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5/2/2007 What’s up?    Making moves, man, making moves. It’s the same old thing. I’m still out here and making this music.  How is it trying to come up as an MC in Charlottesville, VA?    That’s like trying to drink ice water in hell. You have the city working against you. A lot of places don’t really approve of hip-hop. For the most part, it’s rough, but where there’s a will, there’s a way and I can’t be beat. I’m not complaining. It’s an everyday thing. The more you sweat, the easier it gets. I’m basically trying to come up in this caged city. There’s a lot of talent in Charlottesville, but we have no way to expose this talent. That’s my job. Charlottesville is in need of a leader and I feel I’m that one. I’ve done shows all over and I’m going to take this city on my back.  Furthermore, I’m one of the best rappers on the East Coast. How can you deny me?    What’s the most important thing you can do for yourself to get a buzz right now?  I would say the most important thing I can do is continue to do it out here and get on the road and get these shows. I have to perform and promote. Promotion is the most important thing that you need as an artist. It’s more important than the actual product that you’re pushing out. I’m working with my camp to make sure this name becomes a household one. I need to make sure that people know who I am. That’s the most important thing along with getting involved in the community. Once my name becomes a household name on the East Coast, I’m pretty much guaranteed success everywhere else. I’m trying to get everywhere.  You’ve done shows in a lot of different places. How important has that been to your career so far?  Oh, man, very. One thing I know is that wherever you do a show, if you do it the right way, something always comes up for you. One door opens up another. I was able to do a tour all the way through Florida because of my show. The shows are one of the most important keys to success. It’s one thing to listen to a rapper’s CD and see him as a studio rapper. Then you have the other type of rapper which is the entertainer. I’m a little bit of both. To actually see an MC do it in front of your face will make you a believer. If you do it the right way, you can’t lose.  How has the radio helped you up to now?    Every radio station I’ve been to has supported me. When you command respect, that’s really when you receive it. You can’t ask for it. I never went anywhere and asked for respect. I commanded it through my talent and the gift that God gave me.  Hip-hop isn’t dead, but radio is forcing artists to be commercial. They’re forcing us to be commercial. If you have a hot underground artist out here, for the most part, his name will be on the streets but you’ll never hear him anywhere else. Saigon is a prime example of this. I can have the radio’s respect out here in Virginia because I’m me. I don’t force songs and I don’t get forced into doing songs by anybody.  How’s your album The Interview doing for you so far?    It’s been doing great. I’ve been putting out mixtapes in the streets for two years. That’s how long it took me to do the album. It takes a long time to put your life into music. I’m talking about all of the classic things going on in the inner-city. Everybody knows me for being that underground, hardcore rap artist. I really took chances on this album. I took the chance of letting people get to know me through the music. The risk I took was well worth what came back. Now people who go through what they go through know that they have a chance and that their individual life does make a difference.  Who did you make The Interview for?  The Interview is really for my ‘hood dudes. It’s for those dudes out there hustling who don’t know any other life. It’s for them to know and understand that there is a better way for us and that we have to make it out. I have mad respect for 50 saying, “Fuck the ‘hood. I’ve been trying to get out for a long time.” There is a better way for us. We just have to take advantage of the opportunity when it presents itself. Success is possible regardless of where you’re at and what you do. There’s more than one route and you don’t have to bust your gun to get there.  Hopefully The Interview will continue to get out and it will make more people aware. So far it’s treating me very well. I have no complaints. I took a chance and the risk was well worth it. There’s two years of energy in this. And I made so many people aware that they’re waiting for the next jumpoff, which is a double-mixtape.   How are you gauging the success of The Interview?    Through record sales and what the critics say. I deal with them on a daily basis. They find me whether I’m in the bathroom or at work. For the most part, I learn through the criticism. The criticism is what’s most important. Longevity is what I strive for. I don’t want to be a one-hit artist. I strive for longevity. If you don’t like what I’m saying, take it off and play something else, but don’t be in denial.  So far the criticism on The Interview from Connecticut to Florida has been remarkable. I know I did something right because everybody that I wasn’t hearing from and that I was looking to hear from, I’m hearing from them now. Now the ball is in my court and I have the opportunity to do what I want. I’m not going to change it up until the time is there. Through the people I learn what’s right and what’s wrong. I’m a different kind of artist. I’m an entertainer and I’m going to put on a show that’s going to be something for you to go home and tell your kids about. I want legendary status.  You showcase a lot of different styles on The Interview. How important is that versatility to you?    My life is made up of a million and one different situations. I have to be versatile. If you don’t do your math on me, you might be listening to me and not even know it. That’s why I’m Anonamys. I can adapt to any situation. Most people look for that format. I don’t. I’m going to let my music do what it will. I’m going to give you every type of hip-hop that you can possibly endure.  The game is so one-sided right now. I don’t rep the South, but I’m in love with the South and I’ve been in love with the South for a long time, way before it popped, but the artists that brought me into the game are the New York niggas. I’m not letting anybody put me in a category. I’m keeping my freedom as an artist and I’m going to show them that I got what it takes and that I was born for this. It’s bigger than music.  You’re also in the group Supreme Council. What’s been going on with you guys?    We’ve just been getting our name up. The Beetnix have helped us heavily. When I came back home, I had to find someone who believed in me and had exposure already. The Beetnix brought me back into the game. Once they brought me back into the game, we started getting it popping. We already had the group, but we needed exposure. We’re just going to keep on shopping the name until it’s tatted in people’s brains. We’re keeping the mixtapes coming and you’re going to see us out there.   How important have the Beetnix been to you?    They’ve blown us out of the water. They’ve done a lot of things for us. It’s perfect because we have different styles of hip-hop, but it’s all hip-hop and it’s all real. That’s why we formed a label, Audio State, together with the Beetnix. We can’t lose. The Beetnix have been a blessing to me. I came back out here and the Beetnix brought be back in the game and put me on the frontline. Big ups to the Beetnix. I love those dudes with a passion. Those are my dudes for life.  What’s next for Anonamys?  Right now, I’m focusing on overseas. I’m working with some digital labels. I’m not looking for a label. I’m looking for major distribution. Labels want too much control. They want to take what you know best, critique it how they want to and then if you flop, it’s on you. I don’t need anything. I got videos and everything. I don’t need none of that shit. The only thing I’m interested in is major distribution. I don’t want to sign any deals. Everybody’s been throwing contracts in my face. I got five lawyers and they work. I don’t want to sign any contract. Every label I’ve talked to wants to do a two-year or five-year deal instead of doing a one-album or two-album deal.  We’re forming Supreme Entertainment and we’re going to sign our own dudes. We’re going to stay in control of our own destiny. I just don’t trust nobody to look out for us like that. I don’t trust nobody to give us what we need better than we can. I don’t trust them. For the most part, I’m sticking with the independent labels and major distribution.  I’m not going to let the labels take control of my life and my destiny. This one label put a deal on the table which was perfect but they said I couldn’t do mixtapes. Who doesn’t do mixtapes? That’s like not having a vinyl record today. I don’t want no labels. I’m good. Give me my distribution and it’s a wrap.   What do you want to say to everybody?  Shout out to all my hardbody dudes and real artists in the hip-hop game who aren’t in it for the money. Get your shit right because I’m coming in the game real heavy.

By Brian Kayser

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