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TURC: What do you think the current state of hip hop
is?
Bavu: This is the "where do we go from here?" point, I
think. We have to work out (through our deeds) answers
to stuff like "will we ever have as much
balance/diversity as we used to?", "will we
counter-pimp the music industry through touring,
merchandising, calling out the snakes, etc?", "will we
stop taking the 'sweet chariot' approach to developing
our careers and start (at least-->) thinking more
independently?". there's an insightful article on
billboard.com right now about whether rap will cash in
like all the other hot musical genres have. it's not
all that informative, but it raises some really
interesting points.
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TURC: What are you talking about in some of your
latest music?
Bavu: All kinds of stuff! Dreams, Relationships, Blowing
up, My approach to my music, My family upbringing, My
faults, My brothers... on the Soundscape record,
there's the first song, "Listeners", that talks about
my way of rapping, right down to the specifics. Then
"Truth" is a duet with a sister named Poetree, and we
each cover what goes through your mind when you first
meet someone attractive walking down the street.
Something we all go through. "Die In Your Sleep" is me
saying "i'm nice beyond denial, therefore commercially
viable, thus a new definition of hardcore for the
masses to catch on to, in just a few your obits will
be through if you slept on voo."
TURC: Where is hip hop headed?
Bavu: I guess Mos Def answered that one really well on
his intro, as far as hip hop being headed wherever the
people are headed. With rap specifically, it's like a
tell tale musical genre. If we rap like industry hoes,
that's what we are. If we rap revolutionary, that's
what we are. Misogynist... Self-Righteous... And so
on...
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TURC: How have you grown as an MC? What does the
future hold for Bavu?
Bavu: I've grown. I've cut alot of the ego out, and have
started further analyzing the craft. For example, the
difference between, say, Bun B and Pimp C of UGK.
Bun's strength is being able to flip new lyrical
styles, and thus rhythms, as often as he wants to.
Pimp C has such an attractive sound that his lyrics
don't matter as much, like Busta or Raekwon. But as a
group, UGK has a lot of balance because of that
difference, y'know? All that to say... getting a
little more technical with how I listen to my stuff
and other people's stuff makes writing easier and more
efficient.
I can't predict the future, but I'm looking forward
to that high-quality sound that allows even
not-so-great rappers to seem endearing... gotta cover
your bases. Perception is reality, man, and I'm not
trying to fall short in my effort to build a good
career. I've been out mixing with industry insiders on
a daily basis for the last two months, just listening
for the most part. I'm being educated everywhere from
my local Texas scenes to the Def Jam offices, taking
in as much as I can.
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