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Sunday, August 19, 2012

Venus Dialogues : From the Underground Up

AbsoluteVenus: Congratulations on your latest album, "Swiss Chocolate Cake". I have the vinyl with USB. Funky beats and dope lyrics, keeps you rocking all the way through.
Mr. Complex: Thank you very much.

AbsoluteVenus: Are you currently touring or doing shows?
Mr. Complex: I do shows whenever I get the call. Hasn't been as many as I used to do. I think the world knows I'm doing film stuff so they forget I still got rhymes. 


AbsoluteVenus: Where can hip hop heads buy the album? 
Mr. Complex: Sub-Bombin Records and itunes.

AbsoluteVenus: In addition to your solo projects, any current/new Polyrythm Addicts or other collabos (lyricists, producers, etc.) on the horizon?
Mr. Complex: I started recording a brand new album about 2-3 years ago. It's called "Forever New". My best work I ever did. I've been on hiatus from recording, just from music in general since the Poly album. I was let down with the way the project came out. So, I was like eff music. It was too many people fighting over crumbs. I sacrafice my life for this, for real. Separate from that, my family went homeless for a bit. Sleeping at friends, while working on sets with millionaire people that love my work. So, it was difficult for me to handle. But, I started the new album after a close friend - my first producer, Andre Kyle, passed away from cancer. I worked with him in the late 80's, early 90's. We had mutual friends from high school. One guy from Andre's crew learned how to flip beats through him. He approached and insisted I check out his music. We got up and began. He's pretty much undiscovered. I have been recording with him for the whole project, dedicated to Andre. The new producer's name is Mortal. 

AbsoluteVenus: Love what I saw of your film "Fanatic". Any plans to continue filming that feature? 
Mr. Complex: That film is done. I just came back from Martha's Vineyard AA Film Fest last week.

AbsoluteVenus: Do you have other cinematic projects in the works?
Mr. Complex: I have several scripts written. I don't stop writing. I have two projects in the works "The Funny Thing About Making Sex". I co-wrote with D-Stroy, and I'm directing. Hopefully, I can shoot in October. Another joint is a movie called "Nobody's Home" about a young kid filming a documentary while looking for his mother, that he feels left him to become a singer.

AbsoluteVenus: Any cast/crew/artists you would like to mention who you are working with on those pieces? 
Mr. Complex: I have a ton of famous friends, actors and musicians...It's all about the timing so I don't wanna mention names.

AbsoluteVenus: When you're creating art, what inspires you? 
Mr. Complex: Life, everyday life.

AbsoluteVenus: What are your favorite artist(s) out right now? 
Mr. Complex: Right now? I'm old school if I may say. I appreciate my dudes that been roching for 20 years plus. Extra P, Q Tip, G Rap, Pharoahe, Masta Ace, Roots, De La. 

AbsoluteVenus: Are there other things you got cooking that you would like to mention? 
Mr. Complex:  My book, "Underground Up"

AbsoluteVenus: What's your official web/social media site(s)?  

Thank you Plex! I look forward to bring previews, videos and more to visitors of Planet Venus.

Respect!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

I DIG THIS! | Forensick Ft. Senamax- Homage(Explicit) [Official Video]

Bless to my Hale's Kitchen family! Here is the latest from the camp >> pay homage yo!



For more from Forensick (@iamforensick) check his youtube channel.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Venus Dialogues | You Bouncin with Scott!

Attention hip hop fans...I had the pleasure of connecting with NC 's own Scottie Flippen to hear more about his latest project. What I've heard of the album thus far lives up to its name! Keep bouncing.

Scottie Flippen rockin' the stage.
What is the album entitled? Why?
I decided to call this project “You Bouncin With Scott (Volume 1)” about two years ago when I first started the process. I didn’t want to get too specific with a title or concept for the entire tape because I felt like it might limit me artistically. On the other hand, one thing I did know is that I’m always going to bring that bounce…hence the title, “You Bouncin With Scott.” It has stuck with me over time, and I’ll be looking to release other projects in the future to continue the series.  

Is there an overall message/theme for the album?
Good songwriting, music that makes sense, something the listener can actually live and feel. I want the audience to be able to relate to the music I make, so I don’t talk about superficial shit like cars, watches, chains, etc. I still think all that shit’s cool, but there’s more to life than the brand of shoes you wear or the car you drive. It’s tough times out there; people have real problems and issues not only financially, but personally too. I sound like a politician right now, fuck that, I’m not running for office. I just understand where “real” people are coming from. 2 Chainz, we think it’s great that you have 2 chains, or 7 or 8 or however many fucking chains you’re wearing. But, that’s all bullshit. People can’t relate to that; they’re worried about how they’re going to pay the rent and feed their kids, not how their chain looks in the lighting on stage. I’m a grown up, I don’t listen to that bullshit; my 15 year old sister does though. The chorus for the closing track of my album sums up the overall theme/message best. It says, “I don’t talk about my chain or how my wrists glistening/ but if I did there’d be a million dumb fucks listening.” And that’s real folks.

How is this project different from ones that you have done in the past?
It’s the absolute best of Scott Flippen. It’s not a mixtape or an EP; I put years into finding the right group of songs to introduce myself and my music to the world with. I’m finally comfortable saying that I’ve done that.

What specifically inspired you to do this album?
Basically, just my love for hip-hop, songwriting & music in general. I can turn on a beat, add words to it and make it come to life. I don’t need any more inspiration than that. It’s the first of many, so I’m personally happy to have this project behind me and begin to explore future endeavors in the industry.

Are there any collabs (lyricists, producers, etc.) you would like to mention?
A large portion of the project was produced as well as engineered, mixed & mastered by my boys Mike Machete & Conbud aka Turn 2 Productions. I won’t say none of this would be possible without them, but the quality wouldn’t be near the same level. I value their opinions and ears for music more than anything else; even more than my own at times. Both of those guys put in a tremendous amount of work and effort behind the scenes to make this project possible, and they are family to me. I think the project will also be another outlet for them to showcase their skills as producers.

Kelsey Lu & Scottie Flippen
I also have some good features from other artists on the project as well. Everyone knows Kelsey Lu will be featured on a few tracks. She’s an unbelievably talented vocalist and cellist, and it’s worth mentioning that we’ll be working on her first solo EP this fall…we’re all pumped about that. Kelsey and I teamed up with Kon Sci from MindsOne for one of those records. I’ve also got features from some of my other favorite regional emcees like Chedda Chapp, Azon Blaze, Poe Mack, Sef from 2nd Revolution, Don Digiorgio and Dirt Digg. I do have other production beyond Turn 2 as well. I ventured a little outside of my box and brought the All-European production team in for a few tracks. I’ve got a couple tracks produced by Dr. G & Pro P from England in addition to a joint from Skeksta out of Poland. CJ Beatz also dropped a dope piano beat on the record for my collab with Poe Mack. Solid top to bottom.

What are your favorite record(s) right now own the album?
I wish I could pick a couple records out from the bunch, but that’s really impossible for me; I like them all. One of the main focuses of this project was to put together a collection of quality songs that can all stand up on their own. I didn’t want filler tracks that the listener would just skip through. There’s no skits or any of that bullshit, just 13 records to break ya neck.

When is the album scheduled to be released?
I want to give you the exact date, but I promised my good friends at CarolinaAllDay.com that we’d be making the announcement via their website. We’ll be publicizing that when it comes out, so stay tuned. I know the exact date of the release, so I’ll just tell you it’s mid-September. Beyond that, you’ll have to check out CarolinaAllDay.com within the next week or two.

Where can hip hop heads buy the album? What formats (i.e. MP3, CD, vinyl)
The album will be available online in all the right places like iTunes, amazon, etc.  I also have a release party planned that we’ll be announcing in conjunction with the date. There will be several record stores carrying the physical copies and we’re currently in talks about distribution with a few different companies as we speak.

Any upcoming concerts/performances?
With a mid-September release date, I’ll be doing a small handful of shows throughout the course of the fall. The first to announce that people need to check out is Saturday, October 6th with Bubba Sparxxx at Southland Ballroom in Raleigh, NC. We’ll be posting links to buy tickets on all of our social media outlets in the coming weeks.

Kelsey Lu
What other projects that you are working on that you would like to mention?
I’ll continue to write music as always, but I don’t have any immediate plans; I want to enjoy this release first. Putting this behind me, I’m really excited to get started working on Kelsey Lu’s EP this fall. We’re on the same page with everything, and as bad as I want the world to hear my music, I want the same for her. She’s a sister to me, and I’ll do anything I can to help her succeed in this business. I know Mike Machete & Conbud feel the same way. She’ll be back here in NC performing with me for the Bubba Sparxxx show, and we plan on setting that week aside to start working on her EP. It’s all family for us.




What's your official web/social media site(s)?
There are a ton of free downloads as well as videos, interviews, tour schedule, etc. at www.scottieflippen.com. You can follow me on twitter @scottieflippen or add me on facebook by the same name.

I also want to take quick minute to shout out my homie Andy Nichols aka Mr. Neva Dedd . He’s the man behind the scenes for me that makes all of this possible from the interviews to the shows to my day to day collection of bullshit. It’s great to work with people that you consider “family,” and I’m very blessed to have him on my team. I also want to thank Andrea for taking the time to share this interview. You’ll always be an honorary member of the AYP Team! Take care and remember…YOU BOUNCIN WITH SCOTT!!!