The very talented Kentucky MC, Devine Carama, took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions for me. Each question is set up with a snippet off his latest album, No Child Left Behind. The responses were received via email; so I decided to put the questions, responses, and snippets together in a short video.
I hope this interview with Devine, along with the snippets off the album, caught your interest enough to go SUPPORT the music. Get your copy of “No Child Left Behind” HERE
ALSO, go download:
His October 2012 release: It Was Rewritten: A Nas Tribute
His March 2012 release: Heart Of A King
INTERVIEW with Devine Carama:
Mills: Explain the Concept behind the album title and the overall album concept?
Devine: Well, I think Hip Hop has turned into an interesting and somewhat destructive paradox if you ask me. While the content of most of the mainstream music being pushed is for adults, the market in which this content targets is CHILDREN!! lol smh.. Crazy… So I just wanted to kind of match the message and the target up on this album. So I wrote each song as if it was a personal letter of hidden truths to a young middle schooler.. I didn’t want to touch on the cookie cutter things that most conscious artists touched on but rather push the envelope a little and touch on some things that they may have not heard before..
Mills: What made you choose to make the type of Hip Hop music you make? Who are your influences?
Devine: Simple. God, my people, and my kids. We are all walking contradictions on some level, but there is no way that I can stand for so many things and not represent those stances in my music. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night my g..
Mills: Who are some your favorite MCs that make “timeless” music? Who from the “new” rappers do you think are making timeless music?
Devine: The first part of this question is a lot easier to answer.. Nas, Common, Pac, Biggie, Hov, Lauryn Hill, Kanye, Phonte… As for the new era… Timeless is a strong word man.. I like a lot of new artists but I think only a few are currently making timeless music. Kendrick of course.. J. Cole trajectory is crazy right now. I’d have to say Drake, Rapsody and KRIT as well..
Mills: If you had an unlimited budget for a dream album, who would be your producers and guest artists??
Devine: Awww man!!! Great question.. One I’ve asked myself many times before.. Let’s see here.. RZA, Dilla, Premier, Pete Rock, Kanye West, 9th Wonder, and No I.D.
Mills: Dead Man Walking and Deadbeats Karma were two great concepts and so well put together. What is your process behind making your music? where do the concepts/ideas come from? How long between the idea and the finished product?
Devine: They come at the most random moments… lol At work, while I’m driving, in the shower.. I might see something going on in the hood that inspires me.. I’m inspired all the time.. Once that idea comes, the finished product is right behind it! I don’t like waiting things out.. I like capturing the emotion of the moment in which that idea comes so I usually try to hurry up and get in the studio once an idea comes. I want to uplift and inspire people though music but I don’t want to come across as self righteous or too preachy.. So I’m always waiting for ideas, not just in content, but also how I can reach people with a message without being overbearing..
Mills: Have you met Rapsody? What’s your relationship? How dope would it be for a response track from her?
Devine: We have not met personally but we have been in contact for about a year now. I was actually supposed to have her featured on my Heart Of A King album but it didn’t work out. She is such a sweetheart. I think she is so needed right now in the game. My daughters love her. Honestly, I didn’t even want to release the track as a single.. I wanted it to be a surprise, but a blogger jumped the gun and let her know about the record so it kind of forced my hand. She actually already hit me privately and expressed her gratitude and that was enough for me. I just want to see her win! Good to see a queen out her doing her thing without having to rely on a sexy image.. She is basing her movement off skills.. DOPE!!
Mills: What are your problems with labels? ANY possibility to signing with a label? any label interests you? What are your future plans?
Devine: Honestly I think I can accomplish everything I want on an indie level.. But on the same token, a label would increase my visibility and enable me to project my message out to more people.. My only issues with SOME labels is they try to deter you from a positive message because their is a perception that it won’t sell. As an indie artist you have complete control over your content and your message and I LOVE that! As for things coming up I’m set to drop the visual to “A Deadbeat’s Karma” any day now so be on the look out for that!
