Buckshot Interview: SXSW 2010

Brooklyn native Buckshot (born Kenyatta Blake) is one of underground hip-hop's founders. He started raising eyebrows in 1992 and hasn't stopped. While other rappers got famous by branding themselves with clothing lines and endorsement deals, Buckshot went corporate founding Duck Down Records with his partner Dru-Ha. Now a motivational speaker as a well as performer, Buckshot's single 'Robot' with longtime friend KRS-One is turning heads. Spinner recently spoke with Buckshot in anticipation of his SXSW gig.

How would describe your sound?

I would say eclectic. It's the new hip-hop electric. It's the sound of the bass, drums and the electric freedom of letting yourself go. Most of the people who listen to my music have a sense of letting go and can be related to verbally and also a feeling of freedom in the music that reminds them of when they grew up. The underground today is a combination of underground style of Boot Camp Clik's hardcore-ness with a freedom of speech and street with double brothers De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest.

Who is in your band now and how did you come together?

I'm a certain type of individual. I like to work with a lot of different people. I'm a team player and I work within a crew. Any time I work with people I have a criteria of love and affection.

Who are your musical influences?

People who are MTIs--that stands for multi-talented individuals. Artists who are unique storytellers who paint a picture whether it be on canvas or tunes are my influences, like Motown artists and Michael Jackson.

What's in your festival survival kit?

I'm bringing the BDI, all-eye seeing. People run from me when they see me coming. When you see me coming you know there's information coming and splashing around from me. I'm bringing education and entertainment. Together that is called edu-tainment, which was coined by KRS-One. I got two things in mind: I'm going to entertain you and two I'm going to tell you how to survive in the next couple of years.

What is your biggest vice?

We're going through Mars retro. Everyone is coming out of a dead-zone, people are distracted, I'm distracted helping people. We're about to come out of that. I try to help everybody who needs help. What makes us all equal in this life is the fact we are all given 24 hours in a day and what you want to do with those is up to you.

What is your musical guilty pleasure?

Jamie Foxx is an MTI. Most people don't want to recognize him as an MTI. When you see him dance in a Snoop video, people thinks it's a joke but that dude can really, really dance. He's one of the most talented singers out there, one of the most talented comedians and one of the most talented actors period! There are people out there who don't want to recognize it.

Tupac nicknamed you the BDI Thug. What is the meaning behind it?

BDI means the all-seeing eye. When you look at the cartoon Thundercats, the main character Lion-O had a sword with an eye on it. That eye, the Eye of Thundera, gave him sight beyond sight. When the third eye goes up to the head it represents the third eye mind seeing beyond what is literally visible. Tupac called me the BDI Thug because he knew the true meaning. He did something rare which was take something everyone sees at face value as bad, and he turned it around into something more positive. He did that with the word "thug" and that's the how come he called me the BDI Thug.

What's the craziest thing you've experienced on tour?

I was in California with Tupac. I went to see him in the studio. There was a female who I met who was about 6'5". I told Pac he was going to love this woman. He liked tall women. Sure enough he was going crazy joking. You can see this in the movie 'Thug Immortal.' It's me and Tupac in the bathroom of the studio bugging out with the girl. Next thing you know Tupac just cut out the lights. For me personally it felt like being a kid when you would turn off the light. It was funny for me because I had that one moment with Tupac.

How did you get the moniker Buckshot?

When I was young, I have footage of me in 1991 at 17 years old doing a fake interview. There was a guy who didn't know anything interviewing me. I said, "Just sit there and I'll do it." A buckshot is a small object that can hit many and increases the impact. I'm 5'5" and I got to attack a big world. I've been able to conquer the hip-hop world and the corporate community. I never let the world see me as anything but big despite my smaller stature.

How did you team up with Mary J. Blige on 'The Way I Live?'

Mary goes back to the '90's with me. We did a song called 'I Love You (Ghetto Spring Memories).' I put out the word that KRS-One and I needed a female to work with and we wanted the best. It happened that Mary was working out to my new album so she said yes.

Do you have a personal motto?

Yes, it's don't let anyone stop what you believe in! That happens all the time.

Colleen M. Quill is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.