Franck Matthews – Q&A Interview
Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? How long have you been making Hip Hop?
I’m originally from Ghana-Accra west Africa
Been doing hip hop on and off for 12 years and back on non-stop since 2009
What influences you in making Hip Hop?
My influence is the elements that come together to create one body called hip hop.
The fashion, the beats, the characters, body of work to quotable lyrics it all matters. It’s a science and me coming from Africa and to be able to say I’m a participant of this magnificent culture gives me a sense of pride and definition. I wear it with honor because without it I wouldn’t know what to live by.
Describe your music, and what separates you from other MCs?
My music when broken down contains a little bit of everything. I can grab a trap beat and do a non trap song to it. A drill beat and do the opposite. It’s all experimental for me because I don’t subscribe to one sub-genre so in a sense I’m paving my own lane. I do alternative music and I sing too. So It’s safe to say I’m different, six years ago I couldn’t say that. It’s about the sound and how to merge them to create a symphony to the ears of a stranger, a few artist are doing that.
Who have you collaborated with? Who would you like to collab with in the near future?
I haven’t done much collaboration with other artist apart from those in my camp. Bruce David a fellow rapper from queens and Modest touch my producer are my frequent collaborators. On this album I did all my vocals and wrote every song start to finish. I don’t make beats so the producers on the project are modest touch, Dizzee beats, platinum sellers, Kayo, dj big billz and HBR productions. As far as future collaboration I’m open to work with anyone who appreciates good music. Watch out for Bruce David on my next two projects.
Your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”?
Under ground hip hop is a hidden treasure, it’s freedom of art, and it must be protected from the main stream matrix by all means.
Production wise, who are your influences? Who does your production? And who would you like to work with?
I’m a fan of Timbaland, Modest touch produced majority of my catalog but sadly he did four songs on the before I make it project but its a good thing because it gave it versatility, 40 is dope, boi 1da is epic, hit boy is on my radar, just blaze is a hip hop staple like Premier and j Dilla, Pharrell’s journey is phenomenal. These guys got some notable production moments. If I had a big budget they would be getting a call from me.
Any current or future projects you are promoting?
I got an alternative EP titled the unicorn and the sequel to before I make it in their final stages. They are dropping in December and early 2016.
It’s a crazy thing I’m doing but a three project experience in an unorthodox manner is what I’m attempting. I want to showcase it for the next couple of years since I got so much material I’m releasing them like paintings that will never get old. I just want to put them out in the universe and watch it grow organically and not a manufactured product.
Can you give us a brief description of the creative process of “Before I make it”? Also/ tell us a little bit about the concept and idea behind your Album/Mixtape Cover Art.
The creative process for before I make it was challenging, since i created every song alone and had to get an ok from people and what they thought was hot or not. One song had to get at least three or five people liking it before it made the cut. It humbled me especially when i thought i had made a hot song and some one would be like nah re-write it and the second person would be like its dope. It was the test before the test for me and a good process.
if someone one wants to be a serious artist that process is necessary. The art cover is all about symbolic representation. The double cross is about strange religion, the skull and bones is about death, the bishop piece is about being unique, the crown is for my knowledge and understanding I’m the king of my own universe, the cape is a Ghana flag representing my roots, and the white face with the black cross is plain old weird stuff I felt like doing. The Star of David is me knowing I’m a descendant of David. The number eight is for the eighth house of scorpios.
Where can we find your music?
www.franckmatthews.com
iTunes and http://www.soundcloud.com/franckmatthewsmusic
Any Shout Outs?
Shout out to under ground hip hop and its affiliates, 8th house, Bruce David, Modest touch, Alexie Gratia, Kwame, synthworksmusic and all those who support hip hop.
