Stess The Emcee: I really can't say who the most influential is. Sure you got guys like L.A. Reid running Def Jam, but when’s the last time Def Jam was truly a trendsetter? Jay-Z is definately an influence, so he’d be up there. Snoop went over to head urban music at Priority, but he hasn’t made a lot of noise. I do give him props for showing so much of the back catalog at Priority love. Akon got T-pain and Lady Gaga on his roster. Usher scooped up Justin Beiber thanks to Scooter Braun. It's hard to say. What I can say is Steve Rifkin at Loud and SRC, and Dru Ha and Buckshot over at Duckdown are probably the biggest influneces on me.
Bama Boys Entertainment: We always talk about real hip hop, but do you think real R & B will make a comeback?
Stess The Emcee: Real R & B really didn’t go anywhere. It’s just, in black music it tends to get real “pop” real quick. And everyone remains focused on what ever’s popular. So it seems gone, but there is a lot of talent, they just don’t get a lot of attention. Look at the album that John Legend just dropped with the Roots. Melanie Fiona dropped an amazing album last year. Hell even Phil Colins said his last album will be the one he’s about to drop, and it’s got a lot of Motown cover songs. Hell even El Debarge is back!
Bama Boys Entertainment: What are some of the reasons why Eminem received 10 grammy nominations?
Stess The Emcee: Eminem made a great album plain and simple. He changed up what he normally does, and worked outside his normal box. Recovery is dope. And also he’s received the grammy for best rap album for every major solo album he has released.
Bama Boys Entertainment: Is the strip club really the best way to get your song to jump off?
Stess The Emcee: Its one of many, but not the best. Woman are the best way to get your music going. Women dictate trends like you wouldn’t believe. Hell even Biggie did R and B Radio friendly stuff, and he became a sex symbol.
Bama Boys Entertainment: What are your thoughts on the Lil Kim, Nicki Minaj situation?
Stess The Emcee: I don’t care for rapper beef at all. Point blank. I don’t care what rappers have to say in interviews, I just want dope music. If beef is the subject matter, that’s fine, but if you’re going to beef on wax, im going to need you to make one dope ass record, if not, then you are just wasting everyone’s time.
Bama Boys Entertainment: Which unsigned artists are you feeling right now?
Stess The Emcee: Nikki Lynette is dope, Joell Ortiz is a free agent now, here in Tallahassee we have Jube, M Beezy, Kim D, Rufat, and After the Smoke. My homey P Pluck still doing his thing. I recently been playing a lot of Childish Gambino, Chiddy Bang just signed and they’re dope, um is Al B Back signed yet? He always drops dope stuff. I was listening to A Cool Stick a lot, for a while there. Kevin Knottingham posts a lot of dope unsigned music on his blog. Not sure if these folks are signed but Chip The Ripper, Tom Hardy, Tabi Bonney, Vado, The Kid Daytona, Laws, Shawn Chrystopher, Emilio Rojas (and on and on and on).
Bama Boys Entertainment: Travis Porter recently signed to Jive records. In an interview, I heard them say they turned down Bad Boy. You think there's any truth to that statement?
Stess The Emcee: Im not sure. But I do feel they should have stayed independent.
Bama Boys Entertainment: Which artist(s) would you like to see make a comeback in 2011?
Stess The Emcee: I want to see the Fugees put everything behind them and drop something incredible. Ego’s and money is such a funny thing. But it’s an album that Hip Hop needs. I get kind of disgusted at artists sometimes when they are being selfish. Just think about the first time you heard The Score. How amazing it was. These kids need the Fugees to return. We all do.
Bama Boys Entertainment: Does 106 and Park need to be cancelled?
Stess The Emcee: No but it needs to be fixed. It’s a great outlet and I understand it has a target audience. But BET needs to show some responsibility to its viewers. And not just 106th and Park, but in all programming on that network. And who do I need to talk to, in order to get Rap City back on?
Bama Boys Entertainment: What is your all time favorite hip hop lyric or line?
Stess The Emcee: Too many to name. Inspectah Deck killed the first verse on Wu-Tang’s “Triumph”, Prodigy’s first verse on “Quiet Storm” is classic to me, Eminem’s first verse on “I Don’t Give A Fuck”, Dead Prez whole “Hip Hop” record is insane, Biggie on “Long Kiss Goodnight”, Pharaoh Monch always goes in. I really don’t have a favorite.
You can catch Stess the Emcee on Diggin in the Crates every Sunday from 8pm to 10pm on Blazin' 102.3 in Tallahassee or listen live online at www.Blazin1023.com
