSIC. SINCE THEN YOU'VE BROUGHT BORICUAS SOME MAJOR SHINE IN HIP-HOP. HAS THAT BEEN SORT OF A MISSION FOR YOU ALL ALONG OR MERELY AN ACCIDENTAL COINCIDENCE?

TERMANOLOGY: IT WAS A MISSION OF MINE TO GET MORE SHINE ON LATINO ARTISTS. WHEN I CAME IN THE GAME YOU COULD COUNT THE NUMBER OF PUERTO RICAN RAPPERS WHO WERE SUCCESSFUL ON ONE HAND. NOW WE HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF THEM. FEELS GOOD TO SEE THE CULTURE SO DIVERSE. I’M SURE PUN WOULD BE PROUD OF ALL OF US AND HOW WE HELD THE TORCH.

VALIDATED: AS A FAN FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIP HOP, TO THE CULTURE, AND FOR GIVING BACK TO COMMUNITIES NOT JUST IN YOUR HOMETOWN BUT THROUGHOUT THE COASTS. MUCH CONTINUED SUCCESS TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM.

TERMANOLOGY: APPRECIATE IT. LOVE IS LOVE ALWAYS. FOLLOW ME ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA @TERMANOLOGYST AND @GOODDADGANG MUCH LOVE.