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#TheTapeDeck Meets Xavi The Backpacker + How i Kill(Prod By Sinitus Tempo)

Categories:

Downloads, Features, Hip Hop, Interviews, Mixtapes/Albums, Uncategorized

August 16, 2011

by yoh31

Oh noooo the dirty “M” word!!! I have an extreme dislike for the word “mixtape”. I consider mixtapes rapping over industry beats, and no matter how bad you kill an industry beat its a fail regardless. When I plan a project I plan it out as a whole body of work, and a feeling I want to give the listener-Xavi

Above is a portion of my interview with  MC Xavi The Backpacker. We discussed his up & coming project ”Lessons In Self Defense”,Kung Fu movies,Making it into the Def Jam West office,and much much more. You can peep the entire interview after the jump.

As a bonus Xavi is giving you the first release off Lesson In Self Defense How I Kill Produced by Sinitus Tempo.

DOWNLOAD:Xavi-How I Kill(Prod By Sinitus Tempo)

Yoh: First off I wanna thank you for taking the time to do the interview with thetapedeck. For the readers unfamiliar with you and your music give us a little introduction.

Xavi:No problem man, thanks for the interest. As far as my music goes, it’s the scene in Lion King when Mufasa died mixed with Sweeney Todd. Lion King being the classic standard (true hip hop roots), and Sweeney Todd being my own unique twist to my approach. In essence, I rap about things relevant to life and the growth that occurs throughout. Music for the soul that lifts the people regardless if it makes me famous or not.

Yoh:Sounds pretty deep. Now do you go as just Xavi or Xavi the backpacker? And how long have you been pursing a career as a recording artist?

Xavi

Xavi:I go by Xavi The Backpacker artist wise. My music industry friends call me Xavi, and my personal friends/family call me Xavier. I’ve been writing music since fifteen or sixteen. You know, the normal freestyling at the lunch table while your homeboy bust a beat with a pen or his hands. However, life made me put that on the back burner for multiple years. Then in 2007 I joined the Air Force, and moved out to California where I met my old DJ. At the time I was more into DJ’ing than actually recording and making music. Then one day I ran across a beat, and it was one of those, “you got to rap over this” moments. I did, and a week later im sitting in Def Jam West offices. That was the first time I ever really considered myself good enough to make a living off of music. So in a nutshell I’ve been actively pursing this as a career for about two years now.

Yoh: You made it to the Def Jam West office off one song? Pretty amazing. Now you have a project coming up what can you tell us about it??

Xavi: Yeah it was an experience I’ll never forget, but at the end of the day they passed on working with me. So it’ll remain just an experience, and learning lesson. I have about 28082304 projects in works, but the first one released will be “Lessons In Self Defense”. Initially it was suppose to be exclusively produced by a producer named Onra. Dynamics changed, and inspiration came from multiple sources so I decided to include them all. The project will now feature production form Rufio, Lee Bannon, Onra, Sinitus Tempo, and possibly a few others. The project mapped out is 28-32 tracks long, but im thinking of chopping it in half. If I do so, i’ll make it a two part release. I know the attention span of the listener might wonder if I get crazy with the track list.

Xavi 2

Yoh:28-32 track mixtape!? God why so many? And when will we be getting Twisted Imagination anytime soon?

Xavi:Oh noooo the dirty “M” word!!! I have an extreme dislike for the word “mixtape”. I consider mixtapes rapping over industry beats, and no matter how bad you kill an industry beat its a fail regardless. When I plan a project I plan it out as a whole body of work, and a feeling I want to give the listener. So the 28-32 tracks you’ll hear will consist of transitional pieces, actual songs, multiple interludes, audio clips, and straight instrumentals. These are the things that separate artists from rappers, and mediocre projects from amazing ones. The whole project will play out about 50 minutes long. It sounds a lot more ambitious than it really is. As for Twisted Imagination, it was suppose to be my next release. Due to my 4 month stay in Dubai, and Jonathan Lowell’s computer issues we had to push the project back. However, it will definitely be my first release in 2012 once I return back to America. This is what i’ll consider my first album so it’s going to be a pretty big deal. I’m talking music videos by Creative Control, Kraeyshawn, and BB Gun (J Cole-Simba). Features by Casey Veggies, Planet Asia, Kendrick Lamar, and Maxine Ashley (StarTrak Artist). A lot of money, time, effort, and nights staying in will go into Twisted Imagination. I believe that will be the project that elevates me to National recognition. XXL 2013 Freshmen Top 10 or bust is the campaign for 2012.

Yoh:I like your thoughts on what makes a project. Now I got a double question. Why do you feel it’s important to aim to be XXL list? And looking at the line up that’s alot of feature of from artist that’s making big moves currently do you feel it’s to soon to pull them out for your first project?

Xavi:My mindset whenever I do something music related is “epic”. Sometimes it backfires, but 90% of the time it leads to better all around work when you plan it right. The XXL list ties into all that because it’s a form of National validation. With that National validation comes free promotion, tour offers, SXSW slots, sponsors, and label A&R’s blowing your phone up. Honestly though, I could give two shits about the XXL list in theory. It’s just a stepping stone towards making a living off what I love to do. More importantly, validating my skill set so that I can be in the position to make music with the people who inspire me. That’s also where my features for Twisted Imagination come in. I have high respect for those artists, but I also chose them because of the movement they have going on, and their status. These are people who have already made XXL Freshmen 10, have Source Magazine post, and National attention. Meaning there’s a high demand for new material from them. If I tie my name in with their high demand it leads to National exposure for me as well. Expensive game at times, but worth it in the end. I don’t really collab with local artists for MY projects too much. One, because I don’t feel like doing a song with any of them will do anything for me. Two, I don’t think any of them can keep up with me lyrically (besides Illecism), or are in the same music mind frame that i’m in. Sounds terrible, but I mean that as respectfully, and as humble as possible. So no I don’t think its too soon for those features for my first project. I want Kanye on my second album so I might not have aim’d high enough.

Lessons In Self Defense Album Cover

Yoh:One thing I can honestly say your outlook isn’t like most up & coming artist. You have a plan and if works out then you would be a great position. Now your coming from Sacramento,even though you don’t like working with local artist how do you feel about the hiphop scene in your city?

Xavi:I don’t consider myself from Sacramento. In fact, I live about 25 to 30 minutes from Sacramento. Thats just where most of my music connects live so i’m always there. I’m from Tennessee, and release my music via Sacramento. It’s not so much that I don’t like working with local artists. It’s more my mindset that i’m at right now. I’m not worried about local competition. I consider competition Kid Cudi, Drake, Big Sean, Wale, and any artists considered “on” right now. Hell the other day I tweeted Kendrick Lamar, “I’m coming for you”. When your satisfied with local success you lose drive, and focus. Get complacent, and fall off. As far as the scene I think Sacramento is very slept on, and is full of talent. I’m talking from producers to artists in multiple genre’s of music. That’s all i’ll comment on the Sacramento scene. A lot of people feel strongly about Sacramento, and since im an outsider I don’t feel it’s my place to comment on the negative aspects.

Yoh:I feel you man just to switch things up away from music for a bit,you’ve released a few promo videos for you projects. One with you playing video games and one with Kung-FU movie clips. Would you consider yourself a gamer? and where does your love for kung-fu movies come from?

Xavi:I would consider myself a gamer to a certain extent. I’m super picky with anything media related from music to movies, and everything in between. So my game play consist of Socom (fuck COD), 2K, NCAA Football series, most Rockstar games, and the Elder Scroll series. I also still have my Nintendo from my childhood so I play that every now and then. Kung Fu is just the shit man. The things those guys can do is ridiculous. While I was working with Lee Bannon one night, he threw on an old school joint called “Hanzor the Razor”, and it was the wildest shit I’ve seen. So when it came promo time, I had to throw one of the crazy sex clips in there. You have to check that movie out if you get a chance.

Yoh: lmao @ fuck COD haha gotta shoot the gamer tag so people can add you(TEAM PS3 tho).Word i i might peep it,do you have a favorite Kung-FU movie of all time?

Xavi:For sure, im PS3 all day! My gamer tag is Gym_Teacher cause I run fools. I can’t say I have a favorite Kung Fu movie, but my favorites are Limitless, Enter The Dragon, Hanzor the Razor, Ip Man, and the whole Ong Bak series.

[/caption]Yoh:haha classic name and if you never seen iron monkey i highly recommend it. Lets jump back into your project untitled Lesson In Self Defense,which i just saw the dope artwork for,could you explain the title and where did the idea for the artwork come from?

Xavi:I actually have that movie downloaded, just haven’t got around to it yet. The title was a combination of the Kung Fu themed beats, and how I was feeling after a verbal altercation with another local artist. The idea behind the album art is hiding in the shadows for self defense. It’s pretty much the top half of the album art is the happy outer appearance people like to pretend to give off. The bottom half is what people really are inside, but can’t revile because society would cast them out. Thus hiding for self defense. I had a sit down with this dope painter, and she returned a product that I never imagined would come back so dope. The amount of time and detail she put into the album art is ridiculous. I was honored to claim this as my cover art.

Yoh:Everything you say that revolves around your music seems like it has a deep meaning. Creativity & thought provoken lyrics in some extent are lacking in main stream hip-hop. Do you ever worry about going over heads to the extent where you are written off because of the lack of simplicity?

Xavi:I use to worry about that kind of stuff when I first started doing music. Now, not so much. The average hip hop head now a days has a happy balance of both. People appreciate going against the mainstream radio stuff. They also enjoy the club song where they can vibe out or go crazy with their friends. Its a balance that’s needed in music, and something that’s been around for years. Back in the day you had the lyricism of a Slum Village, Tribe Called Quest, and Wu Tang. But you also had the Kid & Play, Will Smith & Jazzy Jeff, and even fucking Shaq making the party music. Same concepts still exist today. As far as my music, it be extremely hard for me to make some pop or drug dealing type of music. I wasn’t raised in that life, or environment. Everything I make musically is real, and true to myself. Its not me trying to be deep or overly lyrical….its naturally me being myself.

Yoh:Very valid points. I like how you brought up Jazzy Jeff and Will Smith especially since it’s kids coming up in this generation that doesn’t even know they were a hiphop duo not just Television co-stars. Even though your going away to Dubai,you’re working on a tour with MTV Europe for next year can you tell us how that came about?

Xavi:A French producer by the name of J- Zen put out a beat tape called “The Sextape” using only 70′s Porn samples. I immediately hit him up and told him I was going to do a project to the beats. As usual he was like cool, I just want to hear the end product. Meanwhile over in France this beat tape has taking off, and MTV Iggy (Euro MTV) catches wind of it, and put him on their blogs. That gave the beat tape 10x more buzz all around Europe, and MTV Iggy starts talking tour with J- Zen. J- Zen mentions to them that I was going to rap over the beats, and next thing I know im skyping with MTV Iggy reps. Extremely lucky circumstance! Nothing has been set in ink yet, so I try not to mention it too much. I’ve done that in the past, and had things fall through. Makes you lose a little creditability, and your perceived as pretending you have things going on. Hopefully it all works out in the end though.

Yoh:Well let’s hope it does,oversea’s love can do wonders for your career. With all that’s going on with your music at the moment is there any artist you listen to for inspiration?

Xavi:Well the style of rhyming I like isn’t the AB rhyme scheme. Meaning the end word of line A rhymes with the end word of line B, and it just continues in that pattern. Thats extremely boring to me. Mine is more of a ABCB then back to A style. Meaning line A rhymes with line A three bars later, and line B rhymes with line B, and C plays as a transitional line that the next set of lyrics line A will rhyme with. Hope that made sense, lol. Sometimes i’ll go on stretches of four lines where I don’t rhyme at all. So with that style of rhyming combined with the content I write makes my musical inspirations very limited. Usually though, its between Mos Def, Jay Electronica, and Kendrick Lamar. Rapsody has inspired me a few times as well. Inspiration comes to me from anything, but nothing specifically. Ill see a baby crying, and come up with a concept like….”the world’s crying(A), itching for a change(B), im the calamine on a soapbox(C), preaching mind range(B), we all dying(A) (then back to line (C) which double as line (A) in the next set of rhymes) No hole to play fox (C/A)”. The inspiration comes to me randomly, and then I turn it into something that the average rapper wouldn’t write when they see what I see.

Yoh:Haha I like the breakdown! Alright man I just got a few more questions and it’s a wrap
1. One artist dead or alive that you would like to work with?
2. One place you would love to tour?
3. If music didn’t work out what would Xavi profession be?
4. I heard LessonInSelfOfDefense will be record in a day? True or false
5. What does success mean to Xavi The Backpacker?

Xavi:1. That’s a super tough question to answer. If I had to choose one, this is killing me, ummmm i’ll go with Vanessa Carlton. Super talented singer, dancer, and she plays tons of musical instruments. Most people only know her for the “Making My Way Downtown” song, but her discography is amazing.

2. Brazil, Brazil, Brazil!!!! They have an outrageous amount of love for music out there, and the concert turnouts in Brazil are insane.

3. Still something music related. I’m about to start attending Full Sail University for Music Business Management. Hopefully I get hired on by a label to be an A&R once I finish that degree. I’m already planning for the success, and the failure of my career artist wise.

4. True, i’m going to record it all during the day. Release it as soon as it’s done, and go to a house party once I leave the studio. I’m extremely organized, focused, and prepared when I go to the studio. So it wont take long to lay vocals. The longest part will be getting the vibe I want, and making the audio sound legit. I have a legit crew, so I figure 4 hours max.

5. Success means being able to do what you love for a living. Putting my close friends in positions to do what they love to do for a living. Making sure my family is taken care of, and stress free. I don’t measure success by the amount of money I end up making. Truthfully, if I get on, i’ll drop three albums. Disappear to another country with my wife, and raise our kids away from all the media nonsense. I don’t want my kids to be brought up in front of cameras, or a country where people pay millions for baby photos. America is a dumb ass country

Yoh: Sir i want to thank you again,this has been a very interesting interview to say the least. All i need know is your social network information,and where our readers can peep your music. I wish you the utmost success in any and all endeavors. Defiantly looking forward to LessonsInSelfDefense & Twisted Imagination.

Xavi:Thank you again for having me. I cant wait to give people these projects. It’s going to be mind blowing!

Twitter: DopeisXavi
E Mail: kidnamedxavi@gmail.com
Music: Deleted my Bandcamp, for now check out http://vimeo.com/26837886

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