We interview Amaze 88

As with most people who have their ear to the ground, we all heard Amaze 88 on Kool AD's 51 album. He handled 7 of the songs production and as soon I heard them I was hooked like a crackhead who loves crack. The first hit into my lungs was "La Pinata". The sampling brought me all the way back to 1993 in the best way possible. He fits in same pocket as my producer heroes of the day like early 90's to mid 90's RZA, Prince Paul, Q-tip, DJ Premier and DJ Muggs. Amaze 88 would have sat at the throne with these guys if he were born around a decade ealier. 

These days, kids want to hear computer blips on their laptops and smartphones with no bass or soul (which is appropriate since this generation has no soul to begin with). What people have seemed to loose in this era of hip-hop is the soul and the feeling. Very few producers can layer more than one sound on top of another, let alone 7 or 10 layers and still have a cohesive sound. Amaze 88 can loop the fattest bass-line and still swing the drums so hard you can't help but nod your head until it's ready snap off your shoulders, roll on the ground, go back up another persons shoulders, knock their head off, attach itself to that body and start nodding again. 

Amaze put out a beat tape this year called Vignettes. It's basically any rappers jackpot for future beats. Amaze kept to a theme as all great producers do and in his words "This album is a collection of Instrumentals all gathered from a Small Collection of American Library Records made in the 60s,70s,80s for Movies and Television". 

SYFFAL took some time out of its busy day of reading the newspaper while shitting, yelling at kids on their lawn, and eating Metamucil to talk with Amaze 88 and how the Lord Jesus Baby Man hates him and how it doesn't like "the" gays eating chicken.. 

SYFFAL: When you hung out with Lang Vo for an entire day, was it like, one of those life changing moments in life? How delicious is Chik-Fil-A?

AMAZE 88: Hanging out with Lang was like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. At the end of the day I was dying for two ice waters with ice. Settled for Chik-Fil-A. For a fast food establishment they're quite tasty. I always feel bad eating there because of their views of the LGBT folks. But its always a last resort. 

 SYFFAL: That's the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. Tell me who Amaze88 is thru the lens of an almighty God.

AMAZE 88: Sometimes, I think god/this world hates me. Sometimes, I think I'm in the direct line with the waves of the earth, the wind in the air, the sun in the sky, the rain in the clouds. Then I try something out of pocket like saying hi to a pretty girl and I'm back on the road to perdition. (Insert shoulder shrugging) 

SYFFAL: We are best friends now. God Hates me too. Now that you've traveled the country and the world with likes of Run The Jewels, Despot and your BFF, Kool A.D., what's next on the list for you? P90x? 

AMAZE 88: Running around with legendary rappers/mc's and musicians is something I never thought would happen. For years and years I practiced and made music on my own accord with zero recognition and minute support. For a long time I kept it to myself because where I'm from, its either the trendy sound or you're hella weak. No grey area. Without Kool AD you would have never heard of me. I'm super thankful of that. The same resistance towards my music making still exists, but at least it's on a different level! (Insert laughter) 

SYFFAL: It was great to see you up on that stage though. Not many people do the level of sample based production quality you have developed. Why do you think you have resistance ?

AMAZE 88: Its hard to say. I was taught that if you wanna be great, you got to pave your own path. My agenda is to make classics, not to be better than anyone else. I think having that attitude towards beat making and working hard at it, can make people scratch their heads a bit. One internet icon dude called my beats "quirky" and another tried to oust samples i used but got it totally wrong. I tend to get more love from other artists because they have an ear for originality. Most people wont give you shine or props unless you're "down" or the chick they like thinks you're awesome, so they proceed to like you too or vice versa. I don't know, i feel like im talking out my ass now. Ass chatter no bueno. 

SYFFAL: I get it. People hate on my style as well, until they see I've been co-signed by someone they respect. Then it's like, well how about you fuck off now. You and I have talked before about people's expectations of your music to be in the same Greenhead tent of sound. Probably the same for Victor. What's your plan to move beyond that?

AMAZE 88: Greedhead was its own life form before i connected with Kool AD. I never wanted to assimilate or try to mold something that fits more into the umbrella of what was/is going in the camp. I'm like one of those nerds that keeps getting picked on because he's a nerd and he knows that if he just acted like everyone else life would be easier. But he just cant help but be tidy, wear penny loafers and have Bill Nye posters in his room. I can't help but make the music I make. Do the art that I do. As for victor, he does what ever he wants to do. That's why his art is so potent and distinct. As for moving beyond.. It's a fearlessness to keep growing. To keep venturing into the corners of my soul. I cant worry about other people's perspective. Too much to handle.

SYFFAL: Basically, fuck people right? Ha ha! How do you feel about the landscape of indie hip hop/music in general ? It's not away to eat off of anymore. What's drives you to keep going ? Beside you being a badass and  general sweetie pie face head.

AMAZE 88: Indie music is great. There's a lot of people making great music out there. As for making money off of music. It's much harder now because "free" music is out of hand. I spent 3g's on my last project and I made a little over a 100 bucks. At the end of the day it really isn't worth it to try and make a Iiving out music. So much hatred spread on the internet, bloggers want payola to get a feature, phonies left and right with promises never kept, emails from random people wanting exclusive beats for 50 bucks. The record I sample from might have cost me 80 dollars! So why do i keep doing it? Because i didn't get into this for fame and fortune. It was something i had to do. In order to make money you gotta sell merch, have product. But behind that you gotta have a "name" for yourself. Time and time again I've proven to myself I dont have enough clout to produce large amounts of product to sell. So its a constant struggle to find a balance between creating something worth while and going broke. So I keep a part time job, I have no kids, I live in a crummy apartment with a shitload of records and I work on music all the time and art when I can. It's a fort that keeps the dream alive. 

SYFFAL: I want to see an all Kool Ad/Amaze 88 album. When can i expect this?

AMAZE 88: I would love to see that happen sooner than later. I'm always down, it just needs to become reality.

SYFFAL:  Make it sooner or I will fire you. How excited are you to work with Lang Vo on music projects?

AMAZE 88:  Lang is the man! I'm jittery in anticipation. 

SYFFAL:  What words of wisdom would like to drop on our heads before skkkeedaddle?

AMAZE 88: Eat your vegetables. Be kind to all peoples who deserve it. Don't be a pussyfooter and be stagnant, dive in! Money is cool but most cool things were done without the idea of making money or having money in general to do it. Make love not war. Bomb hills not countries. Drop acid not bombs. Maybe not drop acid, but you get the point.