Soarse Spoken: Revelations from a Third World Prophet
Submitted by James Smith on Tue, 01/08/2008 - 20:16
Remember when hip-hop was considered to be the voice of the downtrodden who dwell in the slums and crevices of America? Who would've thought that this profound statement would not only relate to the conditions faced in the United States, but perhaps the world. The Colombian born emcee, Soarse Spoken is no stranger to these matters as\r\nhe paints candid pictures about both his struggles in his native land and the United States in his latest album, Third World Prophecies. Check him out as he talks more about his new album, his life as an immigrant, and Botanica del Jibaro, one of the best record labels you''ve probably never heard of.
Why title your album, Third World Prophecies? Is there an underlying theme or concept to the album?
All of the material that I have ever released with Botanica del Jibaro has dealt a lot with the political and social aspect of the issues we face on a day to day basis. Being that I come from a "third world" country, I talk about the issues that I, and others, faced in Colombia and now face here, whether they be the same or different, directly in my music.
In what ways have you grown as an artist since Leadership Midnight?
I feel that I am always growing as an artist. I am always on a quest to find myself and I am influenced by my surroundings and fellow artists. For Leadership Midnight, It was my first experimentation in putting a whole project together so I feel that it did not sound like a cohesive project. It was pretty much a mixtape or compilation of a whole bunch of different works I compiled through the time I'd been making music. Third World Prophecies, on the other hand, is my first actual album. It is a project I'd been working on for 3 years and from the beginning I had an idea in my head of what I wanted the album to sound like. And I feel I accomplished that vision.
For those who aren't familiar with your work, what can they expect to hear on your new album?
Did you approach this album any differently from Leadership Midnight?
Well, as I mentioned before, Third World Prophecies is the first album that I conscientiously put together as a whole project. I worked on actually achieving the sound that it has and I think I achieved it.
Are there any guests on the album?
TONS. Production wise I have Climber on there which produced the single I Walk Proud. I have Sharpsound, Metrospect, there is one track from Astronote (France) on there. My man Prefuse 73 laced me up with a track called "Libertat" on there. It's the only song on the album in which I spit a few Spanish vocals. Also, Manuvers and Deviant both, respectively, have tracks on there. Emcee wise, I have Punchanello (Earthworx) on there, Seven Star. Stres laced it up with some dope shit on a track called "Consumer Report" which is probably my favorite song on the album. Also, I got Flow Official on the Album. Big Up to Omniscient (who mixed the whole album) and Emo!!!
Was there a specific reason why you named your mixtape Leadership Midnight?
I didn't just want it to be a compilation album, I also wanted the project to have a concept. So the concept was a group of armed assailants taking over a radio station and holding the DJ's hostage and playing music which they felt was not being heard, which is hard to find on the radio in the States. So through out the mixtape you hear DJ's talking over the airwaves and taking calls from other artists who are down for the cause.
Midnight obviously insinuates night time being the right time for any take over seeing as how that would be the time when all the suits are snug in their bed. and Leadership insinuates the ability to take initiative over the situation we are facing with the radio waves. Basically I saw anyone associated with the project, whether production or emcee, as being part of that group of armed men who take over this radio station. And the name of that group is Leadership Midnight!
The skits portray about how you (and a few others) feel about the radio and how it is controlled. Why do you feel this way and what do you think is a good way for a local artist to be heard?
Radio waves, they have been hijacked by companies like Clearwater and all artists do not get equal or fair airtime to transmit their music.
In Third World Prophecies there is also a song called Leadership Midnight which breaks down the whole story in one song. Payola is illegal but there are loopholes that record labels and companies like Clearwater exploit to get an artist that the record companies are trying to break as much airtime as possible. To be heard nowadays you have to either be connected, be paid, or be persistent. Since I'm not paid or connected, I guess I'll have to be persistent! Ha.
What are your favorite songs on that release?
Uff, That's a tough question man. I would probably have to say that my favorite joint on there is the Spoken For Remix with Cyne and Omniscient. I just love the griminess of the song and the production makes your head wanna fall of it's neck.
My Spanish is horrible...what was Tal Vez about?
I really like that one as well. That was the first time I worked with Mustafa which is an emcee from Argentina and is really one of the nicest cats I've heard on Spanish rhyming. Also Manuvers killed it on the production on that joint.
It's really just some grimy rhymes with political innuendo attached.
Why the name Soarse Spoken?
Soars - To rise, fly, or glide high and with little apparent effort.
The e on the end is for flavor.
Spo·ken - uttered or expressed by speaking.
Pretty simple actually
When was the last time you visited Columbia? How does it compare to how it was during your childhood?
When I left Colombia (1986), the city in which i was born, Medellin, was considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Pablo Escobar was still alive, The Government was corrupt, the 50 year civil war was still ongoing and at a peak. Paramilitaries where killing people left and right, and the kidnappings where out of control. When I left, my country was not in the best shape. The last time I was there was one year ago exactly and I can't imagine a more beautiful place. The people are amazing, their hospitality is beyond words. The food, the passion for life, the generosity, the music. It is a lot different form what it used to be. And I will never have a greater love than the love I have for Colombia. My Country.
Why did your family migrate from Columbia?
We left Colombia for a lot of different reasons. It is no lie when they say that this land is the land of opportunity. No matter how evil the government and ignorant some of the people are, you can still make a great life for yourself here. But, don't get me wrong, I will retire in Colombia. It is my land and the land in which I would like to get put to rest.
Was it difficult to adjust to New Jersey after coming from Columbia?
It was extremely difficult. at the time in which I came from Colombia there were no ESOL or Spanish programs for Spanish speaking kids. especially not in Jersey. I got into a lot of fights and had a lot of trouble adjusting. but, eventually I did and I was the first person ever in my family's history to learn English. we eventually became well adjusted and made it through. Plus, the cold was a mo'fucker! [laughs] Imagine coming from a tropical climate, which is what you're used to because it's what you've known all of your life, to the freezing streets of North Jersey.
Have you always been socially aware as you are now?
Coming from a country like Colombia where there is such political turmoil and poverty to this country where everybody is spoon fed nonsense to keep them happy is pretty eye opening. Even as a child when I first got here, I could pretty much tell there was something extremely wrong with the balance the world is in.
Why did you end up migrating to Florida after New Jersey?
I was still pretty young when my moms moved to SoFlo. I had to come with or perish.
How did you get into hip-hop and what were your main inspirations?
Damn, I guess where I come from has a lot to do with what I let influence me and what I talk about in my music. Hip-Hop was the only music I could relate to when I was young. No other music was talking about poverty and crime and drugs and killings and social issues. These issues are all I knew my whole life, especially coming from Medellin where all those issues are a factor in everyone's life three times over. And the places I lived in Jersey weren't exactly the "nice parts" of town. So hip-hop talked to me directly. Being the only person in my family who spoke English at the time and not really having a lot of friends cause I was a "different kid" coming from South America, hip-hop spoke to me. I could relate.
How did you link up with, Botanica del Jibaro? Could you tell a bit more about the label?
I linked up with Botanica del Jibaro back in 2003. La Mano Fria used to hold an annual event called Infiltrate during WMC (Winter Music Conference). He invited the crew I was with at the time to come perform for that years showcase. He really dug the sound and shortly after when I became a solo artist I asked him if he'd be down to release my first solo ventures and he was more than happy to do so. Botanica del Jibaro is a label that deals with a lot of the issues I talk about in my music as it's owned by an immigrant just like me. It was a natural step to release music through Steve Castro (La Mano Fria) and his label.
Do you think there still are barriers for Latino emcees, especially those who aren't completely involved in the Reggaeton circuit
I think so. I don't think many people realize that Hip-Hop was started by both Blacks and Latinos. But, There have been a great deal of Latin emcees to leave their mark. For example Big Pun, Fat Joe, the cats in the Arsonists, Chino XL, B-Real, Chingo Bling, and even Miami's own Pitbull. I think those barriers are slowly coming down. I'm an optimist in that sense.
If you weren't involved in music, what would you be doing?
I'd probably be involved in some other artistic career. My Pops was a painter and sculptor and so are most of my aunts. My family has always been very creative and before I got into music I was a visual artist.
What are you listening to these days?
My favorite albums right now are Redman's Muddy Waters, Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere and Madlib's and MF Doom's Madvillain. But, I'm always listening to different shit. I don't restrict myself to just Hip-Hop. I like other stuff like Julio Jaramillo which is my favorite songwriter of all time. Stuff like Björk, Johnny Cash, Bright Eyes, Amy Winehouse, Ratatat and other crazy shit. I really dig discovering new music so I'll always keep my ears open for new stuff.
Are there any other projects in the works?
Always, I'm working on another solo project called The Human Project and I am finishing up the Earthworx project as we speak with Punchanello.
I am also going to be working on an all Spanish hip-hop project with a very special producer but I will leave it at that for now.
When you pass away, how would you want to be remembered?
I'm never gonna pass away...[laughs]...nah.
As a person who always had the guts to be brutally honest about life, always had the guts to put passion into everything he did, and as a person who made music because he loved being artistic and truthful more than anything! PEACE!
- For more info on Soarse Spoken, check the following links:
- MySpace: Soarse Spoken
- Botanica Del Jibaro
- Myspace: Botanica Del Jibaro
- MySpace: Earthworx Music
