"its only 1 am and i ain't thinking bout a fucking blunt"
What can really be said about Justin Battle. First time I heard of homie was off Max Mega's first mix tape "For The Listeners". From those opening show stealing 16 and hook to the unforgettable "IF You", one could only wonder who the fuck is this kid. I met him just before i left for Texas. He was sitting in a corner zoning out to music. Little did i know EVERY TIME from here on out i would see Battle sitting off in a corner usually with some random food (chicken wings from daffelle job) or drink (an empty sonic cup full of ice). A music lover way beyond his years befriended a wanna be skateboarder. Or so the story goes. I got a chance to catch up with battle as he sat behind his casio keyboard raving about Stevie Wonder's production.
Champloo: First off let the people know a little about you.
Battle: I'm from Va Beach. Been rapping since i was in the tenth grade prior to that i sang in the choir. And oh yea a skateboarder.
Champloo: So who is Battle?
Battle: Its not battle, its battle with life. I am one of the most eclectic people you'll meet. God sent me to hear to give the people something they've never heard before. Nowadays people get caught up in music for the here and now. They forget where it came from. I'm a direct of reflection of where the music came from. I honestly feel like I'm the Common, Qunicy Jones, Stevie Wonder or Andre 3000 of my time. I want to be left field but simple at the same time.
Champloo: How do you feel about the music now?
Battle: I feel that our generation are the music makers. Common and Andre [3000] grew up listening to Rakim and Eric B. But we grew up listening to the Commons, Andre [3000]s, and the Pete Rocks so for us its about taking time with our music. Common's Electric circus would have killed the market now. We embrace now what Common was doing then. Our generation wants to put out quality music vs. the instant quick instant single that we are used to. Mix tapes can kill an artist. If you put out 20 mix tapes what are you going to talk about for the album? Not everybody can do it and most get lost in the shuffle. We are the generation of timeless music.
Champloo: Word. So does battle have a chick?
Battle: I have a best friend. In the line of work we do we can't have "girlfriends" per say. So i just have a best friend right now. You know how it is in VA everybody knows everybody. I tried being super fly running around doing whatever but people out here talk so i had to chill out.
Champloo: Alot of people don't know that you actually are a good skateboarder. Does that ever interfere with the music?
Battle: At some point you gotta choose. I mean I used to skate with Kevin, Shawn, and Terry out here but i made the choice to do music instead.
Champloo: You mean KEVIN BOOKER, SHAWN OWENS, and TERRY KENNEDY?
Battle: (laughs) yea bro, thas family. We used to all skate out here. Crash at the same houses stuff like that.
Champloo: Terry Kennedy is from LA how did you link up with him?
Battle: He actually comes out here alot. He's in Va more than you think.
Champloo: Iight on to business. Tell everybody about the mix tape and when its coming out. Cuz every time i come around everybody is like Battle don't do shit. He mad lazy.
Battle: Yea. Basically i was in a point in my life where growing up in VA i kept getting into trouble. Things are much different now I'm in a good point in my life and just working on music. The tape is entitled "My Favorite Things" it will be out March 31st.
Champloo: What can we expect? Whats the concept behind the whole tape?
Battle: I have a collection of music. From Stevie Wonder to Prince to the anime that I watch. I wanted to reflect that in this tape. So there is no venting. It's like naw nigga im good I just want to show you what I've learned. (laughs)
There is an A and B side. The A side is called "Wine For The Hipster". The B side being "My Favorite Things". [Wine For The Hipsters] is a story about a kid who runs into this homeless dude. The homeless guy tells him that if you take a sip of this then it'll change your life. He does and it takes him into another world. That is kinda where it starts with theme music. The kid starts battling other hipster villians which he eventually loses. He has cats to come to his aid tho. Heatwave, Horse Flamingo, and Battle. Horse Flamingo is kinda like my Japanese interpution of Bootsy Collins and George Clinton. Heatwave is the bad ass with no humble said what so ever. Finally you have Battle which is me. The whole thing ends with the overall message that everybody has a spot under the sun which is also the last song on the tape. Everybody has something that they are good at. Their own niche in this world. The kid is in essence me and it all symbolizes the battle of self. I'm rambling but yea.
Champloo: Wow, sounds dope. So did you put alot of thought into this or is this just Battle?
Battle: This is me. I read alot of manga and watch anime flicks, so its like why not make my own film or manga.
Champloo: What producers do you have on the tape?
Battle: Me, Gabe, Royan and No Regard
Champloo: Royan huh? Last time I spoke with him he wasn't too happy that he waiting on that verse for his tape. Did you ever give it to him?
Battle: Yea I did. He got on me about it too but i finished it. My homie is mixing it as we speak.
Champloo: You produce too? Do you feel like different things influence you to produce than to rap?
Battle: No not all. It all culminates together to me. Quincy Jones was the executive producer on Aquemnei, and that's one of my favorite rap records. So its not like I'll listen to rap when i want to rap or soul when I'm ready to produce. True my rapping influences come from Common or Andre 3000 but most of my ability comes from listening to Stevie Wonder or Curtis Mayfield. The Mack might be the best of album of all time. I spent a month watching the movie and listening to the album just to get inspired.
Champloo: Who's your favorite producer?
Battle: J.Dilla hands down. Who does what J.Dilla did? He does everything. One thing too we are the break generation.
Champloo: The Break Generation?
Battle: Pete Rock and J.Dilla used to have breaks at the end of certain songs because other rappers couldn't do anything with them. We are the generation that's going to take those breaks and music off of them. On "My Favorite Things" I have a few dilla breaks.
[ed. note]
(very true. I thought I knew Dilla breaks but Battle def. has me beat.)
Champloo: Word. Are you working with anybody right now?
Battle: I'm on Max Mega mix tape that's about to drop. I did the joint for Royan. and, I'm working with Cartier Fresh. There is this dude named Eric out ODU who im working with as well. He plays alot of instruments. But I'm not really working with too many people, not say I'm not willing to work with more artists. I'm always down to work. I would love to work with like blues musicians or work with a band like incubus.
Champloo: Any last words?
Battle: Instant quick vs New and Improved. Instant quick will never win. You have to work on your craft. Be innovated, Be Timeless.
Listen to Rebel Love at
www.myspace.com/justinbattleaxe
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