Intro Canada

Intro is the winner of our first topical text tournament. Round topics included: Where are you from?, War, Drugs, and What is Hip-Hop? He defeated URSA MAJOR, S.T.E.E.L., Perplex, and Profound to take the title.

Goldmic: How long have you been emceeing and how did you get started?

Intro: I've been a mc for about 2 years now. I got into the scene through writing. I was a bboy long before a mc, an the culture of hip hop in itself interested and influenced me to partake in its other genres (such as mc'ing). Though on a bigger scale it was basically the influence of my inspirational mc's and basically writing in itself is what pushed me to the next level, and that is to mc.

Goldmic: What interests you about emceeing? What influences does it have in your life and what do you get out of it?

Intro: MC'ing interests because it not only gives you power to move and control the crowd, but also a way to get your message out there. If you look at a crowd, everyone is thought of as equally, but the person that grabs the mic is where all the attention is directed to, in other words; the one that stands out from the crowd. The influence it has on my life is the fact that it lets me be heard. Many people have lots on their minds/chest but don?t have what it takes to get on the mic and let it out. My focus is to get a message out no matter what the topic at hand is. As long as I do that and some relate, then my job is done. In the end, feedback, respect and understanding is what I get out of it, and it?s why I continue to partake in it.

Goldmic: How long have you been a hip hop fan? What were some of the first artists you listened to?

Intro: I've been a Hip Hop fan since grade 7, which is about 8 years ago. From what started as a big Wu Tang fan quickly turned into the likes of Reggae (Buju Banton, Beenie Man, etc...) and back to Hip Hop with Nas being a huge influence to me at that time. I had made mix cd's with all sorts of variety in terms of Hip Hop, R&B and Reggae...Currently I have many influences that range from underground mc?s to commercial, etc?Everyone has their own talent, weather it?s a certain way of flow, delivery, lyrics/content, etc?and I used to listen to everyone and try to pick up something to see if I can add or improve to my style. I always have been and continue to be a huge Michael Jackson fan too. Lol many might disagree but his music will always be influential/inspiring to many artists.

Goldmic: What is the hip hop scene like in Guelph, Ontario?

Intro: To be honest, Guelph is a small town, with about 110 thousand people living in it. The Hip Hop scene here is just beginning to establish with an abstract mc named: Noah 23 whom pretty much began it all. Right now there is more and more kids coming out at the monthly Open Mic's held here, or to support the few good sound crews out of this town such as Analog Sound-crew. RCR (Royal City Records) is also from Guelph, which they just released an LP (I?ve been given shout-outs on that and other?s for working with them). They have done quiet a few show?s in the town and outside of town. I have opened for 2 of them. So in overall, I would say that the Hip Hop scene in Guelph is just getting established with plenty of room for growth potential!

Goldmic: Describe your battling style to us. Which elements do you feel are most important in a battle?

Intro: My battling style...lol...this is funny cause from what I began it concentrated so much on content that my flow was messed up as everyone would say. Plenty of criticism forced me to actually sit down and try to revise my style to fit what everyone wanted. This was ultimately somewhat beneficial and somewhat not. I have plenty to say about this question from personal experience, but won?t get into it too much to bore the people reading this. To ultimately answer the question, I feel that battle type content is most important. You shouldn?t get into a huge habit of throwing in lines that flatter yourself like "I'm the best...etc..." (Don?t get me wrong lines like that are funny and witty, but a whole battle verse of em in my eyes is not doing much) you should attack your opponent with what you can. Whether that is disses of gruesome images, witty punch lines, personals, or insult their intelligence by simply coming through with a battle verse that?s much more complex then they?re which in turn makes their battle verse look basic (In audio basic battle verse do a great job if you deliver em precisely with flow, but in text that?s not needed, that?s why its text for you to get creative with the content). In the end, all I can say is 'to each their own' but I found out the hard way, and recommend this advice. If you are happy with the stuff you put out and it looks good to you, then stick to it!!! Do not change your style to satisfy someone else' needs. The people that do respect your stuff will ultimately be the ones considered as your fans. Those who don't well its simple...Fuck em!!!!

Goldmic: What makes a good lyricist?

Intro: In my perception a good lyricist is someone who uses as many of the techniques of writing as possible. It is getting ridiculously disappointing to see how someone wins a battle just cause he filed his verse up with 20 punch lines out of the 20 bar line limit! I have nothing against punch lines, but realize that too many people now-at-days seem to 'conform with the norm'. Many people have said I have somewhat of an abstract style, and I stick to it. Since I won the lyrical tournament I guess I'll tell you what kind of a lyricist I am...lol =). I like to use knowledge, cleverness, wordplay, multi's, punch lines, originality, etc... If you read most of my battles you'll see something different or clever, as well you will see a variety of tactics used. Not only punches, but multi's, wordplay, content, personals (from time to time), gruesome image type content, cleverness, etc...I am far from being anything amazing, and in this question I can only speak from my perspective! Many will think otherwise to what makes a good lyricist, but like I said in my answer to the previous question 'to each their own'!

Goldmic: We heard one audio from you in a tournament and haven't seen you do any other since. Is it a time/equipment issue or do you just prefer to do text? Have you recorded any non-battle tracks?

Intro: Well to be honest that audio from the tournament, was one of my first net audios ever, lol, and you can tell that by the production and the fact that I used Sound Recorder for the whole thing. I have done quite a few other audios since then, from solos to collaborations, a few are posted on my profile! Currently it is very time consuming for me. I just started my second year in university (majoring: psychology) and my schedule is packed with studies. On top of that being involved in two sport teams (soccer and basketball) and helping run the break dancing club also doesn?t help much in terms of finding free time. I love to do text, as I have for a long time, but am at the stage where I would like to move on to being involved much more in audio. Which is also not easy because I am new to the audio scene on the net, and have much, much, much, much work to do in terms of improvement! Yes I have recorded many non-battle tracks (I would much rather record a meaningful non battle track then waste my time with battle tracks...that?s just my view, from time to time though I think it is necessary to get involved in audio battles etc...as it is a great way to practice your skills, settle confrontations, and show people that you?re really bout it)

Goldmic: Have you ever battled or performed live?

Intro: Yes I have. I've done both. I have taken part in open mic's in my area and also performed live. Lately I have done a few opening acts for a crew that I was in [RCR (Royal City Records)]. An opening set would consist of 3 songs or what not and take part in the freestyle sessions in the end etc...Here is a flyer to show an example of another event I have done live performance at: Flyer Pic

(Check at the bottom of "Tha MC'z" section...lol they spelt my name wrong (Introspekt) ) I hope to partake in more events in the future, but most of all hope to get some free time from school etc...to record more tracks!

Goldmic: How commited to emceeing are you? Is it just a hobby or are you trying to do something with it?

Intro: Currently, for the most part it is just a hobby. That is because my actual commitment is to school. I believe that if you really want to succeed in something, then you should commit to that thing for the time being. School is my commitment right now, and then comes other priorities. Maybe in the summer time, if my working hours are flexible, I will commit to mc'ing in terms of doing more shows, and re-recording some of my net tracks in the studio, and recording others on top of that in order to drop an album. So for now, it is a hobby and at the same time my love! As weird as it sounds, I love writing, and mc'ing. Who knows what the future holds for me when it comes to hip-hop. I would love to be involved in it one way or another, but we'll have to see. Currently I am blind to answer that question, as school is my number 1 priority. If being an mc was my #1 priority I think my determination would answer this question with: "I'm going to be an mc, as I am looking to get signed"...hope that makes sense!

Goldmic: What else are you involved in or are focused on right now? College? What's your major?

Intro: I'm focused on school primarily. I'm a second year university student @ University of Guelph taking Psychology as my major. Otherwise I'm just focused with my education taking me somewhere in life. I also work as a waiter (lol its good tips). I'm on two sport teams and part of the break-dancing club. Otherwise, I'm just involved in living life. I'm easily influenced by Hip Hop and different forms of it, so soon as I hear something I start writing, etc... In overall I would say school is my number one priority but I can see myself getting more involved in Hip Hop, if I find more and more time.

Goldmic: Which hip hop artists are you feeling right now? What other types of music do you listen to?

Intro: I'm feelin plenty of artists right now. In fact its hard to keep track of Hip Hop cause there is many mc's doing their thing. More and more I?m starting to turn toward underground mc's to listen and learn from. but I've always been a Nas, Jay Z, Eminem, Mos Def, Pharaoh Monch, Talib kwelli fan, etc...Now-at-days its been Atmosphere, Aesop Rock, Slug, El P, Sage Francis, etc... I like listening to R&B a lot too, usually calm music gets me to clear my head sometime when I write etc...But other then that I've always been a reggae fan as well.

Goldmic: If we gave you $5,000 right now how would you spend it?

Intro: lol good question. I've always wanted a few Tech 1200's to call my own. $5,000 would be perfect to get and well establish a nice DJ set with all of its necessities. But to be honest I would pay off school debts =/. If I didn?t have any, I'd be traveling somewhere, vacation, who knows =) maybe even invest lol.

Goldmic: Any last remarks or shout outs?

Intro: Most of all the moderators that run this site, and do a great job with it. Believe it or not the set up itself attracts so many people. Also the hard work they put in in terms of constantly improving the site and creating tournaments etc...keep it up!
Yeh, just wanna give a shout out to everyone on this site that has been cool with me since day one, and continue until this day. My Sick Mentalz fam, my crew, RCR, Analog Sound crew and there is many names from this site, I wanna give shout outs too but I wont get into names cause I know I will forget some people and I don't want that. So if I talk to you, and we are on a good basis then this shout out is for you =)
Peace!

ps. I think that my phase of being somewhat good might be done lol...I had my time to shine during the lyrical tournament, not sure if it will continue, but there is plenty of new and other god cats out there...so best of luck and respect to everyone! Keep on battling its a great way to work and sharpen your skill =)
PEACE!

I?m a fortunate and lucky man to be brought to this world and to be enjoying life, for that I just want to praise my family and friends, I praise them with whatever chance I have.

Thank you for reading this interview?peace and respect!

Goldmic: Thank you and good luck battling!