POS Makes a Righteous Noise on Never Better

Rapper Stefan Alexander, better know as POS is back to rock both the hip-hop masses and the punk rock crowds with his latest release Never Better. POS is one of the many artists from the Rhymesayers camp who has broken out of the pack to forge his own identity with his unique mix of hip-hop sensibility and punk rock intensity. POS took time out from his headlining tour to talk about his latest disc.

Associated Content: Why did it take so long for Never Better to finally be released? What have you been up to?

POS: I just had a lot of stuff that kept me busy. I finished two records with Doomtree, my hardcore band Build Better Bombs made another record...I had a bunch of stuff that was recorded and done stolen from me, so we had to start the process over again! I just had a lot going on.

AC: This record, more so than Audition really showcases your punk rock side. Did you set out to make a hip-hop disc that had more of a punk rock edge to it?

POS: I just wanted make something different...I wanted to push myself...there are a lot of good rappers out there so you have to do something that makes yourself stand out. I really wanted to make something that would challenge my audience.

AC: With the state of affairs in popular music do you think there are music listeners that really want to be challenged?

POS: I know there are! I am a fan of music that is challenging. Music is best when it's new, when it's different. I am always looking for something new. I have been a fan of the band Spoon for a while. They are always reinventing themselves!! They are always doing something new and challenging their audience and it's great.

AC: Word on the street is you will be doing the Warped Tour again this summer. Why are you headed back to Warped?

POS: Mainly because it's a cool tour and the folks running it are cool! This will be my first time doing the whole tour. It should be a good time.

AC: The group Atmosphere has put indie hip-hop on the map and in doing so, put the spotlight on other artists on the Rhymesayers label. Is this a good thing?

POS: It is a good thing. People are starting to check us out. This also means you have to define your own character and be your own person. Because the rest of us are now coming up from the underground, it's time to step up our game.

AC: On your last record you came out swinging politically. Has this past election given you a bit of hope?

POS: Yeah, I am hopeful! At the end of the day I am an optimistic person. The election got me excited! Like everyone else I want to see what comes of it all.

AC: What's next on the agenda for POS?

POS: We are only a few days into this headlining tour so I will be busy doing this, and then I will be doing another record. After that I will hit the road again in the summer with the Warped Tour.