Darko The Super – Q&A Interview
Tell us a little about yourself. Where you are from? How long have you been making Hip Hop?
My name is DarkoTheSuper aka Doc Heller. I am a progressive vocalist and abstract musician from Yardley, PA. I’ve been making Hip Hop for about 5 years now.
What influences you in making Hip Hop?
Though I’m ashamed to say it, being a white guy who grew up in a trailer park, 8 Mile is what made me wanna be a rapper all those years ago. From there I got into watching battles and radio show freestyles on youtube. I was really into the Wake Up Show, that’s where I first found out about one of my favorite MC’s Murdoc, the winner of their 100k Battle. I downloaded all his albums from Myspace and listened to em everyday before high school. His work really got me into lyricism and all that. I eventually got into J Dilla through listening to the Alchemist and hearing him shout him out. Through Dilla, I start listening to Madlib, that’s when I first heard the Madvillain album, then my life was changed forever. I started buying any MF Doom album I could find. I bought an “Operation: Doomsday” with the original art from Best Buy one day, and from there on I knew what type of music I wanted to make. Doom is my hero, he’s the greatest ever. It all came full circle when I realized Murdoc & MyGrane McNastee were rhyming to Doom beats. I realized how truly amazing he was. When I started making beats, it was only so I could have something original to rhyme to so I could sell it. But eventually I really dove into sampling, and since my parents knew how much I loved it, they got me a USB turntable for Christmas one year and that’s when my love for vinyl developed. Through record shopping I got more into Punk and Progressive Rock, like The Spits and Oingo Boingo, that’s what mainly influences my music these days more than any rap. Artists like Frank Zappa, who I believe to be the greatest musician of all time, that’s who inspire me.
Describe your music, and what separates you from other MCs?
I’d like to think my music is based of Funk, Soul, Punk, and anything progressive. Meaning outside of the norm. I write very abstract lyrics, mostly inspired by Beck. I make Nightmare Bogus Poetry for anyone who will listen. Darko is a super hero, anyone can wear the Darko mask and be the loser or the one who saves the day. I focus on all sides of the spectrum of emotion. From fear to love, and everything in between. My music is also heavily influenced by film and pop culture. Woody Allen movies have done a lot for my art. Bill Hicks is my lord and savior, he’s my spiritual leader. And let’s not even get started on Richard Kelly and the classic Donnie Darko. Also Mystery Men, my favorite film from my childhood, where I took my alias Doc Heller from. I’m a wannabe super hero, a mad scientist, a philosopher, and most of all an angst filled, confused, and afraid young man. Many of my songs are about unrequited love so I’d like to thank beautiful women for their influence as well. “I’m an ugly motherfucker but I don’t give a shit.” That’s what separates me. I’m very self-deprecating, yet conceited at the same time. I have a love, hate relationship with myself and humanity. I think I’m one of the greatest MC’s in the history of time and space, but I still may be suicidal at the same moment. I lack confidence cos I’m very confused. I’ll cite the lyrics to one of my favorite songs I’ve done. “Baby you got what I need, but yah say I’m a negative creep, shooting up on the avenue, bragging about no one’s as sad as you, fell asleep on the slide again, I wasted all my money to hear try again, my friends live in my head I’m so happy, chasing after Harvey and I’m feeling sappy, should be reading T.S. Elliot not the wanted ads, they’re all out to make me feel so fucking bad, I’m just a useless slob, but that could all change with a stupid job…” That’s the dilemma I face. And that’s what separates me from the others. I wanna do things differently. I wanna revolutionize the indie scene cos I’m not happy with it. Also Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire said I’m the shit, so it must be true.
Who have you collaborated with? Who would you like to collab with in the near future?
I’m lucky enough to have collaborated with Open Mike Eagle, Murdoc, Homeboy Sandman, Lil B The BasedGod, Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire, Dudley Perkins, and many others. In the near future I would love to work with Doom, once I have enough money. Also Kool A.D. who’s another one of my heroes. I got to mix a track that he’s on, but I really wanna produce for him, or rhyme on a joint with him. The Difference Machine are amazing so I hope I can do something with them soon as well. I really love Nickelus F too. He said he wrote to one of my beats once, so maybe that’ll come out soon.
Your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”?
My definition of Underground Hip Hop, would be anything that breaks away from the mainstream world. Hip Hop that is raw and dirty, not polished and served to consumers in a shiny suit. Any rap that doesn’t promote the praising of money, like those suckers of satan’s cock all over the radio stations and idiot box. Hip Hop with soul and funk, that doesn’t sell pipe dreams to the youth in the forms of sex and cars. Not music that asks how many smoke machines and midget’s can we fit in the video, but music for the conscious people. Not the moronic scum of the earth, but real genuine human beings. While we’re on the subject, fuck Hot 97, fuck MTV, fuck VH1, and fuck BET. I’d much rather smoke crack with George Clinton, and proceed to jump out a window, then ever promote those media outlets.
Production wise, who are your influences? Who does your production? And who would you like to work with?
Some producers who have influenced me are J Dilla, Madlib, MF Doom, El-P, and Del The Funky Homosapien. I do most my own production, but there are quite a few producer’s who I work with a lot, like All These Fingers, Kubes, Howie Wonder, BLKrKRT, Gloam, Starchild, Style Shuts, and many others. I would really like to work with Kenny Segal someday, as well as Jeremiah Jae and Jonwayne.
Any current or future projects you are promoting?
I’m releasing a new album titled “Buck Naked The Movie God Vs. Buddy Jesus & The Keanu Reeves Statue” on my birthday, June 25th. I also have an album with Murdoc that will be coming out soon. Then later in the summer I’ll be releasing a very experimental album that is dear to my heart, called “Oh, No! It’s Darko: The Pink Noise Mixtape.” I’m also working on an album with my good friend Kubes that we are just starting on. I may release a compilation of my unreleased work titled “Creepy Hippie Throwback” soon as well.
Can you give us a brief description of the creative process of LOSER LP? Also/ what was the idea or concept description about your Album Art Cover.
I was reflecting a lot on my time in high school as a bonafide loser. I had a lot of regret on not asking out the girl of my dreams. Being so afraid to meet new friends, to the point I would eat my lunch in the bathroom stall just so I wouldn’t have to interact with other students. I had a lot of anxiety and fear towards many normal day tasks. I was in a very depressed state writing most of the songs on Loser. “I ain’t go to prom I stayed in my room and listened to Beck” is a true story. The night of my senior prom, I sat in my room and watched Beck videos, especially Loser. Naming my album after his biggest hit was my way of honoring him, for helping me get through such a rough time. I look at Loser as a positive term. One who doesn’t agree with the ways of society and takes their own path towards happiness. The album has tons of references to things I enjoy and people who’ve helped me along this journey. Like the song God Is Gay is an ode to my love for Kurt Cobain. And the song $47 Bucks is about my first ever live performance that went pretty terrible but taught me a lot. Songs like Good Burger and Chances Are (which is the title of my favorite Johnny Mathis song) are reflective of my childhood and adolescence. College Is For Pussies is my ultimate masterpiece though, it’s about indecision and not wanting to grow up and be a functional member of this fucked up world. My original idea for the artwork was gonna be a collage of images from Beck’s Loser video, and images of Bill Hicks and other photos that represented the album. I sent some pictures to a friend from Russia named Lofi Reys, and he sent me back what became the first draft of the amazing cover that you see now. I had him add the Darko image, which I cropped out of the Donnie Darko DVD cover, over the eyes of Jonah Hill from Accepted. Then I took a picture of me sitting down picking my nose, and he photoshopped it over the rainbow. Then he placed some flowers in the grass to represent the growth since my album “I’ve Been In My Mind Too Long” which also used flowers in the artwork.
Where can we find your music and info?
You can find my music and info at:
https://soundcloud.com/darkothesuper
https://soundcloud.com/doc-heller
Any Shout Outs?
I’d like to shout out my friend Ruben for getting me this interview. The good people of Underground Hip Hop. My friends Will and Kristian at Lunatick Records. Every producer I worked with on “Loser” and “Buck Naked…” I’d like to say peace to Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire for telling me to let yah know I’m the shit. I wanna thank Bill Hicks, Jesus, Frank Zappa, my parents and family, in that order. I wanna shout out my 11th grade Chemistry teacher, look at me now! To all the people who lived above the buildings that I was hustling in front of that called the police on me. And most importantly I’d like to thank the BasedGod and Jim Cunningham. Peace
