A Sit Down With Jerome Dickens by: Short Fuze

Recently, I sat down with a good friend of mine, Jerome Dickens. He is a talented writer, a smart individual and a huge supporter of indie hip hop. So I decided to get a view of hip hop from a fan's point of view. Enjoy and after you're done reading, check out his blog, there is some great stuff there: jeromedickens.tumblr.com/

1. What was the first independent album that got you into the scene?

There are too many albums, songs, and even labels to narrow it down to just one LP. I got into the indie scene through Stretch & Bob, Fondle Em Records & WKCR in the early 90's. Stretch & Bob introduced me to MF DOOM, Company Flow, Cage, Yak Ballz, Yeshua, Siah, Juggaknots, Adagio, Mhz, etc. Anything that was ill, new and exclusive, Stretch & Bob played it. I remember begging my mother to get me a Sony Auto-Reverse tape deck, because if you fell asleep before turning that tape over, it was a wrap until next week, not to mention the freestyle session you missed. Then after listening to the shows, I'd hit up Fat Beats, Beat Street Records, Music Factory, Record Explosion, Tower, Sam Goody, J&R World, even the Mom & Pop joints looking for what I heard. I was that kid in HS who listened to all the new underground shit while everyone else was clambering over Pac or Biggie, claiming sides over a trumped up media beef. It was all about the music with me. For example, I remember the first time I heard Cannibal Ox. Bob played "Ox Out The Cage" and I was like, "WHO THE FUCK ARE THOSE GUYS!!!" This one show introduced all of us to a multitude of artists who shaped the way we listen to music today. Stretch & Bob are radio pioneers!

2. Why do you feel it so important to support indie hip hop?

When I support indie records, I provide capital for future releases. When I go to shows and buy merch, I keep labels afloat. When I spread the word about dope artists to other people, I bring new followers into the fold.

3. You have been a long time supporter of Uncommon Records, how did you discover them?

I was at Fat Beats one day, and I was a huge Definitive Jux fan until they closed their doors, so the Woke 12" was gonna get copped regardless. I got home and dropped the needle on that record, and instantly became a fan. RAZOR FUND!!! Nasa's production is dope and him and Cirrus Minor got lyrics too. They're not phony individuals. Cats make real music. Music I can identify with. I work everyday. I pay bills. Most of my favorite artists are working class people. I can't associate with a rapper talking about cars, women, money or stealing a former drug dealer’s identity. I ride the trains & buses, got my lady, and a little nest egg. No Bentley. No stacks. No gaudy jewelry. None of that! I'm not trying to bust a cap in anyone or degrade women. Uncommon Records releases real music from the heart. I've told Nasa on many occasions that I'm glad he started his own movement. The team is ill and diverse, and still growing. I'll always be a supporter of Uncommon Records!

4. In your opinion, what are some of the pros and cons of how the scene has changed?

The internet is a pro and con, in itself. The net has made it possible for artists to expose the masses to their music. Start a Bandcamp or Soundcloud page, have a Blog, Myspace, Facebook & Twitter pages, a website, etc. Spread the word about your movement. The net has also introduced mass bootlegging to the game, through blogs and file sharing. We're all guilty of downloading songs and LPs illegally, but when you don't support the music, that's when most artists fail to generate revenue. People don't understand what it cost to produce one record, not just a LP! Studio time, marketing, production, etc. These artists don't make any money off their projects until the label recoups the money it invested in the project. So if you're going to illegally download LPs, think about that starving artist who works a day job, just to finance a full length LP, and you're downloading it for free. You’re stealing hard earned money out of their pockets, TWICE!!!

A con would have to be the Hip Hop Ego, most definitely! Alotta artist feel like they don't need to rep anymore because there's grander opportunities out there. I don't expect any artists to stay in one zone, I expect progression, but as we've seen, some artists have alienated their fans because they want to progress musically.

5. As a fan, what would like to see change the most?

I'm tired of people coming outta nowhere and getting more recognition than majority of the legends in the game! You got cats who've become overnight success stories off just one song, or a DJ who hasn't carried any crates or rocked a jam becoming the man, based on who they know, or nothing at all. Cats need to start paying more dues. It's insane!

6. What was the illest show you have been to?

A SMI Showcase w/ Masai Bey, Despot, Zestrock (Zesto!) & Non Specific. It was a small venue off Times Square. Masai Bey rocked the turns and mic. Non Specific did their set on a dusty looking couch. Despot & Zest rocked it! Fucking Nasa & Cirrus Minor were in the spot too. At the time, I knew who they were and what they looked like but I was shocked that those cats were even in the spot. But now I realize why. They're all family!

7. We have built a friendship through Twitter, how has social networking changed your ability to interact with some of your favorite artists?

Social Networking has enabled artist such as yourself, to directly interact with the people who support your music and movement. I buy music directly from you guys, majority of the time. I don't support itunes, at all. I'd rather the money go straight to your pocket.

8. As a New York resident, why do think NYC hip hop has went the direction it went? What would you like see change, if anything?

Everything is geared towards capital, and living that elusive rapper dream. The Underground Scene of the 90's really spoiled NYC. I remember when there was a show every weekend. BB Kings, Wetlands, Knitting Factory, Highland Ballroom, even little spots had shows popping off. Now, you can't catch a showcase in the city, unless you got your ear to the streets or peepers in the Village Voice. I would like to see more shows. More of the artists I like listen to, played on major NYC radio stations. Stop proclaiming cats saviors of Hip Hop when they have no bar codes under their name. For artists to be true to themselves and make the kind of music they wanna make instead of being carbon copies of someone wack.

9. Who was your favorite artist growing up? Favorite artist now?

Growing up I was a MF DOOM fan, and I still am. I was in High School when dude came back with the stocking cap. He' so ill, and elusive. We all knew he was Zev Luv X from KMD, but he came back with a sinister outlook on hip hop & life. Like Mos Def said,

"He (MF DOOM) looks how I feel."

Just a real sinister individual, who speaks of himself in 3rd person, as if he's narrating his own rhymes. He uses pop culture references that most of us haven't paid much attention to. A person, that's opened my eyes to so much culture and history. Funny thing is, every time I get angry, I listen to Operation: Doomsday, NO LIE! I just zone out on that LP!

10. You have a vast knowledge of hip hop, what aspect of it captures you the most?

I would have to say beats & samples. I grew up on what cats are sampling now, and I'm doing my own digging, study samples, and trying to get a hold of my grandfather's record collection, haha! I'm 29 yrs old and I still get amazed at hearing how a cat may have flipped or chopped a sample, and created something totally different from the Main Source, no pun intended!