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Ras
Kass
Interview
interview 0156 added
15.09.03 words: Kobi technical:
QED
We join Ras in California State Penitentiary, incarcerated for DUI. Under California's '3 strike' legislation Ras is one conviction short of a lengthy prison term.
On the other hand he has finally secured a release from his Priority Records, and with listeners and the industry starting to take notice of the perennial underdog, things maybe looking up for him….
UKHH: How are you holding up?
Ras Kass: I am in good spirits. I feel optimistic about the future. I am hoping
to get all this behind me, (legal and label problems), and do what I love
doing~RHYMING. Prison is ruff but mostly on a mental and spiritual level. It's definitely gangsta but I conduct myself like a man and surprisingly a
lot of people in here like and respect my music.
UKHH: What was the situation with Delicious Vinyl firstly and Patchwerk later on?
RK: This is the shortest version I can make (I like to read not write). I was managed early in my career by DJP (Paul Stewart) who shopped me to
DV. Basically, they dug my music and a deal was coming to the table. Nobody knew that at the time I had already had the car accident and I wasn't in
any rush to tell them. At a rap convention in San Francisco I saw my friends Emani & Romye in the lobby. They said the were tryin' to get
signed. I said, "there's some industry dudes chillin' in my room". They came upstairs performed "Ya Mamma" and DJP managed them too from that day
on. I went to jail, they got signed, the rest is history.
Patchwerks is post-jail time. I got out and my so-called friend (who a few years before had signed to the NFL) approached me and said he felt I
was dope plus now he had money so since we grew up together we should make it all family. Our neighborhood in C-Arson is called "The Patch". So, we
were two brothas from the Patch doing work. Because I believed in that dream I eventually signed paperwork (without legal representation) and got
worked. ROBBED. To this day he can't look me in the eyes. It was some snake shit. Power Trip. Dick people like controlling other people. It's
the only way they can feel good about themselves. Anyway, I got a pretty big industry buzz after that. Knowing I was in a bad deal, I figured I
could go to a major label, blow up (go gold or platinum) and from there have enough leverage to renegotiate my contract. That didn't
happen---------I chose Priority records.
UKHH: Which Sade and Luther songs got turned down for sample clearance?
 RK: Sade, Cherish the Day, 'Won't Catch Me Runnin' scratch
Luther, 'Anylove', (we eventually got clearance).
UKHH: What books were you reading before and while you were recording 'Soul On Ice'?
RK: Soul on Ice, The Isis Papers, Black People and European Holidays: A Mental Genocide, Encyclopedia Britannia, Malcolm X's Autobiography,
Physical and Cultural Anthropology college course texts, Supreme Lessons etc.......
UKHH: Is there any chance of a Golden State Project now that you have severed ties with Priority?
 RK: The Goldyn Sate Warriorz exists in spite of and will exist despite Priority Records. Priority ruined the first business opportunity we had
with Columbia Records to release a major label album. But, Priority never created that group. We own the group. Priority just binded me as an
artist to a contract they habitually breached. That never changed the fact that we are a group. Now that I am legally out of that situation I
can now pursue, legally, releasing a GSW album. Priorities inconsideration and greed were ultimately their doing.
UKHH: Do you still run with Western Hemisphere?
RK: No
UKHH: What happened with the Alchemist beat in 2001?
RK: Alchemist sold the beat to me, I paid him. Months later he met Jade Kiss and sold the beat again. Then, he lied about it. He's talented but I
have no respect for him, that's groupie shit.
UKHH: Which album is your favorite out of Van Gogh and Golden Chyld?
 RK: Golden Chyld by far
UKHH: Are you mad at people for bootlegging them or do you take it as a compliment that they can't wait to hear new material?
RK: I am not mad at all. I just hope that people support and buy the actual when it comes out. (mind you this was written prior to the release date
of 8.19.03). Underground dudes need the support. If not, then how are we supposed to finance making more hip hop?
UKHH: Any truth to the rumor you have been approached by Roc-A-Fella?
RK: Maybe
UKHH: How did you hook up with the newer cats like Scipio and Coolio back in the day?
RK: Scipio through my ex-girlfriend. Coolio through my big homie Wino, who useta make all my beats when I was like 15. By the way, Coolio is my
favorite rapper EVER, in terms of integrity. He got successful and never changed!!! I can only hope to be half as real as he was when he was on
top. Most of these "Rap Stars" is fake as $3 bills.
UKHH: Are you going to try and get Dre and Premier to produce songs for your next album?
 RK: I've been blessed enough to have worked with both before. I don't know what my situation will be when I get out but it'd be an honor and a
privilege if they wanted to work with me again.
UKHH: Any shout-outs you want to send?
RK: Everybody locked down, hold ya head. My family, and friends, Asti Management, Naomi at launchmedia:group, Re-Up, Perfect Storm, Digi
Waxx, my FANS, and Kobi who reached out to make this happen
- Kobi
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