I chopped it up with talented emcee K. Sparks recently to talk about his new album and much more. Be sure to check this kid out, he's bringing that smart, entertaining hip-hop back.iR: How are you man? What's going on with you currently?
K. Sparks: I'm great homie, there are a lot of BIG things happening with Double Up Ent. I just released Hip Hop 101 and it's doing well. Now I'm about to start touring as well so I'm excited. No complaints.
iR: Sounds dope, tell us about that Hip Hop 101 Joint.
KS: Hip Hop 101 is an album that I released under the Double Up Ent. imprint. It consists of production from underground heavyweights such as Presto, Fero Navi, Big Drew, Moe, and Pajozo. It also features Angelous, Tina Quallo, and other artists. I'm proud of the project because it is a REAL hip hop album, no bullshit music like these other herbs put out. They make that sell out music, I feel like they might as well put on the black face and do a jig with some corn bread the way they sound on the mic [Laughs].
iR: [Laughs] Damn. How would you describe your sound?
KS: Eclectic, my music is really all over the place. It depends on my mood. I make everything from traditional Hip Hop to Jazz/Hip Hop. I grew up on Tribe, and other soulful cats so my music reflects that. But I also grew up in the Mase/BIG era so I do party music as well. But I always try to "sneek" in an intelligent message in my lyrics here and there, 'cause if I try to do it to blatant radio won't play it.
iR: I feel that completely. That whole Dumb It Down stuff Lupe was talking about.
KS: Exactly, most cats dumb it down to the point that their music is not saying anything. I feel that music is like food, you can't have junk food all of the time. If you don't have a balanced meal (a few vegetables) here and there everyone would be sick. Party/Dance songs are cool, but there must be balance. Those songs are not an accurate reflection of real life. Let's be honest, everyday when you wake up you don't feel like poppin' bottles, some days you are stressed, some days you are jaded, therefore music should reflect all of your moods if you are truly a real artist.
iR: Definitely. So how did you feel when Ice-T went at Soulja Boy for his music?
KS: [Laughs] Ice-T was out of line. Granted, Soulja Boy's music is light hearted and meant for a certain age demographic. However, that is my main point, his music is for a "certain age demographic". His music is not for men Ice T's age. So for him to attack him in that manner was wrong. I don't care for Soulja Boy's music, but that is my opinion, and I wouldn't disrespect the kid because he never dissed me. I feel that it wasn't warranted. Furthermore, as an "elder" as Ice T refers to himself he should conduct himself as an elder. Exhibit respect in order to get it. If you tell a young nigga to eat a dick what the fuck do you think he is gonna say?
iR: [Laughs] True that. Who are some of the artists that primarily influenced your style to this day?
KS: Wow, there are a lot of cats. Emcees like Ras Kass, The Bush Babies, Nas, Biggie and 2pac all influenced me in various ways. Those cats were all very lyrical so it made me want to spit harder bars. I always put more emphasis into my lyrical content and flow due to listening to those cats. And then when Pun came out it was a wrap. His raps were like Hip Hop on steroids (laughs) when I heard his flow he made me step up my game. I started putting more emphasis on rhyme patterns as well as my flow. Those cats were/are dope lyricist that influenced me.
iR: What part of rhyming do you find most important?
KS: Flow is primary. I say flow because if you are not flowing on the beat properly everything else is irrelevant. If the beat is hot, your content is on point, and you have swagger but no flow hang it up buddy. I have heard plenty of rappers that rap on garbage beats but the flow is crazy so you listen to it. Once you have a killer flow people will listen. A perfect example of this is Camp Lo. I loved these cats growing up, but truth be told myself and damn near everyone else had no fucking idea what these guys were talking about [Laughs]. They flow is crack, but they were all over the place with their content from geechi suade to all kinda shit. It didn't make sense to the average listener, but that didn't matter because the flow was in pocket and they road every beat properly.
iR: Good point right there. Was there a moment growing up where you were like "I wanna rap."
KS: I never really ever felt like "I wanna rap". I kinda started rapping as a result of my fam. One day he told me to come to his crib after school cuz he had a studio at his crib. I went there and spit some bars off the top, after that it was a wrap, I just started going hard from there and I'm glad he sparked that moment cuz that changed my life forever. I've been doing music professionally for a while now.
iR: Do you remember some of your first rhymes?
KS: Yeah, they suck [Laughs]. I was rapping about shit that I heard as opposed to what was real to me. But I sat back and found my niche and started rapping about what was my reality as apposed to what sounded good on paper.
iR: [Laughs] I respect that. Where do you see yourself this time next year?
KS: This time next year I see myself in an even better position. There are so many positive things going on that I can't lose. I don't accept failure, only victory. I'm very positive and optimistic so I expect the best and won't accept anything less.
iR: If you could work with any artist, who would it be?
KS: I would like to work with Common. I like the fact that he actually has something to say, and he doesn't spit the same bullshit as these other artist. He does a good job of keeping balance with the music. We have enough of the bonafide sell out koon music, we need more cats like him.
iR: Yeah, that'd be a dope collab. What can we expect from you to come?
KS: Right now, Double Up Entertainment just solidified a distribution deal so my albums are all over the place from stores to Target. The next projects coming out under the distribution is a joint collaboration with Brooklyn Emcee Angelous called Two Stories we will be putting out that album project in November 2008. I have a second album project coming out this year called Definition. That album is entirely produced by my partner Pajozo, the project essentially represents real Hip Hop in it's purest from from real Hip Hop beats to solid lyrics. And lastly I will also be releasing a compilation that features the Double Up Entertainment family such as Tina Quallo, D Roof, and Dave Barz. I also have a K. Sparks mixtape coming out mixed by DJ Locky.
iR: That's whats up, so your keeping yourself busy [Laughs].
KS: [Laughs] Yeah, busy like day laborers.
iR: [Laughs] I can relate. What's the best peice of advice you've received, and from who?
KS: The best piece of advice I received is from my pops. He told me a long time ago "always insist upon yourself, and remember persistence wears down resistance". He told me that when I was young, but as I grew older I really understood what he was saying to me. In life the only person that you can rely on 100% is yourself. If you don't go hard for yourself you damn sure shouldn't expect the next person to do for yourself what you won't do. And even if a door closes in your face, keep going hard because persistence wears down resistance. The only time you truly lose is when you stop trying, as long as you continue to try you will win eventually. It may not be today, may not be tomorrow, but you will succeed.
iR: Wow, thats really deep. Are your family big supporters of your music?
KR: Yeah, my pops use to be a jazz player and had his own band. He understands the grind. He's seen the music industry go through various changes and he knows the grind. My mother has always been supportive as well, family is the foundation, without their support it makes things harder.
iR: Thats dope, real dope. Whats your best personal hip-hop memory?
KS: My best memory is a few. For starters I got literally 100 messages from women all over the world that were touched by my "Coulda Been" song. They stated that due to the song being about abortion it really moved them and touched them in a special way. To me that means the most, when my music can actually touch people in that way. It shows me that what I am doing has purpose and it actually helps people. And even more recently I made a song called "Bi Polar" about my brother that suffers from the disease. And the response has been over whelming from individuals that suffer from the disease as well. Those personal Hip Hop memories mean the most to me because it's confirmation that I'm making a difference.
iR: Do you feel writing about personal experiences leaves you with a better attachment to your music?
KS: Mos def, it gives me satisfaction the most, and it's real. I'm one of the very few artist in the New York underground that actually makes "real" music. I know a lot of these artist personally and they are nothing like their lyrics, nor do they have the shit they rap about in their lyrics. I like to rap about what is real because like you said I feel a better attachment to my music. The irony in all of this is that the stuff that these other guys rap about I have but i don't boast about it. I have a nice crib, drive a nice car, but my fans and the world deserve to hear more from K.; Sparks other than my BMW. In the scheme of things who cares about me having a BMW? Most people living in the hood don't drive luxury cars, so I would be doing myself and the listeners a disservice if I did so. It's all about the attachment.
BONUS: DJ Killa P & K. Sparks - When The Smoke Clears (Mixtape)
