S.T.E.E.L. KENNER CITY (KC!!!), LA

Known as Big Steel from Scratch Pro, he laces tracks with potent lyrics and flawless flow. He's a formitable emcee with impressive performances who brings out the best in his opponents and has earned the respect of his peers.

Goldmic: First, tell us a bit about yourself. Give us a short bio, where you are from, what you are about, etc.

S.T.E.E.L.: of course, i'm S.T.E.E.L. always have been, always will be. i rep killer kenner, though i'm actually a 7th ward hardhead (u'd have 2 be from here 2 understand that...). Scratch Pro is the bloodline, from now til the afterlife, & i'll prolly be reppin it when i get there 2...

Goldmic: Tell us about when and how you got into creating hip-hop music.

S.T.E.E.L.: oh, boy. i had 2 be no more than 12, maybe 13 years old, man. i was always into all types of music, but hip hop has been the biggest part of me 4 as far back as i can remember. i used 2 be the beatbox champ around the way, & i met this guy i used 2 go 2 school with. his name was mike; we called him agony a.d. that was like 89, early 90's. i used 2 be his hype man 4 talent shows, as well as one of his backup dancers. i gotta give the credit 2 him 4 introducing me 2 actually writing my own rhymes. he was even the cat who gave me my name S.T.E.E.L., but that's another story...lol...

Goldmic: What interests you about emceeing? What does it mean to you and what do you get out of it?

S.T.E.E.L.: there are so many intricacies about emceeing that i love, but i'd say the most profound aspect that stands out in my mind would have 2 be just the ability 2 produce such graphic thoughts & clearly & concisely convey them in words on paper. it's a blessing that i thank the creator 4 everyday. that & rhythm, lol! it means everything in the world 2 me, because it's what i'm most passionate about, obviously...

Goldmic: Tell us about your style, where do you feel you fit into the hip-hop genre?

S.T.E.E.L.: hmmmmmmmm, that's a good question. i feel as though i've
mastered the craft 2 a level that i can pretty much do it all. just play the beat, & lemme find where i can fit in on it. in a nutshell, i can do it all...

Goldmic: What makes a good emcee? Any advice for the younger heads who are just starting out?

S.T.E.E.L.: a few things, actually. i'll answer both of those questions like this:
1.practice makes perfect. 2.stay humble. 3.respect the next man's talent; u never know what u can learn from him/her. 4.as long as u keep in mind that as good as u are, there might be someone just as good if not better, u'll always be on top of your game. 5.be thankful 4 the talent u've got. 6.success is the meeting point between opportunity & proper preperation. 7.when u make it 2 the top, & achieve ya goals, DONT 4GET 2 SHOUT OUT YA MAMA!!! she's basically the reason u're here in the first place...

Goldmic: Is emceeing something you do for fun, as a possible career or both?

S.T.E.E.L.: i would have 2 say both, although i truly feel like the reward is in mastering your craft, & having your peers acknowledge u for such. if u make it a lucrative venture in the long run, then that's just a lil lagniappe. i'd love 2 make it a career, but even if i dont, i've learned a trade that i can teach someone else 2 get better at...

Goldmic: How is the hip-hop scene in Kenner City, LA?

S.T.E.E.L.: boomin! in all truthfulness, hip hop has always ben a huge part of louisiana's culture, believe it or not. we've always had hip hop artists out here, from gregory d & the dragon showcase in the 80's, 2 bustdown, ice mike, d.o.a., & mc thick
in the early 2 mid 90's. u know the guys who brought in the new millennium though, so no need 2 mention, even though some of 'em have been around since the early 90's as well...

Goldmic: What is the current state of hip-hop and where do you see it headed?

S.T.E.E.L.: that's another good question! in my opinion--albeit a humble one--it's already obvious where it has headed. alot of the decisions being made by our culture are at the hands of the corporate offices now. we as artists dont influence the decision-making process of our own artform now...it's become "consumer-friendly", & when that happens, the money makers are the ones who decide what "pop culture" wants 2 hear, as well as what they should be influenced by. i sincerely hope that with artists like nas, the roots--hell, ME INCLUDED--that we can take our artform back 2 when it was as much about talent as it was about substance & passion. it's alot of talented cats out there, but hip hop's soul is hollow right now, & i think the corporate atmosphere that has been injected into hip hop's veins is prolly the main reason why it is what it is...

Goldmic: What are your views on getting signed by a major label as opposed to distribution by independent labels or other venues such as the web? In the future, what role do you see the Net having in giving power back to the artists? What approach would you personally take?

S.T.E.E.L.: i'm not concerned with bein signed by a major, unless there's somethin in it 4 my company as a whole, i.e. distribution. honestly, i prolly wouldnt be willin 2 make a move unless i could take my company with me. the only way that'll happen though, is if we prove we can function as a unit, not just a crew of artists, but that's 4 us 2 prove, & yes, i think we can. i do like the career control that the net gives 2 us, actually, 2 put it simply. it might not garner any of the artists who use it platinum success, but at the same time, it can still prove 2 be a lucrative venture, case in point: public enemy. do some research on that, & u'll see what i mean...

Goldmic: Jin, the winner of 7 consecutive BET battles, was recently signed to Ruff Ryders. How important is battling to hip-hop? What role does it play in the development of a hip-hop artist?

S.T.E.E.L.: & congrats 2 him on that. battling is, by far & away, the cornerstone of hip hop; it's our culture's foundation! in order 4 an mc 2 develop his/her writing abilities, & i mean REALLY stretch & expand his/her mind as a rapper, i think battling is what pushes us 2 do that the most. i mean, think about it, we as human beings are prolly our most expressive in argument mode...right or wrong? it's prolly the easiest way 4 us 2 harness our stage presence & vocal presence, & that's prolly primarily the gateway 2 furthering our self-expression on other topics. it's just that we gotta get that part down first. it builds confidence & character, 2 put it shortly...

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

S.T.E.E.L.: i'm feelin just about everything, in one way or another. i even listen 2 wack sh*t at least alil bit, if 4 no other reason than 2 figure out what NOT 2 do as an artist, lol...

Goldmic: What motivates and inspires your music? What do you like to write and rap about most?

S.T.E.E.L.: the creator & his/her/it's divine presence is my motivation & my inspiration. as far as what i like 2 write about; i dunno. it doesnt matter. it's whatever emotion the beat conveys 2 me. my main focus, other than subject matter, is being as rhythmically & phonetically sound as possible...

Goldmic: Tell us about some of the music you have recorded so far and who you have worked for/with.

S.T.E.E.L.: oh, it's 2 much 2 mention. we wrok primarily with alot of local cats. 54th platoon, 6-shot, medicine men, solja slim, mr. magic, kane & abel, ruffians, diamonds, black ice, 2 name a few...we've also had mr. mike, royce the 5'9" & a few others in the studio as well. we're do 2 much work 4 me 2 feel at liberty 2 put out there just yet, but u'll see ;)

Goldmic: Your production is probably the best at Goldmic. What equipment do you use to record, do you record in the studio? Who produces your recordings?

S.T.E.E.L.: thank u, thank u. :) our studio right now is based on a program called PARIS by ensoniq. 4 those of u familiar with the asr-10, it's the same company. our studio has 128-track capability, & we use protools as our mastering program. all of our production comes from the mpc3000 by akai, which is the best sampling drum machine on the planet, bar none. for all of our sounds & stuff, we use a sound module called the xv-3080 by roland, planet phatt, & a rack mount version of the korg triton. we never sample though, believe it or not, although i'm thinkin of goin back that route, maybe. i produce, we "beat bros.", which consists of kevlar & drupey, my nephew GUSSTO does some beats, tito does beats...it's a few of us...

Goldmic: Have you ever battled or performed live? Can you rip a mic in front of an audience?

S.T.E.E.L.: hell yes, & HELL YES! we're pretty notorious 4 smashin the local scene up a lil bit, playin venues such as house of blues, tipitina's, etc...not small venues, by the way either...

Goldmic: Who is Scratch Pro? What are you currently working on? What do you have in the works?

S.T.E.E.L.: Scratch Pro is a production company, promotional company, & an artist development company. we've been established since about oct. 99, but we've been close friends for 10 years or better. we are as follows: S.T.E.E.L., Tito da Dictator, U-set, GUSSTO, Muneco Medina, Hoodvics, GEN'RAL, J-Rock, Tosta, Tragic, Kachief, King Steelo, Lace, Dean Laden, Beat Bros., & a few others. our jobs are pretty interchangeable, & we're currently in the process of expanding or studio into a 2nd one right now. we also have a sister company based out of tallahassee, Manifest Music. our parent company is Sleeping Giant Ent., LLC. as far as what we have in the works; well, stay tuned...

Goldmic: Tell us something most people don't know about S.T.E.E.L.

S.T.E.E.L.: hmmmmmmmm, u got some good questions, huh?

i'm a mama's boy, a workaholic, a gym rat, a shopaholic, my name came from an old public enemy song, i have a 3 year old daughter named jasmine elise, i have an i.q. of 140, i never finished college, & that's all i can think of right now...

Goldmic: Any last remarks or shoutouts?

S.T.E.E.L.: yeah, i wanna say peace 2 my family, Manifest-Destiny, & especially rezzer, prolly the best team leader a crew could EVER wish for, my dawgs shadow, aka unpredictable, white horse, problem, one_der, metaphive & sensation of flawless oracles, DNoe & Britt from Konquest, my original fam--& still are! also, big Ursa Major, cliff mercury, nemesiz, Lyrikill Purist & wicked--my nigs, my lil homie on stuck mzkuntry (ha!), slandersaurus, sage rock, ohmygod, super genius, tro, profound...damn, it's 2 many ppl 2 name...just be on the lookout 4 Muneco Medina: "UndaSurvailence" & GUSSTO: "Give Me da Game"...

& last but not least...*HI, MOMS!!!* (mrs. jan washington, the queen)...

peace 2 everybody on this site...from the heart...

Goldmic: Thank you and good luck battling!