Anyone who knows me, knows that I am an eternal beat junkie and am constantly in search of great music. I recently became aquainted with MeccaGodZilla's music by coincidence when blipping some of my hip hop faves on Twitter, he sent me a link to his PERFECT 天 album. Impressed with his beat-making, rhyming and graphic artist abilities, wanted to know more about what inspires him and how his style has transformed throughout his career.
AbsoluteVenus: Let the people know about the projects that you are currently working on.
MeccaGodZilla: I just released a brand new t-shirt, inspired by Chun Li of Street Fighter. I am also prepping to release albums for two (2) artists I work with on my label. God willing, this summer, I’ll drop a five (5) song EP called “Muteki.”
AbsoluteVenus: Are there any collabos with other artists (lyricists, producers, etc.) that you would like to mention?
MeccaGodZilla: Yes. I am working with Mio Soul and Sim-E right now, in addition to a team from Long Island that consists of RichSonz Music, NMG and The King Indeed. I have to finish up some work with Budamunky, Loupo and Masia One as well.
AbsoluteVenus: When you’re creating art, what inspires you?
MeccaGodZilla: When creating, many times it may take me a few hours or even days to clear my mind and jump in and start getting the energy out. I’m inspired by life itself and all folks bringing forth positive energy and negative doubtful energy. Both extremes really fuel the beats I make and the lyrics I write.
MeccaGodZilla: RYU BLACK was inspired by my buddy, Random. He made a tribute album for Capcom’s video game called Mega Man under the moniker Megaran. I thought the idea and music were really dope. Ryu Black came about because personally I spent years in the dojo, loved Street Fighter and felt a personal connection to the story of Ryu from the video game. It was only right to ask MegaRan if I could create an identity both he and Ryu helped inspire. At the time, I was taking a one (1) year hiatus. I just left a really unfortunate and life changing music experience. My mind couldn’t even think to write hardcore stuff as RAVAGE/MeccaGodZilla. That style is really raw. I wanted to make something serious but fun. I also didn’t want to copy and bite the idea of being a rapping “video game character” without getting an okay since Random really made something remarkable with MegaRan. Long story short, MegaRan was like “man go ahead, do it, do it!” So we collaborated on the first Ryu Black song ever called “Chun Li” which features Masia One and the rest is history.
The name MeccaGodZilla came from my run with an old friend and mentor Rodan. We were around a lot of great artists that worked with DOOM and Rhymesayers. While I was recovering from a severely terrible health scare...Rodan started calling me G Mecca - a flip of the MeccaGodZilla name. Thus, the name I go by mostly today, haha.
RAVAGE means to destroy - it is another alias of mine. Convention at times gets folks caught up and keeps them from evolving. So, I kept the name to remind myself to get and stay outta the box if conventional folks, people and ideas tried to box me in. I’m known still in NYC as RAVAGE moreso than MeccaGodZilla.
RAVAGE means to Restore Artistic Vision And Growth Everywhere after destroying conventional ideas. I started identify with this name at the Hip Hop Advocates club shortly because building a Hip Hop Union with Wale and five (5) other students called G.A.M.E.
AbsoluteVenus: Who are your favorite artists out right now (in any genre/art form)?
MeccaGodZilla: Below is a list that consists of about 1/3 of the artists I constantly check for outside of my favorite MCs in Wu-Tang. Outside of myself...hmmmm…Oh, and let me just say the last Killah Priest album “PWOWR” was just incredible.
Visual Artists
Ronald Wimberly, KEO, Aerosyn Lex, Aja, Damion Scott, Coby Kennedy, Marthalicia, Eric Orr, Nelson Caban, Gigi Bio, Pesu
Musicians / Poets
Budamunky, £ENA aka Lady L, Down North Camp, J. Stylez, Emeli Sande, Mariannie, Raye 6, SYAR, TRACKmKH, JaySage, and Conscious.
AbsoluteVenus: Where can real heads find your music? What formats (i.e. MP3, CD, vinyl)?
MeccaGodZilla: To find my music on CD, please visit here: http://manafestvision.storenvy.com/
You can get my RYU BLACK musical on iTunes here: http://manafestvision.com/2012/06/13/perfect-heaven-ryu-black/
You can also hit up iTunes and search for MeccaGodZilla, Ryu Black and Mio Soul to find more music from the artists featured on my record label. Vinyl will be late this year, early 2014.
AbsoluteVenus: Are you currently touring or doing shows?
MeccaGodZilla: My next scheduled show is June 21st with Make Music NY & LaRue of The B.U.R.N. Movement. I may visit Japan this summer once again and tour a lil bit. I have to see.
AbsoluteVenus: Outside of music, do you have other creative/professional endeavors that you would like to mention?
MeccaGodZilla: Yes indeed. I own the record label MANAFEST VISION MEDIA LLC. I also do quite a bit of graphic design, management of artists, consultation and quite a bit more that I wish I could talk about here, haha. Folks always tell me to just do one thing. “Just Rap...just make beats…just...” I wish my brain worked like that.
AbsoluteVenus: What are your official web/social media sites?
Homepage: http://www.meccagodzilla.com
Record Label: http://www.manafestvision.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheMeccaGodZilla
Twitter: @MeccaGodZilla
Instagram: MeccaGodZilla
Peace and Blessings
