Thief Sicario: Interview With Latinabeatz/Raptalk.net
Thief Sicario: Interview With Latinabeatz/Raptalk.net"Education of a Felon" is a title fitting for Thief Sicario who is an upcoming emcee under Realizm Records. In this Interview Thief goes into great detail of how his time behind bars was put to good use. Already having the street smarts, Thief used the time in educating his mind incorporating his beliefs in a mix with his love for Hip Hop. Enjoy!-LatinaBeatz
Question: Lets start with the album title of your album "Education of a Felon" on Realizm Records. Is this title and album concept a soundtrack of your life ?
Thief: "Education of a Felon" was named after the autobiography of the late author and LA native Edward Bunker. I remember being in the hole reading his novels and that shit really hit me in the heart. Little Boy Blue, Dog Eat Dog... In my opinion are literary classics... I was really inspired by his life story also... This is a man who spent most of his life in institutions and prisons since he was a kid... Out of those experiences he wrote some of the realest heart felt novels about this life that I've ever read... I could really relate with his story because we both shared similar experiences... He was able to rise from that and go on to writing from experience and becoming a best selling author with numerous movie adaptations of his books... Remember Mr. Blue from Reservoir Dogs?... That's him... Quentin Tarantino had said his shit was the best first person crime novels he had ever read... When I started my first solo record I was actually gonna name my first album something different but when I heard he died I had to pay homage to one of my greatest inspirations...
Question: I've always said True Hip Hop is education, A way creative way of telling a story of your surroundings. Your writing alone is impeccable and impressive, You don't fit the stereo-typical "Felon." Do you think your times behind bars shaped your writing and message in your music?
Thief: To be real some of the greatest literary art of all time was made in prison... That's a place where you only have yourself... Sitting in solitary for months and years at a time will either break you or make you unbreakable... You get a lot of time to think about every minute detail of your life and everything you've seen... Some of the smartest most talented people I've ever met were in prison... I remember when I seen Di Nero say on Bronx Tale "the saddest thing in the world is wasted talent".. That shit hit me in the soul 'cause I remember so many people would hit me up in there telling me how dope I was, asking when I get out... When I would tell them I was doing ten years with no early release you seen their faces just drop... I used to be real bitter in there with all the bullshit I seen and went through in this life... I hated the pigs and being locked up even made it worse... I used to regret all that time I did but now I know this was my path... I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for that shit... Hating the cops naturally lead to hating the government and like I said with all the raw talent in there I was around a lot of creative people... See up in there they got some of the illest 'cause they do that shit from their heart... When you're doing ten or twenty or life and you write rhymes or whatever you're not doing that to get paid.. The mainstream is not your focus... That songs you write are from your soul 'cause odds are that song will never be recorded, released or even heard outside them walls... Most these rappers out here, especially now, ain't no threat... Those vatos in there those are there are some of sickest lyricists I've ever heard dead or alive... They should be doing this interview and not me...
Question: Most emcee's say writing is an outlet which evolves into their music. How did you know this is what you wanted to do?
Thief: I remember the first rhyme I wrote was back in the late 80s and people told me I should write... I always had good reading skills even as a kid I had memorized my story books from that taught myself to read before I went to school... I remember when hip hop was still new back then and as a kid it really inspired me to write but I used to catch a lot of shit back then.. Hip Hop wasn't what it is today. Back then most people called it "rap crap" that was a passing trend that was only for blacks, or other stereotypes, and misinformation. Most older people didn't get it or said it wasn't real music... I used to get discouraged because back then you pretty much had to be signed or have some money to record your shit... I used to loop beats on the tape deck stop and record. layer that shit and spit over that shit. Horrible sound quality most of the time... We didn't have protools, myspace, or none of that so it was easy to fall into some other shit... I got into drugs, tagging, and gangs getting arrested, in and out of foster homes, group homes, juvies, and placements... I still loved hip hop but I was lost... I didn't write another rhyme till I was 17 in Juvenile Hall in Riverside... I wrote strong in there and in this placement they had me in until I got out. I went back to the streets and didn't really write again until I was in the county about to go do ten years. I decided then and there that no matter what I was gonna write that whole time... So from there I just kept writing from experience and writing rhymes every single day. Vatos knew me we'd be on the yard kickin' it with all the homies and I'd pull out a pocketful of illegible rhymes and scribble a bar or two here and there all day... When I got more into politics and history back in the late 90s it made my rhymes that much sicker... So to be real this became the only thing I'm good at. By my record I'm really not a successful criminal to have been caught so many times and I have no real skills or education so this is all I got...
Question: So lets get into the album. What singles have been released?
Thief: Off the album I know radio has played "Amerika," "Se Acabo" "Veteranz Day", "Numbers," "We Ain't Playin,'" and "Adopted By The Streets." I got a few mixtape tracks that have been making their rounds too... "Amerika's" really the first single we pumped as a lable
Question: Any videos to accompany?
Thief: For the first single "Amerika" we did a DIY documentary style video to give people a better feel for the imagery and symbolizm behind the lyrics... That was put together by myself and the big homie Krazy Race... We recorded a video for "Se Acabo" featuring Krazy Race and Mic Mc that's about to drop.. It was directed by Krazy Race and edited by I-Suppose who also did the Krazy Race/Global City video "The Last Hour"... It's got a similar feel to that video but in black and white... I seen the raw footage and the shit came out sick... We got cameos by on there with the big homie Chino Xl and a few surprises... The most visible Sick Side Army heads also came out.. It was a real good time we were hella deep down under the Sixth Street bridge in East Los all day into the night drinking and smoking... Some taggers thought we were a neighborhood and ran from us. haha.. Good times... We woke up some bums with our shit but before it was over we had them feeling it too... By the end of the night we were in a freestyle cypher on the street corner. You gotta love that sick hop shit. haha..
Question: Tell me about the production and concepts
Thief: Most the production was done by my homie Trafek from the Felony Flats area up there in Portland... I'm from the Inland Empire but being that I had done some time up there I got some strong ties and history with Portland homies... He did the beats for "Amerika," "Se Acabo," and about half the album or more.... We also coproduced a few tracks on there together... My homie Elespecialista in Spain from Verbal System produced a few stand out tracks on there "Adopted By The Streets" and "Numbers" just to mention a few.
Question: You are signed under Realizm Records, A label created by another talented emcee KrazyRace. How did that come about?
Thief: I was being looked at by a few more established lables with distribution and all that when I met Krazy Race.. It was a trip how it came about 'cause I knew who he was but we were formerly introduced by the homie One from OG Sickflicks in London... From there we started chopping it up and he approached me about getting on his compilation in the works... I had already recorded about fifty or so songs for an album and a mixtape so as he heard more it came to point where he approached about what I was trying to do with my shit... My response was that I would roll with a lable like Realizm or Sick Symphonies because it's what I believe in but other than that I would just rather put it out myself... At that point we became business partners and now I consider him to be like an older brother. Homie don't know it but I feel like he saved my life...
Question: What do you think of Hip Hop today in contrast to 15 even 10 years ago?
Thief: You know it's a trip because I was talking to Chino about this same shit last night.. When I went to prison in 1996 I spent about a year and a half in the hole and so for that whole time I didn't hear any hip hop music at all... And I was in and out the hole my whole time in there. When I was on the mainline and I had CDs or tapes they were the classics... Psycho Realm, Wu Tang, Mobb Deep, Chino Xl, Canibus, Nas... That's all I had and it was the old shit. I missed a lot so in a lot of ways I feel like a relic from a lost era... A lot of homies clown and say I'm stuck in 1996 but I take that as a compliment because that was a classic time... This new millennium shit is lame... At least the mainstream... But on the underground some of the greatest hip hop ever made is being made right now. Look at Muggs Vs Jacken and Immortal Technique... Hip hop ain't dead we're just waking up out a coma... Hip hop has defied a death diagnosis since it's birth... This shit's like the man that was given a week to live who's still alive decades later... This shit's like Castro of music genres hated by many but still not dead. haha.
Question: What do you contribute to Hip Hop?
Thief: Originality and artistic integrity in a time when you don't see that in music.
Question: Put peeps on game why they should cop your album?
Thief: Amerika. Numbers. Just those two songs should be in every true hip hop head's playlist like a ghost in your ipod...
Question: From speaking to you and peeping some of your history/bio I notice a strong drive for revolution, be it government issues to ancestry. What do you think of the Government today?
Thief: I don't trust the government or any of the candidates past, present, and future... It's like they say if something sounds too good it probably is. It's all bullshit they give us capitalism and the choice between the lesser of two evils and call that democracy... By definition, democracy is more synonymous with socialism than with capitalism...
Question: How do you stand out from "Every other emcee"
Thief: I'll let the game speak for itself that one... If you're sick your reputation will precede you...
Question: What albums/projects have you been featured on?
Thief: Mic Mc -On Campus (Realizm Rekords) 909 Wayz To Die (Insane Empire/Teen Angels), and a few others yet to be released...
Question: Is another album in the works? what about mixtapes?
Thief: Oh yeah it's gonna be a double album... It's already written and the production is done I just gotta get back in the studio with Trafek.. expect that by the end of the year... It will be called 'Honor Among Thieves'...
Question: Besides making music do you have other ambitions or current projects in the works?
Thief: At this point no... I'm just focused on my music right now...
Question: What advice would you give kids that are being raised in the dangerous environment you were?
Thief: This too shall pass... Don't follow my footsteps. I'm just a man with a lot of issues who is still dealing with shit. Learn from our mistakes and triumphs and do better than us.
Question: Who would you love to collab with?
Thief: Jim Morrison, Sick Jacken, Big Duke, Nas, Immortal Technique, Kool G Rap, RZA, DJ Muggs, GZA, The Moody Blues. Too many to name. haha...
Question: KrazyRace is a hustler. Business man. would you consider in the future branching out and starting your independent label?
Thief: At this point no.but who knows I'm focused on Realizm right now...
Question: Name a few things about you that would surprise people.
Thief: I recorded an unreleased album in prison with Brown Recluse and Cazm from OG Sickflicks. I wrote about half the songs on my album years before I recorded them... Amerika were both written five or six years ago but people didn't get it back then... I recorded it almost two years ago and just dropped it. I feel like people can't grasp my shit when I first write it so I sit on it for a while because if I can't reach the people what's the point?... Artists are supposed to be ahead of their time... A lot of the best pieces of art known to history we're not appreciated until decades even centuries later... They've found extremely rare and priceless Mayan hieroglyphic books in a library trash can... That book is where the 2012 prophecies we're first discovered...
To listen to Thiefs tracks and for more info visit his myspace page http://www.myspace.com/thiefsicario
Thief Sicario
"Page After Page"
Saint Desmas
http://www.zshare.net/audio/692166269e6c7751/
Albums Available @
http://www.cdbaby.com/thiefsicario
Sick Side Army [Mixtapes Vol. 1 & 2]
SICK SIDE ARMY VOL.
1 :: 100% FREE DOWNLOAD
http://www. megaupload. com/?d=ECVKBU48
Download Mixtape | Provided by DatPiff. com
TRACKLISTO1 Intro/At The Crossroads 3:41 Transcend
O2 Street Are Hot 3:14 Sicko Soldado ft Krazy Race
O3 Guerilla 3:03 GRIME
O4 Killing Fields 5:10 Contribution X
O5 Conspiracy Theory 4:34 Lost Children Of Babylon
O6 Live From 1600 remix 5:28 3/5 Human
O7 Numbers 5:20 Thief Sicario
O8 Tyrants/Attack The Barracks 5:55 The Enemy Rebellion/Prawgress
O9 Opaque 2:09 Mangle Face
10 The Last Hour 4:08 Krazy Race ft Global City
11 805ITH 3:03 M1ND ORIGINAL
12 Real Soldier Shit 3:25 Macehual ft Brown Plague
13 Heavens Cry 3:22 SANTOTZIN
14 Sick Minded 3:15 Fdubs One ft Sly Flow, Heist
15 Rebel Minded 3:31 Truth
16 Land Of The Gritty 4:06 SICK SIDE ARMY
17 The Time Has Come/S.S. Tribute 10:03 SICK SIDE ARMY
18 P.O.O.R. (Power Over Our Race) 5:37 The Detour
19 Stomp You Out 2:32 Nervous Wreck ft Scrollgod Fuse
20 Nos Conecta 3:29 Gramo ft Sekreto
21 Skillz Murder 5:19 Verbal System
22 Psycho Phonky 3:56 Casa Del Phonky
23 Bela/Allegiance & Defiance 6:34 SICK SIDE
ARMY/SANTOTZIN
24 War Kites/2 Die For 5:01 SICK SIDE ARMY
25 Follow The Gun/Train Wrek 6:38 Abangatang/The Detour
26 Enemies Mourn You 4:25 Thief Sicario ft Bad News
27 Never Die 4:26 Lost Children Of Babylon
28 Build 3:12 Contribution X ft Killah Priest
29 Knucklesandwich (Snowgoons Remix) 4:01 Nervous Wreck ft Chino Xl, Snowgoons
30 Grab You Gas Mask (Reck's Remix) 3:47 Brown Bonez
31 West Side 3:49 Bad News
32 La Mierda/Outro 5:20 Dorsey Sick Joker ft MC Luka/SANTOTZIN
SICK SIDE ARMY VOL.
2 :: 100% FREE DOWNLOAD
http://www. megaupload. com/?d=1K331XYH
Download Mixtape | Provided by DatPiff. com
TRACKLIST01 Intro 0:30 SICK SIDE ARMY
02 44 Bars of Sickness 2:13 Chino XL
03 Numero Peligroso 2:44 Sicko Soldado
04 Bang Bang 3:00 Ese Snoops
05 Warrior remix 4:37 BROWN CAESAR
06 The Cure 2 Death remix 3:23 Mangle Face
07 Militant Styles 3:51 Mic MC ft Enemy OTW, Thief Sicario
08 Some Say 4:24 Contribution X ft RBX
09 They Told Me 2:32 Macehual ft Brown Plague
10 Supreme Mathematics 3:29 SICK SIDE ARMY
11 5th Sun Eclipse 2 4:42 Thief Sicario ft Truth
12 Aint No Picnic 2:49 SANTOTZIN
13 Still The Same 3:43 Trafek ft Damian Grey
14 The Cry From Within/interlude 5:48 Sub.Stance feat. Vast Aire, LMNO/Prawgress
15 Siempre Alerta 2:47 SICK SIDE ARMY
16 The Scene 3:53 Sicko Soldado ft Kemo The Blaxican, Life Support
17 Fuck The Police 3:44 SICK SIDE ARMY
18 Staying Alive 3:06 SICK SIDE ARMY
19 Underground War 4:00 The Detour
20 interlude 1:21 Los Rooks
21 Toro Mata 2:46 MAGZ
22 Pancho 4:26 SICK SIDE ARMY
23 Palabras Balas/Accumulate 6:24 Latino America Systema Sur/Roleks
24 Dogs In My Corner 3:15 TEVO, ADDIC, DVS
25 On Fait Peter Ta Sono 2:45 Casa Del Phonky
26 Balas Locas 2 3:35 NKC Profeta
27 Sudamericacandela 2:44 SICK SIDE ARMY
28 Illusions Of A Lost Mind 4:11 The Detour
29 Think Twice 3:08 SICK SIDE ARMY
30 Trouble man/Step 6:32 All Angles/Detaine
31 Follow Your Instincts 4:44 Mic Crenshaw
32 Tenemos 3:55 SICK SIDE ARMY
33 l"eta(la justice nique sa mere) 2:44 Dorsey Sick Joker
34 Since the Day Of my Birth 2:45 Insight ft Nervous Wreck
35 Ita Style/9 ìåñÿöåâ áåðåìåííîñòè 7:36 SICK SIDE ARMY/Ðÿäû Ñîïðîòèâëåíèé
36 Verbose 3:40 Mangle Face ft Centek
37 Legend Of The Fall 4:04 Lost Children Of Babylon
38 Malas Artes 3:44 Verbal System
Doc Vaporz
(aka LabRat tha Productionist)Member of:
Almighty Misfits
Fabulous Saturdays
Legendary Blade Music (owner)
V.E.R.A. Clique
Collaborated with:
Bad Habitat, B.K., Blu Crush, Cool Nutz, Copper Loc, Dans Uno, DJ Design, DJ O.G. One, Dobad the Assailant, Dynamix, F.L.O., J Angelo Productions, Jumbo of Lifesavas, Mercy One, MESH Pro, Myloekoe, Nefarious XO, Prozack Turner, Riddlore of CVE, Santotzin, Starchile, Thief Sicario +more
Produced for:
B.K., Blu Crush, Casino Dialz, Copper Loc, Draft Picks, Fabulous Saturdays, Myloekoe, Lost Soul Surcle, Jimmy Fontaine, La Puerta Felonia, Rocket One & DJ Spark, Santotzin, Thief Sicario, V.E.R.A. Clique +more
Opened for:
Celly Cell, Chino XL, Digital Underground, DJ Design, Lifesavas, Median, Oddissee, Prozack Turner, RA Scion (of Common Market), RBL Posse, Spice 1, Tone Loc +more
Damian Grey aka Trafek
Damian Grey (aka TRAFEK) is a certified Pro-Tools engineer, and the producer/rapper/engineer of "Trash Heap", "Bad Habitat" and "Suicide Kingz", which are 3 of the hungriest, most hard working, underrated groups in Portland Oregon. Peep the top four for more info fuckers!! Usually gentle and kind, he is intense and passionate about his values and deeply held beliefs, which he shares with trusted friends. Because of his discreet manner, his enthusiasm may not be apparent. He is sensitive to others' pain, restlessness or general discomfort and strives to find happiness, balance and wholeness for himself in order to help others find joy, satisfaction and plenitude. He is deeply empathetic. He lives life in an intently personal fashion, acting on the belief that each person is unique and that social norms are to be respected only if they do not hinder personal development or expression. He strives to adhere to his own high personal moral standards and is particularly sensitive to inconsistencies in his environment between what is being said and what is being done. Empty promises of adhering to something he values – such as environmental causes or human rights - these things set off an inner alarm and he may transform himself into a modern day Joan of Arcs. He is quietly persistent in raising awareness of cherished causes and often fight for the underdog in quiet or not-so-quiet ways. In a team, he will raise issues of integrity, authenticity, and good or bad, and may too, opt out if the team refuses to address the questions of his or thier self truth when they are raised. He is usually tolerant and open-minded, insightful, flexible and understanding. He lives for the understanding of others and feels deeply grateful when someone takes the time to get to know him personally. He has good listening skills, (in and out of music) is genuinely concerned, insightful, and is an avid writer. At his best, he inspires others to be themselves. If you need professional mixing/mastering of R&B or Hip-hop music please leave a message.
Sonny Gunnz
My full name is Zandro Emiliano Lerma. I have been called Sonny most of my life. I am a child of Texans, and now a proud Oregonian. My first love in this life is music. I am a Hip Hop artist, and I use music as a way to express myself, and to get my message out to others.I, like many others, have a troubled past. I grew up fast, and wanted to hang with the big boys. I started fighting just about the time I learned how to walk and talk. I experimented with drugs and alcohol around the age of 13, and eventually ended up committing a crime which involved gangs and violence. My father passed away in November of 2000, and my mother has had two heart attacks within the last few years. Each of these incidents has had a powerful and positive impact in my life. I am proud to say that I am a changed man.
I have learned a great lesson from my mistake, and speak to youth about my experiences. I find that the youth relate to what I have to say much of the time. I have performed at McLaren, and Hill Crest (O.Y.A.)
I have worked with North Salem High, French Prairie Middle School (Woodburn),
Lincoln High (Portland), Western Oregon University etc. I work closely with Chicano
Culture Clubs such as L.U.S. and Mano a Mano. I am a full time student at Chemeketa Community College and have a GPA of 3.8.
I volunteer as much as possible and do Hip Hop performances, mainly in Salem and Portland. I edit the songs I perform, and make sure to deliver a positive message as well. I am self-motivated, very social, and love reaching out to others. I understand the importance of a hand shake, or a hug, and a smile goes a long way. Many of us just need someone to be there to listen. Working together I believe we can make a difference in our community.
Sonny Gunnz Street LP is currently being Mastered & Prepped for release!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
