Growing up in Philly under the wing of The Legendary Roots Crew, Truck North has been mastering the craft of an MC since a young age. He’s been a guest feature on five Roots albums starting with the Tipping Point and has numerous mix-tapes spanning from his own solo work to his crew The Money Making Jam Boys (Black Thought, Dice Raw, P.O.R.N., STS and Truck North). I first met Truck at a SXSW showcase we both played in 2010. Since then we’ve been collaborating in hopes of making some classic songs. I talked with Truck about his philosophies on life, hip hop and politics and this is what he had to say:
I don’t really know where it’s heading. The culture itself has kind of just turned into a revolving door of here today, gone today rappers. Hopefully with the influx of this new generation of lyricists, we can turn things around. I can only do my part by staying true to my fundamentals and to myself.
How did you get involved with the Roots crew?
What was the first rap song that really got you into rapping?
I mean, I've been rapping since I was around 12 and listened to hip hop my entire life prior to that. I can't really pinpoint one particular song that made me say,“ Damn, I really want to do this for life”, but there was one fall in particular that has forever fucked up my existence on earth. I'd already had an abnormal hip hop habit but this one day after saving lunch money for a bout a week and a half, I took the bus to the record store and got The Infamous by Mobb Deep and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. I haven’t been the same since that day.
What are some of the upcoming projects you have for 2013?
Coming up for 2013 I'm just continuing the work I put in, in 2012. So there's another EP coming, there’s a few tapes coming, maybe a full length release, and another album by The Roots that we're working on now. I’m trying to get some of these Jake One joints materialized into a project. Hopefully I can get my brother Rashad to drop this project we worked on a while ago as well, amongst the slew of songs I'll drop in the mix.
What are your thoughts on the state of hip hop now?
My thoughts on the current state of hip hop are sort of mixed. I’m feeling that the music is too microwavable, it isn't smart enough overall, and the winner take all mentality that plagues it doesn’t allow for a healthy cultivation of real artistry. It feels like we don’t even have classic, timeless joints anymore. On the flip side, there are pockets of cats who are starting to gain some props for being lyricists and not conforming to doing what'll get them buzzing for a year.
Where do you think its heading?
I don’t really know where it’s heading. The culture itself has kind of just turned into a revolving door of here today, gone today rappers. Hopefully with the influx of this new generation of lyricists, we can turn things around. I can only do my part by staying true to my fundamentals and to myself.
Tell the people a funny situation you’ve had in music?
I’m a huge goof so we're always laughing or joking about whatever but I can say the funniest thing that happens is when I run into someone in a store or at a show and we get into talking about hip hop. Who's dope, who's nice or whatever, and I'm brought up, but they don’t know it’s me who they're talking to or about. Sometimes I reveal myself and we have a laugh. Sometimes I just bask in the kind words and agree with ‘em.
Where’s the best place in Philly to get food?
The best place to get food in Philly is The Latest Dish, right off South St. They have a real dope vibe in there.
The best place to get food in Philly is The Latest Dish, right off South St. They have a real dope vibe in there.
The Nets or Knicks?
Knicks all day fam. I bleed blue and orange and I have since I can remember. My dad was a Knicks fan so he passed that down. You didn’t really have a choice as a kid.
What are some of your favorite films or shows?
I’m loving Boardwalk Empire , It's Always Sunny, The League and Boss right now but my faves always change because shows end and their not back until next year so I'm waiting for some other faves to come back off hiatus. Films..? man, way too many to name. I’m what some people would call a “cinephile”. At any given moment I could be watching anything from Citizen Kane to some random Dutch drama...lol
How did you get involved with the Roots crew?
I had been around The Roots since I was in middle school. One of my best friends is Kamal’s brother and we hung out all the time in and outside of school. So I would always see them pack up the Land Cruiser and head out for shows in the early days. Naturally being that close to one of our favorite hip hop acts made us want to venture into it so we formed a little rap crew with some homies in the 7th grade. By the end of 10th grade we were the sharpest MCs in our school and by 12th grade we were recording songs of our own. After graduation we'd really gotten into serious original joints. Kamal had heard them somehow and decided to sign us to his production team. This was also the time where we had to make decisions on what we wanted for our lives. So as the months passed, four of us in the studio a few times a week turned into just me in the studio everyday. That lead to being around The Roots more which lead to them asking me to be a part of the jam sessions for The Tipping Point. I didn’t leave the studio for a week. The rest is history.
What advice would you give to the young bucks trying to get into to the music industry?
My advice is usually be prepared for things to not go your way. With so many people rapping now, there’s naturally more noise to sift through to be heard. Another jewel is manage your expectations. I mean lets look at the numbers. Numerically you have a better chance of playing in the NBA if you started playing ball today then you would to make a platinum record...shit, at least there is a 1 in 600 chance. At some point the shit becomes a lottery so sometimes it’s about how many tickets you buy and sometimes people just get lucky. You just have to prepare as much as you can for your moment, even if that moment never comes.
Tequila or whisky?
Whisky for sure.....it helps me gauge my limits. Tequila has the habit of sneaking up on me like a pickpocket, next thing you know you're opening your eyes in a foreign bed fully clothed checking your pockets...lol
What was your upbringing in Philly like? Give us a little family background. Were your parents musical?
My upbringing in Philly wasn’t the best, but it definitely wasn’t the worst. My neighborhood was a crack haven, vials everywhere man. Crack was very real, like I literally seen it deteriorate my environment around me but I grew up in a home with a lot of love. Neither of my parents were musical per say, but they loved music and I'm sort of a musical mutt. Mom was all Motown and soul music from the 60s & 70s. Pop was all funk and really got into new jack swing for some reason. My grandfather listened to a lot of Ray Charles and classic big band. I grew up in a Puerto Rican neighborhood so there was always some Hector Lavoe, always salsa & merengue. My cousin who watched me sometimes listened to hair bands of the 80s & early 90s, actually all that first generation MTV stuff and my older male cousins put me on to the hip hop of their time. So I was always a little more inclined to know more Ice Cube or Crown Rulers or JVC Force lyrics then other kids my age...shit that's still the case. Black Thought calls me a young old head.
How did you come up with the name Truck North?
There’s no crazy story or Wu Tang generated name I got online or anything..lol. I was always a bigger kid and thats where Truck came from. North comes from the part of town I'm from and represent. Simple...lol
You have an album coming out entitled, Our American Cousin. Can you tell us a little about it?
Well for starters Our American Cousin is the title of the play by Tom Taylor that president Lincoln was attending when he was assassinated. It’s ironic because this comedic play is forever linked to one of our countries most critical events. You never know how your mark on history will be made, whether famously or infamously. That’s what the title represents for me, as far as the actual EP, there’s production by Rashad, The Wurxs, Dame the Great & Schooley V. I really wanted The Wurxs to get some burn on this one. I think they're the best new producers coming out of Philly. As far as features, I wanted to keep it at a minimum so there’s a joint with Asher Roth & Black Thought that is straight murder, and my brother Rashad sang on one of the three joints he produced. Everything else is to the face..lol. This is only the beginning though, I have a shit ton of music I'm releasing after this.
What do you want to bring to the rap game?
I wanna bring the rap game to my world of dope rhymes, fresh production that’s distinguishable and palatable for longer then the moment, and truthful artistry that makes you feel something when you hear it. That’s all man, just wanna make my mark.
Last question, George The Animal Steele or Rowdy Roddy Piper?
Ummm George The Animal Steele was a little before my time. I'm of the days of Bret The Hitman Heart and Brutus the Barber Beefcake..lol..so I gotta go with Piper. He was always a favorite of mine and I loved the fact that he didn’t have a finishing move...lol...that’s some hardcore shit right there.
Here are some links to Truck North’s music:
Stay tuned for the upcoming single from Truck North, Riot Act, featuring HomeBoy Sandman, produced by yours truly, Neon Brown.
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