Azarel the Hebrew

"In Bold Ink"

by Renaldo Escobar

     Now releasing his first project on Steve-O's Ocean Records, Azarel tends to wake even more sleeping souls to what I would like to refer to his "awareness music." And we definitely wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't introduce yall to another fine side of NW Hip Hop. So with no further ado, we would like you to hear with this talented lyricist had to say in "BOLD INK"

 Were you born into the Hebrew religion or is it something you added to your life? I was raised in the baptist church but I converted to the truth like in '93.

 What influenced you to be Hebrew and does it play a significant part in your music? I became hip to Hebrew-ism by this brother named Hebrew, who is also a MC and had been putting it down for the city and the faith years before I got deep into it.  Being Hebrew is just real to me, and it became my ticket away from getting heavy in the streets.  I was so close to getting involved in bangin' & then came this brother with something good for my ears.  It definitely plays a huge part in my music because its easy for me to make songs about what I know and who I really am.

 How long have you been rapping? And when did you decide that this was gonna be your career? I've been MC'ing since highschool.  This was like '92 and I was with this crew called Lethal Hook-Up.  We still partly together but we changed the name to 717 Click.  But I didn't get serious with the music truthfully until '99, so I consider myself a baby still.  Once I signed with Ocean Records, I was able to quit working for the man & start making this dream come to life.

"I write songs that may come across as militant or pro-black.  If anything makes me appear to be positive. "

 What was the worst thing that happened to you in your career so far? I've been blessed to not have too many bad things happen.  Probably the worst is dealing with this producer who was shady, selling me beats that he sold other cats.

 How did you hook up with Ocean Records? When I decided that I was ready to start elevating, I went thru the proper steps of looking for a record deal.  I was blessed to find this indie label right in the town that was all open arms for my style of rap.  I bugged the hell out of Steve-O (CEO at Ocean) and he let me know that he admired the way I professionally approached him, and from there we connected.

 It is very well noted that you are a positive rapper. What is your take on all the negativity in Hip Hop today? Well let me first say that I think all Hip Hop can be positive.  Think about how the Crips & Bloods albums from a few years ago proved that gangstas can come together from different hoods and make something positive happen that people probably never thought would.  The bottom line is that we have stupid cats out here messing it up for everybody.  All I really wanna say about this is that times are changing, and the Hip Hop community is changing and elevating with it.  So all this negativity is numbered.

 How do you feel about your deal with Ocean Records? Being with Ocean is a blessing.  Since '99 I've been climbing plateaus with Ocean that just aren't expected from a small, indie label coming out of a unknown city like Tacoma is.  And we ain't doing nothing but getting bigger & better every step of the way.  The only thing we are missing is that major label budget or distribution that I am sure is on its way to becoming a reality hopefully in the next year or two.

 When does your album drop? The album will drop in July 2001.  More details about it can be found on the website.
 Who does it feature? Just to name a few on it there is Wojack, Drekno, Cott, Ill Will.  With production by Big Squeeze, Funk Daddy, & Miztah Zelle.

Any other projects you working on or appear on? I'll be featured on some compilations  from all over the   They are coming out of spots like globe. Canada, Amsterdam, Germany, New York & Las Vegas, as well as projects from right here like Big Squeeze's  "The Senator", and  Ocean Records Compilation "Vol. 1" that's dropping later this year.  Other than that I am on the hunt for upcoming movie soundtracks & hoping to collab on other MC's projects.

* Who else would you like to work with in your career?  Whatever it takes, I want to collab with KRS-1 before I call it quits with this music.  Other than him I would like to work with Mos Def, Common, Dead Prez, Paris, Chuck D, Outkast, Askari X.  Being more realistic for right now in my "puppy" stage, I wanna collab with Cool Nutz, Mr. D.O.G., Source of Labor, and on beats I would like to work with Bosko and J-1.

* What words of wisdom would you tell and upcoming rapper trying to get a deal, if he asked your opinion? Be as professional as you can!  Not only am I a artist for Ocean, but I was recently placed in charge of the A&R department.  And we get so many unprofessional, ghetto, half-ass demo packages that it's scary.  I mean I ain't the authority on the correct way to submit a demo, but it makes me wonder if cats are sending the same packages to major labels and expecting to get a deal.  So spend a little extra on your recordings & a lot more on the printing of your photos, bios, etc.

* Any comments for the readers? Make the Creator your foundation and the house you build will never fall! Please check out the websites:  www.OceanRecords.com & www.AZAREL.net