I pace my apartment. Literally. I walk back and forth for hours until my rhyme is done. I'm on my Rainman shit, except I'm way taller than Dustin Hoffman.illRoots: What's good Emilio? Whatcha got going on on your end?
Emilio Rojas: What's cracking homie? I'm living well right now, feeling real good.
iR: Just peeped the track you did with the big homie Donny Goines. How did ya'll link up? Tell us about the story behind that track.
ER: Donny and I actually mix with the same engineer, Ariel Borujow. So if ever for some reason we both start sounding real bad, its Ariel's fault [Laughs]. Nah, lemme stop. Ariel gets it in with the mixes. I'm a fan of Donny's, not only is he a real talented dude, he's one of the most genuine people I've ever met, and I'm real happy with how that joint turned out. DJ Statik killed the beat too.
iR: Oh no doubt, the track came out bonkers. If you could describe your sound in one word, what would it be?
ER: Smooth. My flow is flawless. I have a crazy pocket. I write alot of sylables, and crazy structures, but it's like I dont have to rush or sound like I'm trying to get them all in before the end of the bar you know? It's so comfortable and on point, and effortless. Like I don't even have to try.
iR: What's your opinion on the current state of hip-hop?
ER: Ahh man, most of this shit now is corny. I remember when everyone used to complain about the shiny suits and all the jiggy stuff, but at least cats back then actually rapped. Every song I hear now has more T-Pain influence than [Big Daddy] Kane. Are people sick of hearing the HUMAN voice?!?! I am the furthest thing from a hip-hop purist, and I'm not of the mindset that we need to take this shit back to 94, but I do know that where this shit is right now is horrible. It gives me the Douche Chills.
iR: The Douche Chills huh? Interesting [Laughs] Do you feel the internet has hurt or helped the genre? Where do you see the rap game 10 years from now?
ER: As far as the internet is concerned, it's a blessing and a curse. It provides a platform for everyone to be heard, so naturally we have a great deal of more crap to sift through. I have benefited a lot from the internet though, I owe a lot of my success to it. The blogs and the sites are doing great things for the genre as far as breaking and promoting artists. It's definitely an asset. The rap game? The industry is changing so dramatically every day. Its hard to say. Recently I have noticed a lot of talented artists getting some shine, so maybe in ten years the "music" will be back in the music industry. Thats what I hope for anyways. I can't call it.
iR: I feel you completely, smart shit is being said folks. Tell us about "That Time". What inspired you to write that track? Why did you decide to go with it as the first video for Nouveau Slick?
ER: That Time is old. I wrote it 'cause I felt like talking shit. It is more like me venting on some "i'm here, give me the respect I deserve" tip than anything else. It was originally for the record me and M-Phazes did, but I decided to include it as a part of my "Nouveau Slick" EP to help build buzz instead. Court KILLED the video. It has gotten a great response. Thanks to everyone who has showed it love and support.
Emilio Rojas - That Time
iR: No doubt. Tell us more about Nouveau Slick. What can we expect from that EP? What's
your favorite track?
ER: It's just some cool shit. I did whatever I wanted to do, and sounded good doing it. It's really accessible as far as it's sound. You'll see. I love the whole thing. Every song on it is my favorite track [Laughs]. I have a lot invested in it.
iR: How about the M-Phazes project?
ER: Ahhh man. This record is a classic. I say that 100% without a doubt. Every beat is crazy, every rhyme is crazy, every feature, every vocal is CRAZY. It's personal, it's fun, it goes hard, it goes slow for the ladies... We pulled out all the guns on this one. Writing this record was the hardest shit. M-Phazes kept making me re-write, I hated it, but it made everything so much better. He is a genius. It's been 2 years in the making. Yeah you guys record your music and finish your albums so fast. Congratulations. It's not a race. I WIN.
iR: What's your writing process like? Do you have any rituals before you go and write a verse or is it just spontaneous?
ER: I pace my apartment. Literally. I walk back and forth for hours until my rhyme is done. I'm on my Rainman shit, except I'm way taller than Dustin Hoffman.
iR: If you could do a whole album with any producer in the world. Just you and them for 15 or so tracks. No guest verses, nothing. Who would it be?
ER: I know these aren't "hip-hop" producers but Quincy Jones or Curtis Mayfield. I would have them write and arrange the whole thing, live instruments, a rhythm section, not just a drummer, a whole drum corps [Laughs]. Who's fucking with that, seriously!?
iR: Not me, thats for sure [Laughs]. How about with one rapper?
ER: Big Daddy Kane or Rakim. Maybe Jay-Z 'cause he has been through it all and has been so successful for so long.
iR: Prime choices sir. Growing up, were you always into hip-hop?
ER: I ALWAYS loved hip-hop. I wrote my first rap on my closet door in permanent marker. That shit was better than half of the shit I hear on the radio now.
iR: [Laughs] When did you first realize that hip-hop was what you wanted to do?
ER: It's not something I ever realized. That's just who I am. It chose me. I wouldn't ever in a million years put myself against these odds by any choice of my own. I just feel compelled to do it. It's what I am supposed to do.
iR: I read on your Myspace you used to have dreads? Please do tell.
ER: [Laughs] Where did you read that on my Myspace!? I have to take that down [Laughs]. I was always real curious about Caribbean culture, so I grew em'! They weren't for me though, I felt like I was trivializing an important part of another culture, and I do not want to be that dude, so I cut them off.
iR: [Laughs] Understandable. That's crazy. What is the hip-hop highlight of your life thus far? Something you plan on telling your grandchildren 50 years from now?
ER: Going to Venezuela and doing shows in Caracas, the city that my father is from. I didn't really know my father growing up, he left when i was 10, so it allowed me to reconnect with him, as well as my grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins. It was an eye opening experience. It was amazing to me to see the response and the love that people out there had for me. They were so warm and open. I got to learn about myself just by being there. Big shouts to System Crew in Caracas for being such wonderful and talented hosts.
iR: That sounds life changing. What would you say is the best piece of advice you've received.
ER: I am my own worst critic. I have yet to be satisfied with anything that I have done. The most valuable advice people haven given me has been to just let shit breathe and not be so hard on myself.
iR: What else do you have in the works?
ER: I have a mixtape with the homie Legend from OnSMASH and another mixtape with my homie DJ Ease. Me and M-Phazes are done with our record, and I have the "Nouveau Slick" EP dropping soon. I am also working on my first solo record, which will drop next year hopefully. I have a lot of things to look forward to.
iR: Any shout-outs or last words to leave with the illRoots readers?
ER: Thanks to illRoots for having me, and thanks to everyone for reading this! I really appreciate the support, the love, and the hate. It keeps me going. Big shouts to Legend, JMaster and the whole Same Plate crew. Check me out on the Myspace! Be well.
