“Rhyming History of Human Beatbox,” American Beatbox Championships 2022
“MC Wanted: Abstract Not Commercial.”
When I responded to a Village Voice classified ad stating the above in 2001, it cosmically and formally activated the quest I’ve continued on for over 20 years. It propelled me from sidewalk/bedroom freestyles and led to places that leave my 18-year old self shaking his head in disbelief, from indie label deals to industry board rooms; from studio sessions with my Hip Hop heroes to seeing my own albums atop radio charts; from gracing the most revered stages to cyphers in places beyond my dreams; from network TV to the pages of that same paper in which I found the ad. Or rather… where it found me?
To Me, MC Means…
Master Craft
Make Community
Musical Collaborations
Massive Catalog
Message Carrier
Miracle Catalyzer
Map Curiosity
Maintain Connections
Muster Courage
The Journey Is Infinite
I’ve been rocking shows and making records for most of my life, and I know my best work lays ahead. I hope to always feel this way. It drives the expansion of my skillset, exploration of flowstate, and feeding my Poet self.
Freestyle
At the center of my MC life lies the Art of Freestyle. From cypher to battle to collaborative performance in pretty much every conceivable setting intercontinentally, the gift and craft of improvisation has offered the portal to connection with fellow musicians and audiences. Freestyle was my entrypoint into engaging the Hip Hop Elements, and continues to evolve as a cornerstone of my practice, an extension of the mantra “less preparation, more presence” coined by adrienne maree brown. (Here’s a recent clip hopping from the DJ booth to mic at The Jelly to kick a Scorpio-themed freestyle the day after running the NYC Marathon).