Friday 28 March 2008

The FACE of Hip-Hop!





Mike Faceless has seen it all. He stands over the world looking down and laughing. His stage presence is powerful, his delivery impeccable and his production will remind of you Jesus playing the trumpets.

Mike Faceless has overcame struggles you could never imagine in his efforts to gain acceptance and respect in the Hip Hop community. As the Faceless member of the True Artist Movement he took the Section 805 Emcee Battle Title and held it for 6 months in 2002. They won many battles on the battle circuit in LA also at Club Elements, Scribble Jam, and the Basement.

Battling is not Face’s strength though. He is an avid songwriter who digs deeper than most lyricists. in 2002 he wrote the song "Passenger" produced by Johnny 5 which is still a crowd favorite in performances today.

Mike Faceless then joined Pocket Change in 2004 and helped with the lyrics and production behind the "Put your Two Cents In" Mixtape, which is available on CDbaby, Itunes, and on this very page. With Pocket Change in Hiatus Mike Faceless Launched his solo career.

He is presently finished recording his debut album "Heir to the Throne" which will be release in 2 or 3 Months and available on Itunes and other online distribution outlets through newly formed Indie Hip Hop and Punk Rock label "Gutterbomb Records".

Although the majority of the album is produced by Mike Faceless himself, it also features production from Apathy (Demigodz), and Know Talent and features acts such as Triune, (Foot Soldiers), Bjones (Pocket Change), E from the LOST (Lost Tribe Bboys), and singing from Piera Klein (Glitterbomb Records).

This album has been anticipated amongst indie Hip Hop fans for over ten years and Faceless hopes it will meet the high expectations set for him by his peers.

HipHopInformant: How long have you been involved in Hip-Hop?

Faceless: I've been doing this for over 10 years now. I started rhyming when I was living in VA but kept it to myself for the most part. Now I'm as loud and open about it as it gets.


HipHopInformant: What made you get involved in Hip-Hop?

Faceless: I got involved in hip hop cause every time I listened to some sh#t I couldn't help but nod my head. Kids and I would get in arguments in the park about who's hot like Gravediggaz or tribe called quest and stuff. I couldn't help but bang beats on the table or start spitting in the mirror.

HipHopInformant: How would you describe the way you rap?

Faceless: I sound like Jesus on the trumpets with angels in the orchestra.. Haha. I don't know man you be the judge. All I know is every word is honest.

HipHopInformant: Where are you from and does where you're from influence your music?


Faceless: I'm from VA BEACH but I moved to Ca when I was 16, first in San Diego, then 805 area of Cali. I'm all over so I guess I picked up a little bit wherever I travelled.

HipHopInformant: Are there any artists that influence you?

Faceless: Right now as we speak, Lupe Fiasco is really moving me. Dude is on a good one. Honest and expressive plus his swag is real proper.

HipHopInformant: What are your views about the current state of Hip-Hop?

Faceless: Hip hop is not dead it just sleeps a lot. I feel like a lot of these artists just don't (work) hard enough to make good music cause they are all focused on that greenery without keeping the art alive.

HipHopInformant: What goes into making an album like "Heir to the Throne"?

Faceless: Being a king in my own right. I know I'm next in line. And I'm not saying I'm the king of the world or anything, I'm just confident that I'm good at what I do and my people believe in me.

HipHopInformant: Do you think Hip-Hop is more commercialized and less about the artist and the music?

Faceless: Honestly, I don't concentrate on that much. I could sit here and hate on people who are making the millions or I could learn from them. There is nothing wrong with making money doing what you love. The underground struggles because there is no innovation, in effect its as limited as the commercial market. Some people try to hard to stand out and all they end up doing its sticking out like a sore thumb. I just want to make good music and see what happens.

HipHopInformant: If you could change one thing about the Hip-Hop Industry what would that be?

Faceless: I would stop separating "commercial" from "underground" and just call it all hip hop. Some people are lyricists, some people are entertainers. Why cant the community leave it at that? Sometimes I want to hear some Atmosphere, and sometimes I just wanna dumb out and bump Lil Jon. Does this mean I'm a sellout?

HipHopInformant: Where did the Faceless part of your name come about?

Faceless: When I first started rhyming there wasn't too many white folks I knew about that were doing it, so I chose to be faceless so people would look past my skin tone.

HipHopInformant: Are there any up-and-coming artists that you'd like to work with?

Faceless: I'd like to work with Lupe Fiasco of course. Apathy would be nice to do a track with. He did some production for Heir to the Throne and the man makes some bangers. I'm looking to collab with rock groups also. I'm feeling Hassahn Phenomenon right now too. Sh#t, theres too many now that I think about it.

HipHopInformant: What does the future hold for Mike Faceless?

Faceless: The future? Heir to the Throne will be on ITUNES in May or June. I'm also working on some mixtapes, and I'm really trying to get my production more well known. You can hear the production @ www.promofm.com/mikefaceless and check my myspace out on www.myspace.com/mikefaceless. Also I think there's another Pocket Change project coming soon. Until then, cop the Pocket Change - Put your two cents in Mixtape, off my page. Its got some crazy joints from my people in the camp. I produced a few of the tracks too. Until then, see you on stage! -Faceless.

www.promofm.com/mikefaceless

www.myspace.com/mikefaceless

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Face's Joints are fire! Good interview fam, ill definately be coming back to see more interviews! 1

Anonymous said...

I LIKE THE WAY U INTERVIEW MAN, NICE STYLE, GOOD QUESTIONS ITS WELL STRUCTURED DUDE!

Anonymous said...

Another aspriing star, well I hope he gets to where he want, and hopefully becomes as famous as eniem