Sur5ILL – Q&A Interview
Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from? How long have you been making Hip Hop?
I’m a 31-year old member of corporate America’s workforce who moonlights as a rapper. I was born and raised in Boston. I grew up in Jamaica Plain which is one of Boston’s more homogenous areas and has a great multi-ethnic environment and culture. I’ve been rapping since I was about 14 but I’ve only been recording solo for about two years. I had previously been rapping and playing guitar in an alternative band from 2009 to 2012.
What influences you in making Hip Hop?
It sounds cliche but my surroundings influence what I talk about. The difference is that what I observe is much different from what others observe because of how I grew up. I observe thins like corporate greed and chauvinism to hipsters and environmentalists. I think this is great, however, because Hip Hop has become so multifaceted and accepting of different backgrounds and styles. This makes me more confident about what I do, how I do it, and where I perform.
Describe your music, and what separates you from other MCs?
I used to battle rap so there is a lot of that still left in me but I like to tell more stories. I like to tell them in a cunning and clever way that keeps people interested and guessing. Let’s face it–my mixtape concept has never been done before. People talk about how much work sucks but it’s never been drawn out into nine songs. And nobody has ever had a protagonist (the rapper) describe and satirize corporate America throughout the process. I think what separates me from other rappers is that I am self-deprecating and embrace my inner nerdiness; I am so comfortable with myself that I don’t feel the need to be anyone else.
Who have you collaborated with? Who would you like to collab with in the near future?
In terms of MC’s I’ve collaborated with AReigns and Cisic, both also out of Boston, on my initial mixtape from 2013. As far as producers go, I generally do my own production but I recently linked up with a local producer out of Lowell, MA named MrForgiven for a track called “Joules.” Ideally, I would like to collab and flow with some of the rappers I’ve looked up to for years, such as Eminem or Lupe Fiasco, or some that I feel are similar to me in terms of their lifestyles (see: Childish Gambino or Chance the Rapper).
Your definition of “Underground Hip Hop”?
I think of Underground Hip Hop as a musical version of “Fight Club.” It is a tight-knit group of hard-working people who are grinding it out and are passionate at what they do. It’s dissimilar in that it’s not a secretive club, but I feel like the intrinsic bond that people have with one another and their love for the art form are incomparable. It’s a stark and purposeful deviation from the mainstream.
Production wise, who are your influences? Who does your production? And who would you like to work with?
I like artists such as Timbaland and Pharrell but largely their older work. Childish Gambino does his thing production-wise as well. There are many, many others with quirky styles (see: Odd Future) that I like and I think are becoming more accepted. I do my own production (save for one song called “Joules” which MrForgiven produced)–it was initially out of haste, arrogance and necessity. I thought, “This is easy. I can do this. Plus–I’ll be damned if I spend any money on someone else; I will learn to do it myself.”
I don’t have any one person with whom I’d like to work. I would honestly work with anyone who had a great work ethic and an open mind.
Any current or future projects you are promoting?
I am going to start production on my next mixtape (slated for Spring 2015) called “GOALER.” I am going to try some new things, attempt to collab with some old friends, and give some transparency into my motivation.
Can you give us a brief description of the creative process of WORK (Mixtape)? Also/ tell us a little bit about the concept and idea behind your Mixtape Cover Art.
I wanted the mixtape itself to be an introspective into the protagonist’s work life and, on the opposite end, his passion. They conflict as corporate America generally isn’t accepting of rap, rappers, hip hop, or really anything urbanized. I wanted to create a spectrum of what happens throughout the process of working, getting fired, and trying to get back to work again but at one’s dream job; I also wanted to teach people who are unfamiliar with this process how it works and poke fun at the whole charade.
The cover art is just a play on a “men at work” construction sign. I had some other office-ish ideas but I thought the construction sign was a better visual representation.
Where can we find your music and info?
Website: soundcloud.com/sur5ill
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sur5ill
Twitter: www.twitter.com/golerflame
Email: sur5illmusic@gmail.com
Any shout outs?
Sure thing: mom, Areigns, Cisic, SS (shout out to Nick Bean), my sister Lady E, MrForgiven, The LE Project (my old band), and my future wife ZR. Also RIP Mayor Menino. I love Boston. “This is my home…the Hub’s real important. Stop claiming Boston–you was born and reared in Portsmouth.”
