INTERNATIONAL MAVERICK "Q&A Interview" /// UndergroundHipHopBLOG.com

INTERNATIONAL MAVERICK “Q&A Interview” w/ UndergroundHipHopBLOG.com (2012)

-Tell us a little about yourself. Where you are from? (Bio) How long have you been making Hip Hop?

I’m an emcee/producer born and raised in Chicago.  I’ve always had a love for Hip Hop since a kid so it started with freestyle sessions with my homies then started putting my rhymes on paper so I could really master my craft as far as delivery, cadence and wordplay but I didn’t really get serious as far as perusing a career in music until I started making my own beats about 3 yrs ago.

-What influences you in making Hip Hop?

My life in general influences me.  My day to day living and past experiences and my own self expression is my way of ventilating emotions that I have through music, I try to be as creative as possible.  My goal is to cultivate my own sound.

-Describe your music, and what separates you from other MCs?

My music is the yin/yang of my spirit try a give listeners an idea of what’s really going on in my mind or what I gone through and/or trying to achieve.  A part of me is a real big shit talker (but what rapper isn’t) and a part of me is conscious.  I think the 1 thing that separates me from most mc’s is that I produce all of my own music, which gives me a unique sound.

-Who have you collaborated with? Who would like to collab with in the near future?

I haven’t done any collabs as of yet but I’m not opposed to it.  As far as the near future I’d love to get in the studio with some of my favorites such as Nas, AZ, Lloyd Banks, Kanye, Jay Z, T.I., Kendrick Lamar, Twista, Fabulous, Jadakiss, Styles P, Freeway, Mos Def, and this list could get long. Lol!

-Your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”?

Underground hip-hop is where most of the creative and hungry artists are.  We’re so passionate about achieving the dream we really put our all into our music with the grind, sleepless nights, taking risks, self belief, self motivation, passion and all out determination to reach goals.

-Production wise, who are your influences? Who does your production, and who would you like to work with?

Like I said I do all my own production but I’m not opposed to rhyming on someone else’s track.  But my major influences are Ryan Leslie, Swizz Beats, Dr. Dre, 40(drakes producer), 9th Wonder, Hitboy, Kanye West, Alchemist

-Any current or future projects you are promoting?

As of now I’m promoting my latest visual for my song 5 L’s that recently hit 140k+ views via youtube.  My plan is to do more visuals in the coming months to get people more familiar with my brand.  I probably won’t do another mix tape until I’ve created a bigger buzz for myself, don’t want to drop mix tapes just to say I did it, because it could be great music but if you haven’t established a strong fan base it may get over looked even though u feel it’s a dope project.

-Where can we find your music and info?

You can find my music at www.internationalmaverick.com.  I’m on twitter @_imav.  Reverbnation/InternationalMaverick and Soundcloud/InternationalMaverick

-Any shout outs?

I want to shout out the whole Chicago underground hip-hop scene, we finally getting a ill recognition from the industry.