Published: Monday - May 1, 2006
Words by Zio Vitus
M-1 (Photo: Koch)
With the release of their debut album in 2000, Dead Prez pledged their allegiance to always deliver real hip-hop, no matter the cost. That statement -- like the writings of Marx -- was sound in theory, but in an industry where good causes lay like bloody carcasses across the music business battlefield, it lacked practicality.
Yet, despite doubts, Dead Prez stayed true to their revolutionary raps and anti-government attacks, and in 2004 released Revolutionary But Gangsta, an album that put the duo on the mainstream map. The underlying theme of that LP, as on their first, was the importance of getting free. But, what nobody expected was that the duo would free themselves from each other; as M-1 did earlier this month when he released a solo effort entitled Confidential.
In this interview, BallerStatus.com caught up with M-1 to discuss his recent release, why he went solo, his political influences, rappers as role models, and more.
BallerStatus.com: First, talk about the concept and features of your new album, Confidential.
M-1: I wanted people to get to know the individual that I am. So, I felt that Confidential was a great introduction to that because it kind of insinuated that you're looking at it from the point of view of the government. And I think that, that not only makes the kind of statements that I wanted to make, but does it in a way that still lets people know that I'm right on the revolutionary mission that I've always been on.
I got help from Ghostface Killah, who I'm on tour with right now, Styles P from D Block on this joint called "Comrade's Call" that was produced by Agallah The Don Bishop from Purple City, and of course Q-Tip from Tribe Called Quest on the already classic song called "Love You Can't Borrow," with Cassandra Wilson, a legendary jazz artist. And I really kept it related to what we always been doing, but maybe haven't done. And my brother Stic is on the album, and that attests to the fact that we're not broken up. We're still here. We're not going nowhere.
BallerStatus.com: Why did you step away from Stic.Man and decide to go solo?
M-1: I felt that it was a great way to introduce myself, as one member of Dead Prez. Through the inconsistency of being able to put out the kind of music that we want to put out, with record labels and such and such, I thought it was important, especially with the opportunities that we've been given that we're able to stay who we are. So, myself and stic.man included, through the years have made those statements, but it just has not been in the form of music. I think it's a consequence of natural growth, and of nothing but that. No controversy. We are a group that goes through everything that every group goes through, but the thing that is significant about Dead Prez is that we are bound by politics and that's gonna drive us more.
BallerStatus.com: Throughout the album, you discuss Assata Shakur. And I read a piece, by Mark Lelinwalla, that mentioned some of your other influences were Muhammad Ali and Sun Tzu. But, one that was semi-surprising to see make your list was Ho Chi Minh, who is not as often recognized. Is he an influence to you because of he was revolutionary, or do you idealize his political dogma?
M-1: I guess you could call it political dogma. He was a strategist, one of the finest. But not only that, he was significant in our revolutionary trends in this country because his revolutionary spirit and his teachings allowed the revolutionaries who I learned from -- the OG's -- to understand solidarity between international communities, and had a lot to do with the understanding of how to make the resources we've got, and the revolutionary guerilla strategy against the government, and things of that nature. So, I think it was more than dogma. It may have been different to some, but to our community, he is regarded as a hero.
BallerStatus.com: Taking in your influences, your music, plus your talk about such things as the "proletariat" and "ruling class," it seems rather apparent where you stand politically. But, on one of your tracks on your album you list the five elements of being "RBG" [Revolutionary But Gangsta], and one of those is wealth. So, my question is, how does individual wealth fit into that picture?
M-1: These are the exact words to that song, I said: "We gotta boss up, economic value/ and have support, you for me and me for you." That is our wealth: that support that we have. Not to be confused with the spoils of capitalistic exploitation. That's not what I mean at all when I say wealth. I mean the wealth of our people and our revolutionary spirit to connect and move forward. And we do have to have economic value about how we do that, to develop our economy and our market and our ability to be self-sustaining -- and that is our wealth.
BallerStatus.com: In the documentary that comes along with your album, you say that when a person becomes a rapper, they are required to do more than just that. What do you think about rappers who say that they are not a role model? Do you think that's an easy out from responsibility?
M-1: I think that any rapper who thinks he is not a role model is deceiving himself. With not too many examples of success of victories in our communities, rap is seen as one of those avenues for opportunities for people to pursue their dreams. And if you are successful rapper, I think you have to get locked into the spirit of the community to nurture more people to be successful at what they want to do, even if it's not music. So, that's not to say that we have to fall on other people's morality, but we have to consider that what we do influences everybody.
BallerStatus.com: Educating the children seems to be a recurring theme in your music, as well as in your video for "Til We Get There." Let's say some kid picks up your album and becomes inspired. What, would you recommend, would be the first step for them to get involved in politics or to educate themselves?
M-1: Wow. I'd say join a revolutionary organization because with that you get the political education and the action. You can go to college and read a whole lot of books, but after that you got to try something. And not even after that, but while you're reading it, you got to try some of that action out. So, I would say join a revolutionary organization, and if you want to know what kind of organization that I'm talking about, I would say one that is anti-capitalist, one that is in tune with the community, peoples struggles, one that holds up revolutionary heroes, and learns from their past -- like Malcolm X and Marcus Garvey and Harriet Tubman -- who hold up our history. So, that's the first step.
BallerStatus.com: What's next for you both musically and politically?
M-1: Just network and move forward with everyone who is feeling the record right now. I plan to travel through communities and connect the dots, so that when we make moves independently, we can do so practically and win our battles easily. I'ma stay organized and work with my comrades, like Fred Hampton, Jr., and the Prisoners of Consciousness Committee. And I'll see everybody on the frontlines. I work for the people, in the streets and in my office, and I'll see you when we get free.
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