Published: Thursday - June 8, 2006
Words by Miles Bennett
H.D. (Photo: n/a)
To say that the art of MC'ing is extinct may be a little harsh. However, to say that it's scarce is right on point.
After seeing and listening to an abundance of rappers that are able to spit a "hot" 16, one Jamaica, Queens lyricist is ready to push the art of MC'ing all the way back to the forefront. His name is H.D. or Hold It Down. H.D. prides himself in rhyming progressively, no matter what the subject may be. In addition, with an articulate hip-hop journalist background, H.D. has gained priceless tips about the industry. Now, he's ready to inject a dose of lyrical steroids into the hip-hop game with his Showtime mixtape, dropping late summer.
This is the ever clever H.D. This is the Story of The MC's MC.
BallerStatus.com: Tell me where you're from and about the name H.D.?
H.D.: Jamaica, Queens. My roots come from Haiti. I also rep Mount Real. As far as H.D., it means Hold it Down. I first came up with the initials and felt that it had a nice ring to it, so I started toying with the meaning. I eventually came up with H.D.
BallerStatus.com: How long have you been rhyming?
H.D.: I started rhyming in high school. I couldn't honestly tell you the exact date. But at first, I was just rhyming for fun. I would just write rhymes about basketball or something like that, nothing serious, but then, I met my man Edcredible. He was rhyming heavy at the time, so he got me back into it. We would write together. That's when I started taking it seriously. Since then I started taking it seriously.
BallerStatus.com: From listening to your music, I can tell you're an MC that doesn't like to waste a line. Describe your own MC style.
H.D.: It's hard for me to describe it because I feel as though I cover a lot of ground. But, I like to think about my MC style as progressive. No matter what the content is, whether we're talking about girls, straight spitting or even a club song, there's gonna be some depth to it. There's a definite emphasis on the lyrics. I consider myself to be an MC's MC.
BallerStatus.com: No doubt. With that said, when you look at the state of the game today, do you feel the art of MC'ing is a distant memory?
H.D.: Not at all, but it's definitely scarce, especially in the mainstream. There are not a lot of lyricists on Billboard's Top 10 -- good rappers, but lyrical MCs, lyricists, that's a different story.
BallerStatus.com: I ask this of all the up-and-coming cats I interview: Why should fans out there lend you their ears?
H.D.: Because fans keep complaining about how wack music is out right now. The thing is you have to go through a process before you're able to reach fans in large numbers. But, fans are always saying they want to hear something new, something different. I think I can provide it. Artists repeat themselves. It's all about who provides a new angle or twist. And I definitely bring that.
BallerStatus.com: You touched on the process an MC has to go through. These days, A&R's are huge on street movements. An MC has to have the buzz for them to even pay the artist attention. Do you think A&R's and labels sometimes overlook skill for an artist's sheer buzz and movement in the streets?
H.D.: Heeeelll yeeaaahh! These A&R's have to start paying attention. A person doesn't necessarily have a buzz because he's good. Come on, like...everybody knows it's all about connections. Dudes will get their boys on even if they're hot caca. And A&R's have to realize...a lot of these kids that signed off mixtapes, flopped. So, why are you still signing them? Was Nelly a mixtape kid? No! Was Kanye a mixtape kid? No! Game was heavy on mixtapes, after he signed. These are some of the best sellers of the last few years and none of them were on mixtapes. 50 was, but his phenomenon is not soon to be repeated. Papoose seems poised to do good as well. Saigon too. But, that's three names out of a large number of "mixtape rappers" signed.
BallerStatus.com: What do you think about NY being low right now?
H.D.: I forgot who it was, but someone made a real good point recently. G-Unit is the highest selling entity in rap. They're from NY. Dipset is one of the most popular brands in rap. They're from NY. Nas is still going platinum and he's from NY. The same goes for Busta. So, NY still has a lot of successful acts. The thing is, they don't have as many chart topping acts as the South. The South makes up for a huge chunk of hip-hop sales. And it seems that they're dictating trends. NY used to do that. So, I think that that's where the whole "let's bring NY back" comes from. The South is just doing their thing.
BallerStatus.com: Now, I'm hearing that you have a background as a hip-hop journalist. Will that help your path to getting signed as an MC?
H.D.: It helps me in the sense that I come in contact with industry people more than the average rapper, but that's where it stops. So far, it hasn't proven to be that much of an advantage. I feel like a strong team or a strong person backing you can be key in an artist trying to get signed because that team or person is the one that secure situations for you.
BallerStatus.com: Have you ever been in a situation where you were sitting down with a mainstream MC and you said to yourself, "I could rap circles around this cat!?"
H.D.: Every day [laughs]. I feel so strongly about my skills. Now as an MC, no matter if you're wack or ill, you're gonna feel like no one messes with you. So almost every time I'm next to an MC or I interview them I'm thinking, "Man, I'll embarrass that dude," or "My mixtape is better than that dude's album."
BallerStatus.com: You gonna name any names, in particular?
H.D.: Everybody [laughs].
BallerStatus.com: I'm feeling what you're saying on your joint, "Steroids." Did you come up with that title amidst all the controversy in baseball? Also, how did you link with Pitch Black?
H.D.: As for "Steroids," the title started with an expression that people say, "He's killing it," or "He came off." I remember hearing a bunch of Just Blaze beats and I was like, "Wow, dude is on steroids" and it kind of stuck. Every time someone was really doing it, I would say they're on steroids. So ,I thought about doing a joint where I'm on steroids. It's just me straight spittin' and od-ing on lyrics. As far as Pitch Black, I only have a relationship with Zakee. We met through a mutual friend. And G.O.D. is one of my friends on MySpace.
BallerStatus.com: MySpace is a beast [laughs]...
H.D.: Thank God for it. Shout out to Tom [laughs].
BallerStatus.com: How can peeps get a hold of your music and hear your latest material?
H.D.: Myspace.com/hdottt. That's where people can get the latest as of now. I'm setting up something where the new mixtape will be available online when it drops, but for now, definitely hit me on MySpace. Be on the look out for "Steroids." It's going to hit the Internet real soon. And make sure to check me out on MySpace, so you can peep the music. Other than that, to all heads out there, keep an open mind. I know the game is saturated with MCs, but you never know who you pass on if you don't listen.
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