by Lady Muse
Scattered in and around the burroughs of Orange County LA, live members
of the multi-elemental Hip Hop family, DreamSequence (DSC). I hooked up
with Aloe and Exile aka Emanon, an MC/DJ/Production aspect of the crew.
Self-produced, self-distributed, totally independent, both under 21 -
proving age is no deterrent for enacting vision....
LM: Tell me a little bit about the DSC collective and how Emanon
evolved from it
EXILE: We were all doing graffiti first. We had a crew before
(DSC) called SMC - Subliminal Messages Crew, where all of us writers
were doing...I don't know...our writers stuff I guess (laughs). I
met Aloe through this group of friends. One day somebody was
telling me about some guy they knew (Aloe) who rapped and since I
make beats we decided to meet up. From than we started making lots
of music together and we have been ever since.
LM: So who makes up Emanon?
ALOE: Just Aloe and Exile...DreamSequence is the Hip Hop crew
we're both members of which consists of graffiti writers, MC's,
DJ's, producers and dancers...
LM: What elements do both of you practise?
EXILE: I rap, scratch, make beats, beatbox and I'm also a writer
(graf). Aloe - he raps, makes beats, scratches a little bit, but
he's also a really good dancer, like new-school freestyle...
LM: Why did Emanon decide to become an independent outfit
ALOE: I feel like when I make music it's a part of me, and when
Exile makes music it's a part of him. And than when we make music
together it's a part of us, and I can't see anybody else...even
though on paper it doesn't matter, it doesn't mean anything 'cause
we know we made it? I still want our music to be ours. When you're
with a label you no longer own your music - they do, and they can do
whatever they want to it
LM: Have any reps approached you from record labels?
ALOE: I've been approached by cats that try to come up to me and
tell me 'I work for/I do promotions for this label, I'll play (your
tape) for the A&Rs'. Then, when you talk to them later it's like
(excuses). To me, I didn't really care anyway, I know that (A&R's)
mostly sleep on dope music, and since I don't care to be on a label,
I don't care. People will tell you they'll do things for you, but
they really, they really don't, so I don't really entertain, in my
mind? I'll entertain them with it, though, to make it easier (on me).
LM: Your tape 'Imaginary Friends' was really well received over
here in Australia. Despite having your own music on one side, there
was also a mix-side included by Exile. Seeing as how the
arrangements are so eclectic, I was curious on how Exile was feeling
about mix tapes circulating at present
EXILE: I feel a lot of mix tapes today have a lot of use of battle
records..and using records of samples that another DJ has found for
them. I just feel that (as a DJ) I should supply and find all my
own samples - with the exception of a few scratches, and make my mix
with all old original records (and sounds); things to make my mix
actually talk to the listener. I just feel a lot of mix tapes - not
all though, use records that say (rattles off numerous generic
formulas) throughout the whole mix and though there might be some
good scratching you can do a lot more if you just find your own
(sounds).
LM: Yeah, the way you fused the mix, the songs you chose
actually conversed admidst themselves...how did you go about
selecting the tracks?
EXILE: On my mix, I just put music that I love, you know, I don't
try to be putting music on a mix so it'll sell, I just put music
that I like to listen to.
LM: From your selections you obviously have respect for verses
high in lyrical content...
EXILE: Yeah, I do...
LM: How do you both approach your own lyricism?
EXILE: When I'm arranging lyrics, sometimes I indulge in the
emotion that I am in at the time, but there's not really emotions I
have to formulate to create. I can create externally - living
vicariously through someone else and expressing their emotions on
paper with my ink. A lot of the time there are just thoughts that
I've been contemplating that I want to put down on paper as
thoughts. But then I look at how those are arranged and then I can
switch words to make them sound poetic (hence) formulating a rhyme.
EXILE: Basically I just mould my passions into lyrics and fit them
to a beat. But also we always try to make all of our lyrics work as
poetry...
LM: So I assume you both feel that poetry other than Hip Hop
stylee can aid to the progression of the MC?
EXILE: Yeah, I think so...
ALOE: Definitely. I write poetry myself just out of release.
Personally, I don't want to be constrained to the structure of
rhyming lines all the time, as I like to write free verse and just
flow, with my words on paper. Sometimes, you know, you don't feel
things in a rhyme (format) you feel them in prose, and I've actually
done tracks where I've taken some of my poems - strict poetry, and
put them straight to a beat.
LM: Phat. Amado (@ Next Level Records) told me either or both of
you also hold classes
EXILE: Yeah, I have a workshop/poetry class and I use a lot of
lyrics put to beats as projects to bring in and discuss in the class
as poetry.
Spreading the word to the seeds...Emanon's current release is the
'Acid 9' 12''. For information on how to purchase or stock this
plus any of their past catalogue, you can contact Emanon at the
following number - 1 (800) 358 3244 Mailbox code: #523.3295
DSC AND EMANON CATALOGUE
* 'Stretch Marks' by Exile - 1996
* 'Imaginary Friends' - (mix by Exile/ beats & lyrics by Emanon) - 1997
* 'PSI/Iambland b/w 'Outside Looking In' 12'' - 1997
* 'Gone Postal Mix Up Mix Tape' by DJ Exile - 1998
* 'Blast - Off' compilation (features 'Assume Not' by Emanon and 'Stages Of Light'
by DSC members Cheapshot and Exile - distributed by Blast-Off) - 1998
* 'Sucka Breaks' - Cheapshot (distributed by Rocket Ship) - 1998
* 'Acid 9/PSI' - cassette EP - 1998
* 'Acid 9' 12'' - 1998
All music distributed independently unless otherwise stated.
This interview was originally published in the Australian Hip Hop
publication, 'Crouton', Winter '98 issue. For further information
about us you can contact us at PO BOX 841 CRONULLA NSW 2230
AUSTRALIA or you can email us with your thoughts and queries at
crouton@tig.com.au
