Locksmith: In Rare Form

Locksmith - Rare Form / NEW
by PeteRock

Excert From Locksmith's Interview Will Allhiphop.com

AllHipHop.com: For the folks outside of the Bay, what differentiates The Frontline and Locksmith from other regional talent?


Locksmith: As far as the Bay area, I think that everybody is unique. If you’re not unique then you’re following a pattern; or, you’re following a specific type of gimmick or something to that degree to that extent. We just wanted to find our own niche. Even before the notoriety, we always wanted to be our own artists. We didn’t want to follow E-40 and Too Short. We’ve always respected those dudes as artists; but, we wanted to set our own trend. The Bay is a very diverse area; so, our music and as artists we reflect that. We never followed just one specific trend or localized ourselves to one area. We always wanted to internalize everything that was going on in the whole country and put that into our music. We’re very aware of what’s going on in the nation and internationally, too. So, we put that in our music and it fits our personalities. It’s reflected in our music.


AllHipHop.com: Sometimes emerging MCs striving to break into the mainstream may sacrifice their lyrical integrity in order become more commercially appealing. What motivates you to remain steadfast to your lyrical ideals?


Locksmith: It’s not even a question; I just do what I feel. Whenever you start consciously saying, I want to appeal to this [it] can be deadly to your career. I don’t consider myself an underground artist or a commercial artist. I just do what I do. Sometimes, I’m in a mood to where I have thoughts that may appeal to a wide range of people. I may have s*** that’s going on internally; I don’t know if people will identify with it. But, I know that I’m going to do it. My producer, E-A-Ski recorded this track, “Rare Form.” I just had some s*** on my chest. Lyrically, I just wanted to go in and do what I do. He was like, ‘Yo, this s*** is hot. We gotta shoot a video.’ I’m like, “Yo, are you serious?” He’s like, ‘Man, I think this is dope. This needs to get out there.’ So, we did it—not thinking that this was something that was going to get a lot of notoriety. This is some intense type of s***; right now everything is real soft in a sense. Hip-Hop has become more like, you know, easier to swallow—as far as the mainstream goes.

So, putting out something like “Rare Form” I didn’t expect this to do anything except provide a visual for people online. The s*** ended up getting added to MTV and spun in regular rotation. It’s big on the radio stations out here in Northern California. I’m like, ‘Wow!’ You have a song with no hook with a long verse for like two something minutes, and it’s getting played on the radio. I’m going to shows and people are knowing the words. So, that’s not something that you can plan for, you just do what you do…


AllHipHop.com: In respect to the four main principles of Hip-Hop: the emceeing; the deejaying; the B-Boying and the art of graffiti, how would you describe Hip-Hop’s current state? Are we experiencing a Hip-Hop depression or a Hip-Hop reformation?


Locksmith: Some days I feel like Hip-Hop is being revitalized and some days I’ll see something and it kinda gets me like, ‘Ugh!’ If I can still make an impact and I can still do what I do, [and] if I still have that passion inside of me to keep going, then I feel like it’s very much alive. I’ve noticed that when I see people appreciate what I’m doing—and I appreciate what the other dope artists are doing—I feel like Hip-Hop is very much alive and that the principles and the essence of it is very much still alive.

The problem is that it’s become—with capitalism—and what’s going on in Western society, we’re able to market that and [it’s become] watered down to a certain degree. It’s going through all this commercial rigmarole, and then it gets kinda watered down. And you’re like, okay, you’re sick of being fed these same images over and over again. That’s just the companies and their marketing that’s making it that way. But, Hip-Hop and its essence is very much alive. Every time that I walk somewhere in The Bay area, I meet tons of young kids and people of all ages telling me, ‘I love what you’re doing!’ It’s incredible; they show me love. That lets me know that Hip-Hop and the passion for Hip-Hop is still very much alive and those principles are still present.

http://allhiphop.com/stories/breedingground/archive/2009/12/17/22069173.aspx
 
 
  I fucks with Lock... Havent heard much from him, but have seen some of his videos... he speaks for those real lyricist that are still out there... i think he can make an impact but i dont think what he is spitting people really want to hear.. i mean we are much more educated in todays world than any time before but it seems most of us just want to party and not feel like were beign taught when we listen to music.. i wish him much luck....