Hip Hop Interviews of the Underground: Emerg Da MC, The Emerg(ence) of the Era of Modern Boom Bap

Intro:

Boom bap was born out of the five Burroughs of New York from concrete and asphalt. It rose like a skyscraper constructed by the struggles of life. It was made to create an escape from the violence and uncertainties that were presented to the common people of the New York metropolitan area. 

It was left behind once the unity of the Southern urban culture took over rap music in the subgenre known as trap. They took the Hip Hop culture and embraced it with a unification that never manifested in New York (but was meant to). They may not have adhered to the rules laid down by the originators, but they created a movement all on their own. One that has become influential on a global scale and has caused many subgenres like electronic dance music to adopt their style of infectious beats. 

It is quite remarkable, to be honest. But the culture of New York is so strong, that it has never fully disappeared. It just went back to whence it came, the underground. Many of the artists from the Golden Era of Hip Hop still make music and have found a home in Europe to find a haven where they are still revered (and can make an honest living). Their resilience and fortitude have given birth to a new generation of Hip Hop artists fighting their way using the internet and such digital venues as; Youtube, SoundCloud, Bandcamp, and Spotify to reach the masses of those who will listen.

They drop singles, projects, EPs, albums, and music videos all on these platforms in the hopes of reaching as many ears as they can. One such artist is Emerg Da MC who grew up in Brooklyn, New York but now resides in Atlanta, the heart of trap music. He has lived there for 6 years now. 

He grew up on the music from the Golden Era of Hip Hop with such artists as; Nas, Big L, and Jay-Z. He also listened to Sunny Shinez the Black Sun all of which influenced his direction as an artist that was formed from the age of 13 to 21. During this time in his life, he honed in on his craft by freestyling. It all started one night with his big cousin Mike, they had the radio tuned into Funkmaster Flex and Emerg started to freestyle and it was seamless (he was a natural). He didn't stop there, he just kept freestyling, perfecting this gift. 

At 21, he started to write rhymes and this further elevated his craft. Now at 31, he has quite a few projects under his belt; Elements, Black Hole, Raging Demon, Powerful Niggatry Part 1, Powerful Niggatry Part 2, and the latest project, Divine Symmetry. If you took the time out to listen, you won't be disappointed. You'll probably have some new content for your playlist. 

Interview:

TPT: You grew up in New York, what was that like? Now you are in Atlanta, the other Mecca of urban music, how is it different there than New York and how come you made that move?

Emerg: To tell the truth growing up in New York is very challenging from environmental influences and peer pressure was hard to contain one's self I experienced a lot but I kept my sanity. Being in Atlanta coming from NY there's a big difference in my home I hold no malice but most people have a crab in a bucket mentality you make it out your the enemy then people think you owe them...Atlanta is more about unification and more music offerings and opportunity and they don't say southern hospitality for no reason...

TPT: How did your name come about and what is the significance behind 730edot? What do these names mean to you and how do they help define you as an artist and a person?

Emerg: Emerg Da MC I came up with this name by bringing things to existence by me saying Emerg Da MC I'm bringing the artist to me it's like intent manifestation...now me saying 730 it's just referring to everything that's crazy is normal and our original god self....it's like mental manipulation to the listener because they think I'm crazy in all actuality I'm tapped in....

TPT: Rap music has mostly been on a Trap type vibe lately, at least in the mainstream, do you think there is room for Boom Bap to come back in the mainstream? What do you think needs to happen to facilitate this? And also, would you consider Trap music a subgenre of the Hip Hop culture?

Emerg: Definitely room for boom bap. A lot of MCs bringing that sound back, the essence, grimey, gritty, and expressive music..... there are a lot of MCs coming up from the Tri-State and upstate NY and around New York in general...boom bap is already resurrected and will continue to progress....Trap Music is definitely a subgenre making a massive impact. I'm not hating but not too interested in that sound but it's definitely inspiration and motivation to the youth and corrupting them as well. 

TPT: What made you take it back to the Boom Bap style over adopting trap-flavored beats? What makes it more appealing to you to drop on Boom Bap is it because it is more New York or is it simply a preference? 

Emerg: Well I'm a 90s baby I grew up around the golden era not to sound spooky kinda like I was possessed by the snares, bass, and drums, soon as I heard, it was very influential. I've always been surrounded by boom bap types of MCs. As for me picking boom bap over other rap genres, it's a preference and I wanted to be like Big, Nas, and  Big L who are very big influences and people I look up to.

TPT: You claim in your music to be in the top five, what do you mean by that in a deeper sense? What does it take to be a top five MC and what is it that you possess that makes you think you deserve this distinguished ranking?

Emerg: I consider being top 5 hummmm....because I'm equipped with many skillful techniques as well as being diverse in styles, concepts, and subject matters even stepping out of my boom bap comfort zone...I also do RnB, conscious music, and spiritual lifting music....I feel I deserve to be rewarded that ranking by my body of work. I was told that I was top 5 by many people and local artists; I took it and ran with it...

TPT: Your best 5 projects, which one are you most proud of and why? What growth do you think you brought to this project that made you feel this way? 

Emerg: If I had to chose 5 projects out of my arsenals they'll be "Elements", " Raging Demons", "Blackhole", "Powerful Niggarty Pt2", and "Divine Symmetry". If I had to pick one project from the 5 it'll be "Raging Demons" because of the thought provoking double and triple entendres, word play and me being my unapologetic self while still possessing one's originality and dopeness.

TPT: You seem to latch onto producers and then drop numerous projects and songs out with them. What made you select these producers and what do they bring that made them standout more than the rest that flood the market in the underground? Is there any other new producers that you plan to work with and what do you like about them?

Emerg: Actually BK Bones and Kiza G Beats, those producers hit me up. What made them stand out to me the most was uniqueness of muti-diversed sound combination on beat patterns plus the unorthodox classic samples that was never sampled before. Additionally, their sincere kind vibes.

TPT: Who is the fathers to your style? Who do you most admire out of all the MCs that came before you? What made them more important to you over the rest?

Emerg: Good question a few kats I idolized for there bars was Big L, Canibus, Cassidy, Sunny Shinez the Black Sun. What made them different from the rest was their ability to stay in one's originality no matter what the rap game was. In Canibus, it was his metaphysical style. Cassidy because of his punchlines. Big L because of his witty word play. Sunny Shinez because he taught me to expand my horizons.

TPT:
I love your adlibs, they are very unique. Do you use adlibs as a way to add flavor, emotions, or as a way of adding your brand to your track? How do you creatively lay your adlibs? Do you just do them over the main vocal track with the use of spontaneous feelings or are they more planned out?

Emerg: I use adlibs to give more energy and emphasis to the main vocals to give it an distinct sound. I creatively lay my adlibs by using unique voice pitches and weirder than average sounds. My adlibs usually are just freestyled being different with a sense of humor that's it, nothing more, nothing less.

TPT: You feature a nice selection of artists on your projects, what brought you to these artists and what made you respect them as artists? Do you plan on making any duos or groups with any of these lyricists or just plan to further your musical relationship with them through features (which they give love back to you by featuring you on their tracks)?

Emerg: My brothers I have featured on my tracks are close friends or relatives I respect them because of there lyrical attributes, style, and compatibility. A project thats in the mist of happening is me and my OG original genius Sunny Shinez the Black Sun. It's happening as we talk...

TPT: What type of mic do you use to record, is it a dynamic or condenser? What made you select that mic for your recording? Is there ever a time when you mix your mics up to capture a certain feeling? How big of a role does the mic play in your creative process or do you just stick to the mic you have type deal? Is there any mics that you want to purchase in the near future?

Emerg: The mics I use are akg...I have two one dynamic and one condenser depending on the sound I want that's the one I will use. If I want a more gritty sound, dynamic. If I'm more emotional or angry, condenser. One mic I'd like to purchase in the future is a Neumann those are the most qualified of all, also used in majority of studios.

TPT: Do you plan on doing shows in Atlanta in the near future? How do you think they would take someone coming out with the New York Style over the Southern styles? Do you hear a lot of Boom Bap going on in Atlanta or is it mainly trap?

Emerg: Yesss I do plan on doing shows in Atlanta soon in the local lounges once I get comfortable again with performing. I think they will adjust to the style, this is where their sound came from just a few minor adjustments. Not to sound cocky but New York is the Mecca of MCing that's where Rapping was birthed. If they knew the history that's how they're able to do Hip Hop music. In the south I hear a lot of trap to be honest, it's dip, trap rappers are very dope...I just love music in general.