Illuminati 2G

 

4/12/08: Jehuniko hit up M-Phazes, all the way from Austraila, who was the recent winner of Sha Money's One Stop Producers Conference where DJ Premier, Don Cannon and more artists from around the world gathered to learn about the state of the Industry and more importantly, premiered new and banging music.

 

J: 1st of all, congratulations on your win at the One Stop Producers Conference. So your Manager represented on your behalf while you stayed in Australia?

 

MP: Yeah my man Dutch was out there representing me, was last minute and it was really lucky I got in!

 

J: What were you doing when you 1st heard?

 

MP: I was watching a movie, dutch had to leave before the final round so my homie Slop took over repping me, and he was text messaging me as the finals were happening so I knew what happened as it unfolded.

 

J: That beat that you won with is the 1st song on your Myspace page right? That song is ill. How can people get at you regarding production or are you shooting music through Sha Money now as a result of the win?

 

MP: They can get at my manager out here, flagrant@hip-hop.com.au, or they can hit me on myspace, I prefer they go through my manager but sometimes I'll handle it, depends on who it is.

 

J: So what's going on in Australia? Maybe since 1990 or so, through Australian graf Magazine, Hype, I would hear about artists putting it down out there?

 

MP: Yeah we are doing our thing, the scene is still quite small in comparison to the USA but we are slowly building a strong body of work, the production is beginning to become world class, we use to only try to outdo what other aussie artists were doing, but now we are trying to outdo the international artists which is a good thing, one term that pisses me off is "aussie hip hop", if its good It should just be "hip hop", its like that term gives music out here a green light to be wack.

 

J: Who really bringing it out of Australia and New Zealand?

 

MP: Obese Records are def setting the standards out here, hilltop hoods from Adelaid, bliss n eso, phrase, nfa, theres a lot of talent out here but only a small market, NZ has a really strong mainstream market for hip hop which is great! They have platinum artists that can do radio songs and underground songs, we are so close but the scene's are real different.

 

 J: Like any city in the world, you have poverty and rich neighborhoods, how is the city you live in?

 

MP: I moved down to a place called Melbourne from up north, my old home wasn't really a poor area, middle class average people, a lot of surfers cause its along a coast line, where I live now, Melbourne, has it all. Theres rich areas, really torn down poor areas, its just like any other city really, you got the housing commission flats, they look exactly like the projects out of NY, its kinda crazy how similar they are.

 

J: What's the climate with the indigenous Aborigine? Is there a hip hop movement within the indigenous culture?

 

MP: There is a hip hop culture within the indigenous community, a lot of the kids relate to it which is good, they definitely need more outlets to focus on it though, they don't get the support they should be getting, I'm planning on joining a mate from obese records, his name is reason,  I want to help him do his workshops for underprivileged kids, I think the

more they have to focus and work towards such as music, it will keep them out of trouble, not just the aborigine kids but any kids that came up disadvantaged.

 

 

J: You working with a few artists in the U.S. and Canada right?

 

MP: Yes indeed

 

J: And through technology you can network and connect with people..

 

MP: Yeah the internet is a valuable tool for me to connect with people, anyone for that matter, its opened up doors for musicians, no matter what downloading does to record companies, half of their artists on the labels wouldn't have been signed if it weren't for the net.

 

J: What makes you want to produce music?

 

MP: Just making something of my own, in general, I've always been into it, its hard to explain, but I want to produce music that I love to listen to basically.

 

J: Top 5 songs that inspire you.

 

1. TROY - Pete Rock and CL Smooth

2. Shut Em Down (Pete Rock Remix) - Public Enemy

3. Fight The Power - Public Enemy

4. Anything by Dilla

5. Anything soulful from the 70's, on some Willie Hutch mack shit!!

 

J: What's next for you?

 

MP: I'm gonna keep grinding away man, never satisfied! I plan on hitting NY soon, hopefully move there in the future and just go in!

 

J: Thank you brother..much respect

 

MP: Thanks a lot! peace