From Delaware To California: Fred Knuxx Interview - Rap and Hip Hop Music Network

Warning: include() [function.include]: URL file-access is disabled in the server configuration in /var/www/raptalk.net/html/news/features/FromDelawareToCaliforniaFredKnuxxInterview.php on line 22

Warning: include(http://www.raptalk.net/newnav.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: no suitable wrapper could be found in /var/www/raptalk.net/html/news/features/FromDelawareToCaliforniaFredKnuxxInterview.php on line 22

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.raptalk.net/newnav.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/share/php:/usr/share/pear') in /var/www/raptalk.net/html/news/features/FromDelawareToCaliforniaFredKnuxxInterview.php on line 22

From Delaware To California: Fred Knuxx Interview

I know that I am not the only one that has been wanting to see artists from the East and West work together. Some of the larger names record together but there is no union of the underground movements. Thats all changing now thanks to a young artist out of Delaware named Fred Knuxx that has reached out to the artists of the West Coast for a unique project entitled "Delafornia". Raptalk recently spoke to Fred to shed some more light on his career and on this exciting new project. You can also learn more about Fred Knuxx by visiting his websites: www.fredknuxx.com and www.myspace.com/fredknuxx

Styles: Fred, why don’t give us a little background info on yourself especially for the people that are just finding out about you…

FK: I been rapping for like 10 years now, seriously rapping. I started out in a group called The Franchise out in Delaware. My other partners weren’t holding their weight so I started with the solo thing. Ever since then I’ve been grinding trying to get my name out. Delaware is such a small place for Hip Hop. We always get overshadowed by Philly and New York but we are right there in middle, you know what I mean?

Styles: Has there ever been a break out artist from Delaware? I can’t personally recall anybody…

FK: Naw…

Styles: Nobody at all?

FK: Everybody out there is trying to be that first artist to blow so its more like the "crabs in the barrell" situation instead of actually helping each other out. Everybody is trying to be that first artist that puts Delaware on the map. Instead of banding together and making a movement, you’ve got artists that trash other artists.

Styles: Is there even an outlet at all for anybody out there?

FK: The thing is that everything is politic driven like Radio. The Radio has an unsigned hype/unsigned jam like every night at 9 pm they might play an unsigned artist. Delaware has like about 300 rappers, you know what I mean? So you are splitting time with 300 MC’s. If you don’t have like an inside connect you might never get played.

I don’t fool with the Radio out here, but my jams still get played. They still put me in rotation like every week. College Radio though is real supportive out here. You can go there anytime you want and get your song played. Have an Interview on College Radio. However it still doesn’t have that big audience like the main airwaves. We got a Radio Station called KISS 101.7 that supports, I mean they don’t really support at all because they are a privately owned radio station, but the owner he only supports Top 40 music.

Styles: That’s kind of like all Radio now. The shit is pretty much no different here in California or at least that’s how its been. So have you gone outside of your area at all to get heard?

FK: I won the DJ Kurupt contest a few years back and by winning that I got a chance to actually go to New York and perform in front of like DJ Whoo-Kid, DJ Kurupt, Littles was there with Mobb Deep, I got a chance to perform New York. I also went on a College Tour a few years back and I hit up Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia. Certain Division II Colleges and we just put on shows for them. I definitely got a chance to get outside of the state and get a lot of love man. Its crazy because in Delaware if I was to do a show there are so many rappers out there that are trying to do the same thing that the place would be packed but the rappers don’t support the artists that are on stage no matter if I am good or not. I did a show out here and one of the biggest newspapers reported on it, and they put me on the cover of their magazine so I am getting a lot of recognition and at the same time its like I still got to break that ice. As opposed to a show I did in Ohio they gave me some of the best love I have ever had in my life. They were real receptive. Even New York! New York has embraced me more than Delaware has. I just keep knocking out and making good music. Now my buzz is getting there and people are starting to see that my grind is out there. Now I’ve got cats that are out in Delaware trying to copy the way I do things.

Styles: I was gonna say, they have to be kind of noticing some of the things you are doing. Its got to be getting back to them the recognition that you are starting to get outside of Delaware.

FK: Exactly! I’ve got cats in Delaware trying to hit up my manager Jazzy D for management (laughs). They definitely see whats going on.

Styles: Tell us about how you hooked up with Jazzy….

FK: Even though I am from the East, I’ve always had a lot of love for the West Coast. I would go to West Coast websites and I saw Jazzy D’s name everywhere. Things about Jazzy Management and stuff. Finally I just hit him up, I just went out on a limb and hit him up asking if he was looking for any talent. He heard my music and its been a wrap since then. Jazz peeps your work ethic before anything else. Like myself, I’d get myself on top name websites and I do a lot of stuff behind the scenes that a lot of artists don’t do man. So Jazzy respected my work ethic and loved my music, embraced me and has shown nothing but love. The Jazzy Management staff has been like 100 percent behind me.

Styles: So you are preparing this Mixtape called Delafornia. You are collaborating with a lot of the new young artists from the West Coast. Why did you pick the West Coast to do something like this?

FK: First and foremost I was a fan number one. When I first signed with Jazz he had sent me out his Unsigned Hype Vol. 1 Mixtape. So I was listening and was like "damn man" there is a lot of talent and a lot of dope artists on the West Coast! Basically the light ain’t being shed on both Coasts (East & West) right now because like the South is running Hip Hop. So I am like like "Yo, let me try to bridge the gap between two dope Coasts". We are not forgotten but we do need to make a comeback, you know what I mean? I am like if I can get some dope artists from the West Coast and I can get a couple of artists that are out in Delaware than I put them together and promote out West and promote out here. It’s a way for me to shed light on West Coast artists and where they can shed some light on me. It made sense and plus I am a fan first. There are certain artists that I am working with, I am a fan of their music. Everybody that is on this project, I am a fan of their work. I told Jazz "I like this dude, he’s nice" and Jazz was like "I can get you a feature". So I am working with cats that I like listening to and that’s what makes this project a little bit more special. There are no fake-type features. I really like these cats work ethic. I do research too!

Styles: Who is doing the music for this whole project?

FK: So far I got a producer that has produced like 90 percent of the album named X-plosive. He’ll give me the beat and I will go lay out the whole song for everybody and then usually I will build up a nice report with the artist where I’m like "Yo I am going to send you out the track" and then be like "ok" so then I’ll send out the track and they get on it and send it right back. A lot of cats have been showing me some love. I reached out to a few cats and they didn’t really reach back yet but that’s cool. We are going to keep it moving.

Styles: I’ve seen a lot of the artists names that you’ve worked with on this project. Let me ask you this, which one right now is the one that is making you say "damn, this is the one that you need to look out for"… Which one has the stand out song right now?

FK: Right now man I am really feeling the joint I did with Problem and K-Active. I think Problem is that dude. I really like his style. I told him that too! That he was the dude on the West. I’ve seen his grind and his work ethic and dude can go. I was really excited about that. The beat is like (pauses)… yo the song we got on there is ridiculous. That’s one of my favorite songs right now.

Styles: What is the name of that song?

FK: Its called "So Hilarious". K-Active he came though. Problem, I let him have the 3rd verse and let him do his thing. That’s one thing about me, man, I am real humble. When they get on a track with me I let them do their thing. Its not like I am trying to outshine this dude or I am trying to do that, naw man, its about unity. I am just thankful for the opportunity to work with a bunch of these artists.

Styles: So when are we going to see this project?

FK: I am shooting for the Spring Time. I am finished with all of my parts. I’ve been done recording. Now I am just waiting for a couple of artists that need to still get back to me with their parts. That’s been the main hold up. As soon as I get their verses I can put it out because I am done. We’ve got the artwork done and the promotional plan as we speak, but I am just waiting for certain verses to come back. I am getting ready to turn up the heat like we need a 2 week deadline or something (laughs). I am shooting for the Spring Time because I want it to be nice out with that good ride music.

Styles: Do you think the East Coast is going to embrace this project?

FK: They should because good music is good music. If you are making dope music, it has to be embraced! It wasn’t like I made music to just cater to the West. I gave artists universal tracks that have styles that can go on the West or on the East. It has to be embraced. Its going to open a lot of eyes to where people will realize that dudes can spit over there (in the West).

Styles: The reason I ask that is because sometimes regardless if its dope music someone will look at where an artist is from and if he’s not from their area then they automatically dismiss it.

FK: You are going to have ignorant people. At the same time if you keep promoting and keep showing them samples of what you’ve got, they’ve got to come around. I know people out here that are anticipating this project because I’ve let them hear a little bit. I might not let them hear a lot of the artists but I’ve let them hear some of the music and some people are getting excited already. Its about really promoting and getting this project out there.

Styles: Why hasn’t projects like this happened in the past? There are artists from the East and West that do work with each other but its such a small number considering the amount of artists both sides have. Why has it taken to 2007 to see the underground from both sides begin to come together?

FK: I think it comes down to thinking outside of the box. Cats don’t really think outside of the box and try to see the bigger picture. Some artists are just stuck on themselves.

Styles: Don’t you think something like this is way way way overdue?

FK: Yeah its been overdue! I am surprised that nobody has really done it! I am just thankful that I am one of the first people that’s doing it right now. Hopefully that will open up doors for a lot of projects like this. I always wanted to be a trend-setter. I don’t know why though this hasn’t really happened. I can’t even begin to tell you. Its about unity man.

Styles: Its about time both Coasts got together. Actually, all coasts! We should all get together. I don’t see why we are all separated so much.

FK: That’s the problem with rap now. You got one Coast that’s mad at another for having its time to shine. That’s how you get feuds going. Everybody should just band together and try to get this money. Its about unity and making good music, that’s what its all about to me.

Styles: You coming out to Cali soon?

FK: Yeah, I am planning on coming out soon. Maybe we can do some shows and stuff.

Styles: So you have a DJ hosting this?

FK: I think we might try to holler at DJ Warrior, only because he is Mr. Cali Untouchable.

Styles: Everything is still up in the air though, right?

FK: Yeah, that’s still up in the air. I think we can get a dope host. If not, Gangsta Granny can host it (laughs)! The good thing is that we’ve got some good name power to where a host isn’t really going to make a difference.

Styles: Well, you’ve got me anticipating this project. I’ve been wishing for something like this for a long time. How do you want to end this interview?

FK: I just want to shout out the whole Jazzy Management staff for holding me down. Carla, Dice, King, the whole team. Especially Jazzy, he took a gamble on me. I want to make that whole team proud. Just be on the look out because 07 is going to be big. Just bringing back the unity in Hip Hop.

Styles: Well, I am glad to see someone step up and try to make something happen.

FK: All it takes is one person. One person can start a movement. I’m telling you, its going to start a real big movement. I think a lot of times people spend a lot of time just trying to hold their Coast down, because they got that mentality of taking care of home first which is natural at times.

Styles: Maybe next time you guys can get artists from the South and Mid-West to Join the East and West?

FK: That’s always been one of my plans. I am gunning for it man. Its just doing enough research and getting the right artists together. Right now it made a lot more sense with the West because Jazzy is real active out there. Going the East to South thing would be nothing because I already know a few artists out there.