Wes: …My goal is to raise awareness about artists who music I’m feelin’ and for my radio show. Since I play their stuff on the show, they go hand in hand. Also, I want to show a more intellectual side to hip-hop culture to let people know that we DO exist.
“Kenn Starr”: Dopeness. Errbody wins! Wait, have we started yet? *gets into interview mode*
Wes: No, lol
*Pause*
I told you, every week I’m going to converse with somebody different and post it right here. It’s been affectionately dubbed “Converse > Conversate Tuesday” since the main focus will be showcasing people who, compared to the projected norm, “speak so well!” ©Chris Rock
We join the conversation midstream with the understanding that if you’ve never heard of Kenn Starr, its highly recommended that you do the research, so you can come to class prepared next time. For now, just fake like you read and piggyback off the questions other people ask.
*Resume play*
Wes: Starr Status was greatness. What’s next?
“Kenn Starr”: Right now I’m working on the “Two Track Mind” EP, which is basically an EP featuring production from Black Milk, and also including remixes for each song by a different producer. Instead of doing the typical “acapella with a different beat underneath” I’m doing REAL remixes. Different beats, different lyrics, all loosely based around the concept of their originals.
“Kenn Starr”: So really people are getting an EP with an album’s worth of material.
Wes: Nice! I’m a Black Milk fan. I love his drums. I know a Black Milk kick when I hear one. Do you guys have a target release date for the project?
“Kenn Starr”: I’m about 75% done with that now, so hopefully it’ll see the light of day by the spring.
Wes: Bet. I feel like I relate to your music a lot. I mean, pretty much the artists I’m picking for this are guys I’ve listened to and thought, “Damn – that’s me”
Wes: The song I NEED to talk to you about though…
Wes: Is Mr. Nice Guy. Is that drawing from first-hand experience?
“Kenn Starr”: Haha - I knew it was gonna be that one. It’s usually like one of 3 joints on the album people always tell me really hit home for them.
“Kenn Starr”: “Mr. Nice Guy” is loosely based on my own experiences. Basically I had gotten to a point where I was fed up with hearin’ my homegirls complain to me about how the dudes they were dealing with treatin’ them like shit…but they kept messin’ with the exact same type of dudes.
Wes: Story of my life…
“Kenn Starr”: And as far as my own relationships, being in situations where I felt underappreciated and taken for granted [got old]
“Kenn Starr”: I can say that ma dukes did a good job teaching me respect, especially towards women. I think later in my life that led to me being a bit of a pushover when it came to women.
“Kenn Starr”: So it finally got to the point where I was forced to open my eyes and adjust my mentality. I’m not saying I made a decision to stop respecting women, but I realized it wasn’t as black and white as I was treating it. I just basically had to stop being a sucker for love, ‘cuz it really hadn’t served me well up to that point.
Wes: No doubt - I grew up around women who always said “Don’t turn out like- _____ don’t be like- ______,” But they had so many examples of what NOT to do, cuz THAT’s what they consistently went for.
“Kenn Starr”: Exactly
“Kenn Starr”: As a side note, shout out to my homegirl Wayna, who laced that hook as well as a few others on Starr Status. She’s a super talented vocalist/songwriter and she was recently nominated for a Grammy, so congratulations to her.
Wes: That’s symbolic. Cuz you really can’t succeed without a dope woman behind you.
“Kenn Starr”: Real talk.
Wes: During the intro, you did a whole rhyme describing the process of purchasing a TANGIBLE album. Almost seems like a lost art… Do you think it’s possible for fans to become connoisseurs again?
“Kenn Starr”: Times have changed man. Technology has turned this into the microwave age. People’s attention spans are as short as they’ve ever been. It’s possible, yes, but I don’t think it’s likely anytime soon. Everything is just too readily available. It’s hard to appreciate something you can get as much of as you want.
“Kenn Starr”: Why would the average hip-hop listener stop to appreciate a particular album, when they can go and download 7 other albums they haven’t heard yet? I mean, there will always be exceptions to the rule, the purists, etc. It’s just tough…
Wes: Right, right… So who are 5 artists you’d recommend people put their depreciating dollar towards?
“Kenn Starr”: Wow. I’m fortunate to know so many dope cats that deserve shine…
“Kenn Starr”: I’d say Kam Moye (formerly Supastition), Skyzoo, Oddisee, Hassaan Mackey, Black Milk… I mean, I could go on for days. A lot of cats inspire me and make me wanna step my game up.
Wes: Speaking of that- this Twitter thing is informative. It’s a personal newswire.
“Kenn Starr”: Ahh yes, lol. I love it man. It’s perfect for somebody like me. I’ve always felt like a lot of my personality doesn’t come across in my music, and I always felt like blogging would be the perfect window into my mind for my listeners. But I rarely have the time and patience to really do it. Plus my thoughts are always mad random. So Twitter is perfect- like micro-blogging.
Wes: In your opinion, what is the correct use for the word ‘swag’?
“Kenn Starr”: See that’s the funny thing. Swag has got to be the first “slang” word in hip-hop that is actually used in its correct context/meaning. I think it’s just that overall vibe and aura of confidence/arrogance, which can manifest itself in various aspects of an artist’s music. It could be the lyrics, or the delivery, or the image/look, etc., whatever about an artist that makes someone say, “Yo he’s the shit and he KNOWS it!”
Wes: Aww… so I guess you wont be on my crusade to end the word swag. Shout out @mymassappeal btw, who’s spearheading the People for the Preservation of Swag Alliance.
“Kenn Starr”: LOL! I mean, don’t get me wrong. I do agree that the term is overused and a bit cliché’. But it is what it is. Its funny cuz I actually used the word on a few records on my new album, but I wrote the rhymes before the explosion of the word.
(Almost simultaneously)
Wes: I’ma give it the radio edit reverse.
“Kenn Starr”: and now I’m actually considering editing it in the songs, like it’s a curse word.
“Kenn Starr”: LOL
Wes: Haha, YEAHHH!!!
“Kenn Starr”: exactly!
Wes: MY, nigga!
“Kenn Starr”: You read my mind.
Wes: I told you we be thinking alike
“Kenn Starr”: LMAO
Wes: OK on to some important shit…
Wes: The Boondocks …Are you more Huey or more Riley?
“Kenn Starr”: Depends on when u catch me honestly, lol. I feel like I’m a fairly intelligent, well spoken dude; although I don’t really share Huey’s revolutionary mind state, but I can definitely let that inner-nigga out in a heartbeat, on some Riley shit.
Wes: I heard a rumor about the introduction of a third character on the show that also appeared in the strip- Caesar. Apparently, Caesar represents somewhat of a mixture of the two.
“Kenn Starr”: Yeah, I remember that character vaguely from the strip. So perhaps I’m a bit more Caesar than anything.
Wes: What’s something you’d like to see change?
“Kenn Starr”: I would like to see the re-emergence of quality hip-hop music in the mainstream! I can’t stress how important it is that we support this new tide of artists that are getting mainstream exposure and represent what we stand for as lovers of hip-hop music… the Wale’s and the Charles Hamilton’s, etc.
“Kenn Starr”: I look at it the same way as when Little Brother first got signed to Atlantic. Only a few of “us” make it in, and even fewer whose projects get to see the light of day. So we got to support that. It’s up to us to help change that tide.
Wes: I feel you. That’s what my show is all about- keeping that balance. I play 50, Wayne, T.I., Jeezy, you, Sky, Lupe, LB, Jean, Kweli, Mos, Common, Jada, Snoop, Kidz in the Hall, Pete Rock, Pharell… the list goes on and on.
“Kenn Starr”: See I LOVE that man. The underground can be so snobby when it comes to what we listen to.
Wes: Right. I ain’t got time for that - if it sounds good - I’m with it.
“Kenn Starr”: Exactly. My thing is, if its dope, its dope. I don’t care who it is.
Want more from Kenn Starr?
Friend him: myspace.com/kennstarr
Follow him: twitter.com/kennethcold
Support the music: Amazon, iTunes, the STORE…
