DED Interview!
DED in one sentence:
Hip-Hop for all, with extra reppin for the X’s and V’s!
Where are you based?
Fresno ( the just say NO town), California, USA
Your proudest moment as an artist:
Hearing my little brother (who’s 12) quote my lyrics.
Your top 5 political hip hop artists: (in no particular order):
P.E., Mos Def, Immortal Tech, Dead Prez (does that count as 2?) and for real good measure, XEdge With The DreadsX
Top 5 Straight Edge bands:
…OOOOOO!..hmm.. xThrowdownx (back in ‘01..first band that made me feel good about my decisions, my friends at the time didn’t.), CHAMPION, UNTIL THE END, XBRING IT DOWNX, PATH OF RESISTANCE!!!!!!
Top 5 books:
The Bible, Green Eggs and Ham – YOU SHOULD ALREADY KNOW! (an interesting take on peer pressure), The Dictionary (any one’ll do), I Am What I Ate … and I’m Frightened!!! – Bill Cosby,Brain Droppings – George Carlin.
Favorite Vegan Recipe:
My easy VchilibeansV…1 pack of SOYRIZO, 1 big can of V refried beansV,some heat, some water, some yum!
(that’s literally how I make em!)
How did you get first exposed to hip hop?
My cousin Ferd (Alfred). He had the best rap/hip-hop record collection ever. Sir Mix-A-Lot (My Posse’s on Broadway) was my STUFF when i was too young..
When did you first begin as a hip hop artist?
Freestyled in High School. LOVED Can-I-bus lyrics. Didn’t really become an ARTIST until my XVX band PROVE IT (2004 – 2005) broke up and I decided to go at it foreals.
Have you received negative feedback from apolitical hip hop artists?
Nah, nothin serious, only get haters at battles. no probs though, they’ll be mad insulting during the battle, then hear my tracks and be like “Yo I respect it, you about yo $#!*”
What inspired you to become vegan? Was there a single moment you can point to, or was it a process?
I came to the realization that one did NOT need animal products to survive and thrive. I also had a feeling eating flesh was bad for ones soul. So tried Veg. for a year, then went Vegan.
Do you do live shows? How are they received?
Do a few with my homie XEdge With The DreadsX the turn out is growing, those who show are great. I also battle from time to time, I get lots of questions, but no real straight up hate.
Straight edge revenge stories – everyone has one. Give us your best.
I always hung around a diverse bunch.BUUUUTTTTT….once one of my drunky smokey buddies was bein dumb at a “party” (just a buncha H.S. dudes drinkin cheap beer and tryn to score w/ young dumb girls) he walked up to me and said “ay! finish this for me” and laughed…I poured it down the drain and said “got any more?” and laughed harder….not too brutal..sorry to any HXE’s.
Rob R Rock is the first known vegan sxe hip hop artist. He sold the fuck out and we put his song at the end of the comp. Anything to say to him and others who stray?
Hey! I believe you’re TRULY Straight Edge when you die that way. So it’s really a bold prediction. I made these committments for me, not really trippin on people who can’t hold up to their own expectations. X me up before they close the casket.
Run down your releases to date.
Prove It (2004-2005) – 2 Demos, never officially released. The Point (2006 – 2007) Get 2 It. VXDEDXV (2005-FOREVER) That’s ME! EP(2008), vxD.E.D.xv On The Track OhWahw (COMING SOON!)
What lyrical subjects do you plan to explore in the future?
MAN! everything! the job front, family, the simpsons, my little brother, my mom, favorite foods…you name it!
Give a sampling of some of your lyrics that haven’t yet (or will never) make it into a recording.
hmm….. OK this ones on a new one..I might start recording TODAY! called “For the Radio”
Now stop. And listen to me talk.
About nothin really. Like it comes as a shock.
I stay on my feet like ankle socks.
You cats are chicken like bock buhgock!
Meanin you’re all enslaved,Trapped in a cage.
Forced to lay eggs and sent to an early grave.
For consumers whose only concern is convieniance and pleasure.
Justifyin it like it’s been goin on forever.
But It doesn’t make it better man to me it feels worse.
Blindly followin trendsetters I can see they’ve been cursed.
The repetition is jus sicknin, make u think it’s jus music.
it’s our trusted leaders an celebs that are doin it to us.
Takin over the masses usin rock&roll& rappin,
As a means of distraction from what’s really been happnin.
Before u call me crazy baby heed what u been told.
First they take all our money, but their aim is our souls.
You have one bullet and one gun. Who do you take out?
DANG! like that? … I don’t think it’s my job to decide who lives and dies. But I definielty wouldn’t mind if every child molester and rapist died immediately.
Tell us the best feedback you’ve received as an artists. Any stories of changed lives?
EH! my folks tell me keep bein me, but don’t trip if most people don’t understand. There’s a few dudes around here w/ tattoos of old band logos I made and some lyrics tatted on their skulls. I’m glad I can create things that people can relate to so closely.
You have one incendiary device. What building gets burned?
Woah, I don’t know if I wanna say..hahaha.
Outside of music, what keeps you driven in this age of insanity?
God, My family, My People.
Any vegan and/or straight edge artists not on the comp you would like the world to be aware of?
YUP! XCYPHERX, XVOICE OF REASONX, XSUBLIMINALX