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  Dos Noun Interview
interview 0374 added
16.02.06 words:
Madrox
technical:
QED
He's rapped in more places than you've had
hot dinners.
Battled against and rhymed with some
people who's CD you may actually own/downloaded. And sounds like a
self-confessed "chainsaw hitting your baby's neck". Yet, there's every
chance you haven't heard of Dos Noun, or seen him do his 'thing'. Well,
he's coming to Ireland soon and he wants to come see you real
bad... should we be afraid?
...Task Force and that cat Jehst is nice. I stay up on foreign
stuff more than the average bear (American=bear) I try to be informed,
I'm a traveller not a tourist...
Ok. First up.. Many
heads from the UK may have no idea who you are. Through no fault or your
own. Would you care to give them a quick summery of who you are and what
your about? For those that don't know...
 Some
have compared me to my hero G.G. Allin when they say that "I am God,
Jesus, Christ, and Satan rolled into one". I just like to think of
myself as a phenomenal freestyler who wanders the globe to avoid working
for a living. My name is Dos-Noun and I'm from Pittsburgh, the
Birmingham or Sheffield of the U.S.
Haha Steel city USA.
Sounds dope. It's interesting you describe yourself straight off as a
freestyler. Many MC's Ive talked to enjoy freestyling but rarely big
themselves up about it. What is it you like most about freestyling? Do
you even prefer it to the written rhyme?
Well my written rhymes are so technical. I'm a rapper's rapper. With the
mutli syllable action, the crazy lines, the cinematic imagery.
Freestyling just gives a place to connect to heads on a basic level. I
can show you my ill basketball moves all day, my dribbling, my mid-range
jumpshot. But wouldn't you be happier just to watch me do 360 dunks? Its
a way of relating to audiences in foreign nations since I have no
distribution and no backing, they never have my music. The freestyling
gives them a yardstick to my skill level and puts us all in the same
figurative place.
Eloquently put. You
mentioned your somewhat of a Globe Trotter? So which nations on this
tiny rock have had the pleasure of some dope freestyle antics by
yourself? And do you have a favourite in particular?
Japan, Canada, the U.K. (a wakeboarding festival outside of Northampton)
Holland, Belguim, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, (I have dates in Iceland,
Norway, and Ireland coming up) Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Hungary, and
last but not least Switzerland. My favourite place is Finland. They show
enormous amounts of love and support. The shows are always excellent and
the promoters are honest.
...I am God, Jesus, Christ, and Satan rolled into one...
Europe has a lot of
love for good, honest MC's. I think it's the independent work ethic. Do
you find it strange or especially hard trying to get heard in the land
of a thousand corporate voices?
I honestly don't even try anymore. I have toured the U.S. from Cali to
N.Y., from Asheville North Carolina, to Santa Fe, New Mexico and it
means nothing. I toured with Eyedea and Abilites, I've supported
everyone from Non-Phixion and the Beatnuts to Atmosphere. No one cares.
So I look overseas. I want European labels for my next album and
eventually I want to move over there.
Really? Do you have
a particular place in mind?
Either Scandinavia due to the fact you can be completely subsidized by
the state, the U.K. due to language similarities (sort of) or Budapest,
due to cheapness and the proliferation of dope sluts that live there.
Hahaha. I'll have to
add it to my holiday wish list! So how does an independent MC funding
everything he does manage to make it this far in the game? Is there a
secret?
 No.
Just brutal determination and ability. I'm ill live so I get requested
by word of mouth alone. That and I'm willing to sacrifice my health and
sanity by spending all of my time alone on trains in places I've never
been.
That must get pretty
intense on your own. What do you do to hold on to your sanity? Books?
CD's? Whats your poison?
I read and write a lot. I'm a compulsive reader. I also just have
learned to suffer. Sit and watch the scenery go by. I never talk to
anyone. I just ruminate on past mistakes and attempt to refine my
approach for the future. Solitude is a treasure.
...Freestyling just gives a place to connect to heads on a
basic level. I can show you my ill basketball moves all day, my
dribbling, my mid-range jumpshot. But wouldn't you be happier just to
watch me do 360 dunks?...
Thats an
interesting way of looking at things. I've never heard anyone say
they've 'learned to suffer' before. Seeing as you touch on some deep
themes alongside your battle/freestyle ability. Can you give me some
themes from your latest album? What type of track can someone who's
never heard you before, expect to hear on your LP, when the UK sorts out
your distribution?
Well my latest album 'Compelling' has a few tracks indicative of me
personally. There's one called "Our Blood Will Not Forgive" which is
about the Holocaustan event that as a Jew and a University trained
historian I have studied heavily. There is a song called "Photograph of
a Photograph" that is Kafkaesque with its imagery. I also have songs
like my "Three the hard way" remix with Icon the mic King and Verbal Tec
that are strictly sword to the neck.
Wow. A heavy mix.
It's important to study your history and I respect you for that man.
So...When can the good people of Blighty expect to see/hear some of
these words live in future? I heard a tour was imminent...Dates? Times?
Places?
I have Ireland dates for the last week of May. I want U.K. dates for
between the 10th-23rd of May. Any and all promoters who are interested.
Just one request: Please do not contact me with the usual bullshit I get
from 90% of heads I talk to, where they hit me up and then go on and on
about how "hard it is to get stuff done man. The scene here is really
small. (insert rapper's name) tried to come but it didn't work" It goes
on and on............. If you want to do something hit me up. If not I
really don't need to hear how hard my job is. I know how hard it is. I
want to build not bullshit.
Well said. Will you
be bringing anyone with you? or suffering alone for this journey?
I only travel alone. Other people cost money that promoters don't want
to pay. I need nothing except a floor to sleep on and my cash. Its
easier that way. I'm a wandering swordsman.
...I also just have learned to suffer. Sit and watch the
scenery go by. I never talk to anyone...
Haha. Does that mean
you might even put in a battle or two if you get those dates?
I don't battle anymore. We can cipher. But don't start spitting at me. I
might just walk away. Or punch you.
Haha. A word of
warning to the majority of London then. Incidentally, do you get chance
to check much UK Hip Hop? Any favourites?
 Yeah.
Task Force and that cat Jehst is nice. I stay up on foreign stuff more
than the average bear (American=bear) I try to be informed, I'm a
traveller not a tourist. And knowledge of the national scene is one way
to show respect, and I have respect unlike a lot of my peers in the
states.
Glad too see America
has its genuine voices. It's easy to forget that a lot of people in
America have no say in the portrayal and indeed running of it. Even
though bad press is like a national badge for you guys at the moment.
Yeah. The political situation here is volatile at best. The geosocial
implications of our actions have come home to roost. Although I will
point out for the sake of argument that we have had no better teacher
and partner in genocidal imperialism than our friend the U.K.
...I need nothing except a floor to sleep on and my cash. Its
easier that way. I'm a wandering swordsman...
Haha. Guilty as
charged. Maybe someday. Someone. Somewhere. Will listen. Until then...Do
you have any last words for the good people?
Yes please book me. This ain't a game
DosNoun@msn.com
www.manifestmusic.net. U.K. labels get at me I have an album, almost
at press. Someone needs to give me some loot so we can do this. BOOK
ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alright. Well thank
you very much for your time. I really hope you get the distribution you
quite evidently need. And I hope that you get those dates well and truly
sorted so we can all sample a little of what your about. Take it easy
mate. Peace.
Peace and thank you.
Ok. So no battling but a whole load of knowledge to share. I really
wanna see this guy in the UK doin his thing. Any promoters reading this
get in touch with the guy and lets improve underground UK and US
relations. The websites to check for Dos's work are
www.manifestmusic.net and more importantly
www.myspace.com/dosnoun (Im told the second freestyle is sick).
Peace.
...We can cipher. But don't start spitting at me. I might just
walk away. Or punch you...
-
Madrox
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