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The Louis Logic Interview – By Rush – Oct 2003

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28 October 2003 No Comment

His album has been blasting through our speakers for the past two months and we cannot get enough of it.  He recently released that banger Sin-A-Matic and our gazilam Rush over in the Eastern Cape quickly got in touch with Louis Logic to find out more.

Louis f**king Logic up in this place the next thing to grow into a classic is you man welcome to Africasgateway. Tell the people who u are where you at and what you stand for?

Thanks for the welcome and kind words. So, yeah, I am the Drunken Dragon, the guy responsible for bringing tasteful drinking back to the rap game. I’m also responsible for a new record that came out called Sin-A-Matic. You might have heard it. I’m a New Yorker, livin’ in Queens. I enjoy celebrating the joys of drinking, womanizing and foul language.

The first time I heard of Louis Logic was on the Jedi Mind Tricks album how long you been busy with the hip hop sh*t man?

Well, I’ve rhyming for a long time, maybe 10 or 11 years…I’ve been putting out material for about 4-5 years. My first record was actually a 12″ on Jedi Mind Tricks’ label. It was called “Planet Rock” f/ L-Fudge b/w “Punchline” and “Logistics 101”

f**k it man you a skateboarder damn I’m one too don’t have much time though what was the stint like?

I skated for 10 years. I landed a sponsorship with a Long Island upstart called Number Nine who went on to make all the wood for Zoo York, and now makes ChapStix. It was pretty cool as a young kid to get free boards and make money from Skating, something I was going to do anyway. I filmed like everyday for a year for the company video and then I had a disagreement with the team owner because he gave a younger team member a pro-model before me. He graciously told me I was through and the whole thing embittered me so, that I was finished with Skating altogether. Though lately, I’ve been out of retirement.

I think you a very good storyteller man in the Slick Rick class of writers was he one of ya earlier inspirations?

Thank you. It’s a good feeling to be compared to the Father of Hip Hop Storytelling. I always liked Slick Rick, but honestly, I never even owned one of his albums. I still don’t. I’m not real into rap music to be honest. I don’t really like it. Well, not anymore. I guess when you start to make something yourself, it takes some of the mystery and fun out of appreciating it as a fan. I can always hear the imperfections in people’s work now, my own inclusive.

You on a label called Solid Records (thanks Matt for the albums) who is releasing a couple of tight joints what’s the relationship like with Solid?

Matt Slywka is a stand up guy. I’m really pulling for him. I hope my album and whatever else he plugs himself into make him a ton of cash. He deserves it.

You just dropped an album called Sin A Matic, classic man.  How long you been busy with the album and would you say its what you wanted to deliver with that release?

Yeah, actually, I was pleasantly surprised to see how the album came together. Everything just seemed to have its right place. I was trying to cut tracks as we were sequencing the album out, but it all fit together so well, we couldn’t leave anything out. I think that’s why it took so long to make the album, and why people tend to feel that the album listens well the whole way through without skipping tracks. J.J. and I worked on it for almost two years and I think it shows.

There is quite a few bangers on the album what would you say is ya favorite track and why not a lot of collaborations on the album?

I don’t really like collaborating, particularly with strangers. I feel something is lost in how personal the result is when the person you work doesn’t share your vision for how to craft a track. I think back to the classic rap albums I loved so much when I was younger, and they weren’t packed with guest appearances. I mean, when you buy a Radiohead album, are you expecting to hear collaborations? No. Those great artists carry their own weight. I only used collabos where they were necessary, next time I plan to use even less. I think Idiot Gear is my favorite track, but I am also partial to the Best Friends/ Revenge!!! combo. It is noteworthy that Celph Titled actually lends only his voice for his parts on Revenge!!!. I wrote all the rhymes, but I needed another voice since the dialogue includes three characters, but that’s what I’m talking about. I only use collabs where necessary to complete the art.

I read awhile ago that you made some of ya tracks available for downloading how do you feel the internet is helping indie guys getting there names known out there?

Yeah it can be helpful, but harmful as well. There’s no way around it. People are gonna download your music and burn it for free. Oh well. It sucks, but it also make it so that there are more listeners. I just deal with it. Nothing else you can do.

Ok I kept this question back cos I want you to give me a real deep look into the track it is called “The ugly truth” my boy was like ooh very controversial track explain the track to me?

The Ugly Truth is an educational song about real issues that I did not invent. People keep asking me about whether or not I am a racist, and I explain to them, the song is not about whether or not I’m a racist, or George Bush is a racist, it’s about whether or not you, the listener are a racist. If you find yourself squirming through that song, maybe you should ask yourself why. I never gave it a second thought when I wrote all those horrible things, because I don’t need to. I know how I feel, and I don’t need the approval of sensitive listeners who were freaked out by the song to feel good about what I did. If the song ruins your day, then you deserve it…period. There is no person so guilty as the asshole in denial about the existence of racism all around us. The Ugly Truth is for you.

The cd have just finished rotating at 360 degrees ending with ya track dust to dust production wise who helped ya out?

J.J. Brown is the man responsible for the bulk of the album. His hands were in the completion of every track on the album, including mixing, sound effects and general clean up and perfecting of other people’s submissions. Additional production from the home team came from Celph Titled on Freakshow and Mischievous, and the Avid Record Collector on Celph Hatred, Best Friends and The Ugly Truth. There were contributions from Memo of the Molemen on Revenge!!! and Fairweather Fan, and King Honey on Dust to Dust, Cimer Amor on the Halfway Stretch Workout. Fans can expect that in the future, J.J. and my home team associates Celph Titled and the Avid Record Collector will handle the entire follow up.

Streets smarts for retards cos yall aint thugs ya sweet hearts!!! My man Louis logic its been blessed man say bye to me and my folks and all the groupies out there in one final breath?

Yeah, I have three things to offer: 
1. Read more books and watch good films. 
2. check out www.louislogic.com and the message boards there, and 
3. Look out for my next project The Odd Couple starring Jay Love and Louis logic, beats by the Avid Record Collector, coming soon.

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