Defari Interview: Behold My Life
June 2005
MVRemix: How did this Likwit Junkies album with DJ Babu come about?
Defari: About 10 months ago, I took the idea to Babu and he was all for it, because we had recorded so much material already, and it all came out great. At the same time, I took it to Ben at ABB Records, and he was down with it. That was pretty much it, and after that, we started working on the album.
MVRemix: How was it working with Babu for a whole album? What was the chemistry like?
Defari: It's pretty much organic. Its like a natural combination, because me and him have similar DJing backgrounds, similar feelings for Hip Hop, and similar tastes in music. So it's a natural hook up. It was long overdue, to be honest with you.
MVRemix: You used to DJ? I didn't know that.
Defari: Yeah, that is pretty much how I started to really get into Hip Hop.
MVRemix: Have you been pleased with how the album has been received and the responses you have gotten?
Defari: Yeah, for the most part we have been very happy. The in-stores have been packed with people, so its been a good look. We have a new single coming called "Ghetto", with "Brother" as the b-side. We are also about to hit the road, so we are really excited about the whole thing.
MVRemix: Lets go back to your last album Odds And Evens. Were you happy on how the album turned out?
Defari: I was happy about the actual product, because my shit was crackin' on that album. The sonic value of Odds And Evens I was very happy with. But the marriage with High Times was a mystery.
MVRemix: So you weren't feeling the promotion?
Defari: Na, I wasn't feeling how they worked the music. It was a fictitious entity, it wasn't even a label. It was fiction! So the business side was real wack, but the product was phenomenal. For those of you who don't have that album it's a must have!
MVRemix: What do you mean by the label was fictitious? There was no set up for anything like that?
Defari: It wasn't a label! It was one person running shit, Devon, and he was doing the best he could. But the head of the label was basically a weenie!
MVRemix: Overall, do you feel your are overlooked or underrated?
Defari: I feel like that in one way, because of the talent I see being successful nowadays, Plus, my lyrical skills. So in that way, yes I feel underrated. But at the same time, its all music, and I'm a fan of the music. I really feel blessed to even have thousands and thousands of people that have heard me worldwide. I try to focus more on that, than feeling that I am underrated or overlooked. I try and focus on the positive and keep building. Because at the end of the day its all about the music and your catalogue. Regardless, whoever doesn't recognize my talent at this moment, at the end of the day I will go down as one of the greatest to ever done it coming out of L.A..
MVRemix: Do you think you being overlooked has to do with there being a subliminal bias against the West Coast?
Defari: Well, there has been traditionally, being that the majority of the heavyweight magazines and media, like Viacom, are based on the East Coast. So a few of us do get out there and do it big, which is dope for the West Coast, like Snoop and The Game. Their success is real big for us, and not to forget one of the greatest ever, Ice Cube, and the list goes on - Ice T, King T, WC, Dre. But we are still overlooked to this day, and look at all the people I just named. I think that has to do with things not being centralized here in L.A., in terms of the media. If the West Coast had a big media presence, you would see and hear more of us.
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