Hip-Hop Artist Cee-Rock Interview

KD: You sure threw me for a curve! At first, I assumed that, because your management is based in Sweden, that you were European cat. Then your bio tells me you rep Jamaica, Queens?! How did this transatlantic connection come about?

Cee Rock: A lot of people from overseas thought I was from Sweden because I was making power moves over there and on my grind. My last name is ANDERSON so catz thought I was Swedish or something. 'Andersson' is a typical last name but mine is spelled with one "s", not with two like the Swedenians do. I'm 100% Queens, New York bred but I am signed to a management company and a record label in Scandinavia.

KD:Where did your nickname "The Fury" come from?

Cee Rock: FURY came from one of my favorite Bruce Lee flicks called Fist of Fury. I was a big Bruce Lee fan, in fact, I still am. A looooooooong time ago, I was scribblin' on a piece of paper and the final result was an image on the paper that looked like a fiery letter "F" in the form of a dragon. Bruce popped up in my head for some reason and then his flick Fist of Fury popped up shortly afterwards. From that point, I incorporated that name into my persona.

KD: There have been two prolific artists who come from your backyard: Run-DMC and 50 Cent. You, in all honesty, are nothing like either of them. Was this a conscious decision?

Cee Rock: We have a various emcees breeding out of Queens. I grew up listen to a respectable group of rap legends. I needed my own direction because everybody had a trademarked style. I did not want to mimic other people styles and incorporate it as my own. I wrote material based on my style of upbringing and personality. My goal was set for my personality to stand out in a class by itself. That is not so impossible to achieve if you do not deliberately intend to mimic the ones that you look up to and try to make a career from it. Even though that is a form of flattery, to flagrantly jack someone style is a 'no-no' in my book. Run-DMC, however, gets the ultimate props for puttin' Queens on the map and making Hip-Hop into 'big business' and not just music. Rest in peace to my man Jam Master Jay. He was murdered right across the street from where I live.

KD: Who are some of your idols in the Hip-Hop game?

Cee Rock: Definitely Rakim, Public Enemy, Run-DMC, GangStarr, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Chubb Rock, KRS-One and catz like that. I was even feelin' Jay-Z back then when he was just getting put on by this emcee called Jaz. Catz may know him today as Jaz-O.

KD: Your style is very unique; at times you hit the "rhymes within rhymes" thing that MCs like Big Daddy Kane, Mase and Eminem perfect. Is that something you are trying to perfect, or is that just one weapon in your arsenal?

Cee Rock: Putting words that rhyme in the middle of a line instead of just at the end of each line makes the delivery more potent, fuller and vibrant. It shows that you've made an effort to display your delivery and wordplay by coming up with more than just that one word rhyming at the end. It is not done all of the time but when it does happen it can make a line or verse much more powerful to say and even a more powerful response to the listener.

KD: I noticed in listening to Bringin' Da' Yowzah!!!, as well as reading up on your bio, that you don't curse, nor do you hit us up with the guntalk/drugtalk that has been too prevalent in today's Rap scene. This is a path that many MC's don't normally go down, and is highly applauded. What made you choose this path for yourself?

Cee Rock: I've decided not to fall into that fouled-mouth category a long time ago. I come from a time where Hip-Hop wasn't all about killin' and bling-bling. Emcees weren't makin' money like that back then and catz was livin' to be much older than they are today. Gangs, drugs, ignorance and nonsense didn't reach a peak like it obviously is today. You had your gangsta exceptions such as Kool G Rap. He was, in my opinion the 'Original Gangsta' who blueprinted this gangsta-rap craze. But here's the kicker, Kool G Rap also had a ridiculous flow with a unique lisp that made him stand out in the game. Ice-T, of course, was the OG for the West Coast. It was all about the skillz, the voice, the substance and the delivery so that is what I continue to do to this very day and I hope to keep it that way. I don't curse because of my upbringin'. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the newspapers put me on the front page if they ever heard me curse. Television news would probably make it the exclusive coverage of the day. (LOL)

KD: In hearing you spit, especially over tracks like the intro to Bringin' Da' Yowzah!!!, "16 Bar Appetizer", you seem to be a seasoned battler. Do you have any memorable moments in battles you have had in the past?

Cee Rock: Yeah, I had a few of those in my lifetime. Rap legend Mikey D and I went at it a couple of time when we had ciphers but it was all in fun. We respect each others' talents to the fullest. Chino-XL and I even went at it a bunch of times. He has gone to do great things in his career, including acting. Me and Chino-XL go back to the days when he started out in a group called Art of Origin which also included Kaoz '636'. Catz may now know Kaoz '623' today as Kerri Chandler (who is now one of the biggest producers and remixers of Club/House music). We also used to 'snap' (which is insulting humor) on each other with the 'Dirty Dozen'. Mikey D and I still go at it up to this very day. I was also part of a battlin' crew called Squadron Supreme. We used to go to junior high schools as well as high schools and take people out lyrically. We would sneak into the schools and go to the cafeterias and look for the emcees to battle. Someone would beat on the lunchroom table and it was on like popcorn! Those were the dayz, playa!

KD: From the tracks on Bringin' Da' Yowzah!!!, you have a serious connection to many artists! Everyone from Mikey D (from the classic group Main Source) to Looptroop, you are working with some serious figures. Is there anyone you HAVEN'T worked with that you want to work with?

Cee Rock: There are numerous people that I haven't worked with but I would like to someday. Here are just a few: Rakim, GangStarr, KRS-One, Nas, Large Professor (working on that one), M.O.P., Erick Sermon, Alchemist (we only toured together in Sweden and Norway), Mobb Deep (again, only toured together in Sweden and Norway), Common, Slick Rick, Mos Def, Kool G Rap, Busta Rhymes and A Tribe Called Quest (hope they get back together).

KD: The other noticeable thing about your tracks and style is that it's inherently old school, as well as underground. Are you trying to make a name or make some change? Do you see any pros/cons in your decision?

Cee Rock: I wouldn't say 'Old School'; I would say 'True School' or 'Pure School'. Hip-Hop was pure at that time and it had more punch to it. There will always be pros/cons in any decisions that you make. Some catz won't understand your direction of choice because they are used to seeing the obvious which is right in front of them. Some may not appreciate that I do not curse in my songs. While many may say it ain't 'gangsta' enough for them others are praising it because I proved to be a true lyricist without the use of unnecessary curse words. While some condemn me, others commend me. I expect that because life itself (not just Hip-Hop) is very fickle. I take the good with bad and keep it moving. As long as I am true to myself, that is all that really truly matters to me at the end of the day.

KD: Everyone in the game has their way of working. Kanye will listen to samples for weeks before producing a beat. Jay-Z writes a track in his head over about a half hour's time. Could you give us a glimpse as to what Cee-Rock does to create his thing?

Cee Rock: I usually write down things that pop up in my mind. A hot line or concept can pop up at anytime so I keep a pen and paper by my bed. Ideas pop up at the funniest times. You can be in the bathroom, at the water fountain, whatever. I accumulate my things and put my findings together like a puzzle. Once I've done that, I come up with a good song title to fit my findings. I have over 500 songs that I have written and I plan to keep going. My notebook is crazy!

KD: Do you think you've made the "perfect rhyme" yet?

Cee Rock: Every rhyme that I make is considered perfect until I write the next one and surpass it. If my previous was 'perfect' rhyme and I surpassed it then was the previous really perfect to begin with? It all depends, I guess. There are various ways of attempting perfection but I think you can always do better so maybe none of us will ever really ever reach perfection. Perfection is when you are at a point where there is no possible higher plateau to go but down. I know that I am not perfect and there is always room for me to grow.

KD: With Bringin' Da' Yowzah!!!, you have done something most MC's don't: you produced a large chunk of the CD. Would you consider yourself a better rhymer or producer? Is it easier for you to rhyme to a beat you made, or do you find yourself getting ideas for a beat while writing a rhyme?

Cee Rock: I have to correct you on that one, home-slice. I only did 3 songs for this album. Two of those songs were co-produced by the one and only DJ Erase. Actually, DJ Erase is the one who produced the majority of the album. Other guest producers who came through with their incredible production talents were Substance (from the UK), Juttla (also from the UK) and DJ Pharfar (from Denmark). Substance did 'The Perfect Storm' and 'Top Notchin''. DJ Pharfar did 'Time To Detonate' and 'Certified Partywrecker'. Juttla did the amazing production on 'International Spittin'' song. I, as a producer, did 'Anderson Iz Nice', 'Catchphrase' and the club banger 'Yowzah!!!'. However, I have produced a ton of material which has not officially been released yet but catz will soon get to know me on a production level as well. I also write to beats. Depending on the tempo and the vibe to the beat is how I put my words together. If music is 'water' then I am the 'man on the surfboard' ridin' it out.

KD: For the casual listener to Hip-Hop these days, the lyrics get dismissed for whatever reason. Do you think true lyricism is a thing of the past or the underground?

Cee Rock: Absolutely not! In fact, I think the majority of people are pissed off at certain artist who go multi-platinum and don't have a lyrical talent in their whole body. Half of them probably have ghostwriters who write that garbage for them. What really gets my goat is when I see and hear artists like these on the charts and livin' it up like they've really contributed to Hip-Hop and did something relevant. It makes me think that maybe I am not 'wack' enough to be on the charts! That may sound funny but it's really not. There is no replacement for true lyricism. Of course, you need true production to accompany that so you can have a well-rounded and successful song.

KD: What's going on for you in the near future? I noticed you have a lot of tour work you've done overseas; can stateside Hip-Hoppers catch you live?

Cee Rock: My tour dates are usually posted on the !Handzup! website. !Handzup! is the Hip-Hop label I am under. Headz can peep that at www.HandzupRecords.com. Also, check the Stellar Artist Management website which is the management company that I am under. That website is at www.StellarArtist.com. I just got a distribution deal with 'Crownn Recording Group' in Europe as well as a distribution deal with 'Guerrilla Warfare Entertainment' in Africa so expect to see more touring from me very shortly.

KD: I always like hearing what advice artists would like to give to up and comers in the game. Could you please hit the people up with some words of wisdom, keys to survival in this crazy scene?

Cee Rock: Be creatively true to yourself and don't be second to anybody! Success means nothing if you don't have a good feeling about it at the end of the day. If you happen to fail, just know that you gave it your all and commend yourself for remaining true to yourself and as real as you could possibly can, not only in music but in life itself. Everybody needs to learn to BRING DA' YOWZAH!!! And good things will soon come to be.

khal: Cee, thank you so much for letting us pick your brain. It's much appreciated, and we wish you much more success in the future!

Cee Rock: Thank you for this interview. I also want to thank you for having me. I want everyone to go cop the Bringin' Da' Yowzah!!! album and support Cee-Rock "The Fury". It is truly for the Hip-Hop heads that craves and recognizes the real. Much love to everyone. One!