Kemo Interview:

Brockway: Hey Kemo, would you mind if I asked a few questions?
Kemo: Umm... well I guess not.

Brockway: What did you think of the crowd response tonight?
Kemo: The crowd was live. They were off the hook.

Brockway: Your last performance here (September of 2000), do you remember that?
Kemo: Yeah.
Brockway: Which performance do you think was more hype?
Kemo: Umm... that's hard to say because it was totally different then. We did a bigger venue with maybe a bit more people. But they were both good, so I really can't call it. I enjoyed both of them.

Brockway: I've heard that you've got an album coming out in the second quarter of 2002?
Kemo: Yeah, hopefully in the spring or summertime that shit'll be out.

Brockway: I heard that you're planning on having 40-50 songs, from which you'll pick 15-25 to go on the album.
Kemo: Yeah, we're kicking at about 20 songs right now. But we want to make at least another ten so that we've got 30 to pick from. We'll probably end up with 13 to15 on the album.

Brockway: How much say does your group have in which songs get picked? Do you have all the say?
Kemo: As a group, yeah we have the say. Our record label can say we think these tracks would be good and usually we agree because they don't pick the bullshit. So we're on the same level.

Brockway: Were you able to do that for your other albums, come out with a lot more tracks and pick the best ones?
Kemo: No, not really. We kind of just did the tracks and had only 15 or 16 to pick from. So it definitely wasn't as many as there'll be for the next one.

Brockway: Well it's worked so far. Does that make you think that this next album will receive a lot more hype?
Kemo: The last one was good, but the next one is going to be different due to progression and growth among myself, production-wise and the MC's rhyming.

Brockway: So what kind of growth can we expect? How would it compare to the last two albums?
Kemo:

Brockway: More spiritual, more conscious?
Kemo: I'd say a little more conscious. I'd say maybe a little less spiritual. The songs are more energetic and less laid-back. We're trying to make aggressive songs.

Brockway: You've done so much touring, is that to help get the fans more into it?
Kemo: Yeah definitely because you can't really perform those laid-back songs. They're cool, but you want to have those songs that are up-tempo and hype.

Brockway: How does it feel to be well known in Germany, France, Paris, Australia, and all over the place?
Kemo: Oh that's lovely man. Just doing what were doing and where we're at right now its all love. I wouldn't take none of it back.
Brockway: So you have no regrets in all you've done so far?
Kemo: Not yet. Not in music, maybe some other things...
Brockway: That's when it's the best.
Kemo: definitely

Brockway: What can we expect from you in the near future?
Kemo: Right now we're just trying to finish the record and get it out next year. And then hit the road again and try to sell some units. Put out some new videos and whatnot.

Brockway: Can we expect to see any big name collaborations on the album?
Kemo: ummm
Brockway: You recorded with a couple emcees from Cuba didn't you?
Kemo: Yeah, yeah... we were out there and did some recording. I'm not sure if that's gonna be one of the tracks that gets on the album or not. We've been working with lots of people and whatever comes out as good product is going to get on the album. Let's say we do a song with Jay-z. If the song is wack, we're not going to put it on the album. Brockway: That's a lot of respect for hip hop.

Brockway: How much does it change your show, not having the two break dancers in your crew able to break it down at this venue?
Kemo: It brings a different aspect. They did dance for us, but it wasn't that much so we just have to fill in where they were at. The just come for the odd occasion to break the routine of the show, do a little physical thing. A lot of time we get shows like this where they can't dance, so half the time we do shows where they can't dance. That's part of the progression with the group. The dancers are moving on with their lives, and they don't want to dance the rest of their lives so we'll see what comes up.

Brockway: I found that you definitely had a lot more energy at this show than at the last one.
Kemo: Yeah for sure. Thanks man.

Brockway: And it'll be something to look forward to on the next album.
Kemo: Wicked

Brockway: Aight, well thank you.
Kemo: Aight your welcome cousin.

Jelleestone Interview:

Brockway: For all the cats who don't know about you, what could you tell them about you?
Jelleestone: I'm Jelleestone. I'm the godfather of rap from Rexdale. I've got a company called Rex Entertainment. I've got the top 100 selling single in America right now called 'Money Part 1'. It's in the top 20 across Canada. We got the new video out for it. We got the album out in stores now called Jelleestone Thirteen. I've been in the game about just that long - 13 years. I started out with an independent company that started me and made me smart enough to do it myself. They tried to rob me, so for all you independent artists, be careful. The game is tricky. So study and download passmins - All you need to know about the music business. Passmin, it's a wonderful book, it's like a bible for the industry. Study that. Rex Entertainment has got a joint venture with Warner Brothers records America. Right now, because of the WTC tragedy it's sorrowful and God rest the souls of all those that past away. And because of that, I'm spending more time in Canada and I got a chance to come see yall out here in Fredericton. Big up to the Brunswickan. Basically, I'm not new to the game. I'm just new to the fame.

Brockway: Is 'Money Part I' your first video of your career?
Jelleestone: It's my first video and single off of this album. 'I Don't Care' will probably be the second single. That may change depending on what you the people think.

Brockway: Where can the people let you know what they what for the next video?
Jelleestone: They can hit me at either www.blackplanet.com, I've got a guestlist on there so you can exchange comments and so forth. You can also hit me at Rex Entertainment at Music. You can also hit me at www.wbr.com/jelleestone/ and you can get at me.

Brockway: With 'Money Part I', getting all this exposure and airplay, how does it feel to be thrown right into the stardom?
Jelleestone: Like I said, I ain't new to the game. I'm just new to the fame. This is where I need to be. It's just a pit stop and we'll be moving on. We're gonna take it to bigger and better things and bring through more of us. We're going to start to energize and synergize this music industry across the country in all the little towns. Fredericton's a little town, Moncton's a little town. We were out in Lennoxville, that's a little town. Wherever there's people, the show is big. The best inventors come from little towns. A lot of the smartest things come out of the little towns because people have time to think. The big towns are all hustle and bustle. They try to make you dumb and just be a consumer. So I appreciate the little towns cause that sometimes where it's even more real than in the big ones.

Brockway: With this tour, you get to make contact with all the little towns and I know there were people here at the show saying 'Who is Jelleestone? He's dope".
Jelleestone: It was hot. I totally appreciate them. Remember this Fredericton and all the people at the show tonight, a wise man once told me: "The little things control the big things" Don't forget it.

Brockway: Great way to end the interview. Thanks!
Jelleestone: Thank you.

Brockway: Good luck with the rest of the tour.
Jelleestone: Thank you. I appreciate it.

Marvel Interview:

Brockway: Hey Marvel, do you mind if I ask a few questions for the record?
Marvel: Yeah, great.

Brockway: What's the name of your latest single?
Marvel: Oh, it's "Throw This Ball"

Brockway: Expect the video in a couple weeks?
Marvel: It's been out for a while in the form of a 12", but the video is going to be out in a couple of weeks. It's definitely going to be hot. It's got Tara Chase and Solitair in it.

Brockway: Is Tara Chase singing the chorus?
Marvel: Yeah, Tara sings the chorus. It's got another MC named RC in it from Toronto.

Brockway: So is the Circle expanding?
Marvel: No, no. It's just all those people, Saukrates, myself, Solitair, Kardinal, Jully Black, Tara Chase, Choclair.

Brockway: Where does Ro Ro Dolla fit in there?
Marvel: He's just an emcee doing his stuff.

Brockway: So is he part of the circle?
Marvel: Oh yeah, yeah.

Brockway: Alright thanks.
Marvel: Yeah, no problem.