MVRemix: The Coup.
Asheru: Revolutionary.
MVRemix: Phife Dawg.
Asheru: One of the leaders from my generation and Native Tongue.
MVRemix: Wu-Tang Clan.
Asheru: Power.
MVRemix: Gil-Scott Heron.
Asheru: The man.
MVRemix: Curtis Mayfield.
Asheru: Incredible talent.
MVRemix: George Bush.
Asheru: The devil.
MVRemix: What do you think hip-hop or music (in general) needs these days?
Asheru: I don’t know man. If you asked me this 3 months ago, I would have said that it was all wack. The more I thought about it and hear more of it, I feel that there is a little bit of something for everybody. You just have to seek it out. Sometimes, you have to do a little extra work to find what it is you want. That’s how everything is. If you want quality stuff, you just cannot go to some regular place. You have to seek it out, know what it is you are looking for and get it. As long as it is exposed in a format where people can know about it, I think that it could be good for everybody. Unfortunately, certain things are projected as a priority while others are put on the shelf. Unless the consumer controls it, things will always be like that. When you find a dope record, it is like unearthing a treasure. Sometimes, I will buy a CD a year after it came out and I think to myself, ‘Why didn’t I get this before?’ That’s the way it is. We don’t want to be a carbon copy but we do want to mass produce quality.
MVRemix: What is the biggest mistake that you made in your career?
Asheru: Not being fully aware of the ins and outs of the industry.
MVRemix: What are some major misconceptions that people have of you?
Asheru: I don’t know. I don’t know what people think.
MVRemix: If you could re-make any classic hip-hop song, what would it be?
Asheru: A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘Verses From The Abstract’.
MVRemix: What moment are you most proud of?
Asheru: A couple of years ago, we did a 10th anniversary party for ‘The Low End Theory’ LP by A Tribe Called Quest. It was a couple of local area artists with a live band. Basically, we produced the whole ‘Low End Theory’ album live. Each song from ‘Excursions’ to ‘Scenario’ was done. We did the whole album. The song that I was assigned was ‘Verses From The Abstract’. When I did it, it was incredible! I have it recorded too. I want to dig it up and release that too. It was a highlight moment for me. That sh*t was dope the way it all came together.
MVRemix: How has your live show evolved?
Asheru: At first, I was rocking with Blue but now, I am rocking shows solo. My stage show is comprised of 3 people. Me, DJ RBI, and this person who plays the ASR live. He plays the beats, piano, and everything live. Our show has a lot of surprises. When we can, we even have visuals. It has evolved to become a full interactive experience. We want to visually stimulate people too.
MVRemix: Tell us about your involvement with ‘You Don’t Know The Half’ on Halftooth Records.
Asheru: The Halftooth project. Oddisee and I worked together on some things. We came together for this new label he’s working on. I am on the song called ‘If’ with Talib Kweli.
MVRemix: What are some of your favorite movies?
Asheru: I loved ‘The Usual Suspects’. I saw a new one now that is one of my favorites called ‘Waking Life’. I loved that. I like different kinds of movies. I like a lot of independent films too which are different from the normal stuff.
MVRemix: What are some of your favorite books?
Asheru: Right now, I’m reading a Jimi Hendrix biography. I like a lot of reference books but I also like ‘Ego Trip’ and ‘The Big Book Of Racism’. I like light books that I can read quick but I also like heavy stuff too like Octavia Butler and science fiction stuff. My favorite book right now is ‘Wild Seed’ by Octavia E. Butler.
MVRemix: What will your solo album be like? What is it going to be called? Who will be on it? Who will be producing it?
Asheru: The album is called ‘While You Were Sleeping’ and there are about 15 tracks on it. There are guests like J-Live, J. Rawls, Maspyke, Joe Money, who was on the ‘Soon Come’ album. There are some newcomer cats too. It’s a nice project. I may get a joint from 9th Wonder too. If you like ‘Soon Come’, you’ll love it. It will definitely be on the same page but it will show progression and stuff from my personal perspective. Blue will be apart of the project but most of it is from my perspective.
MVRemix: Is Blue Black doing a solo album?
Asheru: I’m not sure. I’m still making joints with him.
MVRemix: The name is Asheru And Blue Black From The Unspoken Heard. Are there others in The Unspoken Heard besides you and Blue Black?
Asheru: Oh yeah! They are all around. There are people who basically share the same feeling and dream but have gone into different fields and realms. There are corporate cats, teachers, doctors, lawyers, artists and photographers. It all came from conversations and sharing different experiences we had. Some are from Virginia but also some are from New Jersey and North Carolina. There are certain things on the album that may be taken one way by the average everyday listener but it is a completely different meaning or inside joke to someone we have a relationship with. That’s the Unspoken Heard.
MVRemix: What collaborations should we look out for?
Asheru: Yes. I just did The Sound Providers, which will be coming out on ABB Records. I did some drum & bass stuff with Oceanworker. I am on the new Lone Catalysts album ‘Good Music’. Me, J. Sands, and Grap Luva did a song for that. I also have that collab with those German cats. I’m diversifying, man. I’m trying to get the word out.
MVRemix: Any final words for the people who are reading this?
Asheru: Support the movement! Support the Asheru project, the ’48 Months’ project, and ‘No Edge Ups In South Africa’. My first single from my solo LP ‘While You Were Sleeping’ is dropping in January and the single is called ‘Black Moses’. There are 2 sites you should check out. Check out www.sevenheads.com and in the coming months, check out www.blacklincolns.com. Peace!
Related content:
Asheru 2001 Interview by Hugo Lunny
Asheru 2004 Interview by Todd E. Jones
Asheru 2005 Interview by Bill "Low Key" Heinzelman
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