In this installment of the Q5 series I had the opportunity to kick it with the legendary SEN ONE. SEN ONE has been scribing hip hop since hip hop was taking baby steps. His fascination for art began when he first saw the rolling canvas (a.k.a. the subway train) in NYC. SEN ONE uses his art to send a positive message and to open a portal into his creative mind. As a member of the Universal Zulu Nation, SEN ONE spreads creativity, knowledge and wisdom to uplift himself and others in his community. It is with great pleasure to introduce SEN ONE!
SEN ONE, I have a few questions before we move into the Quick 5.
Stroydnaire:What/Who inspired you to be an artist?
SEN ONE:Growing up I remember the iron horses passing by with colors and shapes that spoke to me. I was born in 1971 so I was blessed to see the element of Hip-Hop Hieroglyphics in its earliest forms. Let me explain the term “Hip Hop Hieroglyphics”. The word “graffiti” and “break dancing” are terms put on us by the corporate media. We tell the stories of our culture-like the scribes of our past. If you study human history we have always tried to beautify our surroundings. The first taggers were the cavemen who sprayed paint around their hands in the caves. Check any art from our forefathers-we have been combining letters with characters for millennia. The artists that inspire me are: LAVA 1and2, ERNI, VULCAN, NIC ONE, DONDI, JAMES TOP, CHUCK CLOSE, BUDDY ESQUIRE, KUFU, VAUGHN BODE- I mean there are so many.
Being an artist yourself, do you feel as if artists/muralists don’t get the shine they deserve? Do you feel like our current hip hop culture is losing touch with the art element of hip hop?
I believe that we are overlooked in terms of the general view of Hip Hop. I rarely ever see album covers with artwork on it. In Europe there seems to be more of an appreciation for writing.
The current state of Hip Hop is ignoring not just “graffiti” but all true elements of expression. There are 5 elements:
1. DJ
2. MC
3. Hip Hop Hieroglyphics
4. B-boy/ B-Girl
5. Knowledge
You don’t see many DJ’s backing up the rappers of today-MC’s have turned into “rappers”, or as Dr. Shaka Zulu says RAP stands for recording artists pretending-“graffiti” isn’t used by any of these rappers-B-boys/B-girls aren’t used on stage- and we’ve strayed away from seeking knowledge. It’s cooler now to have a criminal record than seeking understanding.
Hip hop as a whole has to return to the element of knowledge- one of the most popular rappers out today used to be a correctional officer and yet pretends to be a big time street hustler.
We have allowed our females to become objects-we went from powerful female mc’s to Barbie dolls?
DJ’s used to play speeches from Malcolm X over break beats-now we use quotes from the movie “Scarface”.
Being an active member of the Universal Zulu Nation, my duty is to set an example and to teach-that’s what I do with my artwork. I suggest that anyone that wants to know about Hip Hop culture attend our anniversary celebration in November or go to a park jam thrown by TOOLS of WAR in NYC.
Hip Hop is when you can bring your children to a show.
What is the wildest thing that ever happened to you while bombing?
The wildest thing is the fact that I have to risk incarceration to express myself.
Before we move on to the Q5 portion of the interview I’d like to say that I always said hip hop had 4 elements. After hearing SEN ONE break it down, knowledge is the 5th element of hip hop. So true.
Okay, here we go with the Quick 5.
Q.1 From an artist’s point of view….what are your 5 favorite hip hop
album covers?
There’s a bunch-but here’s 5 off the dome:
1. Renegades of Funk-Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force
2. Illmatic- NAS
3. Incredible Bongo Band- Bongo Rock
4. The Tipping Point-The Roots
5. Black Star- Mos Def and Talib Kweli
Q.2 If you could tag up any landmark in the world.what would it be?
I don’t know if it’s a landmark- but probably 2 places-Reagan National Airport and across Giuliani’s forehead.
Oh Snap!!!
Q.3 In your opinion, what was the best year in hip hop?
Every year before the Bling-bling era came.
Q.4 If you could make your own super group(mc’s and a dj) Who would be in it?
Ghostface, DOOM and Preemo. Sick answer!
Q.5 What hip hop album do you remember listening to and just saying, “Damn, this album is dope!”
Planet Rock-Afrika Bambaataa
SEN ONE, anything else that you would like to say before we wrap this up?
Peace to Sandi and my Universal Zulu Nation family.
I would like to thank SEN ONE for taking time out to do this interview with me. Much love and respect from The 7th Boro crew. Shout out to the Universal Zulu Nation for bringing us this beautiful thing of ours named hip hop.
If you would like to know more about SEN ONE, He has a website and and a show named “Visual Caffeine”. Check them out right here.
website: www.peds89.com
Here is the show’s link Visual Caffeine
Animations: www.youtube.com/pedsandi
Stroydnaire
