GET FAMILIAR: INNOCENT?
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK | INNOCENT?
INTERVIEW TERRELL “REALIFE” BLACK
WE INITIALLY CHOPPED IT UP WITH BROOKLYN EMCEE INNOCENT? (DON’T FORGET THE QUESTION MARK!) IN OUR DEBUT JANUARY 2018 ISSUE. FLASH FORWARD TO JUNE 2020 AND THE SEASONED VETERIAN, WHO GIVES RESPECT TO THOSE WHO PAVED THE WAY BEFORE HIM SAYS HE IS AS FOCUSED AS EVER AND HAS NO PLANS OF STOPPING ANYTIME SOON. INNOCENT? IS ONE OF THE EMCEES CONTINUING TO CARRY THE TORCH WHEN IT COMES TO AUTHENTIC HIP HOP. AS AN EMCEE HE VERBALLY PAINTS PICTURES WITH HIS GRITTY LYRICAL DELIVERY. FROM HIS PEN GAME TO HIS LIFESTYLE HE IS HIP HOP. WITH 2 DECADES OR MORE IN THE GAME HE’S WORKED WITH BOTH UPCOMING PRODUCERS LIKE FELLOW BROOKLYN NATIVE STAN DA MAN AS WELL AS LEGENDARY PRODUCERS LIKE VINNY IDOL TO NAME A COUPLE. OVER THE YEARS HE’S MANAGED TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF AND HAS COLLABORATED WITH A DOZEN OR MORE LEGENDARY EMCEES INCLUDING THE LATE GREAT SEAN PRICE (REST IN PEACE) OF HELTAH SKELTAH. TAKING A LINE FROM INNOCENT?’S “ONE SHOT” - “THEY SAY I’M TOO OLD TO RAP, NOW HOW’S THAT? YOU NIGGAS GOT IT CONFUSED, YA’LL STILL PAYING YA DUES…” THAT’S GROWN MAN RAP… GET FAMILIAR! ONE CAN’T HELP BUT CHEER FOR AN EMCEE WITH INNOCENT?’S WORTH ETHIC AND SKILL SET. VALIDATED RECENTLY CAUGHT UP WITH INNOCENT? TO FIND OUT WHAT HE’S BEEN UP TO SINCE HIS LAST VALIDATED INTERVIEW AND TO DISCUSS NEW MUSIC, UPCOMING PROJECTS AND THE RESURGENCE OF VETERAN EMCEES AMONGST OTHER THINGS.
VALIDATED: WE INTERVIEWED YOU IN 2017, SINCE THEN YOU’VE MANAGED TO DROP NEW MUSIC CONSISTENTLY. WHAT WOULD YOU CONTRIBUTE YOUR STEADY PEN GAME TO?
INNOCENT?: I GET TIRED OF LISTENING TO MY OWN MUSIC VERY FAST SO I NEED TO CONSTANTLY RECORD TO KEEP IT FRESH. IT ALSO HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE BEATS I’M PRESENTED. IF A BEAT MOVES ME, I CAN WRITE EASILY AND FASTER. I RESPECT THE STATEMENT “CAN’T STOP, WON’T STOP” TO THE UTMOST. I MUST ALSO SAY THAT IT’S A BLESSING TO BE ABLE TO PUT THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS TO PAPER AND BE ABLE TO DELIVER TO THE MASSES. SO MY DEDICATION AND ABILITIES FROM THAT HIGHER POWER IS WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO MY WORK.
VALIDATED: OTHER THAN THE NEW PROJECT, WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO SINCE OUR LAST INTERVIEW?
INNOCENT?: SINCE 2017 I HAVE RELEASED QUITE A FEW SINGLES AS WELL AS A COUPLE OF EP’S. “GRADUATION” (EP) IS OUT NOW ON SPOTIFY. I ALSO RELEASED A TRILOGY ALBUM ON DATPIFF.COM CALLED “THE REIGN” VOLUMES 1-3. I’VE BEEN DOING SHOWS AND PERFORMING, MOSTLY LOCAL, TO BUILD UP MY FAN BASE.
VALIDATED: HOW DID THE COLLABORATION FOR THE PROJECT “TRIFECTA” BETWEEN YOU TERROR VAN POO AND LEGENDARY PRODUCER VINNY IDOL COME ABOUT?
INNOCENT?: THE 3 OF US WERE CONNECTED BY MUTUAL ASSOCIATES. WE WOULD LINK UP AT VARIOUS EVENTS. FINALLY ONE DAY I WAS ASKED TO COME THROUGH A SESSION AT 50 WEST STUDIOS (VINNY IDOL’S STUDIO) AND THE REST IS HISTORY. ME AND TERROR VAN POO DID A SONG, “DA PAPER” AND THE CHEMISTRY WAS SO ILL THAT WE SAID WE SHOULD JUST KNOCK OUT A QUICK PROJECT. SO HERE WE ARE.
VALIDATED: HOW LONG WAS THE ALBUM PROCESS?
INNOCENT?: THE ALBUM ONLY TOOK US A FEW MONTHS TO KNOCK OUT. DUE TO CONFLICTING SCHEDULES AND THE DISTANCES IN RESIDENCES BETWEEN US, THE PROCESS TOOK A SLIGHT HIT BUT WE MADE IT HAPPEN.
VALIDATED: WHAT WAS THE ENERGY LIKE IN THE STUDIO DURING THE ALBUM PROCESS?
INNOCENT?: THE ENERGY WAS ALWAYS ON 1000%. TERROR VAN POO IS CUT FROM THE SAME CLOTH AS ME SO IT WAS EASY TO KNOCK OUT SONGS AS FAR AS WRITING. THE RECORDING PART WAS THE EASIEST AND ALSO WHAT MADE IT DOPE, IT WAS A GENUINE VIBE EVERY TIME WE CONNECTED.
VALIDATED: WHAT’S IT LIKE WORKING WITH THE LEGENDARY “KING OF BEATS”, VINNY IDOL?
INNOCENT?: VINNY IDOL IS A LIVING LEGEND SO IT WAS AN HONOR TO DO THIS PROJECT. TO WORK WITH SOMEONE OF HIS STATURE IN THE GAME, KEPT ME ON MY TOES AND GAVE ME VALIDATION AT THE SAME TIME. WORKING WITH VINNY IDOL WAS AN ACHIEVEMENT THAT MANY HOPE FOR. I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR VINNY AND HOPE TO CONTINUE TO CREATE MUSIC WITH HIM.
VALIDATED: ARE THERE ANY FEATURES ON THE PROJECTS?
INNOCENT?: MAYBE, MAYBE NOT. WE HAVE TO SEE WHEN IT DROPS.
VALIDATED: WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM THE PROJECT?
INNOCENT?: FANS CAN EXPECT 100% LYRICS/BARS. THEY CAN ALSO EXPECT THOSE HEAD BANGIN, HEART POUNDING HIP HOP BEATS THAT WE HAVEN’T HEARD IN A WHILE. WE KEPT THAT AUTHENTIC, CLASSIC, STREET HIP HOP SOUND SO I KNOW THEY’RE GONNA APPRECIATE THIS PROJECT.
VALIDATED: WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE RECORD OFF THE PROJECT AND WHY?
INNOCENT?: “ALL GZ GOING TO HEAVEN” IS MY FAVORITE. I REMEMBER AS SOON AS I PLAYED IT GETTING GOOSEBUMPS. WHEN A TRACK DOES THAT IT’S KINDA SPECIAL. IT MADE ME FEEL A CERTAIN TYPE OF WAY THAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER SONGS.
VALIDATED: SO ASIDE FROM RAPPING YOU ALSO PRODUCE, AT WHAT POINT DID YOU START MAKING BEATS?
INNOCENT?: I PRODUCED MY FIRST TRACK LIKE 99’/2000. MY G ROOD LEFT HIS MPC 2000 AT MY CRIB FOR A FEW DAYS AND ONE DAY I POWERED IT ON AND STARTED PLAYIN AROUND WITH IT. I REMEMBER CALLING HIM CONSTANTLY THAT WEEK ASKING HIM HOW TO DO CERTAIN THINGS UNTIL EVENTUALLY I GOT IT. I DIDN’T TAKE BEAT MAKING AS SERIOUS AS RHYMING THOUGH. ALTHOUGH I CAN CREATE BEATS THAT MAY SOUND DOPE, I EXPRESS MYSELF MORE VERBALLY.
VALIDATED: YOUR UPCOMING SOLO PROJECT “SEVEN” DROPS JULY 2020, WHAT’S THE FIRST SINGLE OFF THE PROJECT?
INNOCENT?: THE FIRST SINGLE FROM THE PROJECT IS “G.M.R.” (GROWN MAN RAP) FEATURING ONE OF BUFFALO’S ILLEST MCS, KOOL TAJ THE GR8. IT’S ON BANDCAMP RIGHT NOW.
VALIDATED: WHICH PRODUCERS AND ARTIST DID YOU WORK WITH ON THE PROJECT?
INNOCENT?: THE PROJECT “SEVEN” IS FULLY PRODUCED BY STAN DA MAN. AS OF NOW WE CAN ONLY TELL YOU THAT KOOL TAJ THE GR8 AND FLASH (@FLASHISHIPHOP) ARE 2 OF THE 7 ON THE PROJECT. THE REST THE PEOPLE WILL HEAR SOON.
VALIDATED: WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM THE PROJECT?
INNOCENT?: FANS CAN EXPECT TO BE VERY LYRICALLY ENTERTAINED. STAN AND I TITLED THE PROJECT “SEVEN” BECAUSE THERE’S 7 FEATURED ARTIST ON IT. WE CHOSE THESE PARTICULAR ARTISTS SO THE FANS AND PEOPLE LISTENING CAN GET A VARIETY OF BARS AND STYLES FROM ARTISTS THEY MAY OR MAY NOT KNOW, THAT ARE STRAIGHT DOPE. THEY CAN ALSO EXPECT TO SCRUNCH THEIR FAVES UP AND HIT THAT REWIND BUTTON A FEW TIMES BECAUSE STAN PUT BOTH FEET IN ON THIS ONE WHEN IT COMES TO THE BEATS. EXPECT THAT OLD SCHOOL ON STEROIDS.
VALIDATED: YOU’RE ALSO SCHEDULED TO DROP “ESCAPE 2 ALCATRAZ 2” ON AUGUST 10TH OF THIS YEAR, WHAT’S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT DATE?
INNOCENT?: THAT 10TH IS MY BIRTHDAY. WE WERE GOING TO DROP IN JUNE / JULY BUT WE WEREN’T FINISHED MIXING THE ALBUM. IT WORKED OUT BECAUSE OF THE “TRIFECTA” EP, THAT JUST DROPPED JUNE 15TH. SO WE DECIDED AUGUST, MY BDAY... PERFECT.
VALIDATED: ANY TIME YOU AND PRODUCER ALCATRAZ ED COLLABORATE ON A PROJECT IT’S A CLASSIC, WHAT WOULD YOU ATTRIBUTE YOU GUYS CREATIVE CHEMISTRY TO?
INNOCENT?: WE BOTH LISTEN TO EACH OTHER. WHETHER WE AGREE OR DISAGREE WE HEAR EACH OTHER OUT. WE ALSO BOTH KNOW WHAT WE WANT OUR MUSIC TO SOUND LIKE AND THAT MAKES IT EASIER TO PUT A SONG TOGETHER. THE RESPECT WE HAVE FOR EACH OTHER ALSO PLAYS A PART. WE BUILT A RELATIONSHIP DURING THE MAKING OF THE FIRST PROJECT THAT ENHANCED OUR PRODUCTIVITY AND ABILITY TO CONNECT AND COME OUT OF THE STUDIO WITH DOPE MUSIC EVERY TIME. THANKS FOR THE COMPLIMENT.
VALIDATED: WITHOUT GIVING IT ALL AWAY, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT “ESCAPE 2 ALCATRAZ 2”?
INNOCENT?: “ESCAPE 2 ALCATRAZ 2” IS DIFFERENT FROM PART 1 BECAUSE WE WERE LOOKING FOR A DIFFERENT VIBE. THIS ALBUM IS A MIXTURE OF RAW, GRITTY, SOULFUL, YET VERY ENTERTAINING, HIPHOP. A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN RELATE TO THIS PROJECT. I JUST WANTED TO TALK TO THE PEOPLE ABOUT THINGS SOME PEOPLE WON’T. PRESS PLAY, SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE VIBES!
VALIDATED: THE RESURGENCE OF VETERAN EMCEES COMING BACK IN THE GAME WITH NEW MUSIC, WHAT’S YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT?
INNOCENT?: I THINK IT’S LONG OVERDUE. I GET IT THOUGH, THERE’S A THING CALLED LIFE, AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO LIVE LIFE AND MUSIC BECOMES SECONDARY. I SPEAK FROM THE PEOPLE I KNOW WHO CAN ATTEST THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS FOR NOT COMING BACK SOONER. I CAN’T SPEAK FOR WHAT I DON’T KNOW BUT I’M GLAD THEY’RE COMING BACK AND JUST HOPE THEY KEEP IT OFFICIAL. SALUTE TO ALL THE OG ARTISTS HOLDIN IT DOWN.
VALIDATED: WHAT’S YOUR THOUGHTS ON MAINSTREAM MEDIA MISREPRESENTING HIP HOP CULTURE?
INNOCENT?: I TRY NOT TO PAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO IT. PEOPLE WILL PAINT PICTURES THAT MAJORITY OF THE TIME, DON’T FIT THE FRAMES THEY’RE PUT IN. I DO MY BEST TO STAY GROUNDED AND FOCUSED ON THE MORALS AND LESSONS I GREW UP WITH. YOU CAN’T TELL ME SOMETHING IS BLUE WHEN IT’S CLEARLY ORANGE. SO I THINK AS INDIVIDUALS, WHAT WE TAKE FROM THE MEDIA IS ON YOU. WITH THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW WHAT REAL HIP HOP REPRESENTS AND IF IT ISN’T REPRESENTED CORRECTLY, IT WON’T GET MY ENERGY.
VALIDATED: WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU MUSICALLY?
INNOCENT?: I’M RELEASING THOSE ALBUMS AND I HAVE A FEW FEATURES THAT'S IN THE WORLD CIRCULATING NOW AND MORE ON THE WAY. I ALSO PRODUCED “SAY CHEEZE” FEAT. ROCKNESS MONSTA OF HELTAH SKELTAH AND A FEW OTHER SONGS FOR ARTIST IN THE UNDERGROUND CIRCLE. SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SOME HEAT ON THE BEATS FROM INNOCENT? SOON.
VALIDATED: WHAT’S YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACTS AND WEBSITE?
INNOCENT?: INSTAGRAM: INNOCENTFLOW13
TWITTER: INNOCENTFLOW13
SOUNDCLOUD: INNOCENTFLOW13
TUMBLR: INNOCENTFLOW13
WEBSITE: INNOCENTFLOW.COM