2017 TILL
INFINITO
The first time I heard of Infinito was when he
was a member of the Chicago crew Nacrobats. Then, last
year, he returned with Thaione Davis as I.T., releasing
the excellent ‘Low Income Housing’. After
some research, it appeared that Infinito 2017 aka Marcellous
Lovelace had already released over 25 records. Talking
about a hard-working artist! His upcoming album ‘Rodney
Dangrr Fild’ will drop soon on Domination Rec.
The ideal moment to get acquainted with the man who
calls himself A Regular Black Dude…
Wassup Infinito?
How you doing Platform…HOLLA SIDE WAYZZ…COMPLETE
ORIGINAL HIGHER DEITY IS NOT IN THE BUILDING
You're about to release a new album called
'Rodney Dangrr Fild'. From what we've heard already,
the album sounds real dope! Tell us something more…what’s
the story behind it?
Well, I haven’t made a quote ‘unquote’
official release since ‘Music with Sound Right
Reasoning’ in 2002 so I had to do something new
and unusual for myself like flip the script and regenerate
like only a Scorpio can. So I made an album detailing
what it’s like to feel disrespected treated like
nothing by your peers. ‘Roddny Dangrr Fild’
was not suppose to be, I was suppose to be telling you
about the ‘Timeless #27 Infinite Boundless Knowledge’
that was suppose to drop on Molemen Records but it never
happened due to the fact that the Molemen said ‘I
didn’t put enough energy in my vocal performance
I’m not passionate enough and that I’m sounding
to much like myself, I wasn’t making songs I was
just rapping and numerous other reasons’. This
whole situation caused me to relocate, rebuild and come
back with what I do, have my love for my brothers, my
love for my people, my love for respect. I thank the
African American community for always being by my side.
I mean I’m not the greatest hood story in the
world but it’s the ‘HOOD’ that creates
and motivates me and my creative ventures from the South
Side of Chicago to Philly to Helena, Arkansas to the
recently visited Bay Area in Cali to South Memphis to
South West Atlanta. I mean it’s always been my
community that shows me how to keep going and dispel
what people feel about me and just keep on moving, regardless
of the conditions of not having no money, not being
able to record in any setting (I like to record alone
or with Mr. Skurge exclusively), by doing my music and
my art on any surface ‘By Any Means Necessary’.
So why the name ?
By naming my album ‘Roddny Dangrr Fild’,
it allowed me to show respect to other groups of people
by acknowledging a famous and sometimes misunderstood
comedian, who is also a Scorpio like me and he had recently
passed away. Rodney Dangerfield always said he gets
no respect at all and I feel the exact same way, from
the first day I moved back to Chicago to the day I excited
the city again, I’ve been in a battle. Be it with
crew members, with the Nacrobats when I first met them
(I feel the Nacrobats should be respected for helping
to shape the underground scene in Chicago I mean most
of your more famous characters in Chicago were once
Nacrobats or affiliated in some way shape form or fashion.
Much respect to all my brothers and sisters who were
down with me and still are) to the misfits who you just
meet on a regular basis at, let’s say, the radio
station in Chicago. I mean you got 10,000 rappers, poets,
beat makers, etc who got a billion ideas on how people
should do music and, man, these cats just started releasing
their bedroom projects within the last 5 years, man.
Dude I’ve been doing 5 and 6 albums a year since
I first started without any equipment or any money and
I did my videos the same way always working regardless
of what people thought, think. Whatever, it’s
all a creative outlet that’s decided by the fans,
not no punk who wants to please a bunch of other punks
who is supposed to be hip hop.
What’s the album about ?
This album is about respect. I respect people in general
but I don’t ever feel like the respect is returned.
When I create, it’s coming from my soul! A lot
of people who work at these record labels, distributors,
radio stations, magazines, don’t have no soul!
They don’t know the first thing about being real
in a factual way. Man, I can go on for days describing
what this album means but I can’t, so to sum it
up: it’s just giving what I have and telling my
story of respect and disrespect as far as my life goes.
Respect to Mr. Skurge for taking time out of his life
to record and produce on this project and numerous others,
that’s love man! Respect to Memo of the Molemen,
always got a brothers back! Thaione, dude, we Men, not
boys. We gonna have to start slapping these punks! Fisher
man, hey, you got to be right! Kenny Keys greatness,
Fatnice the best to me (my cousin from the group 84
in Philly), DJ Waht, dude, you the only DJ that can
scratch anything, Kevin Fountain, words of encouragement,
Mr. Mind of Record Playas, I owe you kid! Psalm one
the super star, Dj 5th Element where you at?, Insight,
Dusty A the imperial, Mixx Massacre (dude I will always
respect you for your support if I’m ever out the
pits you with me, you are a good person), Soul Child
always supportive and factual only we know for all helping
to make this album props to Cosmo Galactus who was not
on here but he’s part of the respect team.
Why is the subtitle 'Tragedy in Bar Sequences'?
‘Tragedy in Bar Sequences’ is like making
a mockery of rhyming in Bars, it’s a spin-off
from the ‘I.T. - Low Income Housing’ album
and this album that I can rhyme any kind of way, based
on the way I feel and what ever I want to do. Hip Hop
has become a Tragedy of all these fake people who have
no real stability in being loyal if you feel me.
What do you hope to achieve with this album?
Do you want to sell a lot of them?
Hard answer I was asked recently the same kind of question,
but I don’t know. It’s like life happens
and I can only get what the people give me then I continue
on. One album does not flatter me. I’d love to
sell a lot of these albums, I’d love to tour the
world, I love a lot of positive scenarios but I have
to be balanced and keep in mind it’s an unpredictable
world. But I keep a positive out look and keep moving.
What do we have to learn from it?
Learn Respect listen to all the respect.
There are a lot of talented producers on the
album. Memo, Mr. Skurge, Kenny Keys, Doc West (Single
Minded Pros, whut!), Thaione Davis (Infinito's partner
on the IT project) are well-known names in the underground
scene, but tell us a little more about 5th Element,
Mr. Mind, Mixx Massacre and Soul Child.
5th Element is another South Side great he didn’t
even know he was on the album. The beat I got from him
came from Thaione and they just looked out, thanks 5th
(Brothers Union). Mr. Mind is a dope producer from the
Record Playas in Chicago, he’s growing and getting
doper, always helpful. Hmm, Mixx Massacre, like I said
earlier, he is a great person who helps to develop my
recording by allowing me to record at his beautiful
studio M.I.H. (Made in Heaven). This is the man behind
my albums ‘Music With Sound Right Reasoning’
and ‘To Know American’. Oh yeah, Mixx Massacre
is one of the original members of the Molemen you should
interview him and all these other greats Soul Child,
man, he was born in Chicago but I met him in Memphis
in another one of those battles for respect but he’s
a great friend, always giving me great advice and he’s
like another cold emcee that hasn’t come out with
a lot of albums. But yo, look for these dude I rank
him up there with Fatnice he’s just nice. Yeah
respect respect …
Fatnice is also producing, he’s your
cousin; tell us something more about him too.
Well, Fatnice is a guy you all should interview. He’s
worked with a lot of the East Coast’s best. He’s
in a group called 84 in Philly but he’s from the
South Side of Chicago. Also, he moved to Philly to gain
his Master’s Degree that he does have. Fatnice
is my greatest inspiration, he is my first cousin but
more like a brother since he’s like a year older.
All I have to say is look out for him and the group
which features Aul Purpis (works with the legendary
DJ Cash Money) and Blakk the 9th Mann, yeah, these are
some dope brothers, 84, look out! Their E.P. has Sat-one,
and Kev Brown on production.
How and why did you connect with Insight?
Well, once upon a time, Insight was looking to build
with some cats in Chicago and I happened to connect
with him out of the clear blue sky. We started talking
to each other back and forth and he just hit me with
like 36 bars. He said I could use them on my Molemen
release but since that album never happened I just had
Mr. Skurge and DJ Waht from Filthy F. Fingatips gone
and flip a remix.
You recorded over 25 albums, if you look back
on them, are they all as good as you wanted them to
be?
You would have to listen to them all from the beginning
to now to hear the growth, because I listen to all good
advice. Like one time, Memo said you write good verses
on a lot of songs but all the beats don’t be amazing.
So it’s based on what one likes. I can be real
political and militant, I mean fierce where feelings
can get hurt but I can also be real fun, but one key,
I didn’t start a few years ago, this is constant
work since like 1989 non-stop productivity.
Which albums are official releases with a label
and distribution? Which albums/mix tapes can we still
buy, how?
That’s funny all of them are if I wanted to be
sarcastic, because labels and distribution has become
this underground joke. Everything I make and release
is under my NEPHEW OF FRANK RECORDS label so if it’s
my music it will have one of my logos. I created it
myself and decide what’s what. But if you want
to get literal look for ‘Infinito – Qualified
Professional #27’ on Fatbeats, ‘Infinito
– Music with Sound Right Reasoning’ on Birthwrite
Records, but will be re – released soon on another
‘joke label’, ‘I.T. (Infinito &
Thaione) - Low Income Housing’ on Domination Recordings
and etc… you can buy just about all of them at
www.thornbox.com,
www.ughh.com,
www.accesshiphop.com,
www.putemonthemap.com,
and try www.infinito2017.com
links to see more stores! But no one person will have
every album I made unless they contact me. I got extra
albums all music can be distributed.
You once recorded an album in one day, true?
How many artists have done that, man!!?? What about
writer's blocks?
No such thing as Writer’s Blocks! For Infinito:
2017 or Marcellous Lovelace. And if a person wants to
challenge the idea, listen closely to every word to
hear the underlying meaning in each sentence, well-thought
out with detail, complete original thoughts and statements
furnished daily. I’m recording material for 2008
right now and for other periods soon. I think a lot
and I’m really thoughtful and creative. I recorded
‘Infinito presents: Marcellous Lovelace’
in 10/26/75 (the birth day of the birth guy) hmm, available
at: www.thornbox.com
and some store in Germany only. Catch up rappers. Original
Olmec Moor Creations from an Indigenous!
Coming from the Southside of Chicago, are you
influenced by Common, what do you like about him?
He is the Chicago pioneer he’s one of the best
writers ever to me! Him, Juice, All Natural, NO I.D.,
Twilight Tone, Ill State Assassins, E.C. ILLA , Molemen,
Twista, Rhymefest etc., all of them and many more…
They all are my Chicago influence.
That’s right, Southside Chicago must
be one of the most creative places in the world, from
a hip-hop point-of-view. Why do you think this area
is so creative and so good in what they're doin?
African Americans souly, because you have to know,
brothers and sisters built this world. We can take little
to nothing and create greatness. Think about this Benjamin
Banneker, an African American man, a Moor in the mid
1700’s who helped to develop Washington D.C.,
New York City and other cities. He created the Almanac,
he built a clock out of wood with exact detail, you
have to know just like him these African American Brothers
and Sisters are great thinkers, intelligent minds that
created the entire world and made Hip Hop important
in Chicago, yes, from the West side and South side also.
RESPECT… LOOK FOR THE SOUL OF …NEXT YEAR…
look up Grand Master Flash, George Washington Carver,
Garret C. Morgan, Thomas Dorsey, Dj Kool Herc and more.
Do you know Grav, an artist from the middle
90s, whom Kanye worked with? Do you like Kanye West,
would you like to work with him?
Yeah, I’ve seen Grav before live. He’s
dope, a great emcee also. I saw Kanye before, with Rhymefest
a long time ago. Yeah, one of my crew members from the
Nacrobats named Damon Lamar, did a lot of work with
Kanye West I think he knows of him. I’d enjoy
working with him he got some dope beats I’m always
ready for new beats and new music.
You also lived in Memphis, how was that like?
Ohh my, well yes, I’m living in Memphis right
now as we speak! I never really enjoyed the city, it’s
different then what I want out of life. But it has a
strong history it’s a lot of strong intelligent
African American people out here.
The mayor of Memphis is an Afro-American; did
he do a lot for the black community?
Mayor Willie Harrington of Memphis is cool. He does
what he can. I’m not my people’s judge,
that’s what the All is for.
Is there a strong hip-hop scene?
The hip-hop scene is growing. It’s a lot of straight
up boom bap hip-hop out in Memphis such as Mr. Skurge,
Dj Waht, Filthy F. Fingatips, Dr. Anon, Kontrast, old
school crews like M.O.S. Masters of Sound that’s
Soul Childs crew, IRON Mic Coalition, Piranha University,
Tunnel Clones, Fathom 9, Dusty A, Jason Harris, Empee,
North Memphis Brothers, Soul Child, Fyght Club, Mighty
Quinn, Sun Dred, etc… You need to interview Mr.
Skurge and M.O.S. to get full factual history on Hip
Hop in Memphis, ya dig…
Did you get to know the Blues over there?
I got to know the blues, yes. I love it, true African
pain.
You lived in different places. Would it appeal
to you to live in Europe? What's your perception on
Europe?
I’d love to live in a new place. I’m a
Travelling Person, I have no preconceived opinion, it’s
just all opportunity to learn about history and I story
and find that respect around the world. I don’t
prejudge any one I only draw off what I know. If I don’t
know I learn.
Must all hip-hop have an opinion, be about
politics, educate?
If it was based on today only, I would say yes. It’s
a lot of ignorance and demeaning messages in the music
of today. We need (the key word is need) a balance in
understanding and thought. Music should teach more and
instruct. It’s a lot of degrading. Music being
played on the radio and being fed to these young African
minds, that’s destructive. The record distributors
should do more and the labels should be ashamed. Education
is always necessary because it’s a lot to know
forever, the party must stop some day. You don’t
see every other race degrading themselves but my people
are constantly instructed to do so THIS NEEDS TO STOP
NOW. And most of the people that enjoy this ignorant
cooning are not the people performing the nonsense.
Sisters and Brothers you create the change don’t
sale nothing to yourself. We should love our self more
then to please stupid people by doing stupid things.
In a few interviews I've read, I could gather
that you consider music as being not colourless at all,
that you want to have more black people in charge of
the music they created. But some of the best, smaller
underground labels that put out excellent music are
run by non-blacks, and some of the biggest, commercial
labels are actually run by black people (Bad Boy, Def
Jam) How do you mix that?
Well, it’s just that it’s more profitable
in the long run to be independent i.e. underground.
Well, not only do African Americans need to control
the publishing, licensing, promotion, manufacturing,
distribution, marketing, record labels what ever else
that is involved with an recording artist music, videos
etc. We need and must have full control of our own destiny
because we control our best interest. Never be satisfied,
never think it’s alright, it’s not and it
will not be until positive minded Africans control for
Africans! African, in America and else where, need their
own nation, we need our own politics, our own system
separate but equal and we need to be vocal because we
don’t need this tomorrow, we need this today.
These guys that run these underground labels and all
the distributors in all areas of music worldwide don’t
have Africans or Blacks. In their best interest, I speak
for all the people who are voiceless. I don’t
care what any one thinks and I don’t care what
their goal is. Blind justice sucks! Freedom now! Self
Control now! Musical Reparations now! Why is a person,
who knows nothing about the African or does not care
mostly about the African, getting money from the African?
That’s Brain Washed Slavery and yes, I’m
crazy, it’s better that way. Not just in charge
but total control.
You read a lot of books. Which kind of books?
How much of an influence does reading have on your lyrics?
I read non-fiction and books on my story, my past,
my potential, my mind. The books affect my work a lot,
but most of what I write is positive expressions to
break the spell of ignorance in the African Community
that was placed on my people by a governing oppressor.
Remember this fact, slavery was recognized as legal
by the United States Government so reparations must
be given to the ancestor of all African people of the
world.
Is there any books about black culture you
can advise us pale faced creatures?
’The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or
Reality’ by Cheikh Anta Diop. Most facts come
to life, get you a Dead Sea scroll and know who, that
the first people are Africans.
You also shot a lot of video clips; first of
all, can we still check them out somewhere?
Yeah, I shot videos for every album in some way. I
started in like 95 and just got better with the help
of Slim the Barber www.barbershophiphop.com
and school labs, where I took film and animation. Well,
at www.infinito2017.com
and http://2017videos.tripod.com
you can see most and my DVD’s at www.thornbox.com.
Part 2 is coming soon.
What are your influences on that area? Any
directors, actors, movies you would like to mention?
Documentary film is my greatest influence for film.
Spike Lee, Hype Williams, George Lucas, my cousin Andre
Braugher who is an actor, Denzyl Washington, Charles
S. Dutton, Keenan Ivory Wayne’s, Robert Townsend,
and others. As for movies, I like ‘Blues Brothers’,
‘Do the right Thing’, ‘School Dayz’,
‘Glory’, ‘I’m gonna get you,
sucka’ ‘Malcolm X’, ‘Marcus
Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind: American Experience’,
I love documentaries and biographies, history channel,
discovery channel, ESPN and Basket ball etc…
'Get On The Bus' is one of my favourite Spike
Lee movies…
Yeah my cousin is on that movie! What a coincidence
(Andre
Braugher)! Dope right, it’s my mothers first
cousin my grandmothers nephew, ya dig… he from
the West side of Chicago.
I saw a video on your My Space page and your
moves, expression, reminded me a lot of C Rayz Walz,
free stylish, cool, relaxed, everything seems to come
natural and really really enjoy rhyming...Do you know
C Rayz music, are you a fan?
Yeah, he’s cool. I met him a few times. He did
a drop for me for my DVD when I was in NY and I have
it as an intro on ‘Rodnyy Dangrr Fild Tragedy
in Bar Sequences’. Yeah, I got respect for that
man. He’s great, he drops intelligent lyrics,
I’d love to work with him. And I really enjoy
doing hip-hop it’s part of my life, my love. On
the new ‘Marcellous Lovelace Ending the Sleeping
in Our Community’ album I say: ‘I’ve
given up everything including girl friends and food
for hip hop’ Peace on that, joe…
How important is humour in your life?
It’s very important to have laughter and know
when to balance the fun and serious side of reality.
Humour is really important. The people need laughter
to get over all this stress that exists.
You told us earlier that you're a Scorpio?
It is said that Scorpios are the most intense, profound,
powerful characters in the zodiac... Do you believe
in astrology?
Yes, I’m a Scorpio to the heart and most of the
English Astrologist think is partially right, but I
don’t follow negative traits. I search for all
that is positive and leads to growth. I know astrology,
I know it as an ancient Kemetic tradition and, yes,
I study people and their births deeply. Ancient Kemitics
(Egiptions…not Egyptians) used Astro-planes for
all aspects of life. Respect the culture… we are
the Aztecs, The Semitic, the All. You a cool dude, you
do a detailed review with a lot of facts…
Here’s some more facts; you're also left-handed,
history has learned us that some of the most creative
minds such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Beethoven
and Albert Einstein were left-handed. All odds are in
favour of you, man!
Yeah, I know this, thanks for telling the world, you
know! Panik from the Molemen and Mr. Skurge are both
Left Handed also. Fresh right… oh, and this girl
I used to love named Tamika is left handed, dope…
You don't drink nor smoke, right? What’s
your opinion on the ‘marihuana advances creativity’
-thing? When listening to peoples such as Madlib and
Jay Dee you'd really think it makes a big diff and they
make no secret of it.
Well, it’s just like selling sex (even though
I love sex and woman with nice figures) in music. I
don’t do it because it’s too simple. People
are already too simple, get complex! They just go to
the plantation plant and follow commands, it’s
just my opinion that peeps need to free their mind on
dependents. You should need your health and your love,
not drugs. But since people do them, just think moderation.
I mean, I know people that do it. I just chose not to
be the same to be none traditional and positive but
not lame. I don’t drink nor do I smoke and I don’t
feel like I need to ever do so.
Who are your favourite MC's?
Ohh shh…I'm always being me from my heart. A
Tribe Called Quest, Busy Bee, KRS-One, Poor Righteous
Teachers, Brand Nubian, X-Clan, Public Enemy, Melle
Mel, my older cousin Derrick a.k.a. Fatnice OF 84, Mr.
Skurge, Diamond D, De La Soul, Last Poets, Common, The
Roots, O.C., Rakim, DITC, Pete Rock & CL Smooth,
Gang Starr, Juice, Doom, Black Moon etc…
What does it take to be a good MC?
Creativity, great character, Soul, personality and
honesty
What do you prefer? Being on stage and do some
freestyle or recording in the studio and write lyrics?
Well that’s not an easy question. I started
out as a live emcee only, but as I constructed my content
more and created material, I haven’t been able
to do a lot of show. Now, I do want to do shows but
because a lot of these males who throw shows did not
have a male figure in their lives when they were young,
they took on their feminine nature and just don’t
want to see real men perform, yes, real African men.
So I don’t do many shows so if it’s any
men and women who want to see truth and facts then I’d
be glad to perform only1infinito@hotmail.com
… so right now I prefer recording and writing
until I get more shows.
Do you like other music outside hip-hop?
Yes ... Reggae, Jazz, Afro-Beat, Soul music and Blues
Which records/CD's have you bought recently?
Common – BE, Mater Ace – A long hot summer….that’s
all so far.
Top 5 hip-hop albums (of all time):
Common – Resurrection
Tribe Called Quest – Low End Theory
BDP – Edutainment
Poor Righteous Teachers – New World Order
De La Soul – Three feet high and Rising
Top 5 non-hip-hop albums (of all time):
No answer I’ve been ruined by hip-hop! I like
Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Sade, and Frankie Beverly
And Maze
Time for some names/words…what do you
associate with it?
Mumia Abdul Jamal
Freedom. America need to stop lying so much. Justice.
Chicago Bulls
Best team in my era. Mike Jordan. Champs. Baby Bulls.
I wish Ron Artest was still a Bull.
Wilt Chamberlain
Man, a freak with 100 points. He was a great African
in America Ball. Player
Infinito Triangle
Atlanta, Memphis, Chicago, oh my god, how you know that.
My Lil Brother son homes. God
UPS
Unorthodox Poets Society. Disgruntle Employees. My first
paying job. We need a new album, Dj Waht!
Regular Black Man
All my brothers need to unite. Million man march 2005
Michael Jackson
Free man. Leave them people alone, stay away and love
your self. Micheal Joe Jackson. Gary. In
Capitalism
Money. Power Control. Disrespect
E.R. (the sitcom)
Not for me, nothing.
Where do you see yourself in 2017? What would
you have liked to accomplish by then?
Well, off in good health with a wife and some kids.
Supporting my family, still doing my Art and being respectable.
How's life gonna be in 2017?
How ever you make it. http://2017blackart.tripod.com,
www.infinito2017.com
and www.dominationrec.com.
THANKS A LOT INFINITO!
Thanks man this is a nice part to add to my life …
respect and every one go get that new album VISIT WWW.THORNBOX.COM
WWW.UGHH.COM WWW.ACCESSHIPHOP.COM WWW.SANDBOXAUTOMATIC.COM
AND MANY OTHERS
©PF
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