BLACK SUN

BLACK SUN MUSIC/INFO 

* WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT PEOPLE THAT AREN'T FANS OF YOU MUSIC TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?

That I'm an artist that loves music. Some people just have music in their hearts that they just have to share with the world. I'm one of those people.

* WHAT ARE YOU TRYING BRING TO THE GAME?

The game is the least of my concerns. I just want to add on to the culture that was already built before the game started. There's no love in the game. Its too business-like. Its the love of the art form that drives to me make music. The culture will still exist when the game is over. I'd rather focus on the culture.

* WHO ARE SUM OF MUSICAL INFLUENCES?

My biggest influence would have to be the Wu Tang Clan. I learned so much about myself & the world around me through their music and their approach to hip hop inspired me to create my own identity as an artist.

* WHO/WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Inspiration can come from anywhere. A conversation. A commercial. An article. An argument. We're all constantly surrounded by inspiration. Its just a matter of channelling that inspiration into action.

* WHO TAUGHT YOU ONE OF THE MOST VALUABLE LESSONS IN LIFE?

You did. You taught me all Cowboys fans aren't terrible people. Lol. 

* IF YOU COULD CHANGE 1 THING ABOUT YOUR LIFE WOULD YOU? WHAT WOULD IT BE? AND WHY?

If I had to change anything, I probably wouldn't have dropped out of college before Kanye made it all trendy. I made a lot of good friends in my short time @ Pitt and I'm sure if I stayed a little longer I could've made a few more.

* IF YOU HAD TO WORK A 9-5 WHAT WOULD YOU SEE YOURSELF DOING?

I've had to work a few 9-5's so I've seen myself doing some crazy stuff already! Lol. If I had to pick a dream job it would be a Sportscenter anchorman or something like that. Pay me to talk about sports & I'd be happy.

* WHAT DO YOU WANT OUT OF LIFE WHAT WOULD TRULY MAKE YOU HAPPY?

I'd truly be happy if I lived in a world where intelligence & common sense weren't looked at as foreign concepts. There are so many people who are blind to the world around them and the power they have to change it. I'd truly be happy if we all could see, not just a minority of us.

* WHAT IS YOUR FAVE SPORT AND TEAM?

My favorite sport is football and since I'm from the Pittsburgh area and my parents raised me right, I'm a die hard Steeler fan. Steeler football is a way of life around my way. Its more than just a game.

* WHAT YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE STATE OF MUSIC?

There's so much good music out there. I don't know about the rest of the world but I know Pittsburgh has something to say about the future of hip hop. There's a lot of talent within a 5 mile radius of my house and I can't wait until the world gets to hear them the way I have for years. The only thing that bugs me recently is wack shit gets so much attention right now for whatever reason. Your boy 50 Tyson has more fans than Blu. That's amazing to me, but it is what it is.

* WHY DO YOU LOVE MUSIC?

There's nothing more powerful than music. A lot of us were conceived to a love song. A song can take you back in time or back to the future. The right song can change your mood instantly. How could you not love that?

* WHO ARE YOU TOP 5 MC'S

My top 5 lists change from day to day. But as far as today goes, in no order my top 5 is Mos Def, Redman, Black Thought, Nas & Lauryn Hill.

* WHAT ARE 3 THINGS YOU CANT LIVE WITHOUT?

Food, water and air. Just like the rest of us. Lol.

* IT NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME AT HOW RAPPERS CAN JUST GO OFF THE TOP WHEN FREESTYLIN... HOW DOES THAT WORK FOR YOU, DO YOU JUST SAY AIIGHT IMA GO ON THIS TOPIC OR DOES IT JUST COME TO YOU AS YOUR SPITTIN?

Both actually. My mind is always thinking of rhymes. A written rhyme is just an organized freestyle when you think about it. Some people can do it off the top better than they can with a pen and pad and vice versa. If I haven't written anything in a while, my freestyles tend to be sharper. If I've been writing a lot recently, my freestyles off the top won't be as sharp.

* WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO DO AN ALBUM LIKE DONUT HOLES?

That came about because I'm an emcee. Anytime I hear an instrumental, my mind is thinking of rhymes to place over the beat. The 1st time I heard Donuts, I had already thought of verses for half of the songs. I wanted to challenge myself to see what I could come up with over a canvas like Donuts. It sounded pretty good to me & the people that heard it seem to agree.           DOWNLOAD DONUT HOLES

* WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO MAKE MUSIC TO THE MADDEN VIDEO GAME?

I've always wanted to be a part of the Madden process somehow. My dream job in high school would've been a game programmer for EA Sports. The soundtrack always would feature a rap song here & there so I figured why not make a whole mixtape based on Madden?

* WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE AGAINST FEATURING OTHER ARTISTS FOR THIS PROJECT? (ALL MADDEN MIXTAPE 11)

No reason in particular. There were a few people production wise that I worked with on this project. I just didn't get a chance to do any collabs do to scheduling conflicts and what not. I'm sure next years version will have a few surprises though.