Werdplay Interview [AWKWORDrap.com Flipbook #2]

Werdplay was that bigger-than-life-figure, hyperactive gargoyle on the big side speaker, shirt ripped off, veins popping through his forehead, water and spit splashing everwhere, rapping, moshing. He was that voice, that harmony, that honesty… that wordplay. Werdplay was that third of that trio known as BLESTeNATION (with MC Various DJ/Producer Fafu), that group that wrote the theme song to the Blue Crush Soundtrack but also dropped “Sunset of My Life” (FAM III) and “Zombies Can’t Swim” (FAM II), them does who put on the best live shows I ever saw… and let young AWKWORD open shows. BLESTeNATION signed that deal with that legendary major label. And then that major label went to shit, so Werdplay went out on his own.

In 2009, still reppin Bleste and MBC Digital, Werdplay completed his first solo LP, “Ryantology”, and it’s personal.

To listen to Werdplay’s “My Big Wheel”, from “Ryantology”, click here.

To watch the video, click ‘play’ below.

1. Stage Name:

Werdplay.

2. Birth Name:

Ryan William Gibbs.

3. Age:

Old enough for a groupie to have to be legal.

4. Zodiac Symbol:

Libra.

5. Birth Place:

Flushing Queens, NY.

6. Current Location:

Here, there and everywhere. Right now, I’m in New York City.

7. Relationship Status:

Do any of you girls wanna fuck?

8. Religion:

Ryantologist.

9. Ethnicity:

Irish, German, Austrian, and some other shit, I’m sure.

10. Political Affiliation:

Fuck politikin, unless it’s over a blunt.

Fill in the Blank

1. Childhood Ambition:

To be famous.

2. First job:

Video store, as far as I can remember… Or, it mighta been the produce section of a supermarket.

3. Favorite City:

Whichever one I am in for the first two weeks I am there — and then I get bored and sick of it. Then I leave.

4. Soundtrack:

My own whispering voice telling me negative and positive things about myself all fucking day long really fast.

5. Inspiration:

Entirely too many people, things and experiences to answer.

6. Indulgence:

Mostly things that aren’t good for my health and/or stress level.

7. Most Fucked-Up Thing I’ve Seen in the Game:

The sight of a talented, hungry artist being stripped financially by people in the biz that don’t even contribute to the artistic value of the product that is being released.

8. Biggest challenge:

Biting my tongue and letting shit slide.

9. Question:

Why do people think I have a lot of money?

10. Answer:

Because you iron your clothes.

Multiple Choice (choice: in italics)

1. My biggest fans would say I am:

a) an ill MC
b) a hip hop singer who doesn’t need Auto-Tune
c) a man true to himself, and to his fans
d) crazy

2. My biggest detractors would say I am:

a) brash
b) arrogant
c) no longer significant
d) crazy

3. The Cool Kids are:

a) talented MCs/Producers
b) leading the way
c) not my thing
d) not that famous

4. President Obama is:

a) a revolutionary
b) a puppet
c) on both sides of the aisle
d) caught between the aisles

5.) Facebook, Myspace, etc., are:

a) the death of hip hop
b) the birth of hip hop
c) the re-birth of hip hop
d) meaningless

Q&A

1. How did you find out about AWKWORD and World View? What was it that attracted you to the cause/project/album?

Years ago, I was introduced to AWK through a super-talented cat that goes by the name of Whatsizface. I was introduced to “World view” by AWK himself while I was living in Minneapolis. I had been on a previous mixtape he released, which made it easy for me to agree to jump on this one. What really attracted me to the project would have to be that it is dedicated to helping people in need. I am all about something that is charitable to those less fortunate.

2. What is hip hop?

I can’t describe it without using shit like “it’s way of life,” that’s what everyone says, and I must maintain my individuality, so my answer to this question is “hip hop” is a word that looks very silly when it is written out. Doesn’t it? I think so. Hip hop — that shit looks funny. It makes me think of jumping, while you’re hoolah-hooping.

3. What is BLESTeNATION? And who is Werdplay?

BLESTeNATION is big, bold, no-holds-barred, rock-inspired arena rap music made by three individuals who continue to believe that there is a light at the end of the dark tunnel they travel through, which, most of the time, happens to be the inspiration for the lyrical content that can be found in their music…

Werdplay is who Ryan William Gibbs wishes he could be at all times but is not. Werdplay is fearless, unapologetic, and careless and relentless with his thoughts and words. Werdplay is like a misbehaving child who’s been punished so many times that he doesn’t even worry about the consequences of his actions anymore. He doesn’t say “I’m sorry.” He doesn’t’ acknowledge that what he does is wrong.

Werdplay is who Ryan William Gibbs follows, with broom and dustpan, trying to sweep up all the things getting picked up and smashed on the floor of the china shop. Werdplay is not paying the bill for anything broken. Ryan is.”
_______________________________

In advance of the release of AWKWORD’s World View album, www.AWKWORDrap.com will host a digital flipbook featuring interviews with the MCs, producers and other artists, who, along with AWKWORD, are making World View possible. The flipbook will include photos of — and links to free mp3 downloads from — each of the artists.

About the Interviewer

Lewis “LH” Hegeman is Manager for New York City-based indie rapper AWKWORD. He also serves as Director of Promotion for AWKWORD’s 100% nonprofit global hip hop album “World View”, as well as Secretary of the Board of Directors of Guns 4 Cameras, the 501c3 registered nonprofit to which all proceeds from World View provided. An award winning writer (New England Press Association) and photographer (Reebook), LH proves eclectic and adaptable, having written and/or shot for the likes of MTV and AOL; LIFE, Grolier, and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; Elemental Magazine, Mass Appeal and YRB; Big Daddy Kane, ILL BILL and Block McCloud; Miss Ecuador; and The Gear-Up Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of America, and Visiting Nurse Association.

Monte Smith Interview [AWKWORDrap.com Flipbook #1]

If you haven’t heard of Monte Smith, that’s because he designed it that way. But if you google the street poet, you get pages of praise, clippings, track listings and blog chitter chatter. Not only should Monte Smith be famous, he could be. Monte Smith has been praised by the likes of Mumia Abu-Jamal, William Upski, Chuck D and T La Rock. He has recorded with DJ Vadim, Breeze Evahflowin and MF Grimm. And he says things you’re too afraid to…

Monte recently completed his new book, Don’t Shoot the Hostages:
Poetry for the New World Survivalist, which features contributions from Abstract Rude of Freestyle Fellowship, J-Dee of Da Lynch Mob and Carlos Andres Gomez. Expected release date: September 2009. (Purchase Link below.)

Monte Smith appears on World View, the AWKWORD 100% nonprofit global hip hop album/project. It’s a secret track, so go find it.

To listen to Monte Smith’s “Talk the Talk”, click here.

Vitals

1. Stage Name:

Monte Smith

2. Birth Name:

Monte Smith

3. Age:

Old enough to know better.

4. Zodiac Symbol:

The Archer.

5. Birth Place:

Babylon.

6. Current Location:

Babylon.

7. Relationship Status:

In a relationship.

8. Religion:

Anti. At this age, I find it hard to believe in fairy tales, especially when the tales include torture, enslaving people and murder.

9. Ethnicity:

Human. Continuing to think in terms of race, religion and nationality is how poor people of the world are kept separated. We are one race: Human.

10. Political Affiliation:

I would rather shoot heroin into my eyeball than pledge allegiance to any political party in this prison colony/mega mall we call Amerikkka!

Fill in the Blank

1. Childhood Ambition:

Stay alive!

2. First job:

Washing Dishes.

3. Favorite City:

Don’t have one.

4. Soundtrack:

Gang Starr – “Daily Operation”.

5. Inspiration:

My brother blowing his brains out!

6. Indulgence:

Words.

7. Most Fucked-Up Thing I’ve Seen in the Game:

There’s been so many, I’ll go with… the present day!

8. Biggest challenge:

Getting fellow poor people to realize that we are our own worst enemy. We need to focus on solutions… But how can we when the majority of poor, working class people can’t or won’t see that we’re equally at fault for our present living conditions as are the bloodlines behind our cardboard government… The New World Order is right on schedule.

9. Question:

Why is the sound of rebellion seldom heard?

10. Answer:

Because our silence is too loud.

Multiple Choice (choice: in italics)

1. My biggest fans would say I am:

a) prolific
b) honest
c) lyrical
d) revolutionary

2. My biggest detractors would say I am:

a) naive
b) self-righteous
c) afraid of beats
d) afraid of success

3. The Cool Kids are:

a) talented MCs/Producers
b) leading the way
c) not my thing
d) not that famous

4. President Obama is:

a) a revolutionary
b) a puppet
c) on both sides of the aisle
d) caught between the aisles

5.) Facebook, Myspace, etc., are:

a) the death of hip hop
b) the birth of hip hop
c) the re-birth of hip hop
d) meaningless

Q&A

1. How does spoken word/street poetry enter in hip hop?

Street poetry helped define the rap in rap music. Malcolm X, Amiri Barka, H Rap Brown, Stokely Carmichael, these civil and human rights heroes were street poets, who influenced James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, and so on. Think of the KRS ONE tracks “Necessary” and “The Real Holy Place”, or Killah Priest’s “Heavy Mental,” these are poetry tracks, not rap tracks, but they still fit with the flow and direction of the rap albums on which they appear. I believe street poetry is rap’s nucleus.

2. What is hip hop?

First, hip hop is not rap. Rap is a part of hip hop, along with DJs and wax, breakdancing and aerosol art. For me, personally, hip hop is Kool Moe Dee telling Busy Bee, “How can I take a title you ain’t got?” Hip hop is WBLS and K-DAY; late night mix shows; Frosty Freeze (RIP); Phase 2, Lee and the TATS crew; DJ Flowers and DJ Dirty Harry; T La Rock, Spoonie Gee, Public Enemy, BDP, J Dilla, Schooly D, Gang Starr, Rakim, Stretch & Bobbito, Big L (RIP). Today, in 2009, I can’t help but think the days of being on point are over…

Further, Black people in the United States of Advertising have never had their own pop category when it comes to radio formatting. That’s why everything you hear is labeled, Hip Hop or R&B, when, in fact, 90% percent of what you hear on Power, JAMZ or KISS radio is pop music. When you hear Lil Wayne, Souljah Boy or Kanye, you need to think corporate pop formula, not hip hop; when you hear Jeremih, Beyonce, or Keyshia Cole, you should think corporate pop formula, not R&B!

3. How does Monte Smith play a role in that world? (How should you be remembered?)

Only the people I’ve touched with my art can answer that question.

4. Did you find hip hop? Or, did hip hop find you?

We found each other, in my parents’ living room. My mom and dad were record collectors, so I grew up with lots of music in the house. They bought old blues, soul, R&B and rock, and they bought many of the Sugar Hill records when they first dropped. So, for me, hip hop was a natural progression.

5. How did you find out about AWKWORD and World View? What was it that attracted you to the cause/project/album?

DJiPerfection from Philly introduced me to the World View Project. When I found out it was directed to be the earth’s first 100% non-profit global hip hop project, I was impressed –- and then I learned about the album’s non-profit recipient, Guns for Cameras, and I was sold. I’m always excited to work with artists, like AWKWORD, who are also activists.

Listen to Monte Smith on Satellite Radio, speaking on AWKWORD and World View by clicking here
_______________________________

In advance of the release of AWKWORD’s World View album, www.AWKWORDrap.com will host a digital flipbook featuring interviews with the MCs, producers and other artists, who, along with AWKWORD, are making World View possible. The flipbook will include photos of — and links to free mp3 downloads from — each of the artists.

About the Interviewer

Lewis “LH” Hegeman is Manager for New York City-based indie rapper AWKWORD. He also serves as Director of Promotion for AWKWORD’s 100% nonprofit global hip hop album “World View”, as well as Secretary of the Board of Directors of Guns 4 Cameras, the 501c3 registered nonprofit to which all proceeds from World View provided. An award winning writer (New England Press Association) and photographer (Reebook), LH proves eclectic and adaptable, having written and/or shot for the likes of MTV and AOL; LIFE, Grolier, and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; Elemental Magazine, Mass Appeal and YRB; Big Daddy Kane, ILL BILL and Block McCloud; Miss Ecuador; and The Gear-Up Foundation, Boys and Girls Club of America, and Visiting Nurse Association.