Proe is another underground hip-hop artist thats doing things that people like Jay-Z and Ja Rule would never dream of. With his latest album, Perfect, Proe has really advanced his wild style. I got a chance to talk to Proe while he was on a break from his life of touring.
Check out the official website for Proe
Daniel Robert Epstein: What inspired this album?
Proe: I just wanted to make an album kind of about what I was feeling at the time. I was kind of being fucked up and it is an in-depth look at myself and my surroundings and shit like that.
DRE: So you dont want to be perfect?
Proe: Oh fuck no. I dont think its possible.
DRE: Whats perfect thats in your life?
Proe: Nothing and thats the inspiration right there.
DRE: One journalist called you a rock rapper. I dont know if I bought that.
Proe: Thats cool though. I definitely needed to sample more rock, and use different musicians and get the old-school hip-hop heads and shit like that. At least they notice.
DRE: How did such a young guy get all these influences?
Proe: I listen to so much different music and I think that it all influences me. My favorite artist is Tom Waits so from a hip-hop standpoint thats kind of weird.
DRE: Not with your hip-hop.
Proe: I just want to incorporate all the different things. I dont really want to follow anyone elses formula.
DRE: When did you first hear of Tom Waits?
Proe: Shitmy first memory of Tom Waits was in elementary school and my dad was playing When the Earth Died Screaming and I thought it was the strangest thing ever.
DRE: Did you record this album with Audible Treats?
Proe: I did it all myself.
DRE: How did you get to Audible Treats?
Proe: My manager, whos also like a friend of mine, mentioned this publicist, and then they were helping out with the album and then we started with them?
DRE: How did you record it?
Proe: Since I produced the whole thing by myself, so I got like a pre-production studio that I built. When I found some time I sat in my little room and just dorked out with my equipment
DRE: What equipment did you use?
Proe: Ive got an Akai MPC sampler. I do a lot of sampling of old records and Ive got a synth so I just put it all together.
DRE: How have you played much live?
Proe: Yeah, but nothing too big. Im about to go on tour across the United States and well see how that goes, but for right now Ill just perform anywhere I can
DRE: What is the stage show like?
Proe: With my particular set its me and Ive got a buddy that I do music with and hes going to go on tour with me so its usually two people.
DRE: How are people reacting to it?
Proe: Its got a really good response. I knew before putting it out, like, it would get a lot of mixed reviews being that its a little different. But so far the people that really count really have embraced it and the people that dont, really dont give a shit either way.
DRE: Are you already working on the next one
Proe: Yeah Im always trying to make more music but Im not really working on an album. Im just kind of kicking around ideas.
DRE: Where are you going on your next tour?
Proe: Were going pretty much from California, and were going to either to Philadelphia or New York. Also weve got dates in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and Chicago. Then a lot of the Midwest.
DRE: Who is Pea Soup?
Proe: Thats one of my friends, producer and a fellow musician.
DRE: What have you heard about SuicideGirls?
Proe: Ive always been a fan for obvious reasons. But also think its like the women I date. Ive got a bunch of tattoos and when I found out about it I thought it was the coolest thing Id ever heard of.
DRE: What does the name Proe mean besides what it sounds like?
Proe: The funny thing is, it doesnt mean anything. Its such a dumb story. I used to go by a bunch of other names when I was really young. I thought about the name Prolific but that was way too pompous. Then my buddy was like Why dont you just be pro with an e at the end?
DRE: What do you think about the hip-hop that comes out in the mainstream?
Proe: I like it. You cant have your independent stuff without the mainstream stuff.
DRE: But you dont buy any of it?
Proe: Not really. Its fun to listen to on the radio.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
Check out the official website for Proe
Daniel Robert Epstein: What inspired this album?
Proe: I just wanted to make an album kind of about what I was feeling at the time. I was kind of being fucked up and it is an in-depth look at myself and my surroundings and shit like that.
DRE: So you dont want to be perfect?
Proe: Oh fuck no. I dont think its possible.
DRE: Whats perfect thats in your life?
Proe: Nothing and thats the inspiration right there.
DRE: One journalist called you a rock rapper. I dont know if I bought that.
Proe: Thats cool though. I definitely needed to sample more rock, and use different musicians and get the old-school hip-hop heads and shit like that. At least they notice.
DRE: How did such a young guy get all these influences?
Proe: I listen to so much different music and I think that it all influences me. My favorite artist is Tom Waits so from a hip-hop standpoint thats kind of weird.
DRE: Not with your hip-hop.
Proe: I just want to incorporate all the different things. I dont really want to follow anyone elses formula.
DRE: When did you first hear of Tom Waits?
Proe: Shitmy first memory of Tom Waits was in elementary school and my dad was playing When the Earth Died Screaming and I thought it was the strangest thing ever.
DRE: Did you record this album with Audible Treats?
Proe: I did it all myself.
DRE: How did you get to Audible Treats?
Proe: My manager, whos also like a friend of mine, mentioned this publicist, and then they were helping out with the album and then we started with them?
DRE: How did you record it?
Proe: Since I produced the whole thing by myself, so I got like a pre-production studio that I built. When I found some time I sat in my little room and just dorked out with my equipment
DRE: What equipment did you use?
Proe: Ive got an Akai MPC sampler. I do a lot of sampling of old records and Ive got a synth so I just put it all together.
DRE: How have you played much live?
Proe: Yeah, but nothing too big. Im about to go on tour across the United States and well see how that goes, but for right now Ill just perform anywhere I can
DRE: What is the stage show like?
Proe: With my particular set its me and Ive got a buddy that I do music with and hes going to go on tour with me so its usually two people.
DRE: How are people reacting to it?
Proe: Its got a really good response. I knew before putting it out, like, it would get a lot of mixed reviews being that its a little different. But so far the people that really count really have embraced it and the people that dont, really dont give a shit either way.
DRE: Are you already working on the next one
Proe: Yeah Im always trying to make more music but Im not really working on an album. Im just kind of kicking around ideas.
DRE: Where are you going on your next tour?
Proe: Were going pretty much from California, and were going to either to Philadelphia or New York. Also weve got dates in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and Chicago. Then a lot of the Midwest.
DRE: Who is Pea Soup?
Proe: Thats one of my friends, producer and a fellow musician.
DRE: What have you heard about SuicideGirls?
Proe: Ive always been a fan for obvious reasons. But also think its like the women I date. Ive got a bunch of tattoos and when I found out about it I thought it was the coolest thing Id ever heard of.
DRE: What does the name Proe mean besides what it sounds like?
Proe: The funny thing is, it doesnt mean anything. Its such a dumb story. I used to go by a bunch of other names when I was really young. I thought about the name Prolific but that was way too pompous. Then my buddy was like Why dont you just be pro with an e at the end?
DRE: What do you think about the hip-hop that comes out in the mainstream?
Proe: I like it. You cant have your independent stuff without the mainstream stuff.
DRE: But you dont buy any of it?
Proe: Not really. Its fun to listen to on the radio.
by Daniel Robert Epstein
SG Username: AndersWolleck
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