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  Head Roc Interview
interview 0323 added 28.07.05 words: The Last Skeptik
technical:
QED
Washington D.C: The centre of a global political superpower for
some, and the belly of the all-encompassing imperialist beast to
others. Such disparate opinions are echoed in the significant
wealth gap shown in the city’s population: large numbers of poor
live under the nose of the White stoned houses that seat some of
the richest and most influential people in the world. Such
circumstances as this can only provide a melting pot of
inspiration for artistic folk inhabiting the area.
Head Roc is
one of such folk, who after releasing his critically acclaimed
Return of Black Broadway LP, he has now dropped Negrophobia – a
poignantly political and head nodding set. Add the fact that
Heady is managed by Jarobi from A Tribe Called Quest fame, and I
had to catch up with this talented D.C representative to say
whuttup…
What’s the Washington D.C hiphop scene
like?
 The DC Hip-Hop is and has been bubbling for quite a few years
now. There is a tremendous amount of talent in no small part due
to long-time vets honing skills both, artistic and business, for
something like ten years now. More and more cats are putting out
wax, which brings attention to the scene as a whole. But don’t
sleep, DC artists been out overseas and across the U.S. Groups
like Unspoken Heard and Opus Akoben who are well known in France
have been visiting across the pond for more than a few years
now. Nationally, Storm the Unpredictable and the Poemcees been
doing it for years as well. Those are the longtime vets who I
have to spread love to cause they all helped me out when it was
my time to travel and spread love to the masses. Can’t forget my
peoples Team Demolition, who as far as I can remember were the
first cats I ever heard about to put out wax.
Do you feel living in the shadow of the
White House has a significant effect on your music?
I don’t know for sure if the White House or Congress has had any
more significant effect on my music, with me being from DC, than
it has on any other region where hip-hop is prominent. Congress
does its thing, which is totally separate from the DC native
thing. Congress doesn’t care too much about DC because if they
did, the city would be paved in gold. The school system wouldn’t
be so dysfunctional because there would be adequate funding for
modern facilities and ample supplies for students and so forth.
Hell, this current President doesn’t even stay overnight in the
White House so he can’t possibly know what’s going on in the
city – wow what a leader huh? In general the white
house/congress doesn’t give a shit about hip-hop except to
condemn it and falsely blame it for the moral decay of the
States. which, interestingly enough, is what they said about
Blues, Jazz, Rock, and Soul. At the same time funny enough, the
conservatives even recognize the power of Hip-Hop and use it as
a means of perverted outreach to gain new constituents. It’s the
slow response of the U.S. Progressive movement that has had a
significant effect on my just my music, but many of the brave
ones before me who try to deal with society and question the
status quo in our music creations.
“…Congress
doesn’t care too much about DC because if they did, the city
would be paved in gold…”
You are managed by Jarobi from A Tribe
Called Quest, how did that come about, and how has it helped
you?
Jarobi is one of my best friends has offered me all that he
knows about he idiosyncrasies of dealing with the music
industry. We met at the grocery store one day, I gave him a ride
home as he was lugging some groceries and the rest is history.
We never even talked about him and tribe for over a year though
of course I knew who he was, and he knew me from my prominence
on the DC Hip-Hop scene through my work with Infinite Loop and
Three Levels of Genius. We just found that we had a mutual
respect and admiration for music – period. Quite a wonderful way
to build a friendship when you think about it. Something very
pure and that. So we became really good friends and over the
years no matter what was going on in our lives we supported each
other whole heartedly. So when I went out on the solo effort and
it came time to tour the west coast, Jarobi took the lead as our
guide for my first ever tour. His vast tour experience made my
carefree and successful and I cant wait to do it again and
again. Did I mention I’m available for shows and tours it the
U.K.? Shameless plug if you don’t mind! (Laughing)
“…[Jarobi and
I] met at the grocery store one day, I gave him a ride home as
he was lugging some groceries and the rest is history…”
What reception do you receive for your
political material?
I receive an overwhelming response whenever I rock my material
of social content. People are literally blown away! They come
and tell me that I’ve changed their lives and attitudes on the
state of the world today. The engage me in socio-political
discussion after the show. I’ amazed at how intently folks
listen to my lyrics at the show. I’ definitely blessed to have
such a success rate in live show settings that folks actually
take time to tell me they appreciate my input and encourage me
to continue. I get that from white folks, black folks, Asians,
Arabs, you name it. Peace and blessings people, thugs, geeks,
and people who are typically indifferent and just want to have a
good time seek me out after the show to tell me how much they
enjoy it. I’m very thankful for that and am encouraged to keep
moving.
Your lyrics and skits are obviously
well researched, poignant and informative. Some of it is
reminiscent of the protest fuelled music of Public Enemy. What
role do you see politics playing in music in the future?
 I hope we can get back to the day where relevant socially
conscious music can sell out stadium seats like in the day of
P.E. Hopefully this time the Progressive movement will embrace
and not abandon us like they did P.E. and let the movement be
chewed up by cooperate dogs who, once they take the bit out of
the message in the music, co-opt it by making it a side show
spectacle. The hot topic in the progressive movement today is
Hip-Hop and Politics. Now they (Progressive intellectuals) are
trying to examine what kind of change and influence Hip-Hop
music can have in affecting social change. In my opinion its
about 15-20 years too late for that. We need to be talking about
creating Progressive record labels and distribution houses so
that we can get this most precious music out to the masses
A.S.A.P to counter the work neo-cons have done.
Why, in your opinion, (how) did the
unpopular Bush get back in office?
Bush got back in office because the American educational system
doesn’t teach history. They teach capitalistic propaganda which
relies on relaying a false sense of pride by promoting the
economic superiority. In the latest round of U.S. history its
all about ‘freedom’ and we are told day and night that there are
those who want to take our freedom because they are jealous of
what we have as Americans. The U.S. as an institution actually
has convinced itself that our country was founded on righteous
values. It celebrates the discovery of this land, which in turns
celebrates the annihilation of the Native Americans. It
celebrates its establishment of itself as a wealthy nation,
which in turn celebrate the enslavement, rape, and murder of
Africans and their use as forced free labour for hundreds of
years. It celebrates the values of democracy, which in turn
celebrates the fact that Washington, DC, the nation’s capitol,
has no vote in the halls of Congress. This institution keeps
people out of the loop by keeping them preoccupied with work.
When some mishap occurs and other cultures lash and retaliate
against American foreign policy, the institution quickly
propagandises it, and says that others want to change the way we
live. It tells us to go back to work and keep spending money –
they’ll take care of the so-called evildoers. Then they show us
the superior weapons of mass destruction along with other
superior weaponry, financed by our tax payer dollars, that they
will use to destroy the enemy. Oh, and they remind us that God
almighty himself sanctions these murderous activities to protect
his chosen people. And everybody want to be part of the ‘chosen
people’ don’t they?” well, that’s how Bush got back in office.
“…[America]
celebrates its establishment of itself as a wealthy nation,
which in turn celebrate the enslavement, rape, and murder of
Africans and their use as forced free labour for hundreds of
years…”
The licence plates for D.C cars is
“Taxation Without Representation”, explain why that is…
It’s a half-hearted attempt to bring attention the fact that
D.C. does not have a say so in determining the actions and
course of the affairs of our nation. We are unwilling
participants in a great many thing our nation is involved in. It
plays on what was taught in school about the very reasons for
American independence from England. The complaint was that the
mother country England would pass unfair and unjust laws, mostly
with regards to economy, and the American colonists had no say
so in the matter which eventually resulted in a ‘tea party’ in
Boston and the rest is history.
 The license plate slogan tries to play on that but what good
it’s done seeing as there no real organized movement to really
attain statehood. There are many groups who work for it; I’m a
member of the DC Statehood Green Party myself, but their needs
to be more solidarity amongst the groups to really get something
going on the issue. To become a state we would have to be
ratified by the rest of the states. So naturally you would think
there would be some type of nationwide outreach to educate folks
to our condition as citizens of the U.S., but I’m not aware of
anything on a scale large enough to really bring attention the
issue.
What’s the meaning behind your name?
People who know me call me Heady. I got that name from a Rasta
who witnessed me handling some Infinite Loop business a decade
ago one night when we opened up for KRS. He said where he’s from
they would call me Heady. My Loop mates heard him and teased me
about the rest of the night and the name stuck. Later, I put the
Roc on the end to Hip-Hop it up a little if you will.
“…I love
what’s coming out of the U.K right now. Cats are rhyming in a
ridiculously dope fashion…”
Having recently travelled around
Europe, what were your impressions of hiphop outside of the U.S?
I love the way the world is expressing itself through Hip-Hop.
Different cultures add their own flavours to the art form of
disenfranchised expression. I love what’s coming out of the U.K
right now. Cats are rhyming in a ridiculously dope fashion and I
think it really shatters the boundaries that some here in the
states try to put on Hip-Hop. France is like the second home of
Hip-Hop and I know them cats been using it as tool to speak
against oppression and injustice for over 20 years now.
Listening to the rhythm of rhyme in other languages blows my
mind. It reminds me of how the human voice is first instrument
and most impressive of them all - because hearing rhymes
delivered in a tongue other than my own is no less than
listening to a trumpet or piano player in action. I can’t read
music, but I can receive what is being relayed to me because I
am in tune to music!
Two albums deep, what’s next for Head
Roc?
 I’m trying to get some financial /label support for this “NEGROPHBIA!”
project. I desperately want to get out on the road touring
because I am just addicted to the fellowship- and I need to pay
my rent and light bills! Plus, I have little baby girl on the
way and I need to provide for her and since I quit my old job of
14 years to do music, I’m grinding all the time. As far as
another project, I do have the concept in mind. It’ll be
something way more personal that will serve as a therapy of
sorts to help me understand who I am and how I came to be who I
am. “NEGROPHOBIA!” is completely devoid of my ego as an artist
and human being and I am quite proud of that, so I think I may
change pace a little and give some thought to myself in hopes
that others can relate and offer fellowship as I do love sharing
this music of life!
Where’s your Head at?
Right now my head is at survival. Grinding to secure the future
so I can continue to contribute to society and counteract
supremacy and injustice.
What music are you bumping right now?
I don’t bump anything exclusively in particular. I listen to a
lot of shows online. I listen to a lot of cats on the DC scene.
I listen to folk’s CDs I get at shows. I love music and when I
hear something that grips me I try to make a note of it.
Lay down your shouts, links, plugs,
anything here…
Shout out to life itself and ultimate love for everyone that
makes
www.head-roc.com and the Head-Roc War Machine tick. Noyeek
the Grizzly Bear, DJ Eurok, Jarobi and last but definitely not
least Miss Speak (my baby momma to be and top advisor). We a
family operation as you may be able to tell. Much love to the
Infinite Loop, 3LG, Team Demolition, Asheru, Peomcees, Opus
Akoben, Shambhala, Q and not U (DC Punk), the entire DC Punk
Rock Indie music scene for showing me much love over the last 18
months or so. Of course, my family and everyone who has
supported me over the years and continue to support my efforts
to bring attention to the D.C. Hip-Hop scene. Shout out to my
overseas fam as well! And much love to UKHH.com for showing me
love! Can’t wait to get back to the U.K. and rock some stages so
promoters make sure you holla! I guarantee you that you will not
be disappointed!
“Negrophobia” is out now and available from:
www.head-roc.com
Watch out for a UK remix of “Chris Columbus” by Head Roc
featuring Syanyde.
-
The Last Skeptik
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