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FREE MUSIC & INTERVIEW

scroll down for interview feature (CURRENTLY LOCK/PIRANHA MUSIC)

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on New Dawn Records

BELLES IN MONICA

WHAT DYA NEED Unsung Heroes Remix mp3 (an exclusive release to USA & Europe)

UNDERGROUND CARTEL (the underground international collaboration of 2004)

Never Givin Way.mp3

Whatta Good Thing.mp3

Also check out the track SNIPERS HERE and SECONDS OUT HERE

CHECK FOR BOTH RELEASES at www.cdbaby.com

To contact any of the members of Underground Cartel, and find out more about the, check the ARTIST NEWS PAGEpage HERE

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OTHER BELLES IN MONICA JOINTZ

Meltdown(Nappa re mix).mp3

Y'all Under Surveillance(Nappa remix).mp3

That All U Got?.mp3

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Get real player for FREE here

BUY THE TRACKS AT THE SHOP

THE BIG INTERVIEW

The current interview is with Lock, the VP of Piranha Music in New York

GIVE US SOME BACKGROUND WHERE YOURE FROM, HOW LONG YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN HIPHOP AND DO YOU MC & PRODUCE?

Im originally from the Bronx, but have been living in upstate New york for several years now. I started loving hiphop in middle school, watching "Joe Cool" and Big Daddy Kane videos! Special Ed's "I Got It Made" was one of my favorite joints. Hip Hop was fun, everyone was into dancing and partying-those were the days! Nowadays, MC-ing is my passion. I do a little producing, but Im truly a "dark" artist, not a very versatile producer, so I leave my production up to CEO Piranha Music, Aub. He's really the one with a passion for beatmaking.I watch his enthusiasm and creativity on that Triton-his thirst for basslines and strings-how could I call myself a producer? I love music though. One day, I would love to make beats for horror or adventure films! My beats are more appropriate for soundtracks and such, maybe not so much hiphop.

WHO WERE YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCES THAT GOT YOU INTO HIPHOP?

Of course, there are always the old school influences-Slick Rick, MC Lyte, Rakim (3 of my favorites), but my real inspiration came from Jigga, Common and Eminem-strange combo, some might think, but I take Jay's creativity and swagger, Common's depth and Eminem's lyrical gift, and I run with it. I would say those are the 3 MCs that have had the biggest effect on me. I also love Mos Def and Talib Kweli.

WHEN WAS PIRANHA MUSIC SET UP, WHO ARE THE PEOPLE INVOLVED AND WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE?

Piranha Music was born when Aub and I realized there was more to hiphop than spittin. Its only about 3 years young so it has a long way to go, but we're hoping to be the new Def Jam or at least, the new Koch (which is probably more our speed). Aub decided he wanted to incorporate-he's a great business man, but also a talented writer, performer, producer and engineer. We have two other partners (K-R and L-Boom) who are more into MC-ing, but together we promote, run MC contests, provide cd duplication, sell tracks and engineer. Eventually our goal is to branch off into films and electronic media. We would love to have our music played in commercials, movies, videogames, basically anything you can think of-we're trying to keep our options open. Over the last few years, Piranha Music has made some major moves, working with underground artists that have a message, not just knuckleheads who think theyre "the truth". Everybody wants to say theyre the best. My thing is-someone is always going to be better, stronger, more driven than you, so show me that you have the hunger, that motivation, that you can weather the storm, bring me something different, something that inspires me, and I'll go to hell and back to help you get where you need to be. That's what I bring to the table as an MC, and that's what I expect from any MC that I work with. PMI provides opportunities for exposure and networking opportunities-two of the main components that need to be in place if artists want to break throungh in this industry.

HAVE YOU RELEASED MUCH MATERIAL OVER THERE?

Piranha Music has independently released probably a dozen projects between "Apocalypse" albums, solo projects and mixtapes. The last few years have been good to us and we have managed to purchase stronger programs and equipment in order to provide top notch production not only for our team, but for other aspiring artists

WHERE HAVE YOUN TENDED TO PLAY LIVE AND WHAT VENUES WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?

I used to perform a lot with my team when we were pushing our group Apocalypse. We performed at Sullivan County Community College, Vassar College, Mount Saint Mary College, Soul Cafe, Nells, Demerera's, radio stations (live freestyles), a lot of places, but as a solo artist, Ive really been on the grind just recording and preparing for my next move. I perfromed at the Platinum Lounge in Harlem, which was a wonderful experience, but I havent much time in that area. Im looking to enter the Underground Music Awards this year. Ive been nominated twice and Ill keep enetering until I win! so that's where my focus is at the moment. I would recommend any venue/showcase hostefd by J Hatch. He won the Underground Music Awards "Promoter of the Year" award last year-he's doing big things and he's definitely someone that all underground artists should know. Besides that. I recommend that artists do their homework before performing at certain spots. Find out what the crowd like-are they spittin hard, or are they on a more conscious level . You want to make sure that what you present at that venue is appropriate for the type of crowd theyre pushing. Fit in-that's all Im saying, so you dont look ridiculous when youre performing. Trust me, I learned that the hard way!

WHICH RADIO & PRESS HAVE YOU FOUND SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU DO?

The Vassar College radio station and 99.3 Kiss FM have been most supportive of us upstate. Unknown artists can easily get their music heard via Vassar's station, and Kiss FM sometimes has Kiss It or Diss It contests that underground artists can be part of. In the underground, the Wondertwinz are definitely THE most supportive of aspiring artists. As many people know, they put out the Connex List which is filled with vital contacts-MC,s producers, record pools, radio stations etc. I wrote poems for their poetry column, Vol 20 just came out and can be accessed online at www.wondertwinz.com. People should check that out. And last, but not least, Urbanelite has been a most supportive overseas connect. You guys always look out and have tons of valuable info that artists should take advantage of (ED..thanks Lock, the cheque's in the post!!)

YOU ARE A MOTHER AND HOLD DOWN A FULL TIME JOB-HOW DO YOU FIND THE TIME TO ALSO PURSUE YOUR MUSIC CAREER?

There are not enough hours in the day! My son is getting older now so it's easier to explain to him why I have to record, why I have to stay out late to go to certain venues. I try to let him know it's all for him, it's so I can afford to give him everything that he'll ever need or want. It's funny b/c he sometimes rhymes, and he loves getting on the mic. I actually have snippets of him on my last two projects. He's a riot. Im sure I would be grindin a lot more if I didnt have him, but I cant imagine life without him. Sometimes its exhausting, but I think in the end, it will be well worth it. Dont get me wrong, its a constant struggle, but I know what I need to do if I want to be the next big thing. Everybody struggles between their "regular" life and their dream-for me its a matter of determining what is more important in the long run. I dont know if Ive figured it out yet, but Im working on it. In the meantime, you can expect some hot projects on the way.

AS A FEMALE MC, DO YOU FEEL ANY EXPECTATIONS ARE MADE OF YOU AS TO HOW YOU PERFORM/EXAMPLES TO FOLLOW BY THE INDUSTRY?

So many. It used to be that I was the commodity b/c Im a female artist-cats were so open of the fact that Im a female, Im crazy nice on the mic and I write all my own material. But these days, Im feeling a little ignored to be honest. I feel like cats who Im BETTER THAN are getting more shine on the underground just b/c they are males. I know that this is a "man's world" but Im here to change all that. I AM A STRONG LYRICIST-there's no doubt about that. I dont appreciate the sexism, the way people expect me to show off mt body or pretend to be something Im not just to fit into the industry "mould", but I'll stomach it if that's what it takes to get my point heard. However, I will never copmpromise myself or my morals to sell a record. People used to say I was too hard-I curse too much-I need to be sexier, so I compromised. I started cursing less not b/c of popular opinion, but b/c I believe Im a strong lyricist and that I can get my message across without using profanity. I started dressing less baggy b/c Im becoming a more mature young woman, and I just do me. I feel like a label like Koch would scoop me up in a second just the way I am b/c of my convictions and my talent, so that's what Im looking forward to.

FROM YOUR EXPERIENCE IN HIPHOP, WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND THE MOST REQRDING AND MOST FRUSTRATING?

Most rewarding-that feeling that I get when Im on stage, or when I just recorded a hot song and I play it back. Sometimes the songs I write are so deep that I cant listen to them all the time b/c they stir up emotions in me. Its just good for me to get it on paper-its healing for me. Then there are those songs that I just know are singles and I wish the whole world could hear it. It's the sense of accomplishment when you write some hot shit-that's rewarding.

Most frustrating-the nonsense that I hear on the radio, the trash that so many female mcs subject my ears to, the endless array of bullshit artists who swear they are better than everyone else, but most frustrating of all-two things-the cheap artists who expect everything for free and dont wanna support anyone else's endeavours, and the fake ass A&Rs who support the bullshit you hear on the radio. I wonder how some of these artists got a deal, but with the industry being as corrupt as it is, Im not surprised.

DO YOU FEEL THERE ARE ENOUGH SUPPORT STRUCTURES FOR NEW ARTISTS TO HELP THEM DEVELOP AND LEARN THE BASICS OF THE INDUSTRY?

I dont feel like there are enough REAL support structures for new artists. Everyone wants ti charge you $300 for this, $1000 for that. Im willing to spend cash when I trust and believe in someone, but all too often, you have crooks tring to eat off your dream. And there are a lot of MCs who get caught out there b/c they are so blinded by the draem that they will allow themselves to get got. I used to be easy prey, but then I figured out how to save money and my pride and that's when Piranha Music was born. I wish there were more RESULTS instead of broken promises-and everyone wants to help you get....nowhere.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THE NEW ARTIST MIXTAPES YOU PUT TOGETHER AND WHAT YOU TRY TO ACHIEVE WITH THEM

The mixtapes are hot! I have to give credit where its due, and that's to Aub Terror. Aub actually creates the beats around the vocals, instead of the old cut n paste method. That's why his remixes are so tight. We put a nice mix of established and unknown artists on them so that people will enjoy the artists they know and give the ones they dont know a chance to be heard. When theyre done, we press them up ourselves and then hit the streets. We're looking to sell them at record shops in the near future. Mainly we do it b/c it's fun and it's what we love to do. It's good engineering and mixing practice and it gives underground an opportunity for exposure, so it's a win-win all round.

HAVE YTOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT WORKING WITH OTHER FEMALE MCS ON THE SAME WAVELENGTH AND PUTTING OUT A PRODUCT AND TOURING IT...IE POOLING RESOURCES...PERHAPS INTERNATIONALLY?

I have, but to be honest, there are not that many females that Im really feeling. An artist has to match me in order to earn my respect, or at least spit something real. As you know, its hard to find a female mc who has something more to sell than diamonds and sex. I do have respect for Devlaree, a NJ artist who was previously signed to Tru Warrior Records, and there's another chick Black Pearl I think her name is. I saw her perform at a show at Demerera's a long time ago and my peoples and I never forgot her. She spit the old Reggae/Rap combo-it was sick! She was like Foxy Brown on a good day, but better! I wouldnt mind collabing with either of them-its just hard to get up with time and distance in the way. Im sure there are others that I just havent heard. Im open to mostly anything. Its just a matter of finding the right fit and rolling with it.

SO WHAT KIND OF AIMS DO YOU HAVE FOR THE NEXT 12 MONTHS?

Well, PMI is in a state of transition right now. The studio will be moving next month so all recording projects are currently on hold. Aub and I are considering opening a commercial studio in the future, so we may put some plans in motion for that in the next 12 months. Networking and writing are on my agenda this year-whatever else happens will be a bonus. I have to figure out what I really want in this game. Let's face it, everyone is not going to make it as an MC-and you should pay attention to this b/c you probably wont meet another MC who will keep it as real as me. I want to branch off into much bigger and better projects. Rhyming is not the only way to make money. Writing is what I love to do so I'll continue to do that for me-as for shooting stars and all that-if it happens it will be a blessing. If I wake up one day and choose to put my whole life on hold to make it happen, then I will. For now, Im thinking of other ways make it happen in the music industry. The one thing I refuse to do is lose my swagger-I want to always have this passion, this hunger, this Piranha Music in my soul that haunts every inch of me-the outcome-Lockness. That's something I cant lose. Look out for PIRANHA MUSIC in the next 12 months-pay attention-you might learn something

ANYTHING ELSE U WANNA SAY?

Thank you Scotti! You are the best overseas cyberpal anyone can have!! Peace Lock.

check out LOCK www.piranhamusic.com

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