Today here at Ear to the Streets, I have one of the 805's talented musicians here sharing his take on the music industry, performing, and becoming a parent. It’s a safe and sound bet that if you’ve ever been to one of his shows, you know the “A” is gonna come correct with a great sound and excellent energy. Steering away from the tradition materialistic messages in today’s Hip Hop, Adriel brings a higher level of music to the game. I was fortunate enough to sit down for an interview with a coffee and the talented Adriel, to give you a better understanding of the man behind the music.
          
M.D.: Let’s see, I understand you kind of got into music from Salsa?
ADRIEL: Oh yeah. You were reading my myspace page huh? Yeah well, growing up my parents are Latin American, my dad’s from South America and my mom’s from Mexico, and so that’s what they would play, a lot of salsa music. From young that’s what I listened to. Then one Christmas they got me a keyboard, like a little Yamaha, and I started playing along with the music. I didn’t know how to play music. I never had any lessons or anything. I was just playing along with the beat, and I was able to come up with cool little melodies and stuff like that. That’s pretty much how I started music. That’s when I knew that the music was fun and I was actually kind of good at it.
M.D.: That’s real cool right there. That’s similar to me. I got a bass guitar for my birthday and started taking lessons and once I was comfortable I started making my own little bass riffs and bass lines. Soon after that I was playing songs by ear. So what was the first music involvement that you had?
ADRIEL: When I was real young I had guitar lessons, I mean if you’re taking about first time with music, any kind of music, I think I was about 10yrs. old. I was in a mariachi band. I was playing the guitar in the band. It was cool I liked music so it didn’t matter what type of music it was.
M.D.: So what you now play guitar, keyboard…?
ADRIEL: Yeah keyboard, and after that most the stuff, like I said, I’ve never had any formal training. I guess it’s good because my parents never had to pay for lessons. I figured out how to do it on my own.
M.D.: So let me ask you, how do you feel about the music industry right now?
ADRIEL: Well if you’re talking about the music industry as a whole, I think when it comes to the mainstream type of music. I think, or what I’ve seen is that, it seems like a lot of artists… well let’s say you’re starting off to be a rapper or something like that and you’re staying true to the real Hip Hop or whatever. Maybe even on the underground scene. It seems that the only way you’ll be able to make it is if you conform to mainstream type of music and it’s the only way your music is ever going to be heard worldwide, anywhere on any radio station. And a lot of people don’t like that because obviously then you have to a lot of times, change your views, change your ideas, change the way you do your music. But I think in the end everybody does it. Like I’ve seen a lot of rappers that are mostly like really hardcore gangster type of rap music, and then all of a sudden their doing songs with Justin Timberlake. And it’s like what happened? I thought a couple years ago you were straight rapping about just being in your car with loaded guns and this and that and now you’re doing a song with Justin Timberlake. So no matter what your view is on that, everybody…I guess maybe the money takes over and you just do it anyways. Even though you didn’t want to or you don’t like it you still do because the money in the end talks a lot louder.
M.D.: That’s probably hitting the nail on the head right there man.
ADRIEL: Yeah. Cuz like to me, I’ve performed at lot of clubs where it’s like Hip Hop Night right. It’s Hip Hop Night and I’m there with a lot of other acts that are Hip Hop. But the thing is I don’t really consider my music really that close to Hip Hop. If you’re talking about Hip Hop as a lifestyle or a culture, than maybe yeah I’m in there, but if you’re talking about Hip Hop as music, like the traditional Hip Hop music. It’s not.
M.D.: Well…I don’t know. I think so. I would have to disagree because Hip Hop itself has just evolved so much like anything. And there’s some good evolution to it and then there’s always the bad. You know, there are a lot of different styles, a lot of different types of music that gets used. And I think that’s what Hip Hop is about. It’s about bringing something new to the table and creating a whole new flavor.
ADRIEL: Yeah well in that case I am a Hip Hop artist. [Laughs]
M.D.: You know Hip Hop is more than shoes, and bling, and the house on the hill with nice cars. The only thing I feel is the message…if you look at the 80’s, the message is lost. Take The Fat Boys for example. They rapped about eating burgers and fries, having a shake at Mickey D’s, and people love it millions of people bumped The Fat Boys. They weren’t out there hustlin’ they out there eating.
ADRIEL: Yeah as long as you have something that people can relate to, a message that people can relate to then that’s it, that’s all you need.
M.D.: So do you think people can relate to all this stuff that’s going on in the mainstream?
ADRIEL: Not really because a lot of people are just talking about having a whole bunch of money and making it rain in the club and I don’t have that much money and I’ve never made it rain the club. They’re talking about their Lamborghini’s and 500 horsepower under the Ferrari hood. I don’t have a Ferrari. I’ve never ever been all that close to a Ferrari or Lamborghini. So I don’t think they’re really talking about relating to real people and real ideas and real feelings. But I think what they are creating is a breed of young people that want to become something more. You can tell they’re getting into their heads and they wanna have a lot of money, you know. They wanna live the good life. And I don’t know if that’s good or bad because a lot of times people want to do it the exact same way these rappers are doing it. I think you can have a lot of money, but you need to do it your own way. You don’t have to listen to what everybody else says. As long as you’re happy, you’re doing what you like to do, and you can lay back and take a vacation once and awhile and chill out than that’s good.
M.D.: Yeah that’s what it’s about. So tell me about your album man?
ADRIEL: Well the Safe in Sound album actually started two, three years ago. I mean, I remember you were in the studio about a year ago recording that New G track for me. But yeah it’s been a long time coming, like three years since I was actually started working on the beginning. And I’ve actually seen a transformation while I was working on the album. There were songs that I originally recorded that I had intended to be on the album about 3yrs. ago that never actually made it on the album because it just evolved so much. Music got a different style and got better, the beats were a lot more intricate and dynamic and those songs just weren’t good enough to be on the CD. So yeah, I have evolved as an artist and my ideas have gotten more complex. But it’s a good album. It’s called Safe in Sound, because like I said before, I like music and if you listen to the album its all kinds of different types of music. It doesn’t really stay track to track on the same thing. It goes from a pop feel to a techno feel to like a disco to like a more Hip Hop. So it changes song to song and I think that’s cool. That’s why I called it safe in sound, because no matter what sound it is, it’s all music. The frequencies don’t matter to me. So I’m hoping people like the album
M.D.: So tell me what do you think your music is bringing to Hip Hop, like what is it bringing to the melting pot?
ADRIEL: Well like I said my music is based on just that, music and the fundamentals. It doesn’t matter what type of sound it is. It could be like a Latin type sound, it could be a mainstream Hip Hop type sound, it could be like blue grass or country. It doesn’t matter I love different type of music so every time I sit down to make a beat, because I make all my beats. Every time I sit down to make a beat, I’m in a totally different world. You know every single beat to me, I’m thinking something totally different. But what I’d like to think that I’m bringing…what I am bringing is like a cool mix of music that is upbeat, because I like my music to be upbeat. Something that’s fun to listen to and I want people when they listen to my music they feel good. Like if you’re going through tough times or whatever, I want you to hear my songs and totally forget about all that stuff and just get lost in the music and want to have a good time.
M.D.: So where can people get your album at?
ADRIEL: Right now it’s available online for digital download. You can download them as individual mp3 songs or the whole album and it’s available on iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody.com, LaLa.com, and Amazon.com. Just go to any of those websites and search Adriel or the album name Safe in Sound and you’ll find it. And soon here in the near future I’m gonna to have actual pressed CDs in local store here in Ventura County.
M.D.: Hey that’s gonna be hot right there. Are you gonna do a release party?
ADRIEL: Yeah I was planning on it. I already have a lot of club promoters that I talk to and they told me yeah just let them know what day I wanna do it and they’ll throw the party.
M.D.: So are you on a label right now?
ADRIEL: No I’m an independent artist right now I’m not working under a label, but I am working to start my own label which is MGI Inc. Entertainment, which we’ve tried to make happen for a long time now. We’ve done a lot of stuff under that name, clothing and the music too. So we’re gonna have some more stuff coming out right now.
M.D.: Okay. So you got a clothing line coming out too?
ADRIEL: Yeah, my brother is a graphic designer so we’re working on coming up with a couple different series of clothing lines. Like right now we’re working on the Kon series. Basically working off the idea that to make it big in the industry a lot of times is based on first impressions and a lot of times you have to lie a little bit or make the truth a little sweeter than it is. That’s what the Kon series is and that’s happening right now. We also have Gentleman clothing line which is Gent clothing. And we have a woman’s line that’s Shi [pronounced shy]. Yeah so we’re planning on doing those shirts soon so we can try to make some money and hopefully people can enjoy our clothing and ideas.
M.D.: That sounds pretty awesome. So now what’s this I heard about you having a contest?
ADRIEL: On November 10th, going along with the clothing line and the album right now. It starts Nov. 10th if you go to any of the online stores that I’m selling my album on, and you buy at least 1 song. When you buy the song, each song has a upc code that you can send to my myspace with your name and number, you’ll be entered into almost like a raffle to win two shirts from the Kon series, my album Safe in Sound, and also a $50.00 iTunes gift card, that way you can load up you ipod or whatever. So starting Nov. 10th , it’s gonna end December 10th so it might be a good time if you want to give the card away for Christmas. So 99 cents gets you in and if you wanna have a better chance to win just but more songs.
M.D.: Now that sounds cool. That’s sounds like a great idea.
ADRIEL: Yeah it’s good. We’re just trying anything to get the hype going.
M.D.: Definitely that the goal, to get a larger fan base and let people experience what you have. So what’s up, I also understand you recently had the birth of your first child. How has that changed you?
ADRIEL: Yeah, that’s actually changed me a lot. You can ask a lot of people how it’s gonna be to be a father or whatever, but you’re never gonna know until you actually have your own child. My son is 7 mos. old, he was born in March 15th of this year.
M.D.: Congratulations!
ADRIEL: Yeah thanks. Something like that does make you more responsible, it does make you grow up a lot faster, and it is hard work, and there are tough nights or whatever but in the end it is worth it. It is worth it to see your child that you just love to death no matter what. And it’s fun. Me and my wife are having fun raising him, and he’s keeping us laughing all the time you know, so it’s good. And if you’re talking about the music, I think it even changed me when it comes to the music too. Even since he was little he’s heard me record, because I record my music at home. So now when ever I sing anything or if I just like tap a beat or something like that, he stops and he stares at me and starts smiling at me. If I start singing he’s right there listening to me as if he knows that it’s music and understands the music.
M.D.: Sounds to me like you have another musician on your hands
ADRIEL: Yeah hopefully. He’s been listening to music since he was in the womb. So he recognizes the music. He knows.
M.D.: That’s cool right there man. So tell me what’s been the hardest thing for you to overcome so far, you know just getting to where you’re at right now
ADRIEL: Well right now I think that one difficult thing that I’ve ever encountered doing my music and performing it and showing it to people is that a lot of times when I’ve introduced somebody to my music, a lot of people are closed minded like they see good music, or their view of good music, to be whatever they like. And when they look at my music, because my music is a lot different, or people have told me that my music is really different and something really new like nobody has ever heard before. So that’s the hard part because when something is new it’s hard to make them like it or make them believe in you, you know. So that’s probably been one of the hardest parts. Especially when you know you’re at a show and there’s about a hundred people in front of you and you’re performing something, and all the other performers before you were…let’s say gangster rap music, and then you go up and everybody just leaves the room because...that’s not the type of music that they like or that’s not the type of music they came to see.
M.D.: That vibe has been built up and it’s a different shift
ADRIEL: Yeah, yeah, so it catches some people off guard and that’s probably been the hardest part is me believing in myself and knowing my music is good and going somewhere and a hundred people just walk away from you, and then you’re like I thought my music was good. My music is not supposed to make people run away. That’s the hardest part but at the same time I love music and I love performing music so much that it doesn’t faze me, like I’m still going to keep doing music my way no matter what. And that’s probably why a lot of people stick to that type of music too because they know it’s gonna get them somewhere, they know people are use to it. You know and a lot of times people are scared of taking risks. But I think the greater the risk the greater the reward so I’m gonna stick to my type of music till I die.
M.D.: Hell yeah, and what advice would you give anyone else out there trying to do something on the Hip Hop scene?
ADRIEL: Well, I think to stay true to yourself. You know a lot of people tell stories on how they grew up and stuff like that, and I think that’s the way to go. Don’t try to change, don’t try to pretend you’re somebody else, because in the end people are gonna like you for who you are not who you are pretending to be. Just ask Vanilla Ice he pretended to be someone else and nobody liked him after that. But if you’re true to yourself and you’re making music that you believe in and that you think is good. Even if nobody else thinks it’s good I think you’ll still be happy with yourself and that’s what matters. Don’t try to conform to anybody else’s ideas or anything like that. We gotta create more free thinkers in this world. We can’t listen to everybody else or follow everybody else’s thing.
M.D.: Music has to evolve
ADRIEL: That’s right especially with music. There is no right or wrong, no good or bad.
M.D. : What are your feelings on older artists? You have a lot of older artists like MC Ren coming out with an album. You know some of the pioneering artists in the game are now coming out with albums and I hear a lot of talk that they’re washed up and they’re this they’re that and it’s just because they haven’t been in the spotlight in mainstream. I hear all the time …” Dr Dre is washed up”. But I guarantee the minute he drops an album it’ll go platinum
ADRIEL: Yeah, well I think that people just because they haven’t been in the game for awhile, you know they were doing it 15 or 20 years ago. It’s not like they’re gonna come out expecting to do it the same how they did it back then and expect to make millions off of it because the music has changed so much. You talked about it before, music has evolved so much that you have to keep evolving. Like you said you have to come up with something new, you can’t stick with the old. So people are saying they’re washed up or whatever, nah, they just trying to come up with something new. Just because they’re not doing what you’re use to seeing them do. If you ask them, they’re gonna tell ya I’m just trying to come up with something new, I’m just trying to stay fresh, yeah I’m old or whatever.
M.D.: That’s right. Just look at Ray Charles. You know music is not like a sport. You can choose to retire in music and come back in the game any time you want. You know Jay-Z is gonna be spitting tight in his 50’s and 60’s. You don’t forget how to make music
ADRIEL: Exactly it’s a natural thing. And like you said Jay-Z, he probably will be spitting in his 50’s and it’s probably gonna be different than what he’s doing now but it’s gonna be about whatever is at that time. So you can’t blame someone if they’re so called “washed up” or whatever. They’re just trying to stay in the game with everybody else. Everybody else is trying to fight for that number one spot so you just gotta let it happen.
M.D.: Hell yeah I hear that. So, any last words for the 805?
ADRIEL: Well I hope that one day me and you can make music for the masses, and I hope that if something were to happen where we’re able to have millions of dollars I hope it never changes us. I hope we can still sit here at Starbucks thirty years from now and still enjoy a hot chocolate and café mocha without any problems
M.D.: [Laughs] Hell yeah man, it’s been great talking to ya
ADRIEL: Yeah man no problem.

              

Check out some hot tracks from Adriel's Safe in Sound album here: www.myspace.com/adrielmgiinc

 With Ear To The Streets, you get all the real. Here is where you can read interviews about some talented folks right here in the 805 who you should keep your eye on.  If you're making moves in Hip Hop and looking for exposure this is where it happens.

Today we take a look at the Hip Hop culture and the many facets of it. It is expressed thru music, dance, clothing, and artwork. Right now we'll talk art. From the complex street murals to, the back of the building graffiti art, Hip Hop's influence is apparent.
          
 
          Photo by Marta S. Gufstasson on Flickr          Photo by K3nr0y on Flickr

Right here in the 805, we have our own very talented bunch of folks who know how to get down with the art. One of these such persons goes by the name of Jason Cain. Involved in art production for years, he has come up with breath taking designs for both personal and private clientèle. I was able to catch up with the ever busy Cain for a short interview, and he's what he had to say.
          
M.D.: Alright now, we have an interview with the infamous J.Cain, Jason Cain to be exact. I'm just gonna start it off by asking first how you got involved with drawing and your art?
CAIN: Man, I've been doing art ever since I was like...umhh...since about 9 years old when I realized that I could draw, and I was good at drawing. I remember I had drawn a dinosaur and my sisters and brothers were like,"... damn that looks tight, look what Jason drew". That's when I realized I could do it and it was cool.
M.D.: Definitely that's pretty cool. Now do you focus on any specific type drawing style or you just do whatever? I mean you know how some people only do one main type of drawing like tagging style graffiti or portraits?
CAIN: I've done portraits before, and they came out cool but I don't really focus on doing portraits,but I can. If I take my time and do it, I can make a really nice portrait. I can also do some handwriting. I can do basically anything I sit down and try to do you know.
M.D.: Yeah definitely.
CAIN: It all depends on what I'm using how it's gonna come out, or if I use pencil or I use markers. I like using pencils. They come out cleaner and smoother. With markers you have to take a little more time and more detail with.
M.D.: Well now how you do come up with your drawings, I mean do you think of something off the wall or do you see something and think like, I can do that better?
CAIN: Yeah , yeah, most the time I just be coming off the head. I use to sit in class and just daze off. I use to get a pen and a piece of paper and then you know. just start doodling
M.D.: Heck yeah I remember them days. So tell me what else do you have planned for your art?
CAIN: Right now I just wanna kick it off with some lil T-shirts, and lil screen prints and stuff you know. Maybe later on I'll get into car prints, yeah know. maybe I'll get into dress clothes
M.D.: Now when you say car prints what do you mean?
CAIN: It's a design on the side of the car. It looks like it's painted but it's way too detailed to be painted, and it's not an airbrush. Basically it's a stencil. If I get in to that I can get more deep in the game.
M.D.: I hear that
CAIN: And after that I plan on probably going into dress clothes and doing a clothing line but more sophisticated clothes
M.D.: That's cool. That's right man get up in the game. That's what it's about. Trying to get your piece. You do any logos or tattoos?
CAIN: I thought about doing tattoos but I've never even tried it. I think if I got into it and put my mind into it I could do tattoos. I've just never taken the time to sit down and do that. I don't know, maybe it's too late in the game to start doing tattoos, but who knows
M.D.: Nah It's never too late to do anything man nowadays. I mean there's all this opportunity out there now.
CAIN: That's true I do plan on being here for awhile. 
M.D.: Now do you do any showcases for your work?
CAIN: No not really. I kind of just keep low
M.D.: That's cool, keeping it low doing your thing on the private tip. Well man I got one more question for you before I let you go. What's your feelings on the whole music industry right now? You ask just about anybody who they like and I hear the same 3 or 4 names. What's your take?
CAIN: Man personally I think the game sucks. It's like right now the industry needs people that are hella real, spitting the truth. Spitting something that means something. As far as the industry now, it's like they still rapping about what they got, flossing this , balling that, you know. I think there needs to be more of a message in the industry right now, but I ain't knocking nobody. Everybody's getting paid. That's what they really in it for if you ask me, they really in it for the money, to get paid. I know a lot of rappers out there got the love for the game but, it's all about the money
M.D.: That is the truth man. Show me the the money.

Samples of Jason Cain