Shabooty Interview Series: Marco Polo (Rawkus Records)

MARCO POLO INTERVIEW …SHABOOTY.COM EXCLUSIVE
Marco’s debut album on Rawkus/Soulspazm Records is about to drop– but first he dropped by to answer some b00tyrific questions:
First of all before you read this interview let me (shab) go off on a tangent— I hate people with names like “MP” when you are a nobody– your name shouldn’t be MP when you are a shmoe jerkoff– however if you’re an ill hiphop producer named Marco Polo you’re allowed to be called MP -that rant was targeted toward some myspace loser from a previous lifetime…LOL COMMENCE INTERVIEW:

Hi Marco -

What do you say about El-P’s words about Rawkus [records] after Rawkus posted the pic of El-p & Puffy?
“These motherf—ers take the picture that was taken with my camera and post it up on their site… As though the picture is proof of me ‘selling out,’” wrote an angry El-P. “How insulting, how pathetic, how mean spirited and how completely useless and misguided. Get off my d—. You can keep that picture up there forever. Please do. That one moment was more entertaining and fun and genuine than the entire sum of our business relationship.”

Sounded like both sides needed to do a little venting and they did. Puffy looked great in that pic tho! Go Diddy.

Will the next sound-bombing be as good as the old ones–will u produce anything for it?

I have no idea what’s up with a new soundbombing. I’d love to see one happen and I’m sure I’d get a few tracks on there.

What do you say if someone calls you the Canadian DJ Primo?

haha. I’d say THANK YOU because that’s a legend but I definitely have my own sound and cats will hear it on the album.

Tell me bout your childhood growing up.

I was a hyper kid. A.D.D. at times. I was also a pampers baby but it was rough for the kid so I had to retire. Then I spent some of my high school years in drug rehab but now I’m good. But on a music note, my pops definitely played a big role in influencing what I listen to today. Growing up he would play all sorts of crazy shit like Steely Dan, Miles Davis to Mott The Hoople to A Tribe called Quest “Bonita Applebum”. My pops has a low attention span like me so he is always switching it up and that kind of made me open minded to check all types of shit.

and how did you come up in the game?

I got my start in NY at a studio called The Cutting Room. I interned there for a month or so then got hired as a asst. engineer. I would pass my beats to a lot of people that passed through the studio. Masta Ace happened to be one of them. He later hit me up for the “Do It Man” beat on A Long Hot Summer. That kind of set it off for me to get some more work.

Have you heard any of my man Cage’s stuff– you into him? Who are your fav. artists/producers in the game?

I actually liked Cage’s last album, he got a little emo on us but I still fucked with it. Recently I’ve been bumping shit by DJ Premier, Ghostface, Roc Marciano, Torae, Copywrite, Black Milk…

Who were your production inspirations?

D.I.T.C. (Showbiz, Buckwild, Diamond D, Lord Finesse) Erik Sermon, The Bomb Squad, Large Professor, DJ Premier, The Rza, Pete Rock, J. Dilla.

So, do you get on the album at all, or just produce?

You hear my voice in an interlude with Wordsworth. I say “Word” twice, its awesome. That’s my only vocal performance and you won’t be dissapointed.

What collabos you looking to do in the future?

I wanna work with Nas, Ghostface, Freddie Foxxx, M.O.P and Amerie.

What does the new Rawkus [records] have to offer that the old one didn’t? Can it eclipse it’s formidable past?

I can’t really speak on the new Rawkus but I can tell you that my album will definetely appeal to fans of the classic Rawkus era.

So you based out of T.O. –[based off an episode of BET's HITS -which is a goof] I’ve been told Toronto is Hood LITE up there instead of hood tight–what do you say to that?

Nah I live in Brooklyn but I’m in Toronto a lot. I don’t know what Hood LITE means but Toronto got some areas, you don’t wanna get caught in that’s for sure…

Do you ever listen to my other main man Howard Stern?

Not really.

I will say Canada has hotter chicks…agreed?

Hands Down YES. Haha.

What will be the first single?

Kardinal Offishall “War” b/w Masta Ace “Nostalgia” & J*Davey “Relax”

When are we going to find a pic of you and Puffy hanging out?

Hopefully soon. If I’m hanging with Puff maybe that means he bought some beats from me, that could be a nice check!!!

When you coming to DC/MD/VA?

You tell me. I could come breakdance for a big crowd of people.

If you had to be on a reality show which one would you be on?

Seymour Butts got one I think. Maybe I can score his new movie series and appear on the show.

Xbox360, Wii, or PS3?

Nintendo?

Will you rock an iPhone?

yeah I fucks with a lot of Apple shit.

Tell da folks when the album drops.

May 15th but the 12in. is in stores now through Fat Beats.

Are you good at marco polo –you know- in the pool?

Never played in my life.

Speaking of pools -you going to create an ncaa bracket –who’s your final four?

I don’t watch but my brother says UNC, Florida, Kansas & Ohio St.

Will you one day want to get into producing music for movies like RZA has broken into?

Hell yeah. I’d love to score a Wes Anderson flick or maybe a documentary about something interesting.

Is hip-hop dead?

Nope.

What do you think of YouTube for an artist like you?

Youtube is great, I can officially do my own bootleg commercials and people will watch that shit.

What will 2008 hold for you?

Hopefully more money which will then allow me to buy more records to keep making the music I want to make.

F, Marry, Kill.
F-one Marry-one Kill-one-
Little Kim, Foxy Brown, Remi Martin

I don’t wish a Killing on anyone man! But Foxy brown gets a F for sure.

Do you drink? What is Marco’s official drink? and don’t tell me an energy drink you’re coming out with.

nah like I said I’m good now. I only drink Coffee, Orangina, Ginger Ale and Water…

I heard there are lepers in Toronto International Airport laying on the ground begging for money… true?
–that was something I heard from back in 1969.

Nah, Pearson Airport is mad clean. No lepers.

Are you into hockey? –EA Sports has incorporated hiphop into their NBA Live games… do you think you could get them to do the same for their NHL franchise?

I’m a bandwagon Toronto Maple Leaf fan I guess. Hockey fans like all types of music so maybe they can throw some Hip Hop into there NHL games. But it would be mixed in with 2 Unlimited and Gary Glitter.

I’ve heard some tracks off he album already -heat, all my love, nostalgia are bangers -what’s your fav track/the one you’re most proud of?

I love the whole album but stand outs are the single “War” with Kardinal and “the Radar” with Large Pro.

Lastly, please take this time to say anything to the hip-hop internet nerds–

Dear Internet nerds please buy my album when it drops instead of downloading it off a blog run by some German kid, thanks to anyone who has been checking for me.
~~~~~~~~~
For your viewing pleasure:
Behind the scenes trailer of the Marco Polo/Masta Ace “Nostalgia” video shoot from Marco’s forthcoming Rawkus/Soulspazm Records debut, Port Authority, which will be released on 5-15-07: view here

Cawp this album in May -it’s hot- I’ve heard it $
shab00ty-

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Permalink Posted in: hip-hop, interview, music, shabooty exclusive March 23, 2007