A lot of people have been throwing around the term “almost famous” lately. The sentiment in that term is up in the air—for some being a compliment, for others an insult and then for that third that is let, a feeling of, well—who cares? Public opinions aside though, the term does have some validity, particularly for artist who are on the cusp of grabbing hold to their dreams, but are waiting for something major to happen. Hip-Hop artist Scholar is in that waiting period now, but he is not letting that stop him from pursuing what he believes to be his destiny. Though a new artist, he has made many connections in the industry, yet is still trying to reach a wider audience and get a music career that will allow him to leave the day job a task that is taking longer than he would like, but one in which his pursuit will not stops.


Nfared: You’re originally from Phoenix Arizona right?

Scholar: Actually that’s where I’m being marketed from but I’m a military brat so I’m from all over.

Nfared: Are there any other black people in Phoenix Arizona other than you and DMX?

Scholar: (Laughs) You know and I get that question a lot like, black people in Phoenix? It’s like they are shocked, like we are an endangered species out there. I think the percentile is like three percent or something like that though, so some of us are out there.

Nfared: I figured there were, I just wanted to hear it from the perspective of someone that has actually lived there long enough to know.

Scholar: Well the heat will drive us out there so don’t worry.

Nfared: So what got you into artistry? What was the experience that you had that made you say ok I’m going to be a rapper one day?

Scholar: You know it’s not even so much what lead me to become a rapper; I’ve always had a passion for music you know even when I was going up in grade school, I was always involved in some type of for of art in the musical aspect whether it was choir, band or what ever. I know I didn’t need to be in choir—I know didn’t need to be in that. Yeah we found that out when- well never mind we found that out! But you know music has always been a part of me just like I said because I was a military brat and I moved around a lot I was never really able to make friends and keep them so music was like my best friend.

Nfared: You and I both are independent artists doing our thing on our own because we really believe in what we do and in our talents. What is it like being out there on your own promoting yourself and sometimes being the only person that believes in what you’re doing?

Scholar: It’s a grind you know. A lot of people say what we do as artists is not work you know outside of the corporate world, you know corporate America lookin in on what we do they say it’s not work-- well it is work. I believe that being an artist is basically a job in itself cause you have to market yourself and present your product to the world and basically you are on a 24/7 grind basically trying to get someone to buy your product.

Nfared: What is it like getting a chance to be an artist and at the same time having to work a traditional job because your artist stuff has not jumped off yet?

Scholar: It’s more so up to the person. You definitely have to feed and support yourself up until your break into the industry and you sign your contract, but you can’t just lay around waiting for it to happen I mean you have to fund yourself because if you don’t invest in yourself then who else is going to invest in you so that’s the way I look at it definitely. It can be fun I mean Mickey D’s is a great place to eat.

Nfared: I was there the other night!

Scholar: Ain’t nothing like the dollar menu brotha, nothing like it! But you definitely have you fund yourself, so if that means working a 9-5 then so be it.

Nfared: Where did your name come from?

Scholar: You know Scholar came from - cause you know I have always been educated like you know I’ve always been a higher level of grades or guess you could say I just always got good grades, but I went through several names. I went through Migraine, Concept, and then one day I just came to the conclusion of Scholar, and I was like yeah that’s dope, imma use that. So I took it ran with it and so far it’s been fitting and everything I talk about in my music you know I think it has a concept or more so it tells a story and gets a message across.

Nfared: Now what was Migraine about?

Scholar: Migraine was because of the fact that well you remember how like back in the late 90s early 2000 era it was all about being a hardcore rapper so like oh ok Imma come up with a name like Migraine, you know a Migraine is a terrible thing to have and I know Excedrin can’t really cure it and Tylenol can’t really cure it so you know it’s like it’s just gonna be there and it’s gonna keep naggin you and naggin you and naggin you and that’s what the idea was that came into play with that name.

Nfared: Well that was a good one, but we’ll stick to Scholar for right now, but if we have to change up the marketing plan and go back to Migraine we’ll let you know.

Scholar: (Laughs) Keep me posted.

Nfared: You mentioned being educated and I talked to DJ Drama not too long ago and he said he has a degree in Mass Communications, but being educated is not the thing being advocated in Hip-Hop right now. It’s all about being hard, being hard, being from the streets, being a thug, wearing your pants below your waist—what do you think about all that?

Scholar: Well when it comes to being from the hood I can’t knock being from the hood cause it’s some very intelligent people that have come from out the hood and made a positive mark in this industry and in the public. My stand point on it? I don’t wear my pants below my waist, uhh, I’m not all about talking about the gangsta stuff you know, it is what it is; I’m a man of peace, but I’m pretty sure once everyone gets to a certain point then the “hoodness” is going to come out of a person. As far as people not dropping education in their music, yeah I definitely feel the game is saturated right now. I won’t state any names, but definitely feel the game is saturated and it definitely needs more genuine people who are artist who create and get a message across.

Nfared: Aside from the whole “hood” thing, what do you thinking general about some of the messages that are being put out in Hip-Hop as of late?

Scholar: I think more so what it is right now is and I really hope I don’t get chopped over the head for this one, but I don’t really see messages coming out and I don’t see the music being about music, it’s all about I got diamonds on my neck, and I got a lot of females on my jock, and I got this car and that car, and I got a million dollars- that’s not what music is about. Music is a form of expression and it really comes across when people can relate to it. You know if you having a bad day, you don’t want to hear nothing about I got diamonds and I got this and that, cause you don’t have that. You want to hear something you can relate like, Everyday People—(sings) I am everyday people! I told you choir wasn’t for me brotha. Definitely though I feel like there is not a message now and days I believe everything is all about sex and money and cars and that is just not what the game was built on you know I mean image sells but also be you, and I think that’s the problem people have being themselves cause you know TV—Tele-lies-to-ya-vision—we see so many things and we know that’s not true and not what’s really going on but say you got Leroy and then you got Johnny. Johnny is looking at TV and Johnny is seeing Leroy is on there, or L-Dawg is on there wearing his pants below his waist and he thinks it’s cool, so automatically he wants to be like that so he can be accepted where he is. So Tele-lies-to-ya-vision I just feel that there are very few positive people out there for the youth or just in general.

Nfared: Some artists defend the, I guess Bling Bling era by saying that they are celebrating where they have arrived to because they came from nothing. Do you think that gives them room to do that or is it still to much because people can’t relate to it?

Scholar: I still think you know if you’re not living that life style then I mean you know, 90% of America is not living that lifestyle I mean you know you got people in other countries that are poor and you got people in this country that are poor, so I mean like not everyone is living that lifestyle so I mean it’s all great and dandy I mean you know congratulations on you upgrading your lifestyle but I mean to me, I’m just not gonna do it. You’re not gonna catch me on a records saying “I got twenty thousand on my wrist, I’m sick wit it and I got chickens on my whip..” I don’t understand that so—if that answers your question I mean--- people are gonna do what they want but they gets no leeway from me.

Nfared: The words “bitch” and “hoe” are real hot topics in music right now. Do you think those words are degrading or just a form of expression?

Scholar: You know what umm I hope I’m not a hypocrite for saying this but it’s a little but of both because its culture, you know like I said Tele-lies-to-ya-vision, you know we have others out there who are saying it. Me myself I won’t call another female a bitch or a hoe cause of the fact I think about my mother was not always my mother you know so like you gotta look at it from that aspect. I believe every person deserves respect and no matter what they’re doing, I don’t feel anyone should be degraded. A person may bring it on themselves but on the same note it’s a little bit of both. Again I don’t want to be called a hypocrite, but if a female is out there doing this and doing that and not showing regard for herself or anyone around her or her family of course she is going to be called that. Does not mean that it’s right, but on the same note if you don’t want to be called that don’t do those activities. I’m not justifying the verbiage but you know…

Nfared: I gotcha. There were several notable arrests in Hip-Hop last year. IS there an attack on Hip-Hop? Are they “out to get us”?

Scholar: I was one of them!

Nfared: Ok so we got you, T.I. Lil Wayne, T-Paine, Da Brat—even on the other side Kid Rock was arrested! What’s going on?

Scholar: I think bottom line what it is is I think they are being attacked because they are different and unique. Different genders, ethnicities, genres of music, different content—I just think the public will never understand what an artist goes through and what leads them to the decisions they make I mean you know just the fact of them being different you know its like me saying I hate pink and that goes against an organization that loves the color pink so they are going to go against me cause I said that you know so I think it’s the fact that their different and that’s why they don’t understand them, that’s what I believe. I mean no one deserves the right to be stereotyped…

Nfared: That’s what I was just about to ask, you, does that give people the right then to stereotype others just because they are different?

Scholar: Not at all not at all because it’s a well known fact that we were all created equal you know I mean we were all created equal an in addition to that no man no woman is greater and no race is greater. Like I said we are all created equal and there’s no need to stereotype. I believe when you stereotype, you are insecure of yourself.

Nfared: Politically there is a lot going on. George Bush is not very popular right now, and then there’s this thing where you got the possibility of either a first black president or the first female president. What do you think about all that?

Scholar: In regards to Bush, let’s hurry up and get him out of there because he has not done anything to benefit this country besides raises the taxes on gas and that’s not a benefit. He’s little help. When it comes to the upcoming presidential election, women please don’t hate me for saying this, I love you, you are my queens, but honestly with everything that is going on in politics right now I don’t feel that the world is ready for a female president or for a female to run the country, especially with what just happened in Pakistan and what not. That situation speaks for itself and I wouldn’t want that to happen over here, but that’s not saying that she is not qualified because she is very qualified, but in my honest opinion, Barack should be president, not because he’s African American but because he’s a male and I feel that the world will accept a male versus a female right now. That’s not saying a female can’t do a man’s job cause that’s been proven wrong several times, but as of right now I don’t feel like the world is ready for a females president, I believe Barack should be the president and Hillary should be the vice.

Nfared: Do you think the world is ready for a black president? I mean Obama and his wife have both talked about all the death threats they have received while on the campaign trail.

Scholar: No.

Nfared: Do you think the world is not ready or does it not matter whether or not the world is ready because it’s time for a black president?

Scholar: Well you know it doesn’t matter if the world is ready or not because when you look at it these are the top two candidates in my opinion Hillary because she has the experience in the white house, and Barack is just a favorite right now. Honestly he has every ethnicity, ever gender, homosexuals, lesbians; he has a lot of different groups in his corner. Now the world being ready for a black president? Well I don’t know. You got a couple of people out there that don’t want to see that happen but then you have a lot of people out there that realize that slavery is over and it’s a different day and time and a person’s creed and color don’t matter, what matters is if they can get the job done and what can they do to benefit the American people. As far as him [Barack] being assassinated I—wow. Have protection man, have protection.

Nfared: Yeah they have talked about the threats in the news and one of the specific words used in some of the threats discussed was “assassinated”. I think that’s real sad.

Scholar: It is I mean cause I feel like I said, no one deserves to be murdered. No one has the power to take any woman, man, or animals life but God, so for a person to be assassinated upon the color of their skin is just out right ignorant and stupid.

Nfared: I say this a lot but one of my favorite interviews was with Phonte of the Hip-Hop group Little Brother. Phonte is one of the most brilliant artists in the industry and extremely creative with his word play. One of the things he said was—you have your artist like Soulja Boy, Lil John, Flo-Rida, and Ying Yang twins who may not emphasize lyrics as much as they do partying or a cute little dance or a hot track. Then on the other side of the fence you got Nas, Little Brother, Talib Kweli—those types who are notorious about lyrical mastery. Phonte said that music is music and Hip-Hop can be what ever you want it to be, but there is not enough balance, like you here more of the Lil John then you do the Talib Kweli. Do you agree with that?

Scholar: I believe the game is very saturated right now and I think and there are very few artists who deserve to be called an artist you know. I feel that a lot of people in the game are just performers and I think a true artist relates to the people as well as has a story to tell and in addition to that writes their own material- that’s not me shooting any shots at anyone, but you know if you’re an artist and you want people to feel your struggle and hear your message you write your own material. The game is just very saturated right now and the industry lacks genuine artists.

Nfared: Well this may be redundant, but do you not approve of ghostwriting?

Scholar: I think it takes away from your creative control, but you know it is a business because everyone can’t write but like I said true artist will write their own material cause you’re creating something—you’re creating a masterpiece like Picasso painted his portraits so it’s like you’re creating. Once you have that pen in your hand and paper and your mind starts coming with thoughts and ideas, it’s a beautiful if you know how to put things together.

Nfared: The quote of Hip-Hop right now—“It’s not about your talent, it’s about your hustle.” Agree?

Scholar: I could not agree a whole lot more because there are a lot of talented people. There are a million talented people out there. It’s definitely about your hustle. One thing I will say, a lot of people say it’s all about who you know, but you can know a lot of people. You can know everyone under the moon but if they don’t know you can’t see what you going on and they’re not respecting your grind, then it’s useless to know them. It’s no longer about having talent, those days are gone. It’s about can you show that you’re marketable; can you show that you’re going to be in the black and not in the red? You don’t want to be in the red.

Nfared: One response I have gotten to that question that I love was from Flo-Rida and he said, “As far as being seen, it’s all about your hustle, but for longevity in the industry, it’s all about your talent.”

Scholar: That’s a great answer definitely—wow. If you want longevity in this game I would have to say in addition to that keeping a good name, keeping good business relationships and good networking relationships, and uhh remaining true to your self as well as your fan base and one thing that has worked for me is keeping God in my life and praying. So I would definitely agree with Mr. Flo-Rida— get low low low!

Nfared: Are you willing to get where you want to get no matter who you step on, or are you willing to wait as long as it takes as long as you don’t have to sacrifice the things that are important to you?

Scholar: I’m willing to wait it out, I mean patience is a virtue. Sometimes if it’s not given to you then it ain’t the right time. I used to ask myself that all the time like dang why aren’t I signed I’m so much better than that person or you know this person doesn’t really deserve it they’re slacking off you know like you realize it’s not your time. I got a track I’m working on right now it goes ‘I gotta keep pushing/I gotta keep grinding/this game right here is/all about timing/many they block me/but no they won’t stop me/where imma take it to/straight to the top g/watch me.’ I told you choir was not my strong point! We gone put it together when we get in the studio! But definitely this game is all about timing. It’s all about timing and your hustle and staying true to yourself. You know it’s been so many people that do things just to get their deal and they don’t have longevity, they’re short term. So I mean by all means wait it out, be patient, keep faith in yourself, keep faith in your art, never never doubt yourself as an artist, and never doubt your music. Never feel that your music is not hot because here’s a tip cause this is what I say, every track is a hit, it’s just the way you market. Every track is hot, it’s just the way you push it.

Nfared: Five years from now—and I like what a lot of people are doing now with diversifying and going into different facets to make money like clothing lines, cologne-so you know within the next five years, what do you see yourself doing?

Scholar: Music is always going to be my passion, but yeah we definitely want to branch out to other avenues and you know get different forms of residual income you know and make wise investments so definitely you can hear about Scholar investing in some real estate not only in the US but also in different countries…

Nfared: Like in India where they shipping all those jobs to!

Scholar: (Laughing) OH the man has jokes! But yeah like I say I will always want to be a part of the music industry. As a matter of fact this is one thing I will say and quote me on this because I believe right now there are so many people who are not thankful and grateful for their position in the entertainment industry or you know the rank or “status” they have and I am definitely always going to be a part of the industry because once I am not “hot” no more I’m going to be an A&R rep. I want to be an A&R because of the fact that I know what’s it like to try and get in the game, and I want to be that person that says this person has talent and they deserve a deal, but like I said, I will use the same work ethic I use when selecting artist. You gotta invest in yourself before anyone else will invest in you, but I’ll always be a part of the music industry, and other legal ventures.

Sounds like he’s on the right track - legally that is. MCP