Minus P
Minus P is a real inspiring underground artist from the streets of Washington Heights Manhattan. It was an honor to speak with someone who is so driven and devoted to achieving his goals even without the help of others. We feel he is on the right path toward success. For the most part we talked about his background, his new album, and much more... Check it out below...
Josh: First off, I would like to thank you for taking the time to do this interview.
Minus P: Thank you for having me Josh.
Josh: Let's start with you explaining a little about yourself.
Minus P: I go by the name of Minus P, I been doing this music thing on a pro level for two years, but have been rapping since as long as I can remember. Before
I even spoke the English Language I was doing it in Spanish. So it's been a long road but the wait has been worth it.
Josh: As an up and coming artist out of Manhattan with Dominican Republic decent, What was it like overcoming the language barrier from Spanish to English?
Minus P: The main thing was trying to explain myself to people. Like, it's like you're a baby, and you know what you want, but you can't say it yet, so you see it in your head but people think you babbling when it come out. It's the same way. Basically I always knew what I wanted to do and say, and I knew I had it in me but the language made it seem like I was just babbling when it came out my mouth, so that was the main thing. Making sure what I said was understood was and still is my main priority because of that, and I think that puts me in front of other artists who take understanding for granted. I know that in order for people to feel your music, they have to understand it first.
Josh: Who inspired you to begin your career in hip-hop?
Minus P: I would go with poets, because that is what I started with, poetry. I used to read and still know some Spanish poetry from Jose Angel Buesa, and some others... It's strong what you can do with words, and that led to the love for hip-hop.
Josh: Are you a fan of Tupac's music?
Minus P: You know, I'ma have to say, that Tupac is the perfect model to try to follow as an artist, and I'm not going to come off as a Stan, his lyrics were average or a lil above average, but the things he said and the feelings he put into his music made all the difference. He could tell the youth to reach for something better without sounding corny, he can also make some gang track and be believable. I love Pac because of what he said and how calculated everything was, we learned to love Pac as a person, not just an artist, I can only hope that someday people can appreciate my person as my music too.
Josh: Who do you find yourself listening to now days?
Minus P: I try not to listen to any one artist too long because it changes me, like I get influenced, and I don't want that. I want to bring something that can only be found in me. But I ain't gon lie, I have been listening to a lot of Dip-set music lately, and they are not the greatest lyricists, but I can dig they personalities, so sometimes that
can get you a long way in the industry. I also listen to a lot of unsigned cats like myself, to see who is doing what and so on. I try to keep my ears to the new stuff.
Josh: So Minus, you have a new album titled, "Welcome To The Heights." What is the overall feel you think the listener should get from this album?
Minus P: I bounce a lot of feelings in this album, and that brings me to the Pac thing, I want people to know I can change my mind, one second be this the other be that, because I'm human. The overall mood should be uplifting happy music, fun music, that is what I tried to create. I also want you to feel at the end like you believe in my cause, so a lot if it is telling people what I do, and why you should get with what I'm doing.
Josh: With your new album there are two versions. The pressed copy and the "bootleg" which has the same content, but the Bootleg is on a CD-R with the track-listing on-CD printed. It's clear you are very passionate and willing to go the extra mile to let people hear your music. What is your outlook on this situation?
Minus P: Yeh, I go to the hoods, the street and try to hustle my music sell it to people and a lot of people want to support it, but it's tough to support when you living in apartment with roaches you know. So what I did was
make an affordable version, for those who just want to listen to the music and show love, as well as the pressed version. They both affordable one is $5.00 the other is $10.00, but whatever I can do to help people help me, I'm all for it.
Josh: Which song you like most off this album?
Minus P: The one I like the most would probably be the intro believe it or not, and that is just because it's so true. A lot of people told me that I'd do better as manager
because I hustle so much, that I should try to get someone who's really hot and try to get them signed and then try to get on. But I ain't with that, I believe in me,
and if you do or not it don't matter, I know where I'm headed I've known it since day one. So the intro kinda sets you off to know what I dealt with, my own friends not believing
and me having to do everything on my own, and proving the world wrong. Feels good.
Josh: I read on your site (www.Minusp.com) that you are attending college and at the same time producing music. What's that like?
Minus P: I actually just got my bachelor's in Electronics Engineering, so now I work in the Biomed dept. at Hospitals, and yeh I'ma be making money, but people don't get it tho, I did that because I had to, to please my Mother, you know how it is, I could be rich from doing this, but it won't matter if I can't have music in my life. I'ma live good
regardless, but I want it to be doing music. Money ain't everything, there is a fire that burn on everyone to do something in life, mine is music, and I won't let that flame go out.
Josh: You have stated in one of your tracks that you have developed into "a one man record label." Being such a multi-tasked person, does that work to your advantage?
Minus P: It does because you make music that is you 100%. Like you make a beat, make the hook, the verse, the flow from scratch, and to have people feel it? That is HUGE! But also since sometimes it's you making all the choices you loose that objectiveness, like you may think you making the right move, but you may not be and you just have to believe in what you are doing, because no one else is going to help you if you fall.
Josh: Is your music featured in any mix tapes or soundtracks?
Minus P: Yeh, I'm on a collab track with B-real (Cypress Hill) right now on his mix tape "The Gunslinger", also got some music featured on the movie Havoc by the director of Traffic, and some other mix tapes and such, just keeping busy on whatever I can.
Josh: Why should labels be looking at you to sign instead of other artists doing this?
Minus P: Because I'm better. I mean, not even, there are a lot of artists who may be better with lyrics than me, but it's something to say that you came this far on your own, I know a lot of rappers, none of them have done half of what I have, so there is no lack of will on my part. Like I said I'ma be alright regardless, but someone making it easier on me would be a good break too, if not I'll do it on my own like I have from day one.
Josh: Alright, before we rap this up, is there anything you would like to say to your fans?
Minus P: Thanks to all the people who bought my album, and who will buy my album, I keep a list of ya'll on my paypal account, so we good forever... Everyone else,
you may think we cool, I may act cool, but I'm just playing ya'll like you playing me. If you ain't supporting me when I'm broke, I ain't supporting you when I'm rich, and that's real.
Josh: Minus, I appreciate you doing this interview and if you ever need anything just holla at your boys at mobfiggaz.net.
Minus P: Thank you for the opportunity! To those reading peep my music www.minusp.com if you haven't yet! Peace! Wash Heights, N.Y., N.J stand up!
This Interview was done by Josh, Staff writer for MobFiggaz.net
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