See why lines such as, “…the horse & the carriage became the automobile/ the greatest player in the game became over the hill...” has got this Minnesota MC turning heads in his direction. Musab stops over at Boombox to explain his drive, hometown, name change and why it’s all about Timing.
Evans: Your background and upbringing was tough, to say the least. Has it motivated your drive and career?
Musab: Uh… That’s motivation for everything. And I get it from my mom; my mom had a harder upbringing, and she was courageous in her growing up from raising me from a young age. One thing she would always tell me was that how hard the world could be if you make the wrong decisions. She engraved that into me.
Evans: You used to go by the MC name Beyond. You’ve decided to drop that for Musab, your real name. Why the change?
Musab: I grew out that name. I felt it was too childish after a while… music is more mature and I felt I should go by my real name, Musab, which means “one who goes through struggle for good.” And it don’t get better than that.
Evans: What’s the story behind Minnesota Slicks?
Musab: The name Minnesota Slicks comes from playing pool (billiards). I used to play a lot from back in the day and got the name from playing pool. Minnesota Fats was a well recognized pool player and wasn’t even from Minnesota; anyhow I got it from playing pool and people in the hood called me that for my skills and it just stuck. Traveling, it became a knick-name and it’s penned from where I’m from.
Evans: Staying on that subject, Minnesota isn’t exactly seen as a spot for the hip hop scene. What can you tell us about the pool of talent there?
Musab: There’s talent, Minnesota is a big talent pool for people who do or deal with music in general. We ain’t on blast like an LA or New York for example. But I’m talking about people from Minnesota… I’m talking Prince, Bob Dylan, I’m talking Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis… we definitely have an impact in the music scene. We’re in the middle between, New York and Los Angeles and not down south. You figure it’s cold and snowing in Minneapolis 7 months out of the year; people are inside doing there music.
Evans: Do you feel that hip hop artists should influence youths to better themselves?
Musab: Yes I do, and I say it coming from my background. I’m rapping about where I’m from; Its not only about all the drug dealings and gangs and all that, we got family too and kids. And I feel that main-stream artists who are doing it right now should teach kids something more positive. Think about it, for some artists the ghetto isn’t life anymore, a lot of them are really successful and better off from their past. My point of view is just that artists wouldn’t have anything to lose from doing it. At this point artists can make a bigger impact.
Evans: If you may, how would you sum up your sound, style and delivery?
Musab: Very smooth… and confident, I developed a form called Mack Music; I read a lot of reviews that say things like, “you ain’t the first rapper to do that.” But people got to understand that it’s not about what I’m saying, but the way that I’m saying it. My sound is like a breeze through the trees, real smooth. Also, I pride myself on being a versatile artist, so I may have a different sound on the next album.
Evans: The album is called Slick’s Box. Talk to me about the signature track on the album?
Musab: Baaang and Hat and Shoes… Those are the two signature tracks on the album. We just shot the video for the both of those tracks. Baaang is rapping. And I wanted to express my skill and love for hip hop like, “hey this is how we used to do it”, like BANG. I’m just rapping on that track. It’s my ode to hip hop.
Evans: These days, we got a lot of people, and artists, who are repeatedly getting caught in the suspect habit of saying: “hip hop isn’t what it used to be.” What’s your perception?
Musab: Of course, it isn’t what it used to be. It’s supposed to change. And I think the people who say that are just lazy. Understand that it’s a big business now. There are many artists out there, go out and find an artist. However you want music to sound, go find it, whether its underground in the mainstream, or wherever. Look at it this way. A lot of today’s hip hop is promoted to kids. I ain’t got no SONY arm with a million dollar budget to find people… Instead of complaining about the music go and support the artist who needs to be supported.
Evans: How is it; being a part of Hiero Imperium?
Musab: Its great being with Hiero Imperium. We just had a big party last night, everyone on the label is incredible, everybody. They been doing this for years, its great. I fit in like a shoe.
[Publicist: Musab, we got to cut out in 2 minutes… Is that cool Evans?]
Evans: One track that stands out among all is Timing. What was the drive behind that?
Musab: Every MC should try and write something that someone else ain’t doing, and Timing is a reflection of that. (Laughs)You just had an example of it right there, Alex (publicist) was just telling yourself and me about the timing for this interview.
Evans: I know you’re pressed for time man, so we’ll wrap it here. What do you want to add?
Musab: 25th of September the Album is dropping in stores. And for all those who don’t buy records in the store. Go online and copp it, you can get it on iTunes, MP3 sites, it’s online, and it’s out now. Understand that Minnesota Slicks is a movement, I’m taking it personal and people will be seeing me everywhere.
The man has spoken. Check for the album Slick’s Box either in stores or online. Signature tracks include Baaang and Hat & Shoes among others including Timing which can all be heard at: www.myspace.com/musabmackmuic or www.hieroglyphics.com
