Larry Mizell, Jr. Gets Interviewed, Seattlest Gets Schooled
This weekend, Seattlest scored an email interview with Larry Mizell Jr, aka Gatsby of Cancer Rising, aka Man About Town (our term, not his). Readers: read on!
Mr. Mizell, you write for The Stranger and keep an active music blog, in addition to being a local hiphop artist. What's it like to be an artist AND an observer of the Seattle hiphop scene? What trends are you seeing in local hiphop?
It's been fantastic writing for The Stranger! I get to write about something I love and people have to care about what I care about because I'm--with a very few wonderful exceptions, like my man Sam Chesneau at the Weekly and my dude Andrew Matson at the Times--the only game in town, insofar as speaking on local hiphop, or hiphop period, in the local media with any degree of credibility. Which, by the way, is criminal!
I love writing the blog too; I can be a little more referential towards hiphop locally and in general, and know that heads checking it will get it. I can be a little more random. I can enjoy posts from a great squad of writers on raindrop and it's just going to get better, watch!
It is tough sometimes being on both sides of that line. On one hand, I have an intimate understanding of what's going on in the scene, and on the other it's hard for me to be able to report on stuff I'm associated with and still remain credible to myself. CR has definitely benefited and suffered because of my association with the paper: I happen to think we're one of the best groups in town but we also can't get any real ink in the chief music rag. But thats whatever.
The only trend I see in town is a growing tendency to make great music, and for more and more people to support it. It's inspiring and I hope it keeps going and getting better.
What's your take on the DV-One case?
Business as usual for police and black men in Seattle, and everywhere else in the US. I only hope the jury sees through the cop's BS because I sat there for an hour and a half and could see that the officer is lying. How do you have this big tussle and never exchange word one with the guy? How are you so vague about all these details when you've been TRAINING for this trial? Her whole story was swiss-cheesed the fuck up. What brother in his right mind (which I promise you DV certainly IS) tries to wrestle a cop anyway? He's not trying to fight you, he's trying to see why his daughter is hemmed up! You think he'd rather detour for a cool wrestling bout with a female SPD officer? Please. God bless DV man, I hope he and his family pull through this crap!
What are you LOVING about Seattle/life these days?
Off the top? I'm loving Dyme Def shows, the Fatal Lucciauno album, Sportn' Life Records, the Scholars everywhere, Greyskul on tour all over the country with a dope new album, EVERYbody doin' it well but most of all? ! It's the shit and it takes up WAY too much of my time!
What's your advice to Seattlites who want to learn more about local hiphop? Who should they be checking out?
Bottom line, they should be checking out everybody! And if they really want to know more about it, ask somebody who knows more than you! Seriously. The cool thing about people who know more than you is that they're everywhere! Read my column! Check Raindrop Hustla and 206Proof! Listen to Street Sounds and Sunday Night Sound Sessions and Zulu Radio! Find out about cats that have been putting it down, and hit the used record stores and go find THAT stuff! Be excited about your town's music-- there's plenty of great stuff out there if you look for it.
What's up next for Cancer Rising?
We have a brand new record coming out in the next month. I think it's absolutely our best work yet and that we stepped up our game, and we worked with some amazing dudes we hadn't before like my man djblesOne and Mr. Hill. We're putting it out in a very special supra awesome limited edition format in all recycled jewel cases because it's a good idea and plus because we're broke! Our CD release is 11/25 @ Chop Suey (super crazy lineup TBA) and we're playing the last night of the Blue Scholars "Program" series at Neumos. We're going to put out more music even more frequently. We're gonna hit the road and spread the word even more about the 206. It's so on. We're going to become your momma's momma's favorite hiphop group and you can either like it or lump it, gotdammit!!! [Note: Seattlest's momma thinks "Gatsby" is a great name for a hiphop artist. She has not yet heard his music.]
Seattlest thanks Mr. Mizell for the interview, and thanks our readers for checking out some local hiphop this weekend. And next weekend. Every weekend.
