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Interview
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The Alchemist,
derived from the Arabic word "Al-kimia", is both a philosophy and
an ancient practice focused on the attempt to change base metals
into gold, investigating the preparation of the "elixir of
longevity", and achieving ultimate wisdom. It involves the
improvement of the alchemist as well as the making of several
substances described as "possessing unusual properties". Not to be
confused with The Alchemist from Mobb Deep or Eminem's camp, The
Alchemist in question here is the second name to the member of
Lost Children of Babylon commonly known as Ancient Kemet. Kemet
which refers to the Egyptian name for Ancient Egypt. But we are talking about music and an artist here, not
necessarily about Egyptian mythologies, the Pharaohs or their pyramids,
or is it?
Well the answer to
the question above is true on both sides, Ancient Kemet the
artist can be viewed beyond music to the literal meaning of his
name and aliases. Ancient Kemet is one of
the founding members of the Philadelphia based underground
hip-hop group; The Lost Children of Babylon, or Lost Children of Egypt
as they were later called. The group's original incarnation
consisted of just Rasul Allah, Richard Raw, Breath of Judah,
Cosmic Crusader and Ancient Kemet, but with the progression of
the group's structure and development, some of its members have
left and new ones joined, the remaining original members that
were there from the beginning are now; Rasul, Ancient Kemet, Cosmic Crusader and Richard
Raw who were later joined by Atun Sen Geb, and
most recently Fdation members Lex Starwind, and Jon Murdock.
The current LCOB
series carried out is to enable the fans to get up close and
personal to each member of the group and get to know them better
especially with as its a large group. LCOB has over time grown into a worldwide
phenomenon with a certified brand name (following the footstep of one of their influences;
Wu-Tang Clan), with each member bringing something different and
unique to the table that completes the LCOB circle.
This week's guest, Ancient Kemet,
was for some reason not very visible on their latest albums,
find out why, also get the chance to hear first hand Kemet's
recollection of the group's formation, his strong ties and
connection to skating and the skating brand D.G.K, and the rational
or reasons behind their sometimes thought provoking lyrics.
Enjoy! |
I like to say thanks first and foremost for
taking the time to answer these questions, highly
appreciated, and will also point out that nothing will be
altered, edited or changed when this is published online.
Wu-International: Peace Kemet, how are you
Ancient Kemet: I'm good, peace to the gods and
earths, Hetep Pu.
Wu-International: So how did the LCOB journey
start for you, how did you become a member?
Ancient Kemet: Well, it was kinda crazy me and Rasul
Allah had already been friends and Sul called me one night
and said he had an idea for a group and asked me did I wanna
start mcing with he was already rhyming and shit but I was
always a hip hop fan and grew up around it so I always
wanted to write and perform my own shit, I was down from the
gate.
Wu-International: You have been there from the
beginning to now, how would you say the group has changed,
grown musically etc?
Ancient Kemet: We
have grown a lot through building, studying, and just
growing as individuals going through life's experiences so
the rhymes and styles got better, we always known what our
sound was production-wise that's why it was important to us
to induct key producers into the camp, they saw the picture
we were trying to paint.
Wu-International: The second album saw the group
taking on other aliases, Lost Children of Egypt, was there
any reason you adopted or changed Babylon to Egypt and does
the group still go by both names?
Ancient Kemet: That was to pay homage to the master
teacher Malachi Zodoq-El, and yes there could be another
LCOE album anytime.
Wu-International: Since you are one of the
founding members, we will talk about Amun’s departure and
claims, what is your whole take on him leaving the group and
how do you feel about that?
Ancient Kemet:
I feel things happen for
a reason, it was crazy, but we just had to keep it moving,
despite that. He made his own choices, had his own motives,
just wanna make it known no-one ghost writes for me, that's
ridiculous nor any members of LCOB, dont give yourself that
much credit!
Wu-International: LCOB first album sold out pretty
quickly and was reprinted a couple more times and still sold
out, do you think your group came into a niche or sub genre
in Hip-hop that was not explored at the time, or was it
something else that made people look for your music
worldwide?
Ancient Kemet:
I think it was more us being the representatives of a lost
genre or chamber in hip hop that people failed to realize
still existed we just kinda re-broke the ground again for
that form of hip hop to be appreciated again
Wu-International: Your group has been labelled as
being the fore runners for spiritual hip-hop, is that a tag
that you are comfortable with or is it a tag that puts the
group in a box you don’t want to be?
Ancient Kemet:
Yeah I can say I am
comfortable with that because it doesn't necessarily put us
in a box because spirituality as well as hip hop is like
water it can adapt and become any shape it wants, it can
contain many different subject matters hence the 911 album.
Wu-International: LCOB has gone from a small
crew to a large crew with current affiliations in places
like Canada, Europe, Asia etc, was this something you all
envisioned when you started out or is this something that
developed as things got along?
Ancient Kemet:
I think it was always
envisioned for the LCOB to become a worldwide movement
because we have people all over dealing with issues whether
it's spiritual, personal, political, or just everyday things
that occur in your environment, and to be joined together
with common interest and goals as far as hip-hop is
concerned is dope!
Wu-International: So the group is dropping the new
album Zeitgeist, what does the title personally mean to you
and why did the group choose that title for the album?
Ancient Kemet:
We are in the spirit of the ages, the age of Aquarius
represents a whole lot in evolution of man, that big leap in
our consciousness that takes us away from cardinal nature
realizing our true spiritual selves. so the title fits well.
Wu-International: Having listened to the album, it
was quite odd to find that you were not present on the whole
album, any reason for this?
Ancient Kemet:
Was at sort of a crossroads in my life at that time and made
it kinda difficult for me to get time in the studio to
record.
Wu-International: Also noticed that another core
member Richard Raw was only on a couple of songs too, we
never got back his interview questions, what is an LCOB
album without its core members?
Ancient Kemet:
It was just certain tracks just are geared for specific
members within LCOB to bless more or less.
Wu-International: This leads us to ask about Breath of Judah
again, he was also missing on this
project?
Ancient Kemet:
Breath of Judah basically stopped emceeing, he took a
different path in his life.
 |
Wu-International: Have to say from the outside
looking in, its easy to see how one can assume something is going on within LCOB.
Its you, Breath of Judah, Amun and to some extent Raw
on the back bench, what are your thoughts on that?
Ancient Kemet:
That's a great assumption, we had deadlines to meet for
completion of a projects and if verses weren't recorded for
the projects and if some MCs weren't present at the time the
squad still has to make moves you feel me? it aint nuthin
big going on behind the scenes, cats just didn't get
in the studio |
Wu-International: Ok, thanks for those answer, lets move on, Rasul
informed us that the group will be working on “The
Appendices” next, have you started recording for that
project already?
Ancient Kemet:
Yes we are in the process of recording that project.
Wu-International: Ok, lets move on to you, Ancient
Kemet is self explanatory, why are you called this though?
Ancient Kemet:
I gravitated heavily toward the ancient kemetic sciences so
the name fit me, then being known for alchemistry, as I am
also the alchemist , my raps are alchemical equations
transforming minds from tin to platinum!
Wu-International: Cool, so how did you fall into your
respective craft as an emcee and how long have you been
doing this for?
Ancient Kemet:
Damn like late 92- early
93, a lil bit before we heard "protect ya neck" single
from Wu-Tang Clan, it was crazy as I remember we got that
directly from G-The Promoter himself.
Wu-International: Did you start off in a group, or as
a solo artists, and have you been or currently involved in
any other group outside of LCOB?
Ancient Kemet:
I was LCOB from the
start, I will be be forever!!!!!
Wu-International: The music you pull out sometimes is
breathtaking. It’s more or less just soaked with knowledge
and meaning. Where do you find inspiration, to come up with
such ideas for your lyrics or just your music in general?
Ancient Kemet:
I don't know man I just get in zone go in the chambers and
just write, the beat usually helps too I am inspired by a
lot from my brothers in LCOB also, we motivate one another.
Wu-International: Would it be safe to assume
that you also like everybody else is working on a solo
project an dif so can you please tell us more about it as in
features, time line, title etc?
Ancient Kemet: Coming soon that's all I can say
Ancient KMT fans wont be disappointed, just be ready to take
a journey with me!
Wu-International:
What else do you get up
to apart from music?
Ancient Kemet:
Skateboard also,
I've been into that since I was a young boy, I'm a Dirty
Ghetto Kid, DGK affiliate of DGK skateboards owned by my
brother Stevie Williams, Philly native and he is also LCOB
too, he was there with us from the beginning, LCOB/DGK all
day!.
Wu-International:
Rasual has told us about
DGK as well, we did not realise that some of you are heavy
into skating, can you please tell us more about DGK? how it
got started by your brother and your involvement?
Ancient Kemet:
Well it was Steve, Rasul,
and I with some other friends of ours that grew up skating,
and one crazy hot summer in Philly, we were all sweaty and
dirty and shit after skating hard as hell all day and my
friend John was like the dirty ghetto kids and it just stuck
after that, we were into graff too so we would tag it up
also as our crew, when Steve eventually turned pro, he
wanted to start his own company and naturally he called it
DGK and with LCOB on the come up too it became a movement as
we are all brothers.
Wu-International:
So DGK is a skateboard
company, and sells boards, accessories etc, what else does
it do apart from selling skate related products?
Ancient Kemet:
Does mixtapes
periodically, so music, and films and other ventures are
planed for the near future, DGK also stands and represents
as a positive example for young skaters all over.
Wu-International:
Why call it Dirty then?
Ancient Kemet:
That is because anybody that lives in the hood and skates
can relate to being a DIRTY GHETTO KID! ALL DAY!
Wu-International:
So who from the
LCOB are also skaters apart from you and Rasul?
Ancient Kemet:
Just me and Rasul and our
native brother Corey aka DJ Ransum skates too.
Wu-International:
Back in the days
Skateboarding was more for Punk Rock kids, that's pretty
much changed now, how well do you think is this current
marriage between skating and Hip-hop?
Ancient Kemet:
They go hand in hand
actually, as far as skating being a sport and a
revolutionary art form, hip-hop came into skateboarding as
it grew in popularity and in audience, skaters listened to
hip hop too, especially if it was prevalent in your
environment. Some companies put hip hop in their skate
videos that even made it more popular in skating so now a
days skaters set trends that MCs, B-boys and so many other
people respect, being original!
Wu-International:
Ok, finally on skating,
does LCOB contribute songs, music to some of the Skating
events considering I have not heard it much on your music?
Ancient Kemet:
Yeah we had some of our
music on DGK mixtapes. If you see Rasul at any DGK events,
you best be sure LCOB will be played there.
Wu-International: Ok, thanks for the answers, we are
going to round up now with a quick word association, I am
going to say a group/name and you would say the first word
that pops in your head, for examples if I Say “Wu-Tang”, you
may say “For Ever” okay? Here we go;
Questions: Egypt?
Answers:
Ancient
kemetians!
Questions: Obama?
Answers:
Blessing & curse.
Questions: 9-11
Answers:
Tragic
Questions: 2012
Answers:
Soon
Questions: The Bible
Answers:
Instructions
Questions: Babylon
Answers:
Baby Lion
Questions: Freemasons?
Answers:
illuminati
Questions: Religion?
Answers:
Re-legion |
 |
Wu-International:
Thanks, so do you have
anything to add on to or share with the fans that have not
been covered yet?
Ancient Kemet: You'll
hear more from me coming soon. peace to the all the peeps
that relate and feel where I am coming from I appreciate it!
Wu-International: Shout outs?
Ancient Kemet: The whole LCOB fam, DGK
fam, blessing to my family, my old earth infinite
love! all Philly, love Park peepz! blessing go out
to everyone, esp Wu-International.
Catch up with The Lost Children of Babylon
http://lcobproductions.com/
www.myspace.com/thelostchildrenofbabylon
Related Interviews:
Lost Children Of Babylon Series
#1
[Rasul Allah 7] -
The Face of The Golden Falcon Interview
#2 [Cosmic Crusader] -
Cosmic
Calculations Interview
#3 [Atun Seb Geb] -
Right Rhyming Interview
[3rd Nov 2010]
#4 [Jon Murdock] -
The Foundation Part
1 Interview [11th Nov 2010]
#5 [Lex Starwind] -
The Foundation Part
2 Interview [18th Nov 2010]
#6 [Ancient Kemet] -
The Alchemist Interview [25th Nov 2010]
#7 [White Lotus] -
Chief Of The Lotus
Clan [30th Nov 2010]
#8 [Stretch] - The Mad
Scientist [06 December 2010]
Other Related Interviews: Lost Children of Babylon
[Amun Sen
Hotep Re [aka Bigga Dre] - Broken Silence: Truth Revealed]
[LCOB -
Righteous Politics With The Lost Children Of Babylon]
<Read Other Interviews> |
