X Dash Oil Trough, AR

There are wannabe MCs. There are MCs. And then there's... X Dash. Not your average MC. He can launch a 10 ton sperm whale 1,300 feet into the air. Bring speeding trains to a crushing stop with his fist and...ok, not really that's that Hancock dude, but X Dash can outrun a cheetah while writing the lyrics to his next song and sipping on Hennessy. Trust me, I've seen the dude do it. So, by the time you're reading this, someone is beating you to downloading his new EP "The Extro Version" right here on Goldmic...and yeah it's completely free. Goldmic has 3 words to describe X Dash: talent, talent, talent. He's accomplished a lot and has enjoyed every minute of it. We caught up with this hip hop chemist and this is what he had to say: For Prophecy Productions visit Goldmic.com/ProphecyProductions

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

X Dash: I was born on June 24th, 1982 in Kansas City. My momma named me Frank, my home boys call me X, or Dash, or sometimes X Dash. My Italian friends call me Frankie Dash. Some people call me a wigger, or a wangster, or a wannabe. Some people call me an asshole. But those people don't know me!!! I'm a pretty down to earth dude. I live in Santa Monica, Ca. and work in the sales department at a major record label. I chase women and enjoy my life. What else can I say?

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

X Dash: I grew up with Hip Hop. I don't remember a time that it wasn't present in my life. I would always listen to it and imitate it, even as a small child. I was good at vocabulary in school. One day around the age of 12 I wrote my first verse. I guess I never stopped!

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

X Dash: There are so many answers to this. I get therapy out of emceeing. I get a forum to express myself which in turn gives me a peace of mind. I get an indescribable rush that is stronger than any drug I've taken. I get to connect with others. I get to connect with myself. It gives me feelings that only another emcee can understand. It's the closest I've ever felt to God!

Goldmic: Have you ever performed live or battled face to face?

X Dash: I've opened for Mystikal, Tone Loc, 2 Live Crew, Chingy, Tech N9ne, MC Breed and The Dayton Family and Baby Bash. I have also performed with Jam Bands, rock bands, and blues bands all over the Midwest. I've battled several people too in my time, but honestly enjoy creating music in a studio much more than tearing down somebody else. I respect the battle community because it takes discipline, passion and talent to be a good battler. It's just not my passion or goal to be a battler.

Goldmic: What process do you use when writing your verses? Any particular approach you take to get ideas flowing?

X Dash: Inspiration strikes at odd times. It comes out different each time. Sometimes I'll freestyle a few nice lines and write them down later. Other times I write it line by line until it's done. I can be in my truck, or in the shower, or at the gym and an idea for a song will hit me. Sometimes I get a beat and close my eyes and let the beat determine what to say. It really all depends on the day and how I'm feeling!

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

X Dash: A good emcee has intelligent things to say about his surroundings, himself, and his perspectives or philosophies. A good emcee is always himself and confident when speaking his mind.BE YOURSELF and STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHER EMCEES

Goldmic: How do you feel about hip hop? Do you feel it's dying, dead or metamorphosing? If so, where do you think it's heading?

X Dash: Hip Hop is in the same place it has always been - UNDERGROUND. Real Hip Hop is a subculture. It is a microcosm. Real Hip Hop is not commercialized. Real Hip Hop is not heard on the FM radio or on your cable TV. Real Hip Hop is not mainstream and will never be mainstream because real Hip Hop Heads don't want to be part of the popular culture. Some people say that Hip Hop is dead because the masses don't listen to real Hip Hop anymore. They say this because Corporate America has stolen bits and pieces of Hip Hop and marketed it as the Urban Music Industry. In today's popular culture, the word URBAN has become synonymous with Hip Hop. While urban music does share some common bonds with Hip Hop music, the two are not the same. Hip Hop is also not just a style of music, it is a culture of expression. Hip Hop is alive and well. It just wants to be left alone!!!!

Goldmic: Have you ever been or felt discriminated against because you are a white rapper? Do you feel that being a white rapper in today's music industry is an advantage, disadvantage or neither?

X Dash: "White Rapper?" Why can't I just be called a "Rapper?" Why do I gotta be labeled a "White Rapper?" I'm not even a "rapper!" I am an Emcee. Music is music. It's not white or black or green or red. It's music. I think the words "White Rapper" are an offensive stereotype. Fuck MC Search for perpetuating this kind of ignorance on that stupid fucking show he had "The White Rapper Show". Fuck MC Search with a sick dick!!!

Goldmic: What is your favorite and least favorite style of rap and why?

X Dash: I'm tired of pretty much everything I'm hearing on the radio nowadays. There is some ignorant shit getting a lot of spins!!!

Goldmic: What hip hop artists are you feeling right now? What other types of music do you listen to, if any? Is hip hop your favorite genre?

X Dash: I have been listening to Atmosphere a lot lately. I like Ant's beats and Slug's lyrics. I really respect their success on an Independent level and really relate to their music.

Goldmic: If you house was on fire and you could only grab one item (not people) to save in your house, what would it be and why? :)

X Dash: My college degree

Goldmic: What motivates and inspires you? What is your proudest moment?

X Dash: Proving people wrong motivates me, and my proudest moment was the day I got a job in the sales department at a major record label after interning for 9 months for free!!!

Goldmic: How many songs and albums have you recorded? What is your favorite X Dash song and why?

X Dash: I have recorded and pressed 2 albums. The first was "There Goes The Neighborhood" and the second was "WorkaholiKc." My favorite song is off my new EP "The Extro Version" and is called "The Blissful Wizard." I like it the best because of it's creativity and my growth as a musician.

Goldmic: Are you working on any songs, albums or projects at the moment? If so, where can the Goldmic community peep it?

X Dash: My new EP is called The Extro Version and is available NOW for free download at www.goldmic.com/xdash and www.myspace.com/xdash

Goldmic: Tell us something that not many people know about X Dash?

X Dash:
I listen to old country music and classic rock.

Goldmic: Any closing remarks or shout outs?

X Dash: Yeah, download my new EP called The Extro Version FOR FREE at www.goldmic.com/xdash and www.myspace.com/xdash and pick up my last album WorkaholiKc on iTunes.

Goldmic: Bonus, optional question: If you could smack a celebrity, who would it be and why?

X Dash: Paris Hilton, does it really need an explanation?