I have featured audio and other posts on Immortal Technique before so it seemed only right to try and get an interview with the lyricist. What made me start listening to him is the single that he put out with Joell Ortiz called, "Modern Day Slavery." Since that day I started to appreciate how he used his lyrics to tell true life stories of what is happening in the world. As it states on his Myspace page: Rebellion is in my blood and Hip Hop is the heart that pumps it.
In your single, "3rd World," you talk about a lot of real things. The state that hip-hop is in do you think that will make people shy away from your music?
IT: I think it's a matter of whose opinion you want. Will it have me break through the mainstream market? Probably not. But will it expose people who are looking for more information to a world of new understanding about the world they live in? If they can read between the lines. Will it stir up debate and enable conversation? Absolutely. I think that Street Hip Hop is still very much in support of Revolutionary Hip Hop and since my music has an aggressive nature to it, it's even more accessible to the way that they see the world. The urban society of the USA prefers it's music un-diluted, no matter what sells in the mainstream. If you measure success by record sales then you'd have to sell a million units in the mainstream, but in the underground if you sell about 15- 20,000 people see that as a great achievement. "The 3rd World" has been out for 4 months and has already sold over 55,000 records. I don't think people were terrified by the reality exemplified in the music.
How did the collaboration with DJ Green Lantern for the new album come about?
IT: Ever since we did that cut "Bin Laden" with Mos Def it was just waiting in the works to happen, we had kicked around the idea and finally made it happen. We have very different schedules but eventually we both happened to be in NY for about 2 months and we got the last of the production and studio stuff finished. Green Lantern is a long time supporter of not just the Hardcore Street Stuff but the Revolutionary music with a message. With what I do he has a chance to embrace both.
What do you say to the people who say that your music is depressing?
IT: Come to a live show. Then make a judgement.
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