Rugged Intellect (CAN)
March 17th, 2009 | By YouDee
Just north of the US is an extention of the land known as Canada. While sharing a border with the US the northern cousin seems a lot less trigger happy and is home of many a dope artist such as Rugged Intellect.
For those yet to hear your tracks, how would you describe your sound?
My sound would best be described as futuristic old school hip-hop in the sense that it is the perfect marriage of the past, present and future sounds of hip-hop music. By combining all these elements, the sound created is the apex of top-notch production, earth-shattering lyrics and respect for the foundations of hip-hop culture.
Just north of the US is an extention of the land known as Canada. While sharing a border with the US the northern cousin seems a lot less trigger happy and is home of many a dope artist such as Rugged Intellect.
Following the disintegration of a previous contractual situation, me and Domingo were introduced through a mutual acquaintance. After recording the song “Say Goodbye”, Domingo jumped on board and extended his expertise to mentoring my career in the right direction and opening the doors to many unforeseen opportunities. Overall, his contributions were instrumental in getting me situated and without a doubt we will continue to make dope music throughout my career.
Speaking of dope producers, your album features beats from prominent figures and some upcomers. Which producer was your favourite to work with?
For me to pick a favorite producer out of the talented individuals I have been blessed to work with would be an injustice to the different experiences working with each one brought to the table. Of course working with Domingo was crazy, but I also enjoy working with Buckwild and my friend and producer Adam Sampler. The work with Adam Sampler was particularly dope because most of it was done before any outside production or features were secured and we were just working out of the home studio making music not knowing what would come of it.
How did you get involved in hip-hop? Give us some insight in to your hip-hop history and how you got in to to this stage in your career.
From the earliest stages of my childhood, I was surrounded by hip-hop culture despite not initially knowing it was hip-hop. I grew up in a vastly multi-cultural West Indian neighborhood and I remember hearing hip-hop music blaring from my neighbor’s houses and also occasional park jams. Personally, I always had an ability to write and throughout my adolescence I put together poems that turned into rhymes. From there, I started taking the MC craft seriously, rhyming in the halls of my high school with breakdancers spinning in the cafeteria during recess. Let me specify I was one of the only white cats in my neighborhood but regardless of that it was never a problem because they knew me as that white kid from the neighborhood who rhymed.
What do you think of the current state of hip-hop culture? How healthy is the Canadian hip-hop scene?
The current state of hip-hop culture is in full expansion and I am proud to see that as a culture we are still evolving as new artists and new sounds are being created every day. However, corporate upheaval and bastardization of the culture has created the illusion that real hip-hop is dead but as long as there is poverty and the desire to make it out the struggle, hip-hop will always exist. Even though critics like to say hip-hop is on its deathbed due to oversaturation and things of that nature, it’s important to understand hip-hop is not what you see on BET, MTV, or read in XXL 95 percent of the time. I think the future of hip-hop lies in the education of the youth in understanding how the powers that be try to puppeteer our culture with gimmicks and garbage but at the end of the day, hip-hop is not going anywhere!
Like I always say, the Canadian hip-hop scene is a burgeoning one full of talent but unfortunately not enough outlets allowing artists to generate visibility for themselves. Due to a variety of socio-political and economical reasons, the Canadian rap industry will never come close to that of the US especially considering our population is not even one tenth of that.
You’ve already worked with some of the dopest rappers to grace the mic. Is there anyone else you’re hoping to work with?
Most definitely. Production wise, I’d love to work with DJ Premier, Show, Just Blaze (although I won’t be able to afford him anytime soon), Pete Rock, Alchemist, Lord Finesse and others….MC wise, definitely Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Canibus, The Last Emperor, Percee P and Nas.
Have you heard much Australian rap? What did you think of what you’ve heard?
I haven’t heard as much Australian rap as I would like to in order to formulate a good opinion about it, but from the artists I’ve heard, like Brad Strut for example, I can tell the Australian scene is full of dope artists and producers.
What’s next? Now that the album’s out, what else have you got in the works?
Now that the album’s out, the mission is definitely to spread the message globally and introduce as many people possible to my music and what I represent. As I work on other projects, I am equally going hard with promoting the album and doing shows everywhere. I’m actually headed to the UK on Tuesday for a 6 day tour so that should be really dope. I am also putting together a Rare and Unreleased collection of recordings that features unheard songs with CL Smooth, Ghetto Dwellas (Party Arty & D-Flow, A-Bless), Sean Price and more so look out for that in early 2008.
What would we find in your CD player right now?
At the moment, I am really enjoying the new Jay-Z album “American Gangster.” The beats on the album are phenomenal, as I’m a sucker for ’70s era soul and funk samples. I’ve also been bumping the KRS One/Marley Marl album “Hip-Hop Lives” which is one of the dopest albums that came out this year.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Peace and respect to everybody reading this interview and all the hip-hop heads worldwide holding it down for hip-hop culture. I invite everyone to check out my album “Renaissance Music: The Introduction” which is available now. The album features production from Domingo, Buckwild, Adam Sampler, Molemen and more as well as classic collaborations with Kool G Rap, Ras Kass, RA The Rugged Man, Heltah Skeltah, AG & Party Arty of DITC and more.
In Australia the album is distributed by Shogun Distribution so it should be available at fine retailers like Soul Clap Records, as well as JB Hi-Fi and Sanity.com.au
Extra shout-out to BNE’s Finest for the interview and feel free to check me out at http://www.myspace.com/ruggedintellect
ONE LOVE!