The Bronx is indisputably the birthplace of hip-hop, so it's no coincidence that the NY borough has produced some of the game's best and brightest emcees. Determined to join that proud rap lineage is
MaG, who in this edition of our My City series explains how his Bronx hometown helped shaped him, lists his all-time best Bronx rappers and says that if you're in the Fordham Rd. area you should come see him.
RefinedHype: Hip-hop originated in the Bronx. How has being from such a historic rap locale influenced your music and career?
MaG: I think that its a huge influence. I was raised on "Criminal Minded" and "Gotta Flow Joe"...I wanted to be the next KRS-One or Fat Joe to represent for the Bronx but in a different way. Even when we talk about a Lord Tariq or a Peter Gunz...cats who really tried to let people know the Bronx has some real talent. There's a lot of pride in being able to say Hip-Hop started in my borough, the home of a Grandmaster Caz and Kool Herc and Flash...its an honor and a privilege. There's a tradition I feel like I have to uphold and I carry that with me every time I'm on stage or in the booth. Its a legacy that I am definitely aware and proud of.
RefinedHype: If you were going to put together a Bronx All-Star rap crew, alive or dead, who would be on it?
MaG: Ah man...how about the whole D.I.T.C.? LOL...nah man I would have to say Big Pun, KRS-One, Fat Joe circa 1993-2000 and Lord Finesse. Just the idea of even sitting in a room with KRS-One or even Pun man just gives me chills. Just to see the process. I can only imagine how Joe felt when he first heard Pun. Its one of those things that just can't ever be duplicated. Finesse doesn't get alot of credit but when you hear Big L, you hear Finesse. That slick talk...that was all Finesse's lane right there. Fat Joe I think was huge in the success of hip-hop for the Bronx and a lot of people knock the direction his music is taking but Joe was one of the first real "backpack" emcees and definitely opened some doors for people in the hood.
RefinedHype: Where do you go for inspiration?
MaG: Anywhere people are. There's just inspiration everywhere man. I watch the news, conversations me and my girl have, new music. I think I'm definitely more of an auditory person. Sounds and music inspire me. I hear Jay Electronica going in on a joint and my pen starts moving. Or I hear a new Premier beat and I get excited.
RefinedHype: If I'm rolling through the Bronx where can I find you?
MaG: I'm a real homebody but the Fordham Rd. area is where I've lived damn near all my life so anywhere between 183rd and 190th st's. Creston, Morris, and Jerome avenues. I'm either in the crib or the studio.
RefinedHype: Last words?
MaG: Download the "
$5 Cover EP" featuring myself on the mic and
G.C. of
Hipnott Records on the boards. Its sponsored by KevinNottingham.com and its a just a solid project. Be on the lookout for the "I Ain't Goin' Back to Retail" LP dropping December 22nd...got production from
Remot, Small Professor, Cold Legistics, Dert, J-Rell out of Chicago. And if you're in the New York area on December 12th, check for myself,
Chronikill and
DXA at the Bowery Poetry Club. Last but not least, want to thank everyone for the support and really proving to me that if you can make honest music from the heart that you believe in, people will believe in it too. Quick shouts to the whole Bronx! And thank you RefinedHype.com for the love and support...definitely appreciated.
