| ARTISTS |
MC Interview: RPMC Slick Rick of FTI (Roxbury, MA  Humbolt Avenue)                                                                                          by
                                                                                                         



Who the hell are ya:

--Slick Rick of the original FTI crew, true Boston pioneers of rap.

What creative works have you produced or featured on:

--"Boston Goes Def" the original first full rap album released out of Boston which featured T-Nyne of Da Bulldogs, Edo Rock (now Ed O.G.), DJ Cruz, Jizzy Blow.  That's the original Fresh To Impress crew.
  Who are some of your favorite emcees?

--Disco and Orangeman of RSO, Fresh MC, Killer DJ Fantasy and DMX, Nate the Skate, Mike Searcie, DJ West and Rick, Kevin Means of RSO, RCC Crew (Roxbury Crush Crew) and TIC (Treacherous Individual of Capability), Rusty the Toejammer and Larry D, Little John Henry, MC Knotts, Jaysaun, Divine, Shaun Pete, Body Rock with Chuck and Emo, Mattapan Hill Boys, Keith (Guru) of Gang Starr, Mizz Howard and the Howard Brothers, Pee, Tim, Toe from Humboldt, and my dog, Wiz Sol, Tony Rome, Rufus Davis, Concrete Click, but most of all, my crew, the FTI Crew, my cousin T-Nyne of Da Bulldogs, Edo Rock, Jizzy Blow and DJ Cruz that I met at a Cambridge party in the projects years ago.

Slick Rick            Edo Rock            Spoony T


Who are your inspirations?

--Ray Dog, of RSO (now Benzino) was the first to let me freestyle at a house party that he was giving.  The partygoers gave me great feedback.  That meant a lot to me coming from Mississippi to Boston at an early age, and becoming one of the best emcees from Boston.  FTI Crew was nominated for several Boston Music Awards (thank you fans).  I remember growing up in Boston surrounded by great talent.  We all used to audition at the Lee School in Dorchester for talent

shows, and the judges would be Maurice Starr, the Johnson Brothers, and Larry Woo.  Artists included New Edition, NKOTB, the first female group I remember, Female Destruction, the first dance group I remember, Billy and Bobby, and my crew, FTI and others. For years, me and the FTI crew would perform in Boston with artists like, LL Cool J, MC Shan, KRS One, Just Ice and DMX, Eric B and Rakim, D Nice of BDP, Joeski Luv, and Biz Markie.

What do you think of the quality of the current generation of Hip Hop Artists.

--I am not really happy with most rap I hear disrespecting women.  I believe, in my opinion, rap should be about what can I say to keep my fans positive, alive, directed toward school, and what you have experienced in your life growing up, but keep it real and true.  I don't believe in what most so-called rappers are rapping about.  On the other hand, on the positive side, me walking the streets of Boston years ago, passing out rap brochures on what rap is, now to see that rap has become so popular is a good thing because it gives young artists a chance to express themselves in either a positive or negative manner.  Because Hip Hop is about expression and everybody should have a chance to express themselves.


Tell us more about the Boston Goes Def album.

--If given the opportunity, everyone should get themselves a copy of the first rap albums to come out of Boston, which include Boston Goes Def, with artists who include FTI Crew, RCC Crew, Body Rock, Disco P and Fresh MC, Fat Girls of Boston, The Kid, Ultimate GQ, Rusty the Toejammer and Larry D, DJ Scratch, White Boy Crew, B-Down Brothers/ MC Popeye and DJ Steady, MC Capers, K Rock Crew, and Throwdown and Antski.

Give some of the classic old school spots

--Ben Lounge at Four Corners, the old rap battle grounds,

Chez Vous, Warren Street Boys' Club, The Lee School, Carver Lodge, Cortee's, Frank's Place, Sky Cap Lodge, John P Holland School, The MLK School, my high school which I attended, the Burke High School in Dorchester, Boston English High School, and all the other schools and colleges in Boston who let me perform there.  There are too many to mention.

And a special shout out to my dogs, Wiz Sol, Timski Washington, Iceberg Slim, Mr. Hood, DJ E Love, Joe Blizz, Weedo Black, Mario, Barbershop Mike, Rob Wilson and my dog Lev of the Russian Mafia.

And some special thank yous, to Needlepoint Entertainment, and Flipside Records, Bob, my new music family, and the family's magazine Haters Magazine.

(RPMC is currently in the studio with Da Bulldogs working on a devastating new project.)

Contact:  RPMC can be reached at (617) 347-5155.

               DJ Cruz          Slick Rick