Interview conducted by Hugo Lunny
MVRemix: For those that are now hearing about you for the first time, tell us about yourself.
Lix dot Kong: Well, my name is Lix dot Kong a.k.a Lix dot Kizzy. I was born in New Orleans, LA. I was raised in the same town as the legendary Quincy Jones; Bremerton, Washington. And I ran the
MVRemix: How did the name Lix dot Kong arise?
Lix dot Kong: Lix dot Kong is a name that best describes my trek through the different levels of Hip Hop. If you know the movie King Kong, he finally wound up in New York City, where he created quite a stir for the local citizens. Being targeted by the government, and castrated by the media. I have traveled from Bremerton to California, finally winding up in New York for the last 6 years creating a huge buzz for myself in the New York market. The government is always targeting us as musicians, and black men, especially in the case of Sean Bell. So, I feel like I’m no different than those who are being targeted everyday in the streets. First people knew me as only Lix, but I became Kong once I finally understood the inner workings of this Hip Hop industry. My management team has reached out to most of the labels in New York, and have been turned away, Like Jay-Z once was. Now, I plan to cause trouble in New York until people respect me as one of the best rappers alive. I am already respected in other parts of the world around. Why not here? I added the “dot” because as we all know “dot” connects people to the internet. Without that dot you’re nothing on the internet. People I know and Myspace fans always tell me i got this internet marketing game on lock, so in essence Lix dot Kong can also stand for the King of the internet…. [laughs]
MVRemix: How important do you feel networking is?
Lix dot Kong: I feel like without networking, you’re not going to make it in any area of life. Hip Hop is 90% networking. Of course you have to have the talent to make it. But, some artist feel that have one hit is good too. The kind of network you have directly determines the level of success you will have. If you don’t have a network, please put the music down for a few months, and build up your network. I am quiet at times, especially when I’m in social settings in New York, but I have learned over time, that people respect confidence. So, I learned to be confident and make sure that I have something to bring to the table when I meet new people for business.
MVRemix: As a producer, who has influenced you?
Lix dot Kong: There are a lot of powerful producers in Hip Hop. Dr. Dre has definitely been one of my favorites over the years. The main thing producers have to realize is that their craft shouldn’t stop after they make a beat. They should know how to push the records just as much as the artist. Some producers just want to make a fast buck. But then, they wonder why their music doesn’t go very far. Promote the artist you sell your beats to. Timbaland is a great producer, and he has a great networking ability. That is why him and Pharrell [Williams] are two of the best producers on the planet. I also respect Mannie Fresh, Just Blaze, 9th Wonder, Chops, Nitty, and Polow the Don. Phonk Beta, DJ Quik, Dirty West from Profound Productions, and Daz Dillinger are some of my favorites. There production still influences my music to this day.
MVRemix: How does growing up in Seattle and living in New York shape your attitude towards music, art and culture in general?
Lix dot Kong: Seattle taught me to be more creative within myself when doing music. Seattle is the alternative capitol of the world. Home to Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Kobain, Nirvana, Sir- Mix- A-Lot, and Bruce Lee. These artists have reached levels in life some artist never will. They set the bar for how I look at music and life in general. Seattle has a vibe and culture unlike anywhere else I’ve lived. The gang culture in Seattle is always portrayed as a negative thing by the media. But, I should be looked at as art. Sure there is alot of violence involved. But so is there in the US government. But, as a culture the G culture in Seattle raised me, and I hope to make it more positive in the media’s eyes. New York is a melting pot of different ideas. New York has definitely raised me from a boy to a man. I love Newark, NJ and New York for opening my eyes to new ways of thinking, from DVD’s of people like Malachi York. I have friends from different nationalities, from East Indian, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Haitian, Jewish, to Trinidadian. I learn a lot from each culture. We are all mankind.
MVRemix: How did you hook up with Snoop Dogg and Tha Dogg Pound?
Lix dot Kong: I hooked up with Snoop Dogg and The Dogg Pound through a contest they were having on Allhiphop.com. Daz Dillinger was looking for new artists for his record label, and I was picked to be a finalist in the DPGC Idol contest. After the contest, me and the finalist were picked to form a group called DP Next Generation. We traveled to a few states together and shot some video footage, but we didn’t have much of a budget to pursue a serious movement. I met up with Daz, and Kurupt at BET Rap City in 2006. My dad was visiting from Seattle at the time so I brought him along. I chopped it up with them for a while, and then I never really heard back from them on any plans to further my career with the Dogg Pound Movement. I had always wanted to be a part of the Dogg Pound since 1995, so I am patiently waiting to collab with them on some real music. I teamed up with a DJ from France named DJ Suarez, who works alongside Snoop Dogg and JT the Bigga Figga’s camp. So, we were able to secure production from Snoop Dogg, for my single F Pac n Dogg Pound. The song is getting worldwide radio airplay, from Italy, to Germany, and a few places in between. I’ve been in the same building with Snoop Dogg on two occasions, but I haven’t met him in person.
MVRemix: Tell me about the mixtape, Hip Hop Still Raised In The Street. How did the title come about?
Lix dot Kong: Hip Hop Still Raised in the Street is a compilation built around West Coast artists. The West Coast never really gets the respect it deserves for taking hip hop to the next level. So, we’ve always had to get our love from the streets. That’s why we titled it, Hip Hop Still Raised in the Streets, because record label execs have had problems with West Coast artist in the past, so now they overlook real talent coming out of the west. We deserve positions as record label presidents, and A&R’s as well.
MVRemix: How long did the mixtape take to record and how planned was it – i.e. did you set out with a track listing and stick to it or record a number of songs and chose a select amount leaving the rest on the “cutting room floor”?
Lix dot Kong: This mixtape took 2 months to complete. I was contacted when the mixtape was about 50% of the way finished. There were a lot of missing pieces, and I had to go in and do some serious musical surgery on a few tracks. We had somewhat of track listing, but it was altered a few times. I am happy the album finally made it to Itunes, Napster, Emusic, and Rhapsody. It was worth the struggle.
MVRemix: What do you wish to achieve with the mixtape?
Lix dot Kong: I wish to receive respect as an artist. I sent the mixtape to JT the Bigga Figga once it was finished. I was proud to work on some tracks that featured him. He is a great pioneer of WestCoast music, so it was a great feeling to feature on a project that involved his music. I hope that major record labels will look at Lix dot Kong as more than just your average rapper or musician. I am a business man, and I want to be taken seriously. I can’t control what others have done with positions of power. All I want is for people to see this mixtape as a stepping stone to what I can do with a major record label budget behind me and my team.
MVRemix: Are you currently working an album?
Lix dot Kong: I just finished up an incredible mixtape called Super Hero Music. Everyone should download it from my myspace website. I am also currently doing a side project called Legendary Lix, I am working on this album with Deez, and DDG Entertainment in East Orange, NJ. They work out of a studio owned and operated by the Legendary Kool and The Gang. Be on the lookout for this album by winter of 2008. Also, I just finished a mixtape for South France called The Mary Jane mixtape. It’s hosted by DJ Madgik.
MVRemix: Can you tell me about it?
Lix dot Kong: The Legendary Lix project only has one song finished so far. I have over 400 songs in my catalog, but I wanted to start totally from scratch. This album will have the feel of a Blueprint album by Jay-Z. Lots of samples, and very heavy wordplay. Stories about my life, and some lessons for people still caught in the struggle. And of course some political topics. I love that stuff. The album will also have a feel of Doggystyle, by Snoop Dogg. That was a great album. But, it will be all Lix. I’m looking for some producers, and a budget for the album, so if you know anyone interested, send them my way.
MVRemix: From what I can tell, you seem to have an interest in Politics. What are your thoughts about Barack Obama obtaining the democratic nomination?
Lix dot Kong: I am a big conspiracy theorist. Some say that Barack won because he is apart of that royal blood line, that all the other presidents are apart of. If that’s the case, then he’s apart of the same agenda. Maybe in different ways, but still the same. Others look at the race aspect. I am proud that we finally have someone of ethnicity that made it this far. But we already have a black man that is the head, Kufi Annan, and I don’t see much impact on a world scale. If Barak is really about change, and helping to curve bad politics, then by next year I should have 40 acres and a mule, or it’s equivalent in today’s market. I believe in Barack’s speeches on change. It is long overdue. And he seems to have shared in the same struggle as many other Black Americans such as single parent households. But, as we all know politicians all speak well, and that’s part of the reason their in the positions they’re in. So, I’ll be watching. I did send a small donation to help his campaign. As, I felt that if he is the catalyst for change, and I didn’t support him, then I would be no better off than others to complain about wanting change, and then watch it slip away. I am an activist.
MVRemix: Any videos planned?
Lix dot Kong: I do not have any current videos in the works. I just did a song for my new mixtape Super Hero Music. The song is called Back to Bremerton. I am thinking about flying back out to Bremerton, the town I was raised in, and filming the videos with all my friends and family out there. But, it may not be until next year. We’ll see.
MVRemix: What separates you from other rappers? Why should I opt to listen to your music above others?
Lix dot Kong: Well, I am actually one of the only unsigned rappers I know with his own social networking websites, built from the ground up. I own a website called www.ItsRoomy.com, and a site called www.Gashcamea.com. So, that should tell you, that I’m attaining to get that Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg type money. I also feel like we’ve already exploited black on black genocide far too much. It’s time to change our lyrics. My rap music transcends just rap. Its alive. My words are more alive than some other rappers. If you listen closely, my words are on a broader spectrum than just braggin’, or telling another hood story. Just because I don’t sound like Tupac, doesn’t mean my music isn’t just as uplifting. People just need to listen a little closer. I’m like Tupac was before the record deals. When the music wasn’t mastered, and he was in smaller studios. I think fans want everyone to have mixed and mastered songs all the time. I have those, but I still have songs I release that I record in my bedroom. Now, that’s Hip Hop. Lix dot Kong covers all spectrums of the Hip Hop color chart.
MVRemix: Have fun with this one, a la “Fight Club” – “If you could fight any celebrity, who would you fight”?
Lix dot Kong: I’d probably fight Tila Tequila. Sure, she looks all tough on TV, but I bet I could take her down.
MVRemix: Would you win?
Lix dot Kong: I think I’d have a great chance at winning, unless she brought another girl in the room, and they started… Well let’s just say, I’d win…. [laughs]
MVRemix: What next do we have to look forward to from you?
Lix dot Kong: Just be sure to check out the new mixtapes Super Hero Music, it;s available for download at www.myspace.com/lix360 also, check out my new mixtape The Mary Jane Mixtape Volume 1 hosted by DJ Madgik, and of course, log onto Itunes, and purchase the Hip Hop Still Raised in the Street compilation. Sign up for www.ItsRoomy.com today and upload your favorite videos.
MVRemix: Any last words?
Lix dot Kong: I wanna send a shot out to all my Froggs. The Frogg movement is real and alive. Shouts out to Gonja, Lucky, Lil Bliz, Zodiac, Smoke, Speed, Lion, Lyon, Bub, Bigg Tone, JC, Bumpy, Mun, Riz, Kat, Simone, Vic, Amber, K-Ron, Rhino, Mr. Seeddzz, Manu, Guillermo, Kraze, Daz, Bigg A, Kurupt, Snoop Dogg, JT the Bigga Figga, Poppa, K, Cino, and everyone who I run with.
Original Lix dot Kong Interview
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