HiLIFE
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Rapper Creed Chameleon has a new album, "Siq of Lazy," out this weekend. He'll be having a release party Saturday at E&O Trading Co.
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Rock the Mic
TWO YEARS after raising the bar for Hawaii-based hip-hop artists with "Love Potion Cyanide," rapper Creed Chameleon is back -- and he's on a new mission.
"SIQ OF LAZY CD RELEASE PARTY" WITH CREED CHAMELEON
Place: E&O Trading Co.
Time: 9 p.m. Saturday
Cover: $10
Call: 591-9555
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"Siq of Lazy" drops this weekend (read John Berger's review on Page 30), and the artist born Kris Rojas wants to make it clear that Honolulu isn't just home to Jawaiian and steel guitar. As the scene has evolved and more people have taken interest in his music, Creed has come to realize the need to step up his game, and that means to avoid falling into the same traps that have derailed other artists.
Creed spoke with the Star-Bulletin last week at SIQ Records' Palolo office, where he shared his thoughts on the new album, the state of Hawaii hip-hop and how his attitude has changed when it comes to collaborating with others. He'll celebrate the release of "Siq of Lazy" on Saturday with a party at E&O Trading Co.
QUESTION: What is "Siq of Lazy" all about?
ANSWER: I'm tired of the labels, tired of Hawaii being too laid-back (and) tired of the scene complaining and dissing people. I work a nine-to-five just like you.
Got personal problems? We all do. So just shut the (hell) up and let's make music.
Q: How is it different from your previous two albums?
A: I feel more well-rounded now. I wanted to press this album earlier, but ... all of a sudden, I was getting all these beats.
I try to represent Hawaii hip-hop to the fullest, but I wanted to show off Hawaii's talent. So I kinda just went and did a whole bunch of recordings with different producers.
Q: That's a different approach from the one you took with "Defy" and "Love Potion Cyanide." What made you decide to accept help from outside your crew?
A: I always tell myself there's someone better. That's what makes me work harder.
Q: Two or three years ago, you wouldn't have said that.
A: Yeah, I kinda eased up on the whole braggadocious thing. For me, I've learned that the music will speak for itself and I don't really need to explain it.
Why should I tell people I'm better than you? We're all human beings (and) I don't feel like I'm better than anybody. Before, I would've just called the boys.
Q: What was the recording process like?
A: Most of the time, I'd write at work when I had free time. At home, I'd usually write on my laptop.
I'd get weekends off to work on the album, so during the week I'd already be plotting so I'd be prepared when I got to the studio. I'd be in traffic listening to a beat and brainstorm while sitting in the car.
Q: Besides working with new producers, you feature a lot of guest performers this time around.
A: I wanted to show that the Hawaii hip-hop scene is alive and well (and) show proof that our scene is dope. And I wanted to show that I could do a track with the same monsters that I would battle with.
Q: There are a lot of local artists and producers on the grind, but there is also a lot of negativity. How do you deal with it?
A: The haters over here ... think you gotta push everybody to the side in order to be successful.
For me, I've changed because I realized ... the culture is growing, which is what I wanted. So I gotta ask myself why I'm hating.
But it's still out there. People straight up get in my face and tell me I don't belong.
Dude, we're from Hawaii -- the whole Aloha Spirit state of mind? We need more of that.
Q: Yet on the track "Perry and Price," you compare the popular morning radio duo to a lot of the problems that face us here in Hawaii. Why take a shot at those two?
A: Remember when Price was talking with that state senator (Gary Hooser from Kauai) and their whole beef? That got me really upset ... I hate when people try to stereotype.
Now, I believe in the freedom of speech stuff, but (their) opinions are way off. Yes, they guided us through the hurricanes and the earthquake. And hey, I love "Hawaiian Moving Company." But I feel like it was kinda (messed) up with Price making comments like that.
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Kenta Nemoto, left, creative director of SIQ Records, chats with rapper Creed Chameleon, right, at Nemoto's office in Palolo.
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Q: "Siq of Lazy" also plays upon the name of your new label. Has working with SIQ Records changed your attitude towards the mainstream music business?
A: I feel a lot more comfortable and confident now. (Being part of ) Direct Descendants was about the fact they had my back and would help me at performances.
With SIQ, it's the whole business, the promotion, marketing and all of the stuff I wanted to do. We had bumps in the road, but now I see we're a little more focused and can tell who is down to work with us.
It's all coming into place.
Q: "Love Potion Cyanide" was nominated for a Hoku Award. Were you disappointed that someone unknown on the local scene ended up winning instead?
A: Maybe they just have relatives. For me? Keep the Hanohano Award.
Being nominated was a big enough thing for me, (because) I never expected to get nominated. It's a breakthrough for our underground scene.
Q: What can fans expect at E&O this weekend?
A: Expect a lot of surprises and just a big party. I'm going to do a special set with Revise and Educated Guess, a little bit of the usual and new Creed Chameleon stuff with some experimental electronic hip-hop as well.
We'll have two MPC controllers with the DJs turntables, and we'll have this sound effects thing that Educated is working on. The plan is to do everything live and remix certain songs.