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Interview
Should Have
Broke Through All Along [Wu-International Breaks Bread With The King
Of Fame Darkim Be Allah]:
2005
brings back a new wave of reincarnation of what was once a
trend setting form of hip-hop’s purest art form, Wu-Tang! Be
it from any of the 9 generals or Wu-Killa beez, when the W
invaded hip-hop and music in general there was nothing like
it, a new chamber in the hip-hop/rap history was defined. It
was not hard to tell back then when you hear a new artist
based on their lyrical style, subject matter and quality of
music, one can quickly and rightfully associate it to be wu-tang
affiliated, any affiliation with the W dealt with quality,
eminence and high level of intelligence and lyrical wordplay.
The RZA introduced the world the first generation of Killa
beez, which had a number of skilled MCs/Singers, groups or
solo acts as showcased on the swarm compilation, from Sunz Of
Man, Killarmy, A.I.G, Black Knights, Wu-Syndicates, Royal Fam,
to Shyheim, Killah Priest, Cappadonna, Remedy, LA The Darkman,
Tekitha and so on. Since then they have been a flood of
Nu-tangers, solo projects from group members and what not, but
the core fans have never ever let go of the first born killa
beez. A sting off the 36 chambers was Darkim Be Allah, half
member of the duo A.I.G. along side AllahWise, who pretty much
went AWOL since 2000. The last notes remembered from Darkim Be
Allah was one EP released, and memory of expected albums fans
disappointedly never got hold of, What does hip-hop consumers
remember of the artist who went silent at the prime of he’s
career? He’s a quick reminder;
1996
Darkim Be Allah got signed to Wu-Tang records as one half of
the group AIG.
1997 DBA produced the track “12 Jewels” featuring The RZA off
the Gravediggaz album “The Pick, The Sickle, The Shovel (Gee
Street records).
1998 Wu-Tang Killa Beez “The Swarm” (Wu-Tang records) –
Certified Gold LP. Produced “Bronx War Story” for AIG
featuring 120.
1999 Released Unmixed studio promo from the upcoming album
“Truth Or Consequences”
2000 June releases “Live At The lab; Take 1 on MP3.com
2000 Summer Onwards expected releases of “Retaliation Strike”
“Take Lab 2” and more…….
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005 rumours surfaced online that Darkim Be Allah would be
blessing the world again with a new album, after august this
rumours were confirmed by Darkim’s manager, A new album Fam
Labs presents “Darkim Be Allah & AllahWise” was about to drop
on, the 29th of November. With so many questions to why, when,
and what, Wu-tang International had the pleasures of talking
to one of hip-hop’s finest Darkim Be Allah, enjoy! With the
new album just released, The King has truly returned to claim
he's thrown and in he's own words "Should Have Broke Through
All Along".
Album has
just been released and can be bought at
www.famelabsmusic.com
Dark 7
Invader: I like to say thanks first and foremost for
taking the time to answer these interviews and I would like to
say, nothing will be altered, edited or changed
when this is published online.
Dark 7 Invader: Peace God, How are you?
Darkim Be Allah: Peace.
Dark 7 Invader: Sure been a long time since the fans
heard anything from you,
what have you been up to?
Darkim Be Allah: Hustling and recording.
Dark 7 Invader: Where in NY are you from?
Darkim Be Allah: The Pelan
Dark 7 Invader: How long have you been rhyming?
Darkim Be Allah: I wasn't serious about it until I
started rhyming with AllahWise, that was like 1989.
Dark 7 Invader: What does your name Darkim Be Allah
stand for?
Darkim Be Allah: Darkim means The King.
Dark 7 Invader: What other names or aliases do you go
by?
Darkim Be Allah: AllahChrist, Donnie Banks, King Of
Fame
Dark 7 Invader: I have to say the chemistry between you
and Allah wise on the mic, can only be compared to EPMD, or
Ghost & Rae on Cuban linx, how did you meet or connect with
Allah Wise to form AIG?
Darkim Be Allah: Actually I knew who he was and that he
was an emcee from junior high school. Because he had tapes
already circulating. Then when I got knowledge of self was
when we officially met. As far as rhyming that was kind of
spur of the moment. Like I said, rhyming was something I was
doing from time to time but I didn't really have like rhymes
on cap and I wouldn't be outside with somebody doing the beat
box while I was rhyming. And AllahWise was an emcee but at the
time he wasn't focused on it, but he still had rhymes on cap
and new ones he was working on. And basically we was rolling
together everyday and on whichever day it was, we was passing
by a brothers rest and he had D.J. equipment and was blasting
his music. When we got upstairs Supreme Just was up there
making a tape. And it's almost another long story in itself,
but basically I said I could rhyme but I didn't have any
rhymes on cap. So they dared me to come back with some rhymes.
The next day I came back with some rhymes, me and AllahWise
made a tape and we basically just kept rhyming together.
Dark 7 Invader: Can you please list all the artists
that are affiliated with fame labs?
Darkim Be Allah: Actually that's a hard list to compile
because it's alot of us. I'll
put that up on the www.FameLabsMusic.com when I make sure
nobody's left out.
Dark 7 Invader: Did you ever know that you are 1 of the
4 highly sort after Wu-tang killa beez on the net? How do you
feel about that, where you ever aware that you were loved or
missed that much?
Darkim Be Allah: Not at all. I've seen my name on
websites before so I knew there was some heads that knew who I
was.... top four though, nah.
Dark 7 Invader: the other artists I am taking about are
Warcloud aka holocaust from Black knights, LA The Darkman,
Cilvaringz, and you of course, fans are for ever looking for
new album release or info about or from you all, do you know
any of these other artists?
Darkim Be Allah: I know Holocaust but I haven't seen
him in years. I met La a few times but I don't really know
him. Cilvaringz I've only heard of.
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Dark 7
Invader: The fans that remember you, consider you to
be one of the most lyrical artists not just in the Wu but
in hip-hop today, how do you feel that to date you have
not publicly gotten the recognition that you deserve?
Darkim Be
Allah: Well actually that's one of the reasons I’m doing
this on the independent tip. Maybe that way I can let my
fans and even some new people hear my music. Cause the
industry for whatever reason or the other ain't feeling
me. Like they got they own idea of how hip hop is supposed
to sound and where it’s going. And my music just doesn't
fit in with that. Billboard magazine and M.T.V. is one way
to measure your success, and I ain't knocking that.
However, that's not really "public" recognition; it’s not
even peer recognition. |
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That's the
pop music industry letting you know who they like. "Public"
recognition is really when the people, the fans, say you got
skills. So if the fans say I'm one of the top cats in the
game, all I can say is I wish more people would have gotten a
chance to hear more of my music. And then to look on the
positive side of it, for me to even have fans and not be on
the radio 35 or 40 times a day kind of makes me feel like the
people's champion.
Dark 7 Invader: what is your creative process like?
Darkim Be Allah: I don't know if I really have a
formula. If I'm the one doing the production I play all my
beats out, I haven't used samples, but I play by ear. I never
took any lessons, I read a couple music books and watched some
DVDs with music lessons on it but that was recently. It's just
whatever sounds like we can kill on it. Then once I hear the
beat it kind of already has a certain feel that directs the
rhymes. Sometimes I already have a rhyme that fits but usually
I write to the beat. Then I listen to the whole record and
take the main idea and come up with the hook. I don't usually
make beats and rhymes on the same day. It's usually either or,
except some beats just be calling me.
Dark 7 Invader: From your past work, it is quite
evidence you build with the Nations of Gods and Earths, are
you still active within the nation?
Darkim Be Allah: Yes.
Dark 7 Invader: You are very skilled in painting
pictures with your lyrics, a true wordsmith, and your use of
metaphors are unrivalled by any in the game, it is quite
obvious that you read a lot. What books have you read that you
would recommend to anybody?
Darkim Be Allah: I don't read enough. I really haven't
read that many books. My recommendation to everyone would be
the Book of Life.
Darkim Be Allah: Who are your favourite writers? And
does this or any other
source influence your writing or music making process?
Darkim Be Allah: I liked a lot of cats over the years.
I mean you know you got the same cats mentioned every time
that question is asked. For me I love hip hop, and I can think
of a lot of artists that came out with records that give me a
spark to push my level higher. I would say they influence me
because I make songs to battle other songs sometimes. I want
to draw a line here and define that when I say battle I don't
mean dis the record or the artist or that there's any
conflict. In fact a lot of the time the other artist is
AllahWise. My song might not even be about the same topic.
What I mean is sometimes a record comes out that raises the
bar to a level where if you not gonna step your game up you
might as well quit. That happens in every profession. Like
back in the day you had Jordan and a couple other cats doing
spectacular dunks. Now all you see is high flying spectacular
shit, that's growth and development. Other than that sometimes
if I been away from making music for a while I might listen to
a classic album to put me back in the right mind state. The
biggest influence on my music is shit that happens to me
though. Those verses make the best songs.
Dark 7 Invader: how did you meet the RZA and how did
you become Wu-tang affiliated?
Darkim Be Allah: His manager when he made Sexcapades
was a godbody from around my way that me and AllahWise used to
build with. And he brought Rza around the way. We was kicking
verses back then just on the corner or in the park or
whatever, then eventually he came out with Protect Your Neck.
I wasn't seeing him then but I knew it was him from his voice
and his style. And I knew ODB and Gza but at that time I
didn’t know any of the other Wu Tang Clan. Then when I ran
into Rza he put me on.
Dark 7 Invader: Where were you when you heard of ODB's
passing? Did you know him
personally?
Darkim Be Allah: I think I was on the block hustling
and somebody I knew heard it on the radio and told me. Yea I
knew him.
Dark 7 Invader: Do you still consider yourself A
Wu-tang Killa Bee?
Darkim Be Allah: I mean it was never an argument or an
event where there was a split or nothing like that. At the
same time there's been a couple of Killa Bee projects that
came out and I was left out. You can't take back the wax, so
as far as whatever I do, that's always gonna be a part of my
catalogue that I put in work as a Killa Bee. As far as the
future though I'm not sure how they planning on using me and
AllahWise. Like I don't know one way or the other if I'll be
appearing on anymore Wu Tang Killa Bee projects. That being
said AllahWise did tell me there was some talk about some work
for us in 2006. Either way instead of just sitting on all this
music......Fame Labs Presents! 11/29.
Dark 7 Invader: Do you still build with any of the
Wu-tang clan members or affiliates?
Darkim Be Allah: Well pretty much sometime in 1999 or
2000 it came to a point where I was on the back burner in the
Wu and I realized I was making more money in the streets
before I got involved with the industry than I was right then.
So basically went back to what I know to make some paper. And
that was really my focus. To me it was like why should I go
maintain with millionaires and I'm starving. I might as well
go spend that time doing something that’s going to get me
closer to getting a mil. Not that I was making millions in the
street but at least my bills was paid, you know I got seeds to
feed and I couldn't keep putting that on hold to pursue
something that was looking like a pipe dream at that time. So
since that time I haven't gone to any Wu functions, parties,
shows, the studio or whatever. A lot of people affiliated with
Wu are actually brothers I knew for years months and days
before Wu even dropped. So yea I still see them all the time
and build. There's other affiliates I see during my travels
from time to time. Other than that I would have to say nah I
don't be in contact with them. AllahWise kicks it with Clan
members and affiliates, and when they in town he goes to check
them.
Dark 7 Invader: Words on the net is that you had an
album completed for wu-tang/Priority back then but the masters
were stolen alongside Royal Fam’s project, can you please shed
light on this?
Darkim Be Allah: I did have an album done some time in
1996 or 1997. A lot of the songs didn't come out too good
because that’s when I was first learning how to translate my
ideas and my energy in that forum. Like being on stage and
being in the studio is different. I didn't know what to tell
the audio engineers to do to make my beats sound like I wanted
them to sound. And I didn't have any help, I just found a
studio paid my money and started recording. So overall I
wanted to do it over, however I thought it had some very
strong singles on it that could have been dropped or at least
used on some project, which was part of my frustration by
2000. They wasn't dropping any of the singles or sending me
back to the studio to improve on the album as a whole. Bronx
War Story was actually one of the first of the songs I went to
the studio on my own to record, to show them that I had
stepped my game up. The next songs was the Live At The Lab
songs, which I thought was the songs and the sound I really
wanted. By that time though nobody at Wu Tang wanted to talk
to me and that's pretty much when I fell back. As far as what
happened to any of my work for Wu Tang I left it all there. I
don't know what happened to it. I haven't inquired about it
and like I said most of it wasn't my best work so I don't
really want it back.
Dark 7 Invader: Can you please tell us what happened to
live at the lab Take 2, and Retaliation Strike?
Darkim Be Allah: Basically I didn't like mp3.com too
much. A lot of people was complaining about their system and a
lot of people didn't want to order from them. And other than
mp3.com at that time I didn't know how to market it. So they
kinda got stuck in the chamber. Recently I had a little
tragedy where I lost all those songs. All my beats-
everything. I got about 25 or 30 songs left in my possession.
It’s a possibility some of them can be salvaged. Right now
though it looks bad. Some of the songs on Retaliation Strike
might be on the new cd. I’m not sure cause I had so many songs
recorded that I don't know which was recorded exactly when.
But some of the songs on the new cd go back a ways.
Dark 7 Invader: The artwork for fame lab and
retaliation strike is crazy, who did that?
Darkim Be Allah: The same guy that designs my site.
Most of the time I have an idea and he produces it. Sometimes
I don't have an idea and he gives me a whole bunch of ideas
and I pick which one I like.
Dark 7
Invader: You produced 12 Jewels off the Gravediggaz album,
which is a classic, how did that come about? Was that beat
produced specifically for RZA?
Darkim Be Allah: I was down at the Wu office and Rza
told me to go by the studio and put in some work. The beat was
actually one of my first beats that I made when I got the ASR
10. I really didn't like it, but another brother convinced me
to let them hear it. The day I layed it down Rza wasn't there
and I didn't hear the record until almost when the album
dropped. Then when I heard Rza spit on it I was like yea that
brother was right.... this shit is banging.
Dark 7 Invader: You are equally a good producer as well
as a lyricist, which do you prefer doing?
Darkim Be Allah: It fluctuates. I have mad fun doing
both of them. At the end of the day I consider myself and
emcee who produces though but never vice versa.
Dark 7 Invader: What equipment do you use to make
beats?
Darkim Be Allah: ASR 10....still.
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Dark 7
Invader: Lots of people say that hip hop today is not what
it used to be, it has undergone a dramatic change. What are
your thoughts on this?
Darkim Be Allah: I wouldn't say that its dramatically
different, it’s that the rich got richer and the poor got
poorer. Really, when you look at it, it was always a pop music
industry contingent and a hardcore more underground hip hop
contingent. One of the examples of that is that one of the
first groups most people heard was Sugar Hill Gang, which was
a studio group. Look at the late 80s, early 90s when you had
MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice on one hand and Kool G Rap and KRS-1
on the other. The way I see it, that pop music contingent's
influence has gotten bigger and bigger and hardcore hip hop
contingent is basically still the same. The real difference is
that years ago, if KRS sold 300,000 records that was great,
but today selling 500,000 copies, and being nice on the mic
makes you a laughingstock. So you starting to see more and
more artists that are willing to go the pop route and do or
say anything to make a buck and less and less hardcore hip hop
artists, with actual skill that are allowed to make a buck. On
that level, commercially, I don't really see that much
difference. The biggest difference I do see is that nobody
rhymes about their beats and rhymes being dope no more,
everybody just rhymes about what they've got and how much they
paid for it. Back in the days, somebody might have had a rhyme
where they tell a story and that same thing might have
happened to you before; but now when somebody tells a story
it’s more likely to be something lavish and spectacular that
didn't happen to them or anybody else in the whole history of
time. Even in battle situations a lot of times the artists are
just talking about who has the best record deal or the most
money or fame; they don’t even mention rhyme skills. The other
differences I see is a lot of petty shit that is related to a
downturn in integrity in the hood in general; there's no more
code of the streets. But hip hop is still hip hop and pop is
still pop. It’s more of a case of people classifying certain
pop and r&b music as hip hop.
Dark 7 Invader: What albums did you listen to growing
up, and what do you listen to now?
Darkim Be Allah: I pretty much listened to whatever my
parents was playing until hip hop came out. Once hip hop
really hit and you had Red Alert, Chuck Chill Out and Mr.
Magic and Marley on the radio, it was a take down; I really
only listen to hip hop since then. Right now I don't even
listen to music. Every blue moon, somebody might pass by in a
whip playing something that catches my ear, but as far as like
watching BET and MTV or listening to the hot-top-8-at-8, nah,
I don't get down like that.
Dark 7 Invader: Your verse on World Domination off take
1 is probably one of the
illest verses I have heard to date, what in your opinion is
your best work to date?
Darkim Be Allah: World Domination might be my favorite
joint too. The bonus track-actually a couple of tracks on this
new CD too. I like to think I get better every time I record.
Over the years, a couple of times, I hit on some real personal
topics, those are always some of my favorite joints. Then you
have songs like "Niggas Know", which I consider one of my
Darkim specials. The song was real simple but in the end, the
way it all came together, that was one of my favorite joints.
Really what it comes down to also, is one of the things I
learned from turning in that album on Wu Tang That I wasn't
happy with, is never put a song out there unless it’s one of
my favorites. So really, by the time fans hear it, it’s
already one of my favorite jump offs. And right now my
elimination process is so good that I eliminate what I don't
like before I record it. If I feel like a song ain't coming
together, I just erase it. Or give the beat to someone else
who can lace it right. But I have to agree with you that World
Domination is a song that if I only had one song that people
were going to remember me by, World Domination might be one of
my top choices to represent me. All goes well and you’ll hear
some of my favorites on my solo in July that the fans haven’t
had a chance to hear yet.
Dark 7 Invader: Please tell us about the new album, How
did it come about, why
did you decide to release it first? How do you feel about it?
Darkim Be Allah: Really, it’s a whole bunch of songs I
had collecting dust in the lab. Hip hop is something I just
like doing, so I'm gonna do it whether my songs is on the
radio or on Billboard or not. Its like if a cat don't go to
the pros, that ain't gonna stop him from going to the park or
whatever to play a little ball. I always had plans to do
something with the songs but part of what was holding me back
was I didn't realize there was actually a demand for my music
like I already had fans that was waiting to hear something
from me. Really, the first inkling that I had of that was from
Josh and then basically once he really let me know all the
logistics and a plan on how we could market it, it was like
alright fuck it, let’s just do it. And being that the idea and
the plan came to me through him he was the best man to help me
get the plan off the ground. The reason why I'm putting it out
first is because at this point I have more confidence that
individual fans will love my music and support it than I do in
getting a major record deal right now. The Source comes out
with a yearly issue of the most influential people in hip hop.
Those 25 or 50 people on that list are the ones who decide
what all the other 6 billion people on the planet are gonna
like. They are the ones with the power to put you on Hot 97 or
sign you to Def Jam. So I want to move around that 25-50 man
barrier and put it directly in the hands of people who think
my music is popping- the fans. Before this I was gonna shop it
to an independent entity like Koch or Landspeed and generally
in the industry right now, there's a rush to the underground
so I was gonna do something like that but basically, this came
up first and the bottom line is actually better this way. I'm
not ruling out that something else might come up in the future
but if this is successful enough just doing it myself, then
you have to remember that’s how hip hop really started. The
industry wasn't accepting hip hop, so brothers was doin it at
house parties, in the park, wherever they could get their shit
off at. Right now I'm really beyond the platinum chain wishes
and fancy car dreams. So if I build a nice fan base right here
I’ll stick with this. I don’t really want or need to be on MTV
cribs and all that other type shit like that. I will be in
brick and mortar stores soon. But whether it’s from a record
deal as an artist or on my own through a distribution deal is
the only question. It’s usually only affiliated with painting
but it happens in music too- a lot of cats contribution won’t
be appreciated until years later. The album is banging. This
one was produced by Shakim. I only did one beat. It’s a laid
back banger. A lot of hardcore smooth shit on this one, like
“Where Does That Leave Me?”. When you hear this you gonna be
able to say yea Dar and Wise still got it. I’m happy with this
one. The next project in the works is AllahWise. I’ll be
producing most of that one, so look for something a lil more
hyped up and grimy. Some hard shit.
Dark 7 Invader: Are they all old songs from the past or
new songs, or a mixture of both?
Darkim Be Allah: A mixture.
Dark 7 Invader: Few songs are leaked already, and there
was suspicion that the album was not authorized by you, why
did it take you so long to reply or contact the respective
people who were interested in knowing about the album?
Darkim Be Allah: I don’t know any respective people. I
got a kite from Josh telling me that I needed to write an
email. I wrote the email. Next thing I heard I was the fake
Darkim. It was funny to me at first because I didn’t know I
had enough fans for my shit to be bootleggable. Personally,
I’m of the mind set that if you have a problem with something
you settle it with that person, man to man. You don’t gotta be
jumping all over the radio or the internet in this case
running your mouth. It’s like any other job, if you have a
disagreement with a co worker, that’s not for you to go
spreading it all over the job. My biggest problem became when
it started seeming as if it was gonna fuck with my paper. At
any rate, that’s over now. Everybody knows who I am and what
I’m doing and how to holla at me.
Dark 7
Invader: What are you up to when you are not
recording?
Darkim Be Allah: Lately just hustling. I haven’t
really been hitting the party scene or nothing. I’m type
focused right now on survival first and second making
something out of what might be my best talent- making
music.
Dark 7 Invader: Have you done any collaboration
lately as in produced or dropped
vocals with any other artist?
Darkim Be Allah: Nah, I’m really just trying to get
this cd out. After that then I can focus on other people’s
biz.
Dark 7
Invader: Who would you like to work with now or in
future?
Darkim Be Allah: Well there’s only a couple of cats
I definitely wouldn’t work with. If we gonna make a banger
I’m with it. As far as production, you just gotta pay me
something fair and we got a deal.
Dark 7 Invader: How did you link up with Josh
Raybuck/ghostface9_texas?
Darkim Be Allah: I’m not sure how but it was when I
first started doing the mp3.com thing. And he just stayed
in touch.
Dark 7 Invader: After this project, what more can
we expect from you or fame labs as in solo and group
projects etc?
Darkim Be Allah: If this is successful you can
expect at least 3 Fame Labs projects in the next year. A
solo from me and AllahWise and another A.I.G album. But
within the next couple months you can expect to see us
roll out the whole Fame Labs committee. AllahWise solo we
looking at March and my solo for July.
Dark 7 Invader: Any tours planned?
Darkim Be Allah: I want to tour but right now I
don’t have anything planned. Promoters holla at me. |
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Dark 7
Invader: Have you been to Europe and will you be
interested in touring
Europe?
Darkim Be Allah: Never been to Europe but I’d love to
come out there. Really like I said I love doing hip hop. So
going someplace to play my beats and bust a couple verses is
nothing to me. If somebody in Europe sends for me, I’m there.
Dark 7 Invader: I like to say thanks for taking the
time to answer these questions, and it is a blessing to have
you back in the game, when you were most needed, any last
words/shout outs for the fans?
Darkim Be Allah: Yea peace to my brother AllahWise
cause he couldn’t be here right now, peace to The Nation of
God and Earth, peace to the Bronx and the whole NYC, Josh,
Boomer and the rest of the Fame Labs staff, and last but not
least all the fans that’s been keeping my name alive and my
music in demand. Fame Labs Presents! 11/29.
Support
the artist by copping the dope album at
www.famelabsmusic.com
Related Interviews: Darkim Be Allah
[Darkim Be Allah] -
King Christ [Wu
Elements Series] [June 2010]
<Read Other Interviews> |
