These are the transcripts of an interview with Classified. The interview was conducted by Phayde on November 20th, 2003.
MVRemix: Youve been emceeing for over 10 years, in which you put out nine albums. What was your motivation to keep going forth with this, and have you ever thought about giving up? Classified:
My motivation to keep doing it was because it was a hobby anyway. Ive never really thought about giving it up. I always wanted to do it. Shits going forward right now, so its good. Not working [another job] and stuff, so I get to focus on music 100 per cent.
MVRemix: What inspires you? Classified:
Other music. Just hearing other peoples beats, other peoples tracks.
MVRemix: You were quoted as saying, In Canada, the major labels dont want to have anything to do with me, but Ive got these huge meetings set up in the States, referring to Atlantic, BMG and EMI Publishing. Is there possible talk of relocating down there? Classified:
I said that?
MVRemix: Yeah, you did. Classified:
We do have meetings set up but I didnt think I said that to anyone. I have a manager from L.A. that works with Immortal Entertainment, which provides management for people like Dilated Peoples and stuff, and weve had meetings with people. We have supposedly something locked in with Virgin for the next album for distribution, but Im still working on the new record. Im going to shop it more to the labels. Things are in the works, but it takes longer than I thought it would.
MVRemix: Who are a few emcees and producers that youre feeling right now? Classified:
That Im feeling right now? Kanye West for production. Emcees hmmm. I dont know. No new emcees have really done anything for me, I guess. Pharoahe Monch, Redman, Guru from GangStarr Depends on the mood too. I like listening to a Snoop record. I enjoy that. It just depends on the mood Im in, I guess. And Dres stuff too. Hes been my biggest inspiration, I think, music-wise.
MVRemix: If hip-hop was a woman, what would she look like? Classified:
Right now, itd be a really classy- well no, not classy, but a really dressed up girl thats out for the shine. She just wants to shine for the night. Yeah, thats my description.
MVRemix: Tell me something I dont know about Classified. Classified:
Im a godfather. [Laughs] My sister just had a baby. [Laughs] I havent put it in a track yet, so thats the only thing you dont know about me yet.
MVRemix: Aside from hip-hop, what else do you listen to? Classified:
A lot of old stuff, because I do a lot of production, so I usually listen to records for samples and stuff like that. A lot of older stuff, 70s stuff, punk, Beatles. My parents always listened to the Beatles so I grew up on the Beatles. Just anything, really. If its a good track, I can listen to it. Its either bad music or good music, I guess. I can listen to a lot of stuff, but hip-hop is the main thing I listen to.
MVRemix: What makes you different from every other emcee out there? Classified:
I make my own beats. And what else [Laughs] I guess Im different cause Im just me. Just doing hip-hop from Lukes point of view, I guess.
MVRemix: Like Ive never heard that before. Okay Christina. Classified:
[In girly voice] Im just being me! [Laughs] There might be other people that do the same type of music as me, but thats just how they feel about the same types of topics.
MVRemix: Whats your ultimate goal? Classified:
Just to get my music out to a larger audience, I guess. Get it out there and be able to support myself doing music, and just being able to wake up every day, turn on the beat machine and make music, and just worry about that and nothing else. To be able to do it and live comfortably, I guess.
MVRemix: How many millions of times have you been compared to Eminem? Classified:
Twice.
MVRemix: Are you serious? I figured every older person would be like, So, youre white. Classified:
Yeah Ive had a couple old people say stuff like that. If someone compares me to Eminem, they probably dont know nothing about hip-hop, because if you listen to Eminem and me, its completely different stuff. So if they compare me to him, Ill be like, Yo, whatever If people want to say that then they obviously dont know nothing about the music, or they dont listen to me, because its two different types of hip-hop. I had four albums out before Eminem came out.
MVRemix: What are some of the biggest obstacles youve had to face so far? Classified:
J-Bru [a few feet away]: You can say it; Ill plug my ears.
J-Bru! [Laughs] The biggest obstacle is just trying to get business, I guess. Its hard to make things happen. You hear a lot of stuff that might happen, that is supposedly going to happen, but 99 per cent of the time it doesnt go through. Completing deals and getting business done 100 per cent and just making sure everythings in place so you can get your music out.
MVRemix: You use a Korg Triton and an MPC. What are your thoughts on strictly computer-generated beats? Classified:
Fuck that! [Laughs] No, it depends on how you make them. Like you can usually tell if its a computer-made beat if its all just stock sounds. I guess what you use, if you can use it and make it sound good then do it.
MVRemix: Whats the difference between Luke Boyd and Classified? Classified:
Now, there is no difference. Its just me every day.
MVRemix: Fuck you and your boring answers. I was proud of that question. Classified:
[Laughs] Three years ago, if you asked me that, then Id be like, Luke Boyds the guy that goes to work every day and does computer shit, but now I wake up and do music, and go to bed doing music. Luke Boyd irons and does dishes. [Laughs]
MVRemix: Youve been in Vancouver before, right? When was that and what did you do? Classified:
That was two years ago. We came out with Brougham Camp. We played at Club 7, I think it was called. We also played at whats it called is there a club called Alexandras on Alexandras or something?
MVRemix: Richards on Richards? Classified:
[Laughs] Yeah, thats it. We played there. Just did a couple songs there. Yeah that was cool, the last time we came out to the West Coast. We also recorded a couple tracks with Brougham Camp. Ive been out to Vancouver many times. That was my first time performing here, but my grandmother used to live out here so when we were younger, we used to come out here all the time. Usually when were in town we dont have much time to go see things. Like tonight, we came here right before sound check and had to get ready for the show, and were out at like 10 in the morning.
MVRemix: What makes you happy? Classified:
Weed. Making tracks. Laying tracks down. Getting work done and being happy with it.
MVRemix: What pisses you off? Classified:
Wack emcees that are on TV every day.
MVRemix: Like who? Classified:
Okay this is my point of view, but Chingy. [Laughs] Just stuff like that. Just senseless music thats saying nothing. They got a couple good beats and stuff, and theyre doing good tracks, but they can say something at the same time if they want to.
MVRemix: So whats next? Classified:
Working on the new album. I just produced a track for Maestro. His videos dropping next week. Its the first single from his new album. Its called God Bless the Child. Be on the lookout for that; its going to turn some heads. Maestros doing some totally different stuff. What else am I going to be doing touring and stuff. Working on promoting the album and maybe doing some production for some people in New York. Kind of talking to Midi Mafia, who did production on [50 Cents] 21 Questions. Just kind of shopping the beats around.
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