It’s 16 bars ya’ll...
Tip of the month (from Loc the
Great): The only advice I can give you is stay true to yourself. Don’t worry
about what’s hot in the game now: rap about real life experiences, study other
rappers, be aware of the completion and always know a way to be ahead of them.
And last but not least, pay attention to what your saying cause believe it or
not someone is studying you.
It's time to hear from a Jersey native
and Eville resident...
It’s Loc the Great…
N4U: Where did your name come from?
Loc: People used to call me the Loc. I don’t know why, so I added the “great”
in there because, all great conquerors in history have it. I figured that being
a conqueror was something good to strive for, and it’s pronounced L-O-C-K.
Are you originally from Evansville?
No, I’m originally from Jersey City, New Jersey,
but I came here when I was young. I graduated from North High School
in 2004 – Reppin’ them Huskies!
What's the hardest thing about getting started in this business?
The hardest thing about being an emcee right now is getting noticed. There
are a lot of people now that rap, and 90 percent of them are terrible. So they give the good
people a bad rep.
How did you get started as an emcee?
My second grade play; I had to rap a Will Smith song and I forgot the
words so I freestyled about my class.
Do you remember your first song?
My first song was a cut called "Super Clean.”
It featured J Swade, Big Krucial, myself, and the late great Lamar Grey, a.k.a.
Young Werk. (RIP)
Would you bump it now?
Mos def! I still have the CD in my car! [laughs]
How would you describe your style?
Well I’ll let the listener be the judge. I make music for my friends and
everything on my album is a situation I or one of them has been through.
Who are some of your influences,
musically, over the years?
My brother, definitely; if not for him then I wouldn’t even of heard half
the artists I listen to today. Also, my mom and dad for taking me to shows when
I was younger and showing mad support by being at everything I did.
Do you have a dream collaboration?
Lupe Fiasco and NAS.
Your first album's getting ready to come out. Tell us about it.
My album is basically going to be a variety of
hip-hop and gangsta music. I have realized that in the game nowadays you have
appeal to a variety of people if you want to be successful. I mean I love hip-hop,
it’s my heart, but I also have to represent where I’m from. I can never turn my
back on the people who I grew up with and supported me from the beginning. It
comes out on August 27th, and is titled Written in Stone.
Do you have any other projects you’re
working with right now?
Yea, my boi Big Krucial is coming out with an album soon. I’m also working
with an artist named Young Paine, and of course my boi Max B, a.k.a. Rayne, is
working on his sophomore album and you know that’s goin’ be hot!
Freestyle, booth, or stage? Why?
Freestyle – I’m a battler at heart. A MESSAGE TO ALL RAPPERS – if you can’t
freestyle, then your not a real emcee. No offense but where do you think rap
comes from? If you don’t like it, get at me...
Tomorrow you wake up, and you’ve g one
to the place of your dreams. Where are you?
Africa.
Get at Loc to check out his music or
contact him.
www.myspace.com/locthegreat2
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