2005-08-03T07:13:00.000-07:00

So let me bring you up to speed: Lyphe is an underground rapper hailing from White Plains, NY. He's made appearances on the D.U.N.J.U.N. dvd series, as well as a bunch of other stuff (including a collaboration with punk/rock band Team 13). I like his stuff a lot (so does my iPod - it loves "Game 7") and apparently so does Kanye West - which is good, because when he blows up, guess who's going to come a-knocking...

This interview was done through email, but only because I wanted to make it easy for myself, and not have to transcribe anything. Enjoy...

So how's it going?
Can't complain. Same shit different toilet. Just trying to maintain

Ok, so at what point in your life did you decide you wanted to rap?
It was the summer of '91. This kid moved to White Plains that we called Yatta B. He was wild nice, still is nice today and one of my favorite rappers. He spit written, freestyle, whatever. And on top of that he had like a 20 dollar Casio keyboard, the one with the preset drum programs. He would play all types of melodies on the keys while he spit. I remember he played the "Scenario Remix"and spit freestyle at the same time for like 20 minutes straight one day. That's when I knew I wanted to be like that one day. Still not there yet. ha-ha

Tell me a little about Jay-Z and how he's affected you as an artist...
To be honest I didn't like Jay-Z when he first came out. I was real anti-commercial. But the more I got force fed Jigga, the more I realized that lyrically there wasn't and still isn't too many dudes that can touch him. He also helped me realized that a dude with money or talking money ain't necessarily that bad. That's just what he is about. Everybody has to represent something different and personal to them. Actually, I still remember the song and the line that made me sit up and listen. Off his 1st solo album Reasonable Doubt, the song 'Dead Presidents'. He says, "I dabbled in crazy weight/ without rap I was crazy straight/ Partner I'm still spending money from '88..."

What's up with the DUNJUN dvd's? I know you did one or two… are there any plans to do more?
First off, shouts to my man Grasshoppa for putting me on the DUNJUN DVD's.
That was a big look. I need to do more cuz the response was very positive. I was in Jersey at a family reunion and my cousins boyfriend(who lives in Philly) asked if I rap cuz he saw somebody that looked like me on a DVD. Turn's out it was the DUNJUN DVD that got me that shine. I ain't spoke to Hop about it yet, but trust it will happen again. Might try to do a documentary like thing real soon.

Did you ever use those Taco Bell / Pizza Hut coupons I gave you? You know I had to kill five homeless men to get those, right?
No, I actually gave them to five other homeless dudes to get right. Remember, LYPHE cares about the people!

Five records that changed your life – go!
In no particular order:
Reasonable Doubt - Jay-Z
Whut? The Album - Redman
ATLiens - Outkast
The Low End Theory- Tribe Called Quest
DeLa Soul is Dead - De La Soul

Many more, a list wit 5 sucks

What do you do when you're not doing hip-hop?
Chillin wit my homeys, playing Spades and Texas Hold 'Em. Or I'm on a date or at a bar trying to get a date. Nothing special

I asked this to Necro, but it applies to you as well (I think). Which would you rather have, a successful life in rap, or a successful life in porn? Basically, would you rather get paid to rap, or to screw random chicks on camera?
I would prefer being successful in rap. Cuz once you get that fame and stardom you can always buy a DVD recorder and just tape yourself having sex with girls. LYPHE, a thinking man's rapper. Ask about me.

You're a big baseball fan as well. How do you feel about all the alleged steroid use in MLB?
Honestly, who gives a fuck? the reality in life is that records are set to be broken. That's what these new athletes are trying to do. In a world where everything is micro waved and super sized, shrunk down and beefed up, you have no choice but to do what you have to do. It's either take these drugs and risk getting caught, or have your boss give you that 10 million dollar bonus. What would you do?

Speaking of sports and Jay-Z, have you ever been to the 40/40 club?
Honestly no. I'm not a big club head like I used to be.

Ok, so wrapping up… name an out-of-reach celebrity you'd "do the nasty" (which, by the way, gets said entirely way too little) with:
Again, a question that I can't put too much into the answer. If I had to pick one
off the top of my skull then I would say currently Raven Simone. I know she's like 16 years old but she is a sexy little thing and yes...she can get it. Early!

What's in your record player right now?
Some old DJ Clue and I played some of my old stuff this morning.

Any last words?
Shouts to the Soup Crew (Iron Lung, Matty Lungs, Evil St. Paul, DelliCap, RapNerd, Brazil, and Jr. Rumbles). Shouts to my dogg 4ever JaytheStar. One of the only people I would actually take a bullet for. That's not gangsta rap talkin either. My nigga Stress up in the Cuse hold it down homey. The other dude I would take a bullet for. My 235 niggas (NBT, Neva Camp, 730). And what up to the whole Black Plains movement (Lex, Ferris, DeKalb, Valley, Fisher, Battle Ave.) Keep doing y'all thing and see you when I see you!

Lyphe Interview