Illuminati 2G

9/18/07: Illuminati 2G got the chance to chop it up with Las Vegas own Mike Diaz aka Tha 5th Element for a interview. In this interview we discuss his upcoming mixtape, production and rapping skills, the Vegas hip hop scene and much more so check it out.

D: Tell me about how you got started in music.

MD: Well, I've always been into the Hip-Hop culture and Rap music. I never really tried to do anything with my love for it until one day I found the Sound Recorder that comes with Windows 98. This was like 5 years ago... Well, anyways, I started playing with it and eventually recorded myself rapping over that PIMP song by G-Unit and Snoop. It was Lloyd Banks' part that really made me want to try it out. I was amazed at how easy and effortless he made it seem. After like 30 takes, (Sound Recorder lets you record only 30 - 60 sec at a time) I recorded it and burned to a CD.I wanted to know what some of my friends thought about it, so I took it to school and played it. I don't remember what anyone said except for this one Asian kid said to me, "Mike, quit rapping. That was horrible. You would never make it, especially since you're not black." At the time, I was type of person that will go out of my way to just prove you wrong. I didn't say anything back to him, but as soon as I got home, I started practicing and haven't stopped since then. The DJing came like 2 months later when I figured out how to mix music with the same program. The Producing came like 3 or 4 months after that.

D: Who are your biggest influences?

MD: As a rapper, definitely Lloyd Banks, Eminem, Rakim, KRS One, Guru from Gangstarr, Talib Kweli, 2Pac, Serius Jones, Ja Rule, DMX, and the list could go on and on...  As a producer, the list isn't as long. Mostly DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Timbaland, Swizz Beats, Dr. Dre, MadLib and JDilla.

D: Damn, that is a hell of a list. How would you best describe your style on the mic and with the beats?

MD: My style on a microphone is hard to describe. I'm more of an "accelerated rapper". I rap a little faster than the average west coast artist or most of the recent new artists out. I'm not fast, but merely accelerated. Right now, my subject matter is all over the place, but then again, I'm still developing as an Emcee so my style as far as songs go is quite diverse. I got a little of that DMX/Ja Rule raspy voice, and energy that one day will match up to Lil Jon. Beat wise, I LOVE to sample, but most of my songs come out dark, or mellow. I got a few bangers I'm hanging on to for the right time, like super-energized. I showed them to a few emcees and rappers and none of them could really handle it. Some were scared sh*tless at the thought of rapping over them. My influences are real noticeable on my sampled tracks. They usually end up sounding kind of-like a Kanye West beat, but at the same time not  at all (The drums on those set me apart definitely.) or end up sounding like a Dj Premier/Pete Rock/J Dilla beat, but still with my own flavor.

D: Without giving away too many secrets, what kind of equipment do you use to create beats?

MD: Ha-ha. I don't consider my methods secrets at all. I started out on FL Studio 4, then upgraded to FL Studio 6, and now I'm on that FL Studio 7 XXL Producer Edition. I use that for the bulk of my work, but then sometimes I use Reason 3.0 or Acid Pro.  The number one program that I recommend Every Software based Producer uses is Audacity. I have adobe audition, but I honestly think that Audacity has a cleaner, more user-friendly interface, yet still maintains all the essential plug-ins and effects necessary for loping and recording vocals.  I use a KORG MicroX synth as a midi controller and occasionally use some of the sounds. I really should be using more sounds because I paid a good 750 for it, but I get lazy sometimes. I got a few other tricks, but I'll keep those to myself.

D: Which do you enjoy more, beats or rhymes?

MD: You know, I would have to go with beats because through my beats I can get looks from of people that they didn't know they had just because of the beat I just played. That for me is an elevating experience. Rhyming can give me the same, but I excel on the production so the looks come a lot more often.

D: What are your thoughts on the Vegas scene as far as music is concerned?

MD: I honestly think that Vegas is just waiting to blow up, but it needs the right artist or group to do so. Musically, there is talent galore. There's S-U the Flu, Pee Wee and the rest of YBE, RyZe, KO, Devious Renegade, Easy Rocc, J-Sly, Crazy Glaze, Charlie Brown, GoodStuff Ent., myself and the rest of World Wide West Ent., and so many more!  Right now, I'm collaborating with RyZe on a remix to his song, Vegas Roll Call, and it's gonna be bananas! If Vegas could come together for a few songs and all the different artists worked together and whatnot, Vegas could really blow. I'm talking like Texas did. 1st came out one, then another, and another and some of these cats didn't even rock together or anything, know what I mean? I don't see any reason why we couldn't do that out here.

D: Yeah I feel the same way. Alot of dope artists are on the grind doing they thing right now. Tell me about your new mixtape? What is the release date?

MD: The new mixtape coming out is going to be called The Temptation Vol 1. It's basically going to be an album with out the original beats aka a whole bunch of "freestyles". Imma drop some off-the-top rhymes and maybe a battle, but it's basically me proving to me anyone else that may doubt me that I can get on other folks beats, and make REAL hits off of them. I'm also going to use the tape as a testing ground for my artists to see if they can generate a buzz off a few verses or songs.  I'm hoping for a release in about 2 - 3 weeks, but that isn't set in stone. Keep checkin' for my Myspace bulletins for the updates.

D: Sounds good. I will be on the lookout for that. Any news on a new album coming up or anything?

MD: Yes, most definitely a new album is in the works. The next official album will be from the whole World Wide West Ent. camp, our "debut" as a group. The date on that one is up in the air, but it will happen before 2007 is over. As far as one from me, I'm not sure. I'm going to decide based on how well my mixtape sells and the feedback I get. If it's a hit and the people want more, then more they'll get. If not... well, then I'll stick to producing for a bit and rap on tha down low. Ha-ha

D: Any shoutouts or last words?

MD: Big shout out to The Whole World Wide West Entertainment Camp aka Devious Renegade, Sity Boi, KO, and Retina! Much Love for GoodStuff Ent, Vegas 20, U Blockhead Productions! Vegas, Lets Do It! *shout out to YBE and all other camps: "HOLLA! Lets collabo and get Vegas on the Map!* Thanks for the opportunity to you Illuminati2G! Keep A Lookout for The Temptation Vol 1! Get At Me @ -> MySpace.com/Pimpin_Mike_D