One June night in 2011 I had the pleasure of performing at the Vibe in Riverside. The acts before me was a collective of young talent from a burgeoning scene in a section of Southern California called the Inland Empire (the IE for short). There was Curtiss King, Richard Wright, Noa James and another act named HAWDWERK. All the acts were indeed dope, and I had heard of before, with exception to HAWDWERK. His energetic and passionate performance caught my eye and I was thoroughly impressed. So as a fan from afar, I got a chance to watch all these emcees develop and blossom on the scene. From venue to venue I would see this young cats HAWDWERK and he always in the cut networking doing what it took. Every time I would see him, he and I always had a good chat. So he was set to release a project and I was very interested in hearing what he had to offer and what he wanted to bring to the table. I had a chance to catch up with the young champion and we had a brief interview.
(MM) Where did your name come from. What's the meaning behind Hawdwerk?
(HW) One of my friends gave me the name because at the time i was working 2 jobs going to school & taking the bus. he said "you're the hardest working person i know, you're name should be HAWDWERK" east coasters spell how they talk.
(MM) What was the first song you heard where you told yourself, I wanna do that. What was the motivation for you to start rhyming?
(HW) "Gettin' It" by Too $hort, i liked the message he was sending and it was easy to understand, little did i know he was the filthiest rapper ever (haha) but regardless I'll always be a fan based on that record. + the other songs he makes are good for other scenarios.
I didn't get motivated to actually doing it as career until my cousin died in 2006, she was 17 & i think being that young you never really get to experience life and become what you want to become. So I've slowly been able to get myself to a point where i can focus on music full time since then.
(MM) In this era of indie artist/labels. What is your take on major labels. Do you have any personal experience with a major label?
(HW) I have no experience with a major label. However, if i was able to get a "no compromising of myself whatsoever" that included a "my signing bonus is my signing bonus not a loan" clause then we might be able to talk. I like being indie though because i get to say that i made myself at the end of the day.
(MM) As an artist what is your goal with your career? What's being a successful artist mean to you?
(HW) To have fun & be authentic and let that take me as far as it can. being successful means i've been able to make a living & have enough for the next generation... and maybe build a couple schools & plant some trees where they're not some where.
(MM) How would you define your style?
(HW) Suburban lower/middle class lyricism with undertones of minimalism & personal struggle.
(MM) Who are the three artist that motivate you the most. Like every time these artist drop a song, feature or album you buy it no questions asked?
(HW) As of right now -- Ab-Soul, Tyler The Creator, & Curtiss King
(MM) What's you favorite song on the Graveyard Shift and why?
(HW) Why Can't We Smile, cause every time i perform it i'm reminded of all the events that I'm talking about on the record & it makes me laugh now, it's crazy how your sorrows become your strengths.
(MM) You mentioned in your Graveyard Shift EPK that you recorded the EP while working a full time job. What do your co-workers think of your extra curricular activities?
(HW) I actually started promoting myself at work for the first time at my last job. Some liked it, some never checked it out but the ones that did had good things to say.
(MM) If there was a movie character that would perfectly describe you who would it be?
(HW) Greg Heffley from Diary of A Wimpy Kid, but he grew up and got his shit together.
(MM) If you could describe your style as a sample what would it be? (For example I picked Bob James Nautilus - every time you hear it, it's just as dope as the first time you heard it.)
(HW) Los Angeles Negros - tu y tu mirar... yo y mi cancion, sampled by Aqua, Joe "3H" Weinberger for Jay-Z "First Song" (Black Album)
Shout out where you from, and send me all the links people can find your music, videos etc. Send me any pictures you want me to post for the interview. Thanks again bro
Peace to West Covina
visit http://bluecollarwerk.com for my blog, music, shop & all social media links
but just in case you don't
1 comment:
thanks for letting me be a part of the movement here on raptubevideos. enjoyed the interview, peace.
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