INTERVIEW WITH CHI-SAW
MCHH: Introduce the readers to CHI-SAW.
Chi-Saw: Whud up world! We are CHI-SAW. (C)heck (H)ow (I)ntelligent (S)oldiers (A)pply (W)isdom. Our roots
can be traced from Brampton, Ont. to Houston, Texas. They're are 4 of us in the click, K-T-B the Yung Prince,
B.R.A.S.S. UZI aka: Yung Swamp Thing, Blank Slate aka: Yung Anakin Vader & Mantis aka: Yung FACE the Viking.
How did CHI-SAW come to be?
Brass: K-T-B and I was hustling on the block. Along with Mantis, we used to always be rappin' to each other.
Eventually, we were tired of just hustling in circles so we decided to try to make something bigger pop off.
That's how CHI - SAW was born. We wanted to expand & heard Slate was also on his grind, killin' the underground so
we asked him to join the fold. The rest is history.
When did you first get into hip hop and what made you decide to pick up the mic?
K-T-B: Early on, my older brother used to play Digital Underground, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe D & Special Ed. The
music was something new to me, watching the videos made me want to express myself through music just like they
did. If I couldn't express myself through writing and picking up the mic, I feel as though I would have exploded.
Describe your sound.
Mantis: Our sound is unique, heart felt, underground and realistic. We rep real life. Some cats try to fabricate their
own life and stories by frontin' about what they go through. It's not everyday people wake up, gripping a pistol. It's
not what people wanna hear all day. Don't get us wrong though, we're not saying be on the party shit, just be real
with yourself.
What are your opinions on the hip hop scene in Toronto and Canada as a whole?
Slate: Our opinions on the hip hop scene in Toronto are that for over a decade some notable emcees have made it big on
home soil as well as across the border, yet we still don't have a solid foundation for our market. They don't call
Toronto the screwface capital of the world for nothin. It seems like everyone and their aunt think they can rap but
artists such as us, that have been in the independent scene for years are being pushed aside for a 50 cent or Jay-Z
wannabes.
Instead of helping out homegrown talent, labels are looking to repeat history. As long as you are a clone and can
take orders, your in. Once you try to break that shell, your out. We believe that the real will come to light.
It's gonna take originality, heart, soul, blood, sweat & tears to turn things around in Toronto. Canada as a whole,
we feel, is making T.O. look like a sinking ship. T.O. is the mega city, yet still can't do numbers like Swollen
do out West. It all comes down to the acceptance of the music.
What are your goals, both short and long term, and what drives your to reach those goals?
Mantis: Short term we'd like to keep things movin'. Getting our material out to the masses as best we can, while
making outstanding music & handling our business ventures.
K-T-B: Long Term we'd like to be signed to a major. Being on a major would help any artist drastically and we plan
to keep pushing for that goal.
Brass: What drives us is everyday life. Waking up @ 5 to catch the bus to work in the morning. Struggling in a
non-air conditioned warehouse for 10 hrs. Trying to feed our family. That's what drives us, real life.
You have a few releases coming up, tell our readers what they can expect this summer.
Slate: Well, first off we got CHI - SAW member B.R.A.S.S. UZI ready to drop his debut album entitled "905 281"
this summer. B.R.A.S.S. is a southern rap monster. Raised in Houston, Texas all his life, he is one of the most
original and technically sound artists this side of the border. With a style all his own, you should expect
nothing less than a extraordinary release & NO he ain't trying to be from the South, don't get it twisted, HE
IS the South.
Brass: Our next release will be from K-T-B, Knucks The Barbarian. The Lizard King has returned to release his
21 track mix tape album entitled "Beyond Thunderdome". Expect real life, real situations & real soul followed
by K-T-B's sophomore album release entitled "Diary Of A Prince," which speaks for itself. Recently, we got on
the moms and pops tip so be on the lookout for these two releases at The Jump Off on Queen St. in Brampton.
Where can our readers check for CHI-SAW material?
Brass: We are close to launching a www.chisaw.com website in the near future that will include all previous
material for viewing and listening purposes, as well as, a place to purchase new CHI - SAW material on the site.
Currently, you can catch us on www.myspace.com/chisaw which has our bio,
pics and exclusive tracks from the various CHI - SAW members. We also have our own solo websites which are linked
to that website. You can also purchase CHI - SAW material at CD PLUS.
Any final comments or shout outs?
K-T-B: Just wanna say thanks to all the fans that keep us rollin, good looking out. If you wanna reach us we got our
indie label hot line: L.O.D. RECORDS / CHI ENTERPRISES (416)801-6651, and you can peep exclusive shit on that as well.
Promoters & Producers holla @ us, the number again: (416)801 -6651!!! Ya heard!! www.myspace.com/chisaw,
chisawchiefs@hotmail.com.
Now on to the fam, we wanna shout out: the Yung Lordz Of Doom, the 905 Wolfpac, Chi Enterprises, L.O.D., 905 Hustla's,
Unsylenced Records, Misery, DJ Smokie, Soundsmith, Blake, Mr. Hooks, Matt @ Mega City for the interview, DJ Little
Italy, DJ Deposit & Gabs. CHHHIIIIII!!!!!!
|
 
|
