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Interview Date: 22nd December 2011

Conducted By: Dark 7 Invader, The Reccollectah

Notes:
Special thanks to Bronze Nazareth for his input and cooperation. 

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 Bronze, how are you?
Bronze Nazareth:  I'm good bruh, feeling good about shit at the moment, no doubt

Wu-International: It’s been a long wait for the fans. How do you feel now the second solo is finally out there ?
Bronze Nazareth:  I'm proud it's like another painting in my sixteenth chapel of sound, so there's a lot of work put in to it and to have it out here and to hear the good passionate feedback is just all blessings.

Wu-International:  So the first reactions were mostly positive so far?
Bronze Nazareth:  It's getting a glorious response, people are appreciating the art and we're in a time when real art is surging back, people want to hear ART from artists. Shit been so watered down, that people are coming back to reality, and reality music.

Wu-International: On a recent review it was stated this album leaned too heavy on the old Wu sound and wasn’t enough Bronze’s own style. I feel it’s the opposite: your debut had a heavier Wu influence and now it seems you have found your own style much more on this second album. How do you look at this ?
Bronze Nazareth: I guess people will interpret what they want to hear. One thing with Wu is sometimes it can typecast you....When a reviewer is handed some music and they not up on who it is, they might get told "oh he's a Wu artist", and their thoughts go directly into the mode of Wu sound. So yeah I have some joints with a Wu influence, but it's really just a safe bet for any lazy reviewer to lump me in and say it's an "old sound". Nobody says this about something like Kanye' s “Devil In A New Dress”, cause he's not linked with the Clan... Really if you listen, not just hear my album if you listen, it's obvious I got my own lane.

Wu-International: True, how would you compare the two albums?
Bronze Nazareth:  Hmmm, it' s like two very different albums to me. “Migration” was underground, grimy, very thoughtful. Yet there were mistakes on there, and it was my first shot. With “School”, I felt more in control, I'm responsible for the mistakes, and I feel I got closer to getting the album as I foresaw it. I was more patient with School too.

Wu-International: Can you give any examples of some of the things you see as mistakes on “The Great Migration”?
Bronze Nazareth:  One thing was on the Bronzeman: Originally I had two verses on there. When Sin got on it, Dreddy decided to fuse my two verses into one, but in the process, he got the second half waaaaaay off beat. Also some of the mixing/mastering came out bad like on "Stolen Van Gogh" and “Black Royalty”. They sounded over compressed and a bit distorted. So there was more little things like my hook & some singing getting cut off of “$ Cash Rules”...shit like that changed it slightly from how it was supposed to be.

Wu-International: Interesting. Let’s go back to the new album: You had worked with Project Lionheart intensively last years on the 60 Sec album, the second Wisemen album and to a lesser degree on “School for the Blindman”. Did these recordings with live instrumentation evolve throughout these projects ?
Bronze Nazareth:  Umm Lionheart is a very talented group, there wasn't much evolution in what they were doing, we just said yo, I need some extras on this, this and this, so I'd see which song would benefit from some live shit, and then I sat and looked at each one like, yo this could use some horns and “Gomorrah” needs a live bassline, or add some ill percussion to “Children of A Lesser”...and they executed. So it's really like envisioning something and bringing it to life on each joint.

Wu-International: You also had the chance to work in the studio with the Revelations for the Legendary Weapons sessions. Would you say the process was the same or totally different compared to working with Project Lionheart and how ?
Bronze Nazareth: Well really I came thru when all the music was already laid out, so I can't say how they got down with the instruments, but I think they differ from LH because I use Lionheart as instruments in my beats, whereas Revelations come from scratch with theirs, to create the beat.

Wu-International:  That is indeed a good comparison, thanks. Now this album took quite a while to come out after your first, we know you have been busy with other projects but do you feel it was necessary for this album to take so much time? Bronze Nazareth: No it wasn't necessary, it took waaaay too long but, in taking that time I was able to acquire certain features, and hash out my ideas fully. The next one won' t be nearly as long a wait. Wu-International: You make it sound as if you have already started on that album or am I mistaken? Bronze Nazareth: I'm halfway through three new solo projects. It's a flood brewing that's going to hit all in 2012. That's not a prediction like 'this year is mine' typoe shit. That's what we WILL do. Wu-International: Great to hear, we’ll get back at those projects in a sec. Let’s talk a little more about the new album first: sometimes songs seem to write themselves, which track came about the easiest/fastest? Bronze Nazareth:  Probably “The Letter”, simply because I just let the pen go and wrote out my honest feelings. I just opened up on that and it was easy because these are all the things I wanted to let him know before he passed so, I could only do that in letter form.

Wu-International: Other tracks can drive an artist crazy during its “conceiving”, can you give us an example of one of the “Blindman” songs that was a hard one to crack?
Bronze Nazareth:  “Reggie” definitely drove me crazy as described in the album’s Resident Viewpoint.

Wu-International: Was there any feature that you wanted for this album that never happened?
Bronze Nazareth: Not really, my features usually just come about, there were a few that didn’t work out but the features I did have were enough. There will always be a long list of people I want for features, and it just depends on when we connect.

Wu-International: Seems you have done songs with almost all the Generals apart from Method Man and Ghostface Killah(we think you and Ghost is a way overdue collabo). Who would you still like to work with the most from the Clan that has not happened yet?
Bronze Nazareth:  Of course, either Ghostface or Method Man. I’ve always thought Ghost would sound ill on my music, he’s picked beats out for projects from me a few times before, but for whatever reason we haven’t made it on a record together yet. I think we will though because Ghost keeps his ear to who’s bubbling and even outside just Wu Fans I got respect in hip hop, and I’m on fire with the work.

Wu-International: Great, fingers crossed on that ! Speaking of the Generals, there seems to have been some sort of misunderstanding between yourself and U-God over Twitter some time back, how did you feel about his reaction to your comment and have you both sorted this out?
Bronze Nazareth: Yeah we’ve crossed paths spoke briefly in grand rapids, and chopped it up NY in the studio for a bit, there’s no problem there. How did I feel about it? Didn’t bother me, I didn’t lose any sleep over it.

Wu-International: Good to hear. You have a track with Willy the Kid on and it seems you are both working on a joint album “The Living Day Lights”. What convinced you to give WTK a guest spot and the opportunity to work more together soon?
Bronze Nazareth:  It’s been long overdue. We went to high school together, I remember sitting in ms Simons algebra class a few seats away from Willie. Willie has been doing his thing with big bro La down in Atlanta for a minute. I always checked the Embassy and DJ Drama mixtapes, and really respected his MC’ ing. We just been bumping into each other more and more and he blessed me with the “Farewell” Joint. And then it’s only natural to get a whole project out here with me and him, which more will be revealed in the near future.

Wu-International: Can you please tell us more about “The Living Day Lights” is that the name of the group, project, album etc?
Bronze Nazareth: It’s in the works still so I can’t divulge too much but just expect fire....pure heat...blades nigga! I don’t want to let out any info and compromise how they are going to come at promotion so I’ll leave it at that.

Wu-International: Fair enough. So is this a producer/Mc project as in; will your role mainly focus on being a producer, an MC or both?
Bronze Nazareth: More so production, but I rhyme on it as well.

Wu-International: And how many songs deep are you both with this project and when do you intend to put it out?
Bronze Nazareth: 8 or 9 deep so far....

Wu-International: Thanks, we look forward to this project. Speaking of La the Darkman, your sound fits him like a glove. Can we hope for more collaborations?
Bronze Nazareth: Yeah La goes in on my shit. I did six joints on Return of the Darkman 2.

Wu-International: In our previous interview you said Cilvaringz produced “Bronzeman 2” but in the booklet it’s credited as your track, did you rename a new song or changed the beat to the one Ringz produced?
Bronze Nazareth: Nah it was originally produced by Cilvaringz, but I guess Ringz needed the beat because Meth wanted it, so me and Ringz are cool, and I’d rather he get that placement with Meth so I agreed to use something else. I then created a beat to replace the Cilvaringz joint.

Wu-International: Would it be possible to hear the original versions of "BM2" and "King of queens?
Bronze Nazareth:  Though I'd love to....I can't give out the Cilvaringz version because :
1. Meth plans on using it and I don't want to ruin the 'newness' of it when it drops.
2. I never finished my part on the Cilvaringz beat so it isn’t a finished version.
For the “King of Queens” original, a well known artist has scooped that up too, if you're a fan of the generals, you'll hear that soon, but until then I can't release that either.

Wu-International: A shame but understandable. What inspired the title for this album? Bronze Nazareth: The title is basically the idea that you don’t always have to see to learn. You can learn by listening. And it’s also a play on me saying my writings can let the blind see.

Wu-International: So “School for the blindman” was released via ihiphop distributions, we assume this is more or less the same as Babygrande Records who you have publicly fallen out with from time to time, can you please tell us what their role was this time around and why you choose to use them?
Bronze Nazareth:  Well ihiphop is not babygrande, some of the same players yes, but it’s a different company with a different setup. After the deal I got with Sound Records went south as they folded, ihiphop offered me a hell of a deal, and offered to get my past grievances with Babygrande releases in order before I signed – they kept their word so we all had a chance to get back on the right track and get this album out.

Wu-International: Can you elaborate on what those grievances were about or is that something you’d rather leave alone?
Bronze Nazareth:  I could elaborate but now that the waters are smoother that way I'm not going to go into that.

Wu-International: Again understandable. Your first album was via Thinkdifferently Music, are you still signed to the label and when last did you work with Dreddy Kruger?
Bronze Nazareth:  Nah not signed to Think Differently anymore, last I worked with Dreddy was on his group Folk & Stress album which I don’t think came out.

Wu-International: Dreddy Kruger released “Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture - The Lost Files” a few months ago with amongst others unreleased beats from you and Kevlaar 7. According to Kevlaar this had been done without your permission. Can you comment on this?
Bronze Nazareth: Yeah it was some more pirate shit, where this dude just took a bunch of my unreleased shit and a couple of Kev’s shit and made up this project, released it, makin money off it and haven’t gave me any bread, or any paperwork. So same ol bullshit. Im’a get my money though.

Wu-International: Now we’ve mentioned Kevlaar 7: he’s dropping his “Die ageless” album soon, everyone will be expecting to see you on there too. How involved were you with the production or features?
Bronze Nazareth: Oh I’m definitely involved in that, I have a few beats on there, a verse or two. Kev kinda likes to do his thing on his own though so as far as the musical direction and who he sought to feature, that was his doing.

Wu-International:  Some fans claim the production style of the two of you is too similar. How do you see this?
Bronze Nazareth:  Similar style, yes but he has a bit of a different ear, and why wouldn’t he sound a bit similar? He learned from me so at times we may have similar sounds. But I’m able to hear all his beats unreleased brand new or whatever, we definitely have a different sound.

Wu-International: There have been words of you and Kevlaar working with Endemic on a full project; care to speak on that please?
Bronze Nazareth:  Yeah we’ve spoke on it, nothing concrete yet. Could happen...

Wu-International:  Sounds like an Unknown album produced entirely by Endemic to me which should be a dope album. While the Wisemen have grown and continue to grow, can the fans still expect you and Kev to drop another Unknown project ever again?
Bronze Nazareth:  Yeah we will eventually go in an do another Unknown, probably sooner than later. We are really about to start dropping projects back to back . No more waiting.

Wu-International: Good to hear! Speaking of another project that just dropped: you fully produced an album for a group out in Italy “Project Manzu”, can you please tell us how this came about and your thoughts on the overall album?
Bronze Nazareth:  Well they contacted me and told me what they wanted to do, we agreed on terms and knocked it out. I think it’s dope to go international with it. I’m proud of those brothers Daimajin & Divine Soldier for workin hard and knockin that out.

Wu-International: So are we. In our review of “Children of a Lesser God” I felt the album jumped a bit back and forth between brilliant and disappointing (in a recent interview you called it an “experimental” album). I got feedback from Kevlaar who felt and appreciated the honest review but I always wondered how you felt about the album in retrospect?
Bronze Nazareth:  I love that album. I’m super disappointed on how people slept on it. I thought it had great great lyrics and ill beats. We put a little comedy in there, maybe that threw some off. But we wanted to carve out our own identity. The weird things was a lot of Wu Fans felt we abandoned the Wu sound, but the average hip hop fan felt it more. So at the end of the day we’re hip hop, we can’t be always just Wu related. I don’t know if I was right sayin it was experimental but we reinvented the sound a bit. Thing is if we stay the same people say “it’s all the same” but then when you flip it, they’re upset because you changed. Can’t please everyone, so we just make music we feel and hope it resonates.

Wu-International: True. Let’s look at what’s to come. One can assume the Wisemen are now on the third project? Is each individual member also working on his solo project and if so can you please tell us who and your involvement if any?
Bronze Nazareth: Well actually we haven’t started the third Wisemen yet, because it’s time for solo albums. I’ve been working on everyone’s solo with them, so those are all next:

Kevlaar 7 – Die Ageless 90% done
Phillie – Welcome to the Detroit Zoo 70% done
Salute Da Kidd – Diggstown 50% done
Illah Dayz – 60% done
June Mega – 7 tracks in

Thus far I produced a majority of all the solos, except Kevaar’s album and will be featured on all throughout, prominently on Phillies album.

Wu-International: Damn, sounds like 2012 will be the year of the Wisemen ! The initial official video for the superb “Worship” did not have Salute Da Kid on it, any reasons why?
Bronze Nazareth:  He couldn’t make it to the Grand Rapids shoot, so the show had to go on. We told him we’ll get him in later, so then we released the V2 version where we got his footage and added him in. Dope song!

Wu-International: You informed us you have plans for a book. Can you elaborate on that or is it too soon?
Bronze Nazareth:  Yeah it’s a lyrical breakdown book I’m working on with Peter Quadrino of abuildingroam.com blog. It’s going to be similar to the breakdowns I used to have on www.bronzenazareth.com , where I point out my train of thought and what exactly I mean in my verses. It will be a good read definitely.

Wu-International: Definitely, what else can we expect from you now the second solo is out there? Any other projects you can tell us about besides the ones mentioned above?
Bronze Nazareth: Yes “Thought for food 3” is underway, and I got an EP I’m finishing that’s not titled yet, I also have an EP called “The ANGER EP”, and I’m working on a project with production with no samples.

Wu-International: Sounds like you’ll be flooding us with projects, great news! On a general note before we end this interview, what is the most important lesson you have learnt in your career this far?
Bronze Nazareth: Take care of your relationships, Don’t burn bridges. You will at some point have to go back to go forward.

Wu-International: Sounds like you had to go back yourself at one point in the past ? Can you perhaps explain what you are referring to?
Bronze Nazareth:  Nah I keep it progressive but like I said.... on the way up, you will meet people, and every person you meet, is themselves going up or down, those same people below you can soon be those people above you. So I ALWAYS keep it 100, and build relationships through integrity. If you ruffle feathers on your way up no one is there to catch you on the way down. I knew that from jump, so it didn't take me to burn a bridge in order to learn. I just never burnt any from jump.

Wu-International: Your production skills and abilities are becoming well recognised within the Wu ranks and outside, how have you managed to keep active and relevant and out there as you are probably the most active Wu Elements around right now? Bronze Nazareth: Because I honestly work hard, I GRIND. I believe those who work hard, are rewarded in time. And by the grace of God, I’m getting work consistently. I always tell my niggas, if you shovel the coal, the train has to move. It’s cause and effect. Wu-International: Anything else you would like to share with the fans that have not been covered already? Shout outs ? Bronze Nazareth: Shout out Wu-Int for showing love and supporting. If you don’t have the album “School for the blindman”, GO GET IT! UR LATE FOR CLASS!!!!

Spot on ! Thanks very much for your time ..

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