HOT FEATURED ARTIST INTERVIEWS .....(From the Showstoppa Interview
Archives 2007) Unedited Posted August 2009 1:45 p.m.
Click the picture above to download
new Universal Artist Lunch's new album 'Heart of a Lion'. Scroll down to read Showstoppa's exclusive interview
with the artist. Bella's favorite track 'Get em Girl'.
RAP ARTIST LUNCH-Recently signed with Universal Studios
BELLA: IN AN UNTAPPED AREA OF
THE W. COAST KNOWN AS THE INLAND EMPIRE...HOME OF THE HOMELESS NATION AND JJ FAD AND 40 GLOC- 40 MINS FROM LA...HOW WAS IT
GROWING UP IN THAT AREA...WHAT IS IT LIKE NOW....?
LUNCH: I.E. /MORENO VALLEY 40 MINS FROM LA/ ORANGE CTY....COMPTON...INLAND
EMPIRE....SMALL CITY- ORIGNALLY BORN IN CARSON...FAM STILL IN LA- IN LA YOU GET 2XS THE SPACE FOR YOUR $- EVERY WEEKEND WE
WAS GETTING SHOT UP AT HOUSE PARTIES. HAD HOMIES WHO WERE IN THE GANG BUT SOME MANAGED TO STAY OUT- MOM MOVED AROUND A LOT....HAD
TO TAKE THE HOOD TO LA...NO HOODS IN LA...IF YOU HAVE THE WRONG COLOR ON ONE DAY IN SOME PARTS YOU MIGHT GET CAPPED....TRYING
TO PUNK U TRYING TO GET THEIR STRIPES UP...
BELLA: YOU'VE BEEN PERFORMING SINCE 1999- WHEN DID YOU FIRST SPARK AN INTEREST
IN THE RAP GAME?
LUNCH: BEGAN RAPPING IN 97-98-IN 1990 EXPRESSED INTEREST...BIG CUZIN WAS RAPPING - PITCH BLACK...CO
OWNER OF COMPANY NOW....HOMELESS RECORDS....
BELLA: WHO WERE YOUR MAIN INFLUENCES GROWING UP? WHO DO YOU LIKE TO LISTEN
TO NOW AND WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITES?
LUNCH: I LIKED ALL HIPHOP....BUT MOSTLY ICE CUBE...BIG ....PAC...TREACH....NAUGHTY
BY NATURE....PULLED ELEMENTS FROM DIF TRACKS TO GET SOUND.....SPIRIT OF PAC....PASSION OF PAC.......GIVE CONCEPT BUT WRITE
MOST HOOKS........
BELLA: YOUR NAME WAS DERIVED FROM YOUR GROUP NOT HAVING A PLACE IN HIP HOP TO CALL THEIR OWN...WHY
DO YOU FEEL THERES NO SPOT PRESENTLY FOR YOU IN HIP HOP? WHAT TYPE OF SOUND DO YOU FEEL YOU ARE SENDING OUT?
LUNCH:
GOING BACK TO THE GANGSTA RAP....BUT NOT TOO GANGSTA...SO WE WENT HOMELESS NATION---
BELLA: SO YOU'VE SIGNED A RECORD
DEAL WITH UNIVERSAL? HAVE YOU STARTED ON YOUR FIRST PROJECT...IF NOT WHEN....AND WHAT SHOULD WE LOOK FOR ON YOUR FIRST RELEASE
AS A SIGNED ARTIST? I KNOW YOU JUST RELEASED AN ALBUM ON AUG 14TH.
LUNCH: WE PUSHED THE ALBUM BACK....NOW ON ITUNES.....HEART
OF A LION---I HAD A FRIEND WHO DIED ALMOST 3 TIMES...ONLY THING COULD BREAK HIM WAS GOD AND HIM.....HEART OF A LION.....
BELLA:
DID YOU WRITE "THEY DON'T LIKE ME" AND "GET EM GIRL"...IF SO...WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THESE TRACKS....?
LUNCH: I WAS AT A CLUB---LIKED TO WATCH FEMALES DANCE....FINGAZZ PRODUCED THE BEATS......WORKS WITH DIFFERENT PRODUCERS
LIKE J.R.///FINGAZZ IS MAIN PR.
BELLA: WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU....ANY PROMOTIONAL PROJECTS...PERFORMANCES, ETC. WE SHOULD
LOOK FOR?
LUNCH: WILL BE IN ATL 10-13 OF THIS MONTH---NORTHERN CAL 18TH - SHOW IN NOV....WILL BE OPENING UP FOR LISA
LISA......
JDP INTERVIEW (Took place on May 17, 2007) Featured on
Lil Waynes Reality T.V. Show/ Album: Defying Gravity
BELLA: You grew up on the SS of Chicago.E 83rd place-how
was it where you grew up in your environment like-area-urban-local influences?
JDP: Like any other urban environment..not
any real bad areas, etc.
BELLA: You started working on your craft at age 13- what inspired you to get started and
how did you get started?
JDP: Became interested in music as a hobby-and was talented at it-became serious performing
with my own equipment-started first group at age 15- did underground cds-graduated high school...
BELLA: How did
you meet J-Twist and what brought about the creation of Flyy City Records/?
JDP: I met J.Twist at college- Columbia
College-both wanted to push music-as a life long interest-both had music interests and came together.
BELLA: Tell
me about Defying Gravity Volume1 scheduled for release this summer with appearances of some new artists from Chicago
such as Bullet, and Jay Stone?
JDP: All of his work is going to this cd...there are also other up and coming artists
being looked at.
BELLA: What do you hope to accomplish with this album?
JDP: I Hope to accomplish in setting
it off getting my name out there-to raise the bar.
BELLA: Where do you see yourself in two years...what do
you want to achieve in this game of music?
JDP: To appear on t.v. shows like BET...worldwise,,,to become a household
name.
BELLA: You mentioned you will be appearing in a reality show starring Lil Wayne...how did you get into that? What
happens if you win/how can we find out more?
JDP: It's called "Makin the Next Hit"..we're going around
to different cities in the country for each city -whoever wins the competition goes to Miami and other major cities..
BELLA:
I think your flav is closest to Kanye, and JayZ, but faster paced... In Mean Wit It...it has a fast moving tempo and your
voice is confident and smooth and you brag about blowing up...how confident are you that you will become a success?
JDP:
I'm very confident-don't want to be cocky but I have really good music-been grinding for awhile.
Make sure to check
out myspace.com/utopjob? or myspace.com/flyycity.
KING ASHOKA
King
Ashoka is Guayanese born in Guyanan-raised in the u.s. since age 8.
BELLA: Where were you born and spent most
of your life growing up?
ASHOKA: Lived in London, Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic, Atlanta, NY-last few years have
been in Dallas Texas--expressed interest in 1988-first demo some years ago..
BELLA: How did it influence you (your surroundings)..?
ASHOKA:
I generally gravitate to more urban communities -mom is from SriLanka-North Carolina (dad)..influenced by EPMD, Tribe called
Quest, K-Solo, NAS, JayZ.
BELLA: What would you want the new artists -unseasoned to know about this game?
ASHOKA:
Its f---d up! Cover all steps with paperwork- get it in writing--don't fall for the hoky doke-rap conventions-take $ to give
and get organized -don't have to pay alot of $ to network.
BELLA: Why did you choose the name Ashoka...?
ASHOKA:
Victor Ashoka Beasley--named after the Indian European Emperor-King Ashoka.
BELLA: Your info states you donate
a percentage of your earnings to charities in effort to fight against cancer (daughter Jasmine and sister Veda) how has this
affected you...when did you really begin to get involved...?
ASHOKA: At age 15. Jasmine is in remission-been through
several years of chemo therapy...even lost her on the table. I feel obligated to give back-her older sister Veda has cancer-dear
to her heart and would like to help...Renada Theatre-10% earnings went to the Children's cancer fund. Build a reputable donation
and donate percentage of money earned.
BELLA: What kind of image do you want to portray and think you are portraying
...?
ASHOKA: Not neccessarily trying to portray an image other than being a good person...keep it real, the truth hurts
sometimes, to be a regal-leader-to capture the ears of knuckleheads---rap about life lessons if you could listen to his music
you can learn from his experiences and not go through it yourselves. Catch their attention by being a knucklehead--live and
learn life lessons.
BELLA: You've worked with numerous heavyweights in the industry-how has this experience been-what
have you learned..
ASHOKA: It has been a great experience-one minute we're grinding at the house then next thing we're
touring with Mystikal...learned alot on the road on how the music industry is...a label does not benefit the artists. Blackwerks
is the shit...love them!
BELLA: Where are you in your career...now...what's coming up/ ?
ASHOKA: Doing lots of
shows -show Hot Import Nights car show travels around the world...just grinding...working on track with Erykha--(Badu) called
looking for My Dream...will be featured on this album.
BELLA: What are your goals?
ASHOKA: Future aspirations,
you should want to start your own...eventually once when the name recognition brings attention. Such as First Chapter Entertainment...the
first album would be chapter one.
Off Time Evolution "Gimme Mine" my favorite because it's a song about how
i feel- love all of them.
We're presently independently pushing and can get through Blackwerks...new album to be released
in 6-8 months..."The Blackout Movement" .
Artist Ashoka states "I've done wrong to people, I don't
want to go to hell for it...I'm a good guy that had to learn to be good...depends on what you want to do...I would want to
think you would want to be good". Maybe I'll prove to be the Don amongst Dons....a contributer to society and the
world- the world won't see those contributions unless they support it.
kingashoka.net
ILLITERACY (ILLIT.COM) Conference Call
Typed 1-14-08
Bella: So you all were born in
Star City Roanaoke-and grew up and went to school together...?
Group reply: Everybody knew eachothers business--group
was close knitted.
SpeakEasy: On the real level-use to always go over Corey's house-his older sister would always order
pizza--she would hide the pizza but they would always find it.
Bella: You all have managed to keep a tight group throughout
childhood through adolescence...to manhood- how have you managed to do that-what do you think it takes to keep that loved
one strong and what are its benefits...?
Will: It's not just about the music-more about family---tracks come secondary,
friendship first..makes it easier to work together...
SpeakEasy- Family first...blessed with music...screening people...for
singing, rapping ...want everybody to be heard...any type of talent.
Will: The track has a sample on it...that's the
easy part- the track speaks to you..inspired by beats mostly-generally get the same.
Bella: I believe your music is
what we need today on the airwaves and I know alot of today's youth and new unseasoned artists could learn a lot from listening
to your tracks-what do you all want listeners to remember after the cd has finished playing...?
Scott: Make a change
and to be versatile- want every song to be completely different from the last.
Will and speakEasy: Hip hop is going
down...Nas said hip hop is dead..hip hop alternative-to bring it back where it was- take tracks back in the day and modernize
them...thinks Nas was being sarcastic...
Speakeasy: Gotta do something to progress your people.
Corey: I have
dealt with that (not being hard core enough)...have dealt with that by going to open mic night...the crowd only wants to hear
about how you spray the crowd...realistically everybodies not going to feel every track...we're not trying to give people
a sense of false reality...rubbing people the wrong way causes friction...my soul is empty...yet I still push talking about
the track...
Bella: How do you prioritize all of your responsibilities?
SpeakEasy: Been doing this for seven
years....thoughts were intellectual as hell as a group and we continued to motivate and stimulate eachother...Scott left sided
stuff he's had in his life....if you're lacking ...you don't go on the track---once he was slurring and Will got kicked off
the booth...AlcoholicSynonomous...you'll have to have it.
Bella: So you all use to gather around the computer as young
gents and create tracks...do you think that past time played a great role in creating a group of accomplished young men and
musicians...who've gone on to create and manage their own business?
Will: I feel like if you put that time and energy
into it-I got into an incident on Senior trip...where a lot went wrong. There have been situations any one of them could have
been incarcerated just the luck of the draw...with prayer-just trying to be heard-if you -get ideas for tracks from friends
sometimes.
Bella: Tell me about Ill it/and Ego check Volume 1- your 3rd compilation- how successful do you think
your previous compilations were?
Scott: At the time I was a Senior in high school - Continued in highschool...Corey
has versatility...It was a solo album....
Speakeasy: It was a form of therapy...you can pick up a peace of mind and
pass to the next single...like the Get it Off Your Chest...album...We were still young and didn't have financial things to
get out there...probably won't use previews of the album ..still just in the beginning stages on EgoCheck..every song will
be on that level...still have like 30-40 songs ...Ego check is where you are right now. We're now up to the maximum level-
we'll all be on that level from now on...
Bella: Tell me about Ill It Beatz....
Reply: Will and Scott
have beats for sell right now....
Will: We have a studio we record in...with an artist called Kimbrough- he'll be featured
on AlcoholicSynonomous- Kimbrough is a childhood friend- or Al Synamaus...will be released later this year (released last
year Jan. 07) released this year...Ill-It.
Will: Props to Scott for recognizing we can't all be in the same city...able
to reach a larger audience--when the first one hits...
SpeakEasy: We're trying to get a license for a movie sound track...shows
and video games. About to be featured in a Podcast....gives you a lot of exposure to a lot of people. Scott has given 100%-Myspace
is the perfect network...
Speakeasy: We also emailed various podcasts and asked them to broadcast--( Will quotes Scott's
lyrics- told Scott-you're my favorite rapper-whatever you're saying he's a lyrical mentor and production wise for that matter...stopped
rapping so he can focus more on producing...)
TRACK REVIEW/
Track-Take Charge? Remind me of Nas- tripple
threat thought you would have made it by now...if it was for the money...would've quit a long time ago.
Bella:
What would you consider making it...to mean..?
Reply: Talking about praying and believing in something-this isn't rapping
this is intellect...
Bella: What was your inspiration with this track?
Reply: Shorties get liberated...emancipated
midgets...meaning children..talking about being a leader and not a follower, etc.
Spitwell: Music out there definitely
door #1-
To go somewhere and someone recognized and respects and sees this person...
Scott: Always put music ahead
of the business.
Speakeasy: Listen to a lot of nas...Lupe Fiasco...not an entertainer..more like a street poet.
MONEYTEAM CALABO-The SHORT STOP Interview
8-14-07 ShortStop age 20 bday March 11, 1987..... ...
