check the manuscript:
Talking with Father Jah, it’s immediately apparent that he has a deep and all-abiding love for hip-hop, be that local or national. A cornerstone of the local hip-hop scene for years now, Father Jah has found success with his rap production group, Unstopable Sound Agency, and has released records on Protect Your Neck Records, the farm team label for the Wu-Tang and its constituent members. This Tuesday, Jan. 13, Father Jah is bringing rapper Termanology to The New Vintage for a sprawling local hip-hop show that encompasses a variety of local and regional rappers and artists for the first hip-hop event of the year.
It’s clear that Father Jah is about community. Of the origins of this show he explains that it “was actually put together by the newly formed Kentucky Hip-Hop Society, which is a coalition of hip-hop artist based in Kentucky, dedicated to the preservation and presentation of Hip Hop music and culture in the state. Shout out to the KHHS on choosing me to be the host.”
For him, this show is for those who appreciate boom bap, which, for Father Jah, is integral to the greater hip-hop community as a whole.
“What makes the boom bap, and hip-hop as a whole, important is its ability to give a voice to the voiceless, in America and worldwide,” he says. “The great teacher, KRS-1, once said, ‘Boom Bap means just that: it’s the return of the real hard beats and rough raps!’”
As to our place in that community, Father Jah believes, “The beauty of Louisville’s hip-hop scene is the diversity of its influences. Growin’ up in Kentucky we got to hear the best of everything from the East Coast, West Coast, down South and Midwest, during the times when rap music was much more regional. At our best we have a sound and an understanding of hip-hop that supersedes space and region, which is a strength!”
Father Jah’s enthusiasm for this show is palpable as he explains, “What you can expect is a much needed, dope ass Hip Hop show, headlined by Massachusetts Hip Hop artist, Termanology.”
b-sides: Father Jah/Termanology - LEO Weekly
AS A BONUS, here is a copy of Syd Bishop's FULL Interview w/ Father Jah:
LEO: This even supposes to appeal to those that appreciate the boom bap. How would you define that sound –boom bap- and why is it important?
Father Jah: The boom bap is a descriptive term that truthfully derives from the “Boom, B-Bap….B-Boom, Bap” sound that you hear when you listen to Underground Hip Hop. What makes the Boom Bap, and Hip Hop as a whole, important is it’s ability to give a voice to the voiceless, in America and Worldwide. The great teacher, KRS-1, once said “…Boom Bap means just that/ it’s the return of the real hard beats and ruff raps!!!”. For a great illustration of the Boom Bap, I advise you check out a mixtape called “Boom Bap & Beyond (vol. 1)” by DJ E.F. Cuttin’ and myself. The mixtape is a FREE download that you can get at http://goo.gl/aUwqsa and it has some QUALITY, Boom Bap, Hip Hop, as well as some ILL interludes that explain the importance of Boom Bap and Hip Hop as a culture.
LEO: What defines the underground hip-hop movement? How is it different than the (inter)nationally recognized scene?
Father Jah: I would describe Underground Hip Hop as that Hip Hop that is grounded in, or influenced by, the 4 core elements of Hip Hop culture, with those elements being, DJin’, M.C.in’, Breakdancin’, and Graffiti Art. Commercial rap, for the most part, is the corporate sponsored, radio music, that sounds like it rolled off of a conveyer belt from a factory. In most instances it may tend to sound like one long chorus. As a fan of Hip Hop in it’s totality, I do enjoy both at times, but I tend to lean much more heavily toward the Underground Hip Hop.LEO: How does Louisville’s hip-hop scene compare to the larger hip-hop community? What are our strengths and weaknesses in town?
Father Jah: The beauty of Louisville’s Hip Hop scene is the diversity of it’s influences. What I mean by that is, growin’ up in Kentucky we got to hear the best of EVERYTHING from the East Coast, West Coast, Down South, and Midwest, during the times when rap music was much more regional. With that said, at our BEST we have a sound and an understanding of Hip Hop that supersedes space and region……which is a strength!!! One of our weaknesses may be that some people have a slightly distorted idea of what “support” consists of. If you enjoy music by a “local artist”, (or should I say artist based locally, because given the usage of the internet nobody is truly local anymore), I would love to see more of the supporters and fans not JUST buying the music, but sharing, posting, retweeting, stripping, telling friends, and just turnin’ up in general off of QUALITY KY music!!! Yeeeeeeeeeeeh!!! Not to mention just comin’ out and packin’ the local shows!!!
LEO: What should we expect at Termanology’s Shut Up & Rap Tour? Who are the standouts at the show? How would you describe the show to people who may not be familiar with the acts?
Father Jah: What you can expect is a much needed, DOPE ass Hip Hop show, headlined by Massachusetts Hip Hop artist, Termanology, in promotion of his fly new album, “Shut Up & Rap”, which features Inspectah Deck (of Wu-Tang Clan), Lil Fame (of M.O.P), Lumidee, Astro, Torae, Wais P, Willie The Kid, Chris Rivers (Big Pun’s son), Skyzoo, REKS and more. The DJ’s for the event will be DJ Deadeye (of Redman’s Gilla House), and DJ Yng Steve of the Xcapeartiz out of Louisville. The opening acts for the show will be an A-List group of KY Underground Hip Hop artist, including Donnie McFly, Andrew Jack$on, Ant Trub and Shon D. of Unstopable Sound Agency, Vegas Posada, LadyKilla, and Royal Illness of Lexington’s legendary Madd Militia, OG freestyle performer, Grand Incredible O.N.E., as well as a rare but raw performances by Manifesto featuring Charlie White Folks and DJ Bree!!! There will also be some of Louisville’s fresh, up & coming talent performing, such as T-Setta & DK La Fresh, representing G2NL Entertainment, and recent add on, the beautiful & talented, Sasha Renee, bringing the fly, feminine, energy to the event!!!
LEO: How did this show come together? I see that you are listed as the host. What does that entail for you? What defines a great show and how do you hope to curate that?
Father Jah: The show was actually put together by the newly formed Kentucky Hip Hop Society, which is a coalition of Hip Hop artist based in KY, dedicated to the preservation and presentation of Hip Hop music & culture in KY. So actually the show is a product of what can be done when like minded artist connect with common goal. Shout Out to the KHHS on choosing me to be the host, but I have a surprise!!! To make sure we have a ball, laugh, party, and enjoy ourselves for the evening, my special co-host will be, Louisville based comedian, the hilariously talented, Butta the Legend!!!
LEO: Sort of relative to that, but how did you develop your relationship with Protect Ya Neck Records? That’s pretty dope. Can you get the Wu to play here if they tour on this new record? That last show they played at Expo Five was pretty fucking great.
Father Jah: Actually, my relationship with PYN came about as a result of a show that my crew, Unstopable Sound Agency, did with Krumbsnatcha of Gangstarr Foundation, and Block McCloud of Army of the Pharoahs a couple of years ago. That show led to Krumb and Block both appearing on my last album “The Manuscripture”, produced by D.R.U.G.S. Beats, as well as me meeting Jimmy Kang, the Vice President of Protect Ya Neck Records, and the rest is history. As long as we have a promoter here with the money to spend, of course we can get another Wu-Tang show!!! I agree that the last Wu-Tang show in the Ville was Crazy Classic!!!
LEO: How did the Unstopable Sound Agency come together?
Father Jah: To the regional Hip Hop community, Unstopable Sound Agency may seem as old as the Sun, Moon, & Stars, but actually we are a team of friends, allies, and comrades who have been working together since the earlier 90’s. Since then we have added on and subtracted, as far as active members, but the foundational members are friends who grew up together, and united out of a love for Hip Hop.
LEO: What makes for a great live venue for hip-hop? Have you ever played The New Vintage?
Father Jah: What makes a great live Hip Hop venue is sound, lighting, atmosphere, and strong drinks!!! Yeeeeeeeeh!!! With that said, I have played the New Vintage before, and it’s the PERFECT venue for live Hip Hop!!! Perfect venue, perfect line up, ladies get in FREE until 9pm, so I expect a perfect crowd……THIS should be a CLASSIC event!!!
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