You got a new album coming out February 28th. Who's on it and what can we expect?

The new album is titled UNORTHODOX and it features hip hop legend from Brooklyn, Buck Shot of the Black Moon/Boot Camp Click, Scarub of the Living Legends, Otherwize, and Big Chief

How long has this album been in the works?

This album was done in 2005 and it was successfully released in Japan soon after completion. But do to unfortunate circumstances with my previous Label in the US, it was never released. So, I've taken control of the situation and I'm getting it out there myself. So hopefully cats that cop it will appreciate the level of hard work that shines through the music, na'mean.

Where has your music been featured?

New York city has shown me mad love and continues to support me more than my home base...You would figure with the caliber of artists and production, let alone the lyrics that's put into this project that L.A. would support more. It's the direct opposite...DJ Ready Cee in Bronx has his thing called the djreadyceeshow.com that's played my joint with BUCK SHOT to the fullest and he has featured that joint on a few of his mix cd's that get distributed by FATBEATS. Also, Kid Capri played the joint on HOT 97 fm in New York City. But then again, Mr. Choc and Truly Odd always showed me love at Power 106's fantastic four show in Los Angeles....So I ain't hating Los Angeles, just wish they didn't get a late pass cause there is enough room for everybody to eat without being stuck and too damn Hollywood.....LOL

Is there any Release party’s/Up and coming shows in the near future?

No more of those cause we've been there and done that about a year ago, when we had Buck Shot and KRS 1show up as surprise guests at my album release show....But my crew called the Concrete Guerrillas is having our album release party along side of Masta Ace on the 24th of January.

How would you describe your style?

My style is 30 yrs of being a B-Boy coming at you all at once, but molding by the soulful aggression of a proud half Puerto Rican (Taino) African American perspective and flava...I single handily splash headliners out the water when I do my shows, so imagine what you get from me on the album. And you know what, I still haven't wrote my best rhyme and I've worked and still work and get respect from legends...so go figure...Your 50 cents, your Weezys, Soldier Boys, ya lils or ya favorite underground emcees can't fuck with what I bring to the table bar Fucken none.

What makes you different from every other emcee with an album?

My album is different because I live by the true Hip Hop Law or golden rule, and that is being fucken FRESH. I ain't trying to be or sound like no one else so I perfected being FRESH and avoided giving you the expected, na'mean.

How did you get interested in Hip Hop?

Since 1977 so do the math LOL

"Konfident" is a very confident name... What made you choose that?

I was high as hell writing rhymes one night and I got writers block suddenly after I written the first of the rhyme which was confident. Being stoned and shit, I kept starring at the word and wondering how it would look with a K....So tagged it up all over the paper and it look dope, it described me as an individual is the game or the mic, so I ran with it and copy written the name...so the shit is mine officially LOL

What do you think of the state in Hip Hop?

Hip Hop is not dead but it is garbage...Cats like 50 and the rest of these bubble gum pop cats have ruined the integrity of the culture. They rather give you some corny ass music so they can get paid, without adding on the cipher. And at the same time these legends that came before them, are on their jock when it should be the other way around....Legends like Lyte, KRS 1, Red and Meth, Rass Kass, and many others are much talented then 50 but won't say they are cause everybody has a price...well, fuck the price and I ain't bighting my tongue no more. I got a Master's degree in Political Science from CSULA, so I'll be ok without this rap game. So I do it and show my lyrical skills and integrity to preserve the culture because I love to build than to destroy something that has always played a positive role in my life. That's cats like Buck Shot and the whole Psycho Realm crew continue to build with me till this day. I love Buck, Stelle, Sick Jacken, Tony Lopez, Cynic, FM, Crow & St. Louis for supporting me off and on the mic.

Your originally from Washington D.C is that were you got your musical roots? or is it your Puerto Rican background that shapes your sound?

Yeah I would say that my East Coast swagger and being raised by my Puerto Rican pops along with the black and brown communities on the west, have influenced my style tremendously...The mixture of the East and West Coast influences gives me an edge over cats that's been raised all their lives on just one Coast. My father always listens to Latin groups like El Gran Combo from Puerto Rico, Grupo Niche from Cuba, and Oscar De Leon from Columbia. Plus [pops] likes War and Santana . My Mom listens to nothing but SOUL which we call old SOUL music, so I got the best of both worlds. But I got hit by the Hip Hop bomb in 1977, my parents shit went out the window....lol

Who have you performed with on the stage?

WOW...Just to name a few or would you like to pick a name....lol Wu-Tang in Reno, Co. In Los Angeles MF Doom, Alkoholiks, Beatnuts, KRS 1, Hierogliphics, Phife Dawg of Tribe Called Quest & Planet Asia. I went on a West Coast tour with Boot Camp Click, Masta Ace, MR. Lif, Brother Ali, Murs...ya know. I’m even going to the UK and Germany to do shows with Chino XL...so yeah I've performed with the best

Are you signed to a label? My own label called

KING KON SOUND!

Who would you like to collaborate with?

Big Duke, Sick Jacken or Rakim

It's 2008, what are some of your goals for this year regarding your music?

Show and prove that KON is a force to be wreck'n with....That's my goal and getting paid...that's it. I mouths to feed including mine and my gas tank...LOL so getting paid has a priority with me, besides serving wack ass sound-a-like emcee....If you listen to your music and you know it sounds like something that's already been done, I'm dissing you even if it is as good as JDILLA joints...he did what he had to do, so don't imitate him. If you do, you to will get dissed in 2008 LOL.

Do you produce or make beats?

No ain't got time for that shit LOL

What do you think is lacking in the way Hip Hop is portrayed?

Originality in ones delivery, style and character....nothing is changing and all emcees and beats sound the fucken same...We need that diversity back in the game.....so since no else feels they should do it, then I will.  

Being that you have been around for a hot minute, what do you think needs to change for the better in the West Coast underground scene?

West Coast needs to stop sounding like every other place and start being original. We imitate the south, NYC, and that Detroit sound...But what is the West Coast sound? I'll tell you who has it and that's the Psycho Realm/Sick Symphonies familia...they got it na'mean...If you want to feel L.A, if you're not from here, then pick up their albums and you'll get it for sure...My crew Concrete Guerrillas got it too. But as a solo artist, I don't worry about that stuff...I just make good music for the love and spirit of hip hop.

Any advice for anyone trying to make it in the business?

Yeah...move the fuck outta my way for starters lol and learn to put on ya game faces when need be. Cause the game is changing rapidly and in order to assure longevity in this shit, you got to be yourself and be business at the same time. It's a tough thing to do but doing it will keep you in the game longer.

How can people reach you for contact/booking info all business or viewing?

My music is done at www.myspace.com/konfident or contact Miguel Betancourt at 818-633-3391

Paz y Mas....KONFIDENT