Black Element
By: R.M. Monk

As the digital age continues to creep itself deeper into the music industry, music fans now have various different methods of listening to new music, finding new artists, and downloading their MP3s for free. Recently, over the past few years, music blogs have become a popular trend for internet music lovers to get their daily intake of MP3s, Videos, and Mixtapes. Relatively unknown producers and MCs have turned into internet phenomenons overnight due to the viral response and spreading of breaking new music. Wale, a Washington DC MC, had his name and music disperse like wildfire after hitting the blogs. Mickey Factz, a hyper active New York MC, exploded onto the scene with the support of various blog websites with substantial fan bases, and many more artists/blogs continue this trend.

Meet another one of those digital phenoms, Black ELement. If you follow the blogs, and have a grasp on whom to visit for new hip hop on the internet, than you already know his name. Ever since releasing a series of single tracks from his catalog on these websites, to create noise for his upcoming debut album (which will be available for a free download on his website AMajorMinority.com) entitled "A Major Minority," Black ELement's name and music have spread across the internet (and even overseas) like an airborne virus.

After thousands of downloads, a mixtape with Illroots, and numerous features on the internet Black ELement finds himself about to release his first album to the public after ten years of rapping and writing. We had the chance to sit down with the Boston, Massachussetts MC to talk about his upcoming record, the blog craze, and what sets him apart from all the other up and coming artists trying to make their way to the top.

Philaflava: Lets dip right into it, because I really want to know a few things. You record was set to release on September 18th via free digital download, but is nowhere to be seen. You mentioned a little bit about pushing back the album-- what happened?

Black EL: Its funny cause I watched Jay-Z's "Fade to Black" yesterday, and Jay said "The hardest thing to do when making a album is getting multiple producers on the same page". I struggled with that. I kind of thought everyone would automatically be on the same page, but life doesn’t work like that. A lot of things happened to the people who were helping me with this project from evictions, to getting out of jail, and a lot of bad stuff has held this project up. I don't blame my peers, but myself for making a date before everything was complete. I just have a itchy trigger finger, especially after working on this project for a year, and rhyming since I was fourteen without releasing a real project.

Philaflava: You recently released one more "leak" single off your upcoming record ("Quiet Nights" ft. Jelani). Another download that has gotten one helluva response, co-signs from major websites (DX, Okplayer), as well as all the big blogs (2dope, OnSmash, Smoking Section, etc.)-- what's it like seeing yourself spread like wildfire across the internet? How did this internet buzz form?

Black EL: Quiet Nights is one of my favorite records right now. Danksta' gave me that beat back in '06 and Iliterally played it about 7,000 times before me and Jelani decided to get on in August. I knew that instrumental was special from the first time I heard it and the final product is something that I am extremely happy with. But it's kind of crazy to see your music spread across the internet. Sometimes I have to be reminded by my peers at how amazing it really is. I always planned on getting my music out through the internet and it has helped me gain a lot of good contacts, however its only step one. I hope to gain the attention of promoters and producers through the internet, which is a amazing tool and has revolutionized how music is obtained and spread.

Philaflava: I mean, you went from totally unknown to a rapid increase in myspace hits, .com hits, and downloads that reached more people then some mid-level names and "hot new artists." As a relatively unknown MC, what do you think of the promotion blog culture? Do you think it's a viable source for new music, artists, and a good thing for musicians? Or, do you think these blogs, as well as "bootlegger blogs" take AWAY from artists and put them in a dark?

Black EL: I think the blog culture is a gift and curse, just like the internet. Some bloggers are very supportive and willing to go out of the way to promote you (what up Shake, Hallway & Mikey Waxx, RM London), while others will stick their nose up at and act like they're doing the artist a favor. I think it is a GREAT way to promote new artists and music, because these blogs, in my opinion, are the new mixtape DJs-- they get the new music out to the masses. However, there are a lot of dudes who are getting buzz that leave me scratching my head, like why? The answer is simple-- it's politics. You can never dodge politics, but the blog culture has LESS politics then the corporate music industry, so talent CAN get you noticed. I think blogs can potentially take away from artists by wanting credit for putting them out there in the first place and overlook whats most important, and that is supporting good music.

Philaflava: Over these past few years, through promotional blogs, we have seen new artists emerge and catch record deals (Joell Ortiz, Wale, amongst others) and most recently have seen a new wave of cats getting mad love like Charles Hamilton, Mickey Factz, Theo, Fashawn, Termanology, etc. What sets you apart from all these MCs? What does Black EL do different? And why should we check for you, rather than them?

Black EL: Well, what differentiates me from any MC is simple. I don't pigeon hole myself. You never know what your going to get from Black EL, I might get on some uplifting socially conscious vibe with a boom bap type beat, and then totally flip it and make a straight up electro dance track. I'm not scared to go all over the map musically. I'm willing to try anything and I WILL experiment. I know I only have a mixtape and album coming soon, but even looking at the mixtape you can see that I am not worried about fitting into a niche. All of those guys that you just mentioned, no offense to them, but they have been labled either Hipster or Boom bap, and you can't fit me in either of those two categories. I'm just a musician. I MAKE MUSIC.

Philaflava: You can definitely hear that in the mixtape, Missing Elements Vol. 1 w/ Dub Floyd (link), which is what I wanted to touch on real quick-- Where did all of those tracks come from? How old, how fresh were tracks from your Missing Element series? What 3 tracks out of the bunch would you recommend to someone sleeping on Black EL?

Black EL: Those tracks all range from '05 all the way to August '08, but most of the tracks are relatively new. The tracks came from a MC named Black ELement who was trying to find himself and his style, sometimes its very obvious which tracks are older, but all those tracks hold a special place in my heart. The three tracks that I would pick for people who never heard of me would probably be: All I <3, Down?!?!, and Ride It Out. You get something introspective, funny, and political, but it's all EL.

Philaflava: As a new generation rap artist I hear a lot of influences from Hieroglyphics to Mos Def, from Wordsworth to Kanye, what artists formed the basis for Black EL as an artist? What do you think of this new generation of rap artists in general?

Black EL: The artists that really influenced me and formed by basis would have to be Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch, and Big L. The Rawkus movement was the most influential movement in hip hop for me due to the fact that I was really old enough to enjoy and experience what they were doing. It was a bunch of MCs who were fucking dope, all had their own style and were breaking style barriers, and I had those CDs constantly in repeat in high school. Another great influence was Outkast. Those dudes pushed the envelope before anyone else really did. Andre 3 stacks is one of my favorite MCs of all time and Organized Noise is one of my favorite production crews to this day. This new generation of artists have a few diamonds in the rough, but I don't think the movement is truly going to go anywhere unless those dope artists come together and create a scene. There is a serious lack of scene right now, but I think Hip Hop is in a transition period, and the next few years are going to be very interesting.

Philaflava: If you had the power to make a groundbreaking scene like that name five new generation MCs and two producers you'd choose to create music with, and why?

Black EL: That’s a damn good question. Off the top I would say: Blu, Jelani, Front Page, 6th Sense, & U-N-I. For producers I would have to go with Ryan Durkin and Exile. Only due to the fact that everyone out of that group is extremely different in style, and there would be absolutely no hip hop listener that wouldn't fuck with at least one of us. I know I mentioned a lot of people I know personally, but damn! I wouldn't even associate with them if I didn't believe they had superb talent.

Philaflava: Lets talk about the record, A Major Minority. One of the most interesting things is the provocative cover, which depicts you in present form, you in "black power" form, in minstrel show form, and as a slave. How did you come up with this concept, what does it mean, and how does it go along with the title, A Major Minority?

Black EL: Basically, A Major Minority is the representation of the growth and development. Minorities have had a MAJOR effect in building this country, especially blacks over the last 500 years. Our culture is important, yet sometimes over looked, and I wanted to show the development through the visual artwork and mentally through the audio. The album basically shows my thought process as a black male in todays society. There are times when I get caught up and want to party, get self conscious, angry, depressed and independent. These feelings and more are represented through my album, each guy on the cover went through one of those emotions, for example I have the enslaved version of myself who feels trapped and unable to do anything tracks such as "Can't Call It" and "All I <3" pay tribute to that character. Each track on the album pays tribute to a certain character on the cover and relates directly with their emotion. A Major Minority is evolution. It's making yourself an important part of culture.

Philaflava: If you were to explain the sound of the record to hip hop fans how would you explain it? What producers/guest spots do you have?

Black EL: The record is very sample based, but has organic and electronic elements blended. It's a very bright album sonically, it has bright light spots but beautifully arranged dark spots. The album has something for everybody regardless of what mood you are in. The producers on this album are Ryan Durkin, Kush Klien, Danksta, Rami Afuni & BBoySpaz and the only guest spot on the album is by Jelani The MC.

Philaflava: As a Boston, Mass. breed, tell us about the Mass. scene?

Black EL: Oh man. Well there are a few acts who rep Boston well (REKS, Term, Akrobatik, Special Teamz, Project Move) then there is the rest who just are absolutely awful. Boston is fucked up, 'cause only a handful of promoters control who can open up for bigger acts and they usually choose these nerdy ass "i'm going to use the longest word in the dictionary" rappers. I don't get it, I have reached out in the past and have had the door shut in my face before I could even ask. However, todays a new day and I'm ready to keep looking forward. Boston could be a GREAT city for Hip Hop, but it falls short because a lot of these opening acts are just embarassing and make me not even rep Boston at times. I remember hearing some doods in bath robes and sombrerros opened up for Lupe... wtf is that?

Philaflava: Bathrobes and Sombrerros??

Black EL: Yea man, what promoter in their right mine is going to allow that? Only in Boston...hahaha.

Philaflava: So, now that you ran the gauntlet lets get down to the man behind the music-- What can we catch Black EL doing on a Saturday night?

Black EL: When I have money I usually go downtown, get some drinks hang with my people. If I have no money I usually just call over two girls and have a threesome, and after they read to me. Right now we're reading the Audacity of Hope.

Philaflava: HAHA, so, right after a threesome you like to read the Obama bio, huh?

Black EL: Yea man, i got to be up to date on my politics. I'm a rapper, I have obligations. Porn and politics.

Philaflava: If you were to Ray J/Kim K. any famous or semi-famous lady out there who would it be and why?

Black EL: Right now, there’s no contest-- Dollicia Bryan. No woman compares. She has the complete package-- beautiful face, coke bottle body, and she probably would sound better then Kim did on tape.

Philaflava: If i gave you an L and a glass of gnac-- what's the one record you would put on while throwing those back?

Black EL: Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik by Outkast.

Philaflava: What do you hate the most about hip hop today? If you had the chance to nix one trend, artist, or track what/who would it be?

Black EL: I just hate how EVERYONE is doing it, and being a rapper is like getting playing time in PeeWee football. Everyone can get in the game, and it takes credibility away from us MCs who have been doing it for a number of years. As far as nixing one trend I'd prolly say this whole hipster thing, I mean i although I do like some "hipster" rappers music. My nuts are just too big to fit into those jeans.

Philaflava: If you got paper-- would your rock the vocoder?

Black EL: If I had paper I would have a vocoder implanted in my voice box. Take that T-pain.

Philaflava: I always want to know, because it's a given that you will be put into a category so people can figure you out better in their own heads-- do you consider yourself more "mainstream" or "underground"? And evolving as an artist, are you willing to change?

Black EL: Personally I believe that as a artist you strive to be as influential as possible and although most would probably label me as a "underground" MC, I would love to eventually evolve into a "mainstream" MC. I'm never going to compromise my personality or what I stand for just to get my music out to more people, I will NEVER compromise.

Philaflava: What does hip hop mean to to you?

Black EL: Hip Hop is a culture, a living entity and remains a powerful form of expression. Blacks created it and it means a lot to carry the tourch in evolving black music.

Philaflava: What does Black EL mean to hip hop?

Black EL: Black EL means change, evolution to Hip Hop, and the return of lyricism.