Published: Wednesday - August 13, 2003
Words by Jay Casteel
Necro (Photo: Pyscho Logical)
Underground rapper Necro is an independent fiend. His rhymestyle, dark production and brutal, violent lyrics have kept him from reaching beyond his loyal fanbase, but he doesn't care. As long as his fanbase loves his music, he will continue to create.
Inspired by the success of Master P, who went from an underground king to a MTV regular, Necro is determined to make his Psycho Locigal Records label a house hold name. Intrigued by his logic, BallerStatus questioned the white rapper about his come up, his business sense and his brutal lyricism.
In his own words, "Respect or die!"
BallerStatus.com: Tell me about your childhood in NY.
Necro: It was dusted. The projects were sick, little kids fighting all day, always drama, lots of playing, killing bugs, football on ice, buildings, the whole project steez. It's real hot. And then the Canarsie streets, running around thuggin' it hard, selling drugs, scooping bitches, beef as usual. Crafting my hip-hop skills.
BallerStatus.com: When did you start rapping?
Necro: Like when I was 11 years old.
BallerStatus.com: Who influenced you musically, growing up?
Necro: A lot of metal bands like Metallica and underground groups, like thrash groups. Even Motley Crue, when they dropped their first album, were an influence. On the hip-hop tip, Slick Rick. "Lodi Dodi" was the first sh-- I heard and "The Message." Then Rakim, Kane and KRS One.
BallerStatus.com: How long have you been in the rap game?
\ Necro: In 1990, we started making demos. Then we hit clubs like the Muse and Exit, just trying to get on. Everyday livin' it.
BallerStatus.com: Tell me about how you started Psycho Logical Records?
Necro: Well, before I started my label, I was gonna start a label even before, like in '98. But, this c--t that said she was gonna give me $500,000 to do it, fronted on me at the last minute. So I was like, "Damn," so I was still reading sh-- and learning. Anyway after reading numerous interviews from Master P, I got the courage to take on the endeavor because until then, I was still trying to do sh-- the traditional way. It's not easy to be your own label. I do things serious when I do them.
Anyway, I started the label in November of 1999 and put up a site. I had fans just waiting online for my sh-- to pop off. It was sick. I had a fanbase already, even before I dropped my first 12" from radio freestyles, so it was on. I was one of the first labels to f--- with Landspeed as far as putting out records with them and owning all my own sh--. Right after Freddie Foxx, I dropped I Need Drugs.
BallerStatus.com: Since you've been in the rap game, your fanbase has grown and grown. How do you market yourself to reach all these people without help from majors?
Necro: I just invest every dime into my sh--. I believe in myself. I see myself getting better and better. I get myself open on alot of things I do, so it's like a challenge to do this label sh--. I see how weak some people are and I just think I do what I like. In the end, I don't need a major. I just need the major money.
BallerStatus.com: Do you feel major labels ignore underground artists such as yourself?
Necro: I don't know that they ignore me, they are just looking for images to be sold. They are looking for what they are looking for. I'm not looking for what they are looking for, so it's a conflict. I'm looking for total control of my sh--. They want all the control and to be able to get people that ain't me to mold me. I don't f--- with that. I will be a multi-millionaire success without a major label.
BallerStatus.com: Have you tried to sign with a major or would you if you had the chance?
Necro: I have tried here and there, but never gave it a full blitz the right way, probably. I don't like the way white kids are perceived by these people.
BallerStatus.com: Roughly, how many units have you sold in your career thus far?
Necro: Combining cds and vinyl, total records sold since 1997 is about 203,040 units. That's combining everything I have produced whether it was my record or not on my cd and vinyl.
As far as cds of just mine it's like 65,000 units of all my cds combined. I think I have much more fans than records I've sold. I think for every buying fan, there is a fan that just downloads because they can.
BallerStatus.com: How and when did you hook up with your crew?
Necro: From my hood, just growing up as kids. Mr. Hyde, I met in front of Newyorican Cafe at a Cage show. I was there helping Cage hold it down for his "Agent Orange" 12". Hyde tried to rap for me. I showed him love and then he got down after a few years of proving he keeps his sh-- real. Everyone else is from the hood.
BallerStatus.com: Do you think the content of your lyrics are responsible for you not getting mainstream exposure?
Necro: Maybe, it's also my business. I have never had a real label behind me, so how can the mainstream hear me? I think mainstream is fiending for Necro. I'm the attitude that people want.
BallerStatus.com: Okay, let's talk about new sh--. You got Brutality Pt. 1 droppin soon. Tell me about the project.
Necro: It's dope! It's my record featuring brand new tracks from Necro and members of Non-Phixion, Ill Bill and Goretex. One track from Mr Hyde and a lot of sh-- is featuring Necro on it. The whole album is produced by yours truly.
BallerStatus.com: How does this album compare to your past albums?
Necro: It's awesome like them all. It's just new sh--. Every track I make is different. They all sound different because my production is so unique and every flow flips. I always change my sh-- up, but always rugged. That's another thing, this is art to me, but a lot of rappers rap the same on every track. Majors thing they will sell one style to a bunch of people. It's just product to them. I make art first, then figure out how to pimp it to live and pay bills.
BallerStatus.com: Are their any outside production or features on this album?
Necro: No!!!
BallerStatus.com: Does the album come with the video "White Slavery"?
Necro: No no no, but the DVD does! My porno movie, "Sexy Sluts".
BallerStatus.com: The video for "White Slavery", tell us about the concept of the video?
Necro: The concept for the video is two things. It's first about the white slave trade. Woman being kidnapped and stolen from off the street. It's one of the biggest rackets in Europe and it's probably still being done in the village in Manhattan. It's brutal, it's basically for the sh-- heads. "White Slavery" means enforced prostitution, so that is one angle.
The second angle is the low budget gore angle. The midgets and sickos killing women and tying them up on some blood sucking freak sh--. Bill's verse is more blood sucking freaks. My verse is more Ukraine women being thrown on the street at age 40 because they have been worn out after being slaves for 15 years. It's more into the racket of the crime, but we both combine the B.S.F. element. That's the whole theme. Sh-- just evolves into it's own monster. I added the bondage masks to look more creepy and to blend in with the dungeon. I love how classic sh-- starts off as a cell and grows into a large virus.
BallerStatus.com: Where can people pick up the album or order it?
Necro: They can get it many places like Sam Goody, Best Buy, C City, FYE, Strawberries Media Play, HMV, Virgin, Tower and Newbury Comics. Plus overseas from Austrailia. I now have Shock Distro, Spain. I have Germany through GrooveAttack. My vinyl will be done with Fat Beats.
BallerStatus.com: Okay, do you interact with fans at your website?
Necro: I sure do!
BallerStatus.com: Also, we hear you an venturing into porn, tell us about it.
Necro: I ventured already. I'm dropping a porno the same time as my album. The porno is called "Sexy Sluts: Been There, Done That", starring Lanny Barbie (Penthouse Pet of June 2003) getting f---ed in her ass and 6 more f---ing bitches. It is hosted by Jerry Butler, an 80's porn star legend who wrote the book "Raw Talent" and sh--ted on the whole industry. He takes a sh-- again all over the adult industry. Don't miss this!!! It also has 7 new Necro tracks, 4 with raps, 3 just beats, You all f---ING DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BallerStatus.com: Will porn now be a part of Psycho Logical Records. I mean, will you be slanging porn dvds & videos as well as music?
Necro: Yes, but my porn company is called Sexpert Video. I gotta separate the two for the sh--heads in the porn industry. They are too stupid to recognize that a label is making real porn. Don't wanna confuse them.
BallerStatus: They can order it from your site, right?
Necro: Yes they can! Also, from many other places as well. Like www.SandBoxAutomatic.com, can't forget them. They sell my sh-- too. The number 1 spot on earth is: NecroHipHop.com
BallerStatus.com: In a past interview I've read with you, you mentioned that you have pissed away a lot of money on magazine ads in Murder Dogg and XXL. Will you be advertising like that anymore?
Necro: Hells no, just sampler cds. XXL and Murder Dogg suck big d---! Murder Dogg has never given me any love, so f--- that magazine!! XXL is mad shady! XXL gave me a feature called Show and Prove in 2001 and since then they won't even mention me, like I don't exist. F--- them too!
BallerStatus.com: Do you think hip-hop mags such as, The Source, XXL or Murder Dogg, show you enough love?
Necro: Hells no! The Source is mad shady. Gotti from The Source told my PR guy one time he respects my gangster, but can't put me in the magazine because I haven't sold enough records [laughs]. He is f---ing corny. He hates on me continuously. He c---blocked me from getting on the radar when someone pitched it to him. All these magazines are p---ies. They don't acknowledge me because I'm white and I'm not connected to someone black that co-signs me. Whatever, I'm gonna do me and I'm gonna blow up and it will be their f---ing job to report on me! Watch them try to dog me like they did to Em when I blow up. It's hate for whites. There is heavy racism in hip-hop for white people.
BallerStatus.com: Also in the interview, you said you once bought a writer sneakers and even coke to get featured. Is that true?
Necro: Yeah to get in XXL. The writer had sneakers bought for him. Sh--, I had to buy the coke for someone at Vibe, but who knows? I'm starting to think it was the PR dude that wanted the coke.
BallerStatus.com: Okay, tell us what else Necro has in store for the fans?
Necro: Hmmm, what else? Well, in November, I plan to drop another mix CD. Maybe Street Villians Vol. 2, we will see. Then I will re-release the "Gory Days" DVD as just a DVD by itself for cheaper. Then I will drop an Ill Bill solo album in February 2004. This year, I also drop 3 new 12" besides the 12's from the Brutality Pt. 1 album. I'm dropping a Sabac 12", maybe a Hyde 12" and a Goretex 12", so there is enough sh-- for 2003. If people don't f---ing salute me for my efforts in 2003, they can suck a d---.
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