Apr 2011 22

Interview: MC Homeless 0

Posted by Tiffology - In Interview, Music

Meet Matt… known better as MC Homeless. He grew up going to punk shows and singing in grindcore bands before connecting with hip hop, but hip hop was present in his life from the get-go. From Youngstown, Ohio, Homeless dropped his first full-length album, “Trapped Under an Ohio Sky” in 2007, on DIY Bandits. In November 2010, he released his sophomore album, “27“, on Milled Pavement. It featured guest appearances from Brzowski, Ira Lee, zoën, Riddlore, and Mesparrow. You might remember CB reviewing that album, too. He has toured internationally, as well as around the United States, with acts such as Brzowski, Moshe, Riddlore, Ceschi, The Coup, Lifesavas, Existereo, Nomar Slevik, Grand Buffet, K-The-I???, Awol One, and many others. He just recently got off of touring and playing at SXSW, so I had the pleasure of interviewing him. Check it out, as we discuss the bands he’s in, his album “27″, tour stories, upcoming projects, and more.

Tiffology: First let me ask you the common question of… why the name “MC Homeless”?

MC Homeless: It started off as a joke and stuck. I like it.

Tiffology: You’re into the DIY punk scene. As far as making music, is that where you started… in punk bands?

MC Homeless: It is. I was in a grindcore band Combat Shock, with Grimey L and some other friends. I was attempting to book and play punk shows in high school. I didn’t really know what I was doing but it was a good challenge. Sometimes I identify with that scene more than the hip hop scene. Some people rap purely as an entrepreneurial business venture. Punk isn’t like that, but there are too many holier-than-thou attitudes involved in punk and hardcore. Nobody and nothing is perfect.

Tiffology: How many, and which, punk bands are you in currently?

MC Homeless: I sing in Sunk In Ships and, the power violence band, Knuckles and Nipples. We have been playing off and on for about five years and only do 6 minute sets.

Tiffology: RANDOM – Who are you currently listening to that we, and people reading this, should know about?

MC Homeless: Warpaint. I am in love with their music. They are an all-lady, experimental 4 piece from L.A. John Frusciante produced their EP and I just saw them live a few weeks ago. One of the best performances I have ever seen. Also Ladytron, Tyler The Creator, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Bat For Lashes, Hunx and His Punx and Nobunny!!

Tiffology: What made you gravitate towards making hip hop music?

MC Homeless: I grew up on hip hop, Yo! MTV Raps and Rap City.

Tiffology: Any major influences?

MC Homeless: Black Flag, David Bowie and classic hip hop. Also the inventors of chopping and styling (FF, CVE, HHK). I’m not really influenced by any new rappers except Lil B because he swags to the hundred trillionth.

Tiffology: What’s your writing process like?

MC Homeless: Sleep deprivation, substance abuse, and extreme depression help, but thats not really my day to day life. I can freestyle way easier than I write rhymes. The writing process is always different and spontaneous.

Tiffology: RANDOM – What was the first concert you ever went to and how was it?

MC Homeless: The Beach Boys and Roy Orbison when I was like 4 or 5 years old. It was amazing from what I remember.

Tiffology: In your debut album, “Trapped Under An Ohio Sky”, there were equal parts of personal and political matters. Why did you decide to ditch most of the latter in “27″, to pour everything personal into this album, putting you in a vulnerable position? Was it just that time?

MC Homeless: I got sick of writing political songs. I don’t want to be known as a political rapper and I will probably never make a political album again. I am really just fed up with the hypocrisy of the far left in this country and anarchism as a social identity. Leave it to Crimethinc oogles to write passionate declarations of dumpstered bagels and annoy people with black blocs that confuse on-lookers stuck in traffic. Regardless of my personal politics and stance against oppression, I am leaving it out of the music. I’d like to show compassion in different ways.

Tiffology: As a whole, the album stays within the range of dark, angry, and sad emotions that seem to hit home to you as a person. What do you want people to get from listening to it? And how has the reception been?

MC Homeless: I want people to know that these feelings are okay to have. It’s not negative, it’s not hateful, it’s just life. Life is ugly, beautiful and short. When people tell me that my music has helped them through hard times, it really hits my heart and soul… just makes it all worth it. It’s very real and touching. I am just capturing the human experience. It’s not contrived or feel good. It was really painful for me to write a lot of the songs on “27″ but that’s life and in the end it’s amazing. The reception has been overwhelmingly positive and I appreciate every person that listens to my album.

Tiffology: “Try Suicide” walks the dark line as it presents the causes, the failures, and the different ways of going about suicide. It also seemed that there were parts where you were egging someone on to commit suicide. What can you tell me about the song, and why it was written?

MC Homeless: The song was written as an experiment. I wanted to see the affect it would have on people. I really wanted someone specific to kill themselves and that song was my taunting, fantasy or reality. It was directed in a certain way, for certain ears at a certain time. If someone really killed themlseves because of that song, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night… ever. It’s just music in the end and the feelings are always fleeting and changing.

Tiffology: When I first saw “Sophia Loren”, I immediately thought of the actress. I don’t know if that plays a part to the title and the song, so if not… who is Sophia Loren to you?

MC Homeless: Every woman I have ever loved and loathed.

Tiffology: Do you have a favorite track, or two, from “27″? Why or why not?

MC Homeless: Tension Headaches. I like the way my flow came out. Very choppy and technical. Swag!

Tiffology: RANDOM – What’s your favorite thing to do that doesn’t involve music?

MC Homeless: I enjoy cult films and B movies, 80′s and early 90′s pro wrestling, watching NBA, burritos, swimming, mountains, nature, microbrews, making fun of Greenlander and a few other things.

Tiffology: For those of us who haven’t seen you perform, what are your shows like? Also, sorry about what happened with the show here in Arizona not too long ago… please come back!

MC Homeless: Depending on the night and situation, you will always get a differenent performance. I really feed off of audience’s energy and good vibes. Performance is a communial thing. I want people to have fun. The live music is way different than the recorded music. I am influenced by punk rock musicians and the energy they bring. About what happened in Arizona, if you are a rude promoter that doesn’t treat artists right, you may be bloodied. It’s really a shame when things come down to that though and I hope it doesn’t happen again.

Tiffology: You just got done touring around the east coast with PT Burnem and Greenlander. How was that? Anything interesting go down that you want to share?

MC Homeless: It was fun, except when we got ripped off by the Lit Lounge in NYC. Greenlander and Burnem are amazing artists that everyone should check out. The shows in New Hampshire, Mass, New Jersey and Pennsylvania were great. The east coast is having an indie hip hop revival.

Tiffology: RANDOM – Is there any time when you met someone and it was a really big deal for you?

MC Homeless: Henry Rollins was intimidating.

Tiffology: What are 3 things you must have while you’re touring?

MC Homeless: Sleep, beer and mcs that don’t suck.

Tiffology: Speaking of shows, you also recently played at SXSW. Was that your first time playing at that event?

MC Homeless: I have wanted to play for years, but this one was my first opportunity. I played the Project Blowed Picnic and Pawn Kings Fest. I also got to see great acts like Yob, The Carrots and Odd Future. It was non-stop fun. Presque Vu came with me and we had such a blast.

Tiffology: While I’m still on the subject, haha, what’s the craziest thing someone or people have done at one of your shows… hip hop or in your punk bands? I know you have stories!

MC Homeless: Start fights with me, light fires on their heads, crack heads coming off of the street and trying to snatch my mic, people telling me I should die, people telling me I am a God, anything can happen.

Tiffology: RANDOM – What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?

MC Homeless: I just want to be successful on my own terms.

Tiffology: Out of all the artists you’ve performed with, have there been any favorites?

MC Homeless: Ceschi is always a favorite. PT Burnem is great every night. Riddlore too. There’s really too many to name. Hundreds and hundreds of dope artists.

Tiffology: What else do you have planned for 2011? Any projects, albums, or shows you feel like discussing?

MC Homeless: Riddlore and I have a split 7 inch coming out with the crusty d-beat band, Life Erased. I also have an unreleased/remix album planned with some special guests like Mac Lethal and Thavius Beck contributing. Other than that, lots of shows and possibly a Twin Peaks themed project and a full-length with Riddlore.

Tiffology: Shout outs or last words?

MC Homeless: Thank you for the interview, Tiffany. Thanks to everyone who has and continues to support my music. It’s a crazy life, but someone has to live it.

Tiffology: Finish off these…

Top 5 places to eat in Ohio – Casa De Taco, Casa Ramirez, Phoenician Grill, Flaming Ice Cube and Aladins… all in Youngstown.
Top 5 movies – Pulp Fiction, Wild At Heart, True Romance, Redneck Zombies and Toxic Avenger
Favorite place to hangout… Paris, France, Los Angeles and the 456.
Favorite non-hip hop album – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie
I can… do anything I want and so can everyone else. It just takes motivation and guts!
I won’t… take your advice unless I really respect your cultural contributions
If I could play every city in the world, I would be happy and exhausted.
My biggest fear in life is… To die alone, old and unappreciated.