D-Tension

17 years ago view-show 707,949

Artist: D-Tension

 

Reppin’ (What city you reppin’?): Lowell, MA

 

Affiliation (What crew or artists you roll with?): Los Wunder Twins del Rap aka D-Tension & Effect with DJ Gleek

 

Influences (Who inspires you? Not limited to just hip-hop): KRS ONE, The Clash, Cat Stevens, De La Soul, Billy Bragg, Run DMC.  

 

Backstory (How’d you get in the game? How did the group form? What work did you put in before getting signed to a label ?):

 

I started producing beats 12 years ago and started to sell them to rappers, which got me more involved in the music scene. At that time I also fronted a live hip hop band The Unforgettables, which opened a lot of doors for me. From there I’ve done many hip hop related jobs from booking agent to journalist, promoter and radio personality.  

 

Current project (What are you pushing right now? What can people expect from it? Feel free to just hype your album here…why did you name the album that name? Was there a theme? Any funny stories during its creation?):

 

I am finishing up the debut album from Los Wunder Twins del Rap, which will include a DVD with 6 music videos and a full length film. I am also working on my next solo album "Sell Cocaine to the Kids" which is about the pimping of ourselves and our culture with total disregard to the consequences and our future. This is handled in a humerous way and no actual cocaine was sold to any actual children.

 

I’m also in the middle of writing a screenplay for a Wunder Twins movie, which is hilarious. In addition I am directing music videos for bands and hip hop artists. Directing is definetly my next career.

 

Purpose (What kind of impact do you hope to have on the game? Do you just want to go platinum or is there something more?)

 

I want people to see that you can do things your own way and have success. The major label formula isn’t really for artists, it’s for rap stars who aren’t very concerned with making art. They want money and will do anything to get it. You do not have to go that route and can still pay your bills. Ask Mr. Lif or Atmosphere. I’ve even cashed a check or two and my music is not exactly for Da Clubs.

 

Is hip-hop really dead? (Wax philosophical here, break down what you think of hip-hop today or compare it to when you were coming up. Good? Bad? Break it down!)

 

Hip hop isn’t dead, but rap music sucks. I had this concept for an album and released it before Nas. However I was careful to distinguish the difference between rap music and hip hop. I didn’t want to disrespect hip hop by saying "hip hop sucks" because it doesn’t suck. Rap music is the problem. I do agree with Nas’s basic thesis but, no, hip hop is not dead. It just has cancer.

 

Three wishes (If you had three wishes to change anything within hip-hop, what would they be? Bring someone back to life? Get a Kanye West beat? Make snap music disappear?):

 

1. I wish young people understood the history of hip hop. If they did, then half of the crap on the charts right now would not exist. I find it interesting that when a kid takes guitar lessons and wants to be a rock star, he learns what today’s music is all about but he also studies The Beatles, Chuck Berry and Robert Johnson. But most aspiring rappers don’t have any sense of history, tradition or culture. They just want the quick fix and imitate what’s hot right now. Your average 17 year old has no idea what "Criminal Minded" was or what "3 Feet High and Rising" is. They live for the moment and since "the moment" passes and is not timeless they gain very little from their CD collection. They don’t go back and listen to an album that was hot 2 years ago because it’s old and irrelevant. Most of these modern rap records have no staying power where as I can still listen to The White Album or The Low End Theory and still think they’re as great as they ever were.

 

2. I wish Major Labels would choke on their own vomit. That is slowly happening as technology makes the indie artist more viable. At the same time, if a major wants to give me money to make an interesting album, I’m all ears but I ain’t holding my breath.

 

3.  I wish people would quit doing that stupid arm swing dance while saying "yoyo" when I tell them I rap. I mean, who actually does that