Q&A With San Antonio Based Rapper Spy MC
Hey Spy MC! Please tell us how long have you been making music? Most importantly, how did you come up with your rap name?
I’ve been making music since 2006. I used to go by DJ Spy when I starting spinning drum & bass at raves back in 2000 and was emceeing for DNB djs by 2001. During this time I was also competing in freestyle tourneys and would sign up as Spy MC and decided to keep that name when I started writing & recording music in 2006.
What separates you from all the other rappers in your city?
I would have to say my sound and content of songs along with starting my hip hop career in Minneapolis, MN in 2006. I’ve toured nationally more than most of the rappers in my city. I’ve also been throwing hip hop events since 2007 from Minnesota to Texas along with running a battle rap league, Loud Mouth League, since 2011.
In a few words, how would you describe your sound?
Versatile style touching topics relatable to everyday life
How are you coping with this whole Covid 19 situation? Has it delayed any new music production by any chance?
It’s been extremely rough personally due to losing a couple great friends to covid but musically I have been more productive since I haven’t been performing or organizing shows. I’ve been able to create more music and focus on my releases. It’s only delayed some major tours I was gonna do this year including touring out of the country for my 1st time ever.
Tell us about your Hip Hop and/or music influences?
I listened to Bone Thugs, Outkast, 36mafia, pharcyde, ATCQ, Busta Rhymes, & DJ Screw growing up. When I started freestyle battling in tourneys my influences varied from MC Juice, Eyedea, to artists on Project Blowed & Mos Def.
Please breakdown the creative process of your new album “Patience”. And tell us a little about the album cover concept! Also who produced this project?
Between losing music files and personal hardships that made me nearly quit making music altogether this album took nearly 3 years to put together. MoonDoctoR produced & engineered this album. Weve been working together since 2010. We started working on this project with no goal or finish in mind but to just make music. After 2 years of making music we selected the right songs to include in the project, re-recorded them, and created a few new songs. My pitbull, Patience, I had for 14 years had passed last year which took a major toll on me. We decided to call the album “Patience” for a few reasons… the patience it took to put together and complete this album and to honor my dog. My older brother and I had her cremated and the place we had it done at gave us ink blots of her nose and paw. I decided to use the ink blot of her nose for the cover to remind me that she is always with me and because it looked like the letter P back to back.
Your honest opinion, out of all the songs on the project, which is the one song you feel stands out the most!?
I would have to say Transitions. I made that song a year ago and with everything thats happened this year it seems to be as relevant as ever.
We have to ask, with all this social discourse and revolt, protesting and rioting, exposed police brutality toward blacks and BLM, how do you feel about this? We would love your perspective on the climate we are living in right now.
It’s ridiculously crazy to see how far we have come as a country and yet we are still having to face inequality, racism, and injustice. Having lived a few blocks away from where George floyd was killed and watching the protests turn into riots from 5 states away was quite devastating. I was a part of the 1st protest in San Antonio for George Floyd which was peaceful and left before law enforcement and people with bad intentions escalated it into a riot. On Sept 15th in San Antonio another black man by the name of Darrell Zamault Sr was unjustly killed by police serving a warrant. Law enforcement are supposed to serve and protect… not play judge, jury, & executioner. To think that there are killers not in jail who are still serving as police is an outrage. I can only imagine how black men and women feel. They shouldn’t have to fear for their lives whenever being around cops whether they are serving a warrant or merely getting pulled over for a traffic ticket. I do have hope tho. I know things get worse before it gets better and I can already see change happening but I wish this change would’ve came sooner. I stand in solidarity with black people in our nation and around the world.
If it came down to 1 ALBUM only, what underground Hip Hop album would you consider THE BEST OF ALL TIME!!!???……One 1 album you can choose.
Blu & Exile – Below the Heavens
Here it is! Our most popular question! What is your definition of “underground hip hop”?
Music made from the heart that doesn’t play into the commercial agenda of today’s society.
Where can people find you on the web? Drop all the vital links.
IG: @sanantonio_banderas
Twitter: @spymc
