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Interview Date: 17th October 2010

Published Date: 20th October 2010

Conducted & Written By: The Reccollectah , Dark 7 Invader

Notes:
Special thanks to BlackMask  

Interview

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 BlackMask, how are you??
BlackMask: Peace I’m great fam.

Wu-International: The Watchmen double album is (finally) out there, how does that make you feel?
BlackMask: It’s crazy. It was a long time coming and the fans are behind it. Most stores sold out the first couple of days. I have the pre order numbers and they are bananas on an indie Hip-Hop level.

Wu-International: The album was delayed for numerous reasons at different times, what was each reason for this delay?
BlackMask: Well our first release date was March 30th the same day as Wu Massacre so we asked for it to get pushed back. The label we were with kept fucking up dates and shit for the next two dates that were set. The last time it was pushed back was because Wu Tang Management was working on The Next 9, and Mook asked for us to give them more time to get involved with the project.

Wu-International:  Can you tell us something first about the formation of the Watchmen? Did you specifically have a larger, very Wu-orientated crew in mind?
BlackMask: I think that in 2006 we knew that we wanted to be Wu fam but not to the point of us faking our sound. The six people you see is the same six it’s always been and we always had this style and sound. We step away to try other things but we always return to true Hip-Hop in the end.

Wu-International:  Who brought who into the group?
BlackMask: Well I’m the only person not brought in by anyone. I got at Pro and 7th at about the same time and we each grabbed one person we knew so it just worked out to be six people. Pro and Cipher are brother-in-laws, 7th and Prox are cousins, and me and Eclypse are past group members from a group that only did one song on my 2001 Mysonic Seal album. The song was called Skillz.

Wu-International: Recently you were talking about taking the back seat and adding another member to the group. If that happens why does the group feel the need to replace or add on more members?
BlackMask: It was an Idea at the time that we wanted to share with fans to see if it ever happened how they would feel about it. At the end of the day Legion Of Kaos members would be used as stand-ins if one of us has to miss a show and we need that persons verse to be done. At this time I have so much work that I'm sure that I will miss some of the shows.

Wu-International: Let’s talk a bit about the album, it has features from people like Stumik, Cappadonna, Zu Keeper, Timbo King and a phenomenal Blue Raspberry. Did you get everyone on the album you had hoped for ?
BlackMask: The album was done with no features but Eclypse. It wasn’t until we made it a double that we added features. Polzino was a friend of mind before his Wu Tang Affiliation so it was only right to put him on it. Stumik was introduced to me by Mamma Wu. Capp we already knew. Blue, Timbo and Zu Keeper I linked up with online. We would have like to have had RZA on the CD. Maybe next time.

Wu-International: What is your personal favourite on this album and why ?
BlackMask: It has to be “Everything”. I look up to Timbo because of his lyrics and there’s not too many in the game that can keep up with him, and we’re part of that not too many lol.

Wu-International: You came with a great hook on your solo track “If I needed one”, a cunning exposure of self-confidence and humour. What did you think when you finished that one in the studio?
BlackMask: Wow. We all had to do a solo song on the double and I was the only one that didn’t have one. It was the end of the album and Pro was on my ass about it. I told him that I wasn’t gonna do one because I didn’t have the time. He put this crazy beat on that he had just made. I was feeling it so I went in the booth and made the song up as I went along. There’s really no hook because I didn’t have one so it worked out. The funny part is I write most of the hooks even if I’m not rapping them and my only solo track and my mind goes blank. That’s life.

Wu-International: Is it a coincidence you had the only solo track ? Or can this be interpreted as a statement?
BlackMask: Everyone had what was called a solo track but they ended up putting someone on the hook. I was the only person on my solo because I didn’t need a hook.

Wu-International:  It’s obvious you completed the album before Wu-Management, how did they get into the picture?
BlackMask: I called Mook one day in late January, I think it was. I had talked with him back when I was 16 or 17 in 95’ about The Clan coming to do my project graduation. He remembered me and I told him about the project. We sent him some of our songs and he sent us a contract. The rest is what it is.

Wu-International: So what was the role of Wu-Tang management for your group?
BlackMask: Management and group support. i.e. Bookings and P.R.

Wu-International: You were initially meant to be introduced by Mamma Wu, a name we were not familiar with then. Can you please tell us about this and why she was no longer presenting the group?
BlackMask: Yeah. Well understand that any name that’s on the CD before the Watchmen is just a name. Me and my moms executive produce and put together every project coming from my label. This person that you speak of didn’t keep it real and promised us a lot of things that didn’t happen. In light of what I was promised, I chose for the CD to be called - You Know Who Presents. Bad move. She never was our manager, I’ve always managed the group. I oversee everything. I can’t comment on her Wu affiliation if any.

Wu-International: You said you wanted to use Mamma Wu presents, the questions is why, what did she have to do with the album that made you want to use her and what happened afterwards as she did write us some time back with a number of things to say that we don't want to put out there?
BlackMask: Mama Wu booked one show threw our mans Tyko for Capp and 7th. She told us that she books for the Wu when they come to Texas. Well that wasn't the case. Anyone can call a promoter and say hey I wanna book the Wu. That doesn't mean that you work for the Wu as a booking agent. I'm not an asshole so I keep her on the album with the Mamma Wu intro that I wrote so that way she still would get respect for being on the CD even those my team advised me to take her off. Everyone of the Watchmen wanted her off of the CD but me. The next thing I know she's coming at me because we signed with Wu Tang Management. She didn't want us there saying that she could rep us better then the can. She said other thing that I can't speak on at this point. She also leaked the Watchmen double album online because she was mad. At the end of the day she did nothing. Oh I'm sorry she sent $100 to help on the Watchmen album that cost a total of almost $70,000 to make and promote. I talked with Capp before I met her and was almost done with the album before I knew a Mamma Wu. She was only our booking agent for five months and she didn't book us one show. The album was gonna be called Mamma Wu presents because she said if we did that she would connect us with Divine and Raekwon's brother K. Its out there now and this is the last time I give her any shine. BULLY!!!!

Wu-International: Back to Wu-Tang Management, there have been recent talks as to the group leaving the management, can you please shed some light to this fall out if any?
BlackMask: You would really have to talk with Mook about that. I’m being told a lot of things and I’m not really sure which one is the truth. However I have yet to speak with him about the matter at hand. I do know that they wanna go in a different direction with music and the Watchmen album was not the direction they wanted to move in. We love Hip-Hop and we will keep making music like this no matter what.

Wu-International: Are you aware that Wu-Tang Management have taking out Watchmen's name and link from their website? is the contract between both parties finished or over? BlackMask: Yes we are aware of them taking our names off of the website. The contract is not up and it was a move that was done by someone other than Mook. Our business dealings are still in the works because the album still is a Wu Tang Management project. I still have to pay Mook his cut.

Wu-International: With that said, where do the Watchmen sit within the Wu-Tang movements, are you officially affiliated with the Wu or not and if so, how?
BlackMask: This is a good one. We are affiliated with Wu Tang Management because we still have contractual terms of agreement to honour because of the “W” being on the CD. I don’t know of any non affiliates that can put the “W” on there CD. Do you?

Wu-International: We hope you resolve the differences , moving on, Wu-Tang claims not to have a leader, even though everyone sees RZA as the head. Are you the Abbott of the Watchmen as you seem to play that position?
BlackMask: I’m the one that runs the label and I set up most business deals. I don’t know if it’s fair to call me the Abbott of the team but I’m the CEO of the company.

Wu-International: While we are talking about the Wu, what is your personal favourite Wu album, be it group or solo album?
BlackMask: 36 Chambers all day. It was the album that started it all for me. I was rapping before that but not like how I rap now. Peace to Wu Tang Clan.

Wu-International: Which General influenced you most?
BlackMask: RZA. We do a lot of the same things. I try not to sometimes but it’s hard. RZA is the blue print to success. There’s only 6 degrees of separation and I find that in him.

Wu-International: We know you were solo with 3 albums way before Watchmen came into existence and signed to Luke Skywalker (from 2 Live Crew). How did that union come about and how did it end?
BlackMask: I was in artist development at Universal Records when Luke Records got picked up by them. I was trying to get control of a budget for my album when my A&R told me that I can get a budget if I was under one of their sister labels. I picked Luke because he was closest to me, being that we’re both in South Florida and I respect his hustle. I was with Luke for about a year when he lost his deal with Universal and ended up at Koch. Once at Koch, their focus was just Luke and so was his. I didn’t resign that next year instead I focused on movie scoring.

Wu-International:  Your projects “Blackest of Dayz” in 1996, “Mysonic Seal” in 2001 and “1-900BlackMask” in 2004 remain unreleased to date, can you please tell us why ?
BlackMask: There were all released. Just not on a big scale. Mainly through mom and pop stores and online in limited numbers. 1-900BlackMask was the album I did when I was with Luke. One of the songs he was supposed to do the hook on, but between his book and his album there was no time.

Wu-International: We have spoken about this before, being a collector myself, is there any chance of you ever releasing these projects to the fans now or in the near future, even as a free download via our site?
BlackMask: I really don’t like to live in the past. I didn’t even wanna release the Power album so I think it will be a fat chance in hell that any of my solos will be re released. Sorry, lol.

Wu-International: Seen the video to some of the songs, and your style was more that of the 2 Live Crew, with booty shaking, more bass and bounce than the current Wu-tang inspired hard beats and concepts. When and how did the change come about?
BlackMask: Wow! lol. Y’all going in. I was never bass and booty shaking. What you have to understand is that I’m a southern rapper first but I have lyrics, I always have. When you say 2 Live Crew most people think the South but they are from New York just like Waka Flocka. I’m born and raised in the South. I’m not an import. Luke Records has a long history of real Hip-Hop. Now I know you’re like “yeah right”, but it’s true. Professor Griff, Society (Yes N Deed song), Pit Bull (when he was Hip-Hop), MC Shy D and me. I can recall Luke hanging with Wu-Tang members. They came to Miami to be in one of Luke’s movies. I think it was RZA, Raekwon and Ghost. 1-900BlackMask was about me trying to make money for my family. I did a lot of radio friendly songs on that. But if you look at the first two solo albums it was nothing but real Hip-Hop.

Wu-International: Looking back on your previous work, is that something you are proud or embarrassed about or do you see it as a stepping stone to where you are now?
BlackMask: At the end of the day I’m good with all that I did because it worked for me at the time I did. I’m cool with that. You look at cuts from some of the Clan members in the beginning and you see growth. It’s the same with me. I knew what was in my heart and I needed to find that path to walk.

Wu-International:  Way before the Watchmen came to be you already took your first steps into the music business. In 2000 you started up the PCE nation. Can you tell us something about this enterprise? Your site mentions deals for movie and video game media and some work for the Nuff Nuff Music team amongst others?
BlackMask: Platinum City Entertainment the brand was started in 1996 by me and my mom. It wasn’t until 2000 that the label end came into play. We produced movies like My Big Phat Hip-Hop Family, Underground President, Naked Ladies, Jade and The White Tiger and Red Lotus as well as scoring. We did sound work and scoring for Murder on the border aka La Migra and scored network TV shows and video games for Rock Star Games. Nuff Nuff Music was a multimillion dollar record label out of Miami. I handled marketing and promotions for and some A&R work. I helped them close a huge deal with Orpheus Records.

Wu-International: You offered a number of upcoming artists distribution via PCE for free. The questions are why, how and what did you hope to achieve with this?
BlackMask: I’m trying to find the next Biggie or Pac. I think the next big thing is out there and labels are overlooking them. The truth is most people get deal because of who they know not because of skills. People wanna keep the spot light to them self’s. I’m a real business man. If it’s hot I want my hands on it.

Wu-International: PCE and Wu-tang management recently put out “Wu-nited states of America” project, how did this compilation come about and how did you go about selecting the artists for this compilation?
BlackMask: I talked to a lot of people that are affiliates or affiliates of affiliates and they wanted more outlets so that’s where I came into play. I can distribute music at almost no cost and why not push out compilations and give artist a platform to stand on. We need that, Hip-Hop needs that.

Wu-International: The group have been advertising Energy Cocaine Drink, can you tell us more about this drink, whose behind it and why the Watchmen have endorsed it?.
BlackMask: Well we connected with Cocaine Energy Drink threw Raymond Herrera. He's a gold selling recording artist and part owner of the drink and 3volution Productions. This man is a Rock icon he's does so much that it just might be best to check out his website www.raymondherrera.com . Ray people are gonna be blowing your email up soon to try to get you on there team lol. Ray also helps us get our music placement done for video games, TV and movies. The man scored the Iron Man 2 video game plus other shit that would be to long to list. Cocaine's website gets about 4 to 7 million views a week because of how popular the drink is which is a plus for us. We are happy to be the only Hip-Hop group back by them at this time. Our music fits that hardcore element that they want to push to the urban market. We even have our own drink called the "Nite Watchmen", Cocaine Energy Drink mixed with Jose Cuervo our favorite. We will be in more ads and TV commercials really soon. Also there's an ad inside the Watchmen Power album for Cocaine Energy. Thanks to them and everyone who drinks it. BULLY!!!!!!!!!!

Wu-International: You recently posted a new Youtube video about movements and this Legion of Kaos, can you tell us what you meant by that?
BlackMask: LOK is a movement for all not just the Watchmen. I came up with the ideal while we were still under Wu Tang Management. This is for everyone that needs artist support. We are just opening doors that the industry has closed on so many people.

Wu-International: Some might see this as a diss to Wu movement or Wu management consider the current situation of things. Can you please clear this up or be specific of what movements you were referring to as fake?
BlackMask: Yeah, first off, NO disrespect to the Wu or WTM. What the Clan did is set in stone and no one can take that from them. What Mook did for them is set in stone. Let me just say that we really love Hip-Hop and we want it to live on. In order to do that, you have to build a movement with in The Movement. We’re not trying to take away from what the Wu is doing nor do we want to control that. We wanted to be a part of it, and we are, everyone is. Every time you buy a CD or a ticket to a show or a T-shirt you are making yourself apart of someone’s movement. As far as the fake movements, there are a lot out there. You have to give back to the fans and if you’re not then your so called movement is glass.

Wu-International:  So what is your current relationship with Mook especially and the rest of the Wu-Tang management staff?
BlackMask: Me and Mook are business men. I’ve made big money in this biz and so has he. I think its all about the dollars at the end of the day and if the Watchmen sales numbers are there I think he will wanna work something out. I don’t know what kind of numbers Protect Ya Neck Records does but I can tell you that Platinum City Ent does well as an indie label. I don’t really deal with the staff. I don’t believe that you can say something is hot one minute and then say that it’s not what people wanna hear the next. This is where the artist side of me comes out. I look at the buzz. Some good, some bad, but at the end of the day it’s still a buzz.

Wu-International: We know you had a lot of projects planned under Wu-Tang management, such as the members’ solos, Solomon Childs projects, Watchmen vs Icewater etc, can you give us a list of what you had planned and what’s going to happen to them?
BlackMask: I was in the works of signing Solomon Childs for a new album as well as dropping all of the Watchmen solo albums. We had two movie sound tracks, the Power album, The Re-Boot album Wu-Tang Management Presents: Watchmen 2.0 with 8 new tracks, The Watchmen Movement album that will sale for $2.99, Legion Of Kaos compilation and we’d like to offer Cappadonna a budget to do The Pillage 2. The Watchmen vs Icewater is not happening, Stumik is Mamma Wu’s dude. All other albums will still come out. The dates are being pushed back at this time. The next album to drop is Power November 16th and the Watchmen 2.0 The Re-Boot album January 18th. We will be on tour after that in Japan and possibly Europe too.

Wu-International: You also have a new solo album planned called “Guillotine rap “. Can you tell us something more about this album: scheduled release date, features, production, style?
BlackMask: Guillotine is the truth! I have production from myself, Pro, 7th 7ign, Oxydz, Supreme, Analog and my production team Beats Of Fire. I’m gonna get at Bronze for a track also. The features I have so far are huge. I won’t name any name on the feature tip yet. The album is 90% done. The production on the album is 1993 shit. It will be in stores in April 2011. It’s gonna be classic. I will leak a track in December.

Wu-International: On the Myspace page a Watchmen DVD was mentioned. Is this still getting released too? Any info on what we can expect on this DVD? 
BlackMask: That DVD is put on hold as of now. We will be touring Japan in February our booking agent overseas Hideko is setting it up now and we wanna get that footage on the DVD as well. So it will not be out until summer of 2011. We have a lot of footage on the DVD of us being us. You will get to see deep into our life's. Its the must have if you are a Watchmen fan. I also talk in deep detail about the LOK movement.

Wu-International: Final question, how do you see the future for the Watchmen ? What would you say is your goal ?
BlackMask: I see Watchmen being a worldwide brand. Ten years from now when you say Hip-Hop, it will be followed by Watchmen. Our main goal is to keep Hip-Hop alive.

Wu-International: Thanks very much for your time, anything else you might want to add that we missed? Any last words for the fans, shout outs etc?
BlackMask: One time for God. He put us in this position to help others and we will honor that. Peace to all my Legion Of Kaos niggas that be holding us down world wide. Peace to the friends and fans that been down since day one, we love ya. Peace to the Wisemen, cop that new album, and one time for my West Coast Killa Bee niggas. My new mix tape will be online at the end of this month. It’s called “Leader Of The Free World”, get that. “It Is Not Too Late” video directed by Scott from Guerilla Press coming soon. Check us out at
www.pcenation.com, www.myspace.com/thewatchmenspace,  www.facebook.com/wuwatchmen,
 www.twitter.com/wuwatchmen,  www.myspace.com/thelegionofkaos,  www.legionofkaos.com,
 www.facebook.com/thelegionofkaos,  www.twitter.com/thelegionofkaos  and for the latest in Watchmen gear check out www.watchmenfanatic.com  - BULLY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wu-International: LOL, well you asked for it, one last questions, what is bully, why do you all use it on your last sentence?
BlackMask: A bully pulpit is a public office or other position of authority of sufficiently high rank that provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter. The bully pulpit can bring issues to the forefront that were not initially in debate, due to the office's stature and publicity.

President Theodore Roosevelt gave a three hour speech after being shot and he yells out bully at the end of it. Its like our war cry and its us saying that no matter what happens will will still be heard in the Ned. BULLY!!!!

Keep up to date with BlackMask
www.myspace.com/thewatchmenspace

Related Interviews: Watchmen Series
#1 [BlackMask] - Behind The (Black)Mask Interview
#2 [7th 7ign] - Untold Scriptures Interview [26th Oct 2010]
#3 [Pro] - The Need To Rebel [02nd Nov 2010]
#4 [Prox] - The Watch Man [09th Nov 2010]
#5 [The Cipher] - Past, Present & Future [16th Nov 2010]
#6 [Ecylpse] - Femnomenon [23rd Nov 2010]

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