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We talked about issues in Africa and ethnic cleansing... We talked about Southeast Asia and all different issues that are encompassed to draw that parallel with how the superpowers of the First World have traditionally exploited the Third World for its resources, land and industries. And we relate that back to how superpowers and major labels have exploited the Third World of the [music] underground. -Immortal Technique on his new album |
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Photo of Immortal Technique at a mosque in North Africa
 Immortal Technique |
"I never relied on radio to help sell records or get stuff out there. When I was coming up in the rap world, getting my feet wet as a teenager, back then it was all pay-for-play. There was no secret about it. That's what it was. Any DJ that says that pay-for-play does not exist is either a lying bitch or the only motherfucker that's not getting paid," observes Technique. "I hate to say it that way. I know a lot of DJ's who say, 'I don't fuck with that,' but they're not going to tell you it's not real. They're not going to insult your intelligence and say it doesn't happen. They may personally remove themselves from the situation but for anyone else [that would] come to me, and say that [pay-for-play is] a myth from the '50s, I don't know whose dick you were just suckin', homie, but you gotta take that dick outta your mouth."
When socialism came up in conversation, his response was a bit defensive with the implication that he'd been verbally harangued over the subject before. To set the record straight, Technique says, "I'm not anti-democratic in any way, shape or form. I'm not a Marxist. I'm not a communist. I just think that when we talk about socialism, people get the wrong idea. They come into it with these stupid preconceptions like, 'Oh, socialism is the government paying for things.' Yeah? Well have you ever heard about the fire department or the police department, you stupid motherfucker? Those are socialist organizations. Have you ever heard of the military? That is possibly the most socialist experience you could ever have. The government is paying for every single thing that you own."
As he talked about his connection to Latin America and its influence on his politics, he managed to connect U.S. economic policy with his beefs with the record industry.
"I don't know if I would say my being born in Latin America has a lot to do with my rapping about that regions politics because I have no connection to the Middle East in terms of my heritage and those are a big part of the issues I rap about," he says. "It's not just that I rap more about the war on terror and situations in the Middle East and the Muslim world than I did Latin America, but I think with The 3rd World we talked about it a lot more. We talked about issues in Africa and ethnic cleansing, Bosnia or Serbia or whatever it may be. We talked about Southeast Asia and all different issues that are encompassed to draw that parallel with how the superpowers of the First World have traditionally exploited the Third World for its resources, land and industries. And we relate that back to how superpowers and major labels have exploited the Third World of the [music] underground."
 Immortal Technique |
"Anyone you see in the mainstream, all these people are in some way, shape or form survivors of that Third World underground," he continues. "Nelly, 50 Cent, Puffy, they all used to be underground at some point. The difference is when an artist goes mainstream that's not following the same process developing nations do when they deal with First World capitalist regimes who say, 'Listen, you have to give us your water. We want to privatize your oil and communications.' [Similarly, they tell recording artists], 'Give me your masters and partial ownership. We want 360 deals, and a cut of the shows.' It's gotten that bad, and even if they don't take it from that artist, then that artist has to find people to feed to the industry so that they don't get nothing taken out of their chunk. But, they're still feeding the motherfucker to the machine."
His capacity to find parallels with abusive foreign policies and major label practices is the smoke to the fire that is his masterful ability to take major issues and put them in a light his listener can connect with. He may not be playing Madison Square Garden any time soon, but when folks look back at the many laughingstocks hip-hop has given us this decade, Immortal Technique will be able to hold his head up high.
As the conversation moved from his music towards his future, he talked about leaving behind a legacy that would be very much immortal.
"I want to be remembered for standing up for what I believed in, that I learned from both my successes and failures, and that I prepared the way for the person who will come after me. Because believe me, I'm not the first and I won't be the last."
JamBase | Worldwide
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