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Interview
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Fes Taylor has achieved what
many artists only dream of: respect from all the generations of
Hip-Hop. Earlier in his career, he was known as Profess, and was
a member of King Just's Shaolin Soldiers, the first group to
ever perform at Hot 97's Summer Jam. He enjoyed a burgeoning
solo career, but never quite got off the ground. Teaming up
later with Wu-Tang Clan's own lyrical master, Rebel INS, widely
known as Inspectah Deck who asked him to join his elite crew,
The Housegang Animalz resulting to a mixtape release. The group
later was splintered and redistributed amongst several other
Wu-Affiliated groups, but Fes stayed loyal to Deck, becoming the
lyrical master's own personal protégé, as well as a great
stylist and lyricist in his own right.
A member of the two-man crew,
The Heart Foundation, Fes's hard work and characteristic help to
align him within 50 Cent's G-unit camp, making him possibly the
only man able to walk comfortably in both circles. |
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Always garnering his own
respect and fans in the process, Fes has tirelessly released
underground street albums, DVDs and mixtapes. The only thing
eluding him now would be an official retail solo album,
Flight
10304 (T2Fly). Wu-Tang legend Inspectah Deck co-signs Fes
Taylor for this, his first ever solo excursion into Hip-Hop
history.
A native of New York City,
Fes Taylor was born in Harlem and raised in Staten Island. This
very talented MC realized early in his childhood that he had a
passion for one thing: music. Before long his passion for music
would prompt him to start perfecting his craft, soon this local
prodigy could be found ripping apart talent shows and battling
MC’s everywhere he could to gain his respect as a rapper.
Impressed with his deep lyrical content and hardcore edge,
Blackfist Records made him one of the original Shaolin Soldiers.
Soon after, the MC then known as Profes made his debut on King
Just’s 1994 album entitled
Mystics of the
God. The album sold over 300,000 copies and was an
astonishing success.
This afforded Profes the
opportunity to rise to another level. He began touring for shows
such as Freaknic in Atlanta, Jack the Rapper in Florida, and the
very first Hot 97’s Summer Jam held in New Jersey. Although he
had much success with Blackfist Records, it was short lived. The
label would eventually fall apart, leaving Profes to sign with
Pinnacle Records, an independent label. It was while with
Pinnacle Entertainment, that Profes released his first solo
single Party On/Decision. The single sold over 10,000 copies in
the U.K. and Africa. However, it wasn’t long before the young MC
found himself once again, on his own.
With unstoppable will and determination that was not to be
reckoned with, Fes Taylor founded Two 4 War Entertainment in
early 2000. This allowed him to release an independent solo
album on the streets, which in the long run sold over 20,000
copies. His on going passion would also lead him to do
background vocals for an independent film titled Kings of the
Streets, a hip hop documentary. In the following years, “Taylor
2 Fly” kept flooding the streets and the internet with a series
of underground projects ranging from mixtapes and compilations
to DVD’s and albums.
Taylor also formed a two-man group with long time friend Mr.
Prezident called Heart Foundation. The duo’s swagger and energy
impressed G-Unit affiliate Mazaradi Fox so much that he made the
Heart Foundation members of the G-Unit/Dumout family.
Having earned the respect of well-known established artists and
fans worldwide, the timing was now perfect for Fes to release
his first retail solo album. So, he signed a deal with new indie
label Chambermusik Records/Koch for the release of
Flight
10304 (T-2 Fly). This official debut is co-signed by Wu-Tang
legend Inspectah Deck and features the Rebel INS himself,
Shyheim, Mr. Prezident, Lot-A-Nerv, T-Bird and many more.
Production is handled by Falling Down, Flip, Blastah Beatz,
G-Clef da Mad Komposa, Chad Beats, and others. Fes Taylor is
about to take off, so you better strap yourself in. Read all
about his resolved beef with The RZA, and new quarrel with Joe
Budden, his humble beginnings and album here. Enjoy the flight! |
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-Internationals: What's good Fes?
Fes Taylor: I'm good just happy to be here ya dig?
Wu-Internationals:
Before all the formalities, we are going to dive straight
into your latest album Flight 10304 (T2Fly), what’s behind
the album title?
Fes Taylor: Well flight 10304 is a trip from my hood to
all the places I have been and back to Park Hill, a round
trip flight through some of my life that fly shit, what's
flyer than a plane G 5 Taylor ya dig?
Wu-Internationals: You have had several street
releases via Chambermusik, would you say T2Fly is your first
official début album?
Fes Taylor: Well it's my first real release but not my
first real album as every album I ever did was put out as if
it was released the same way with videos except that I’ve
been putting that work in from Moneta to now all my shit is
at Chambermusik you can listen and buy them all there.
Wu-International: For someone that has been in
the game in for a long time, why has it taken this long to
get an album out?
Fes Taylor: No one was talking what we wanted to hear so
we took it to the streets we been doing good on our own, we
was at a point were we were like fuck a record deal we make
better money as an indie, then this deal came along and it
was the type of deal we could get into. We have a one shot
deal ain't like we tied in for years we still free to do
what we want to 50/50 split ya dig?
Wu-International: Cool, so would you say Chambermusik
sort of rediscovered you for the fans? basically the fans
have always been asking about you but not until CM stepped in
did they find out what you have been up to and the albums
releases?
Fes Taylor: It was great to link with Chambermusik,
shout out to the whole staff but before Chamber we were
doing our thing, that's what caught their attention, we
ain't go to them, they came to us we sold CDs out the trunk,
no websites, out the trunk we move more on the streets than
we ever did online
Wu-Internationals : Interesting, so how is your
working relationship with the owner G-Clef and what’s your
take on what they are trying to do for hip-hop and the
movement?
Fes Taylor: Its cool, its a great chance for an
artist like me that just needs a lil' help getting the music
across the world and is willing to grind on his own to do
whatever it takes to promote the project, Clef is my boy,
shit anyone who writes checks with my name on it is cool
with me...LOL
Wu-International: Peace to staff and members of
Chambermusik. T-2Fly was released April 7th, how are
you feeling about it and how well do you think the fans have
received it?
Fes Taylor: Well April was my birth month so it
felt like the greatest birthday gift in the world, it was
supposed to come way before that but every thing happens for
a reason. we are doing better than people thought we would
do, I'm very grateful I feel that people see the vision some
may have thought I went too commercial on this one, but I
just wanted to show I can compete with the mainstream artist
out and still be me ya dig? I gave people 10 free hard songs
for free just to balance it out, Google Fes Taylor Apollo 13
and 21 on the album the project is every thing I wanted it
to be, people may have wanted a Wu sound but I'm not that
I'm me.
Wu-Internationals: Thanks, so what are you favourite
songs off the album?
Fes Taylor: I would say "True story" (The Other Side)
cause of the truth in the song some real shit I've been
through it all, it tells my struggle, never ever how I feel
every day I wake up thinking how we gotta make it out of
here my theme song word sky walker my vacation song LOL it
just takes me away from all the bullshit I could go on and
on the whole shit means a lot to me word! every song got a
story to tell "House Wife Hoe" real music, real shit I
go through in my life.
Wu-International: Was there anyone that you wanted to work
with that never happened?
Fes Taylor: well I wanted to get Red Cafe on a song,
we ain't have time to get it done on a future project for
sho. Maziradi Fox but we got him on another album "The
Legend of Taylor" in stores at as well on Chambermusik.com,
he'll be on so future shit also and uh would have
loved to work with Meth on a song and Jay and 50 word look
out for a Fes Taylor Titto Green from dipset song also word,
I have worked with lots of people though.
Wu-International: Inspectah Deck presents…, what was
Deck's specific role on T2Fly?
Fes Taylor: He was just there giving me advice
everything else was left up to me. He knows how I work and
believes in me to do what it takes and I always do, but all
of us, my whole team played a part in this and all FF the
ground come together to get this plane.
Wu-International: How did you get to know Deck?
Fes Taylor: We're both from the same hood I met him
through a close friend of mine and his and we have been cool
ever since and started doing music and also became good
peoples, he's like a big brother ya dig?
Wu-International: Working hand in hand with Deck or a
music protégé of his pretty much makes you a Wu-Tang Killa
Bee, or not?
Fes Taylor: Not really, I'm Fes Taylor, Two 4
War and he's Inspectah Deck, Wu-Tang. I ride for him and all
that he rides for ya dig? but I'm what I am and he's what he
is, we meet in the middle to form a whole new chapter in the
book. So he got my back I got his, shouts to the whole Wu,
everybody on S.I., the whole movement, Two 4 War,
Chernak Music Group.
Wu-International: With that said, Wu fans were surprised
with the RZA diss song “The Secret Weapon” off the fresh air
fund mixtape, please tellus what started it all and why you
did that song?
Fes Taylor: Well it seems there have been a
misunderstanding, we worked the whole shit out, I'ma leave
that in the past, men stand for nothing and fall for
everything that's never been me that's all I'ma say, Staten
Island, we all we got.
Wu-International: Ok, so what then would you say is your
current relationship with The RZA
and have you both crossed paths since the diss?
Fes
Taylor:
Everything is cool, we spoke on the phone and worked it all
out, homie is real dude I got new respect for the dude
behind our conversation word!
Wu-International: Thats nice to hear, so do you
look back now in restrospect, do you regret writing
that song?
Fes Taylor: Sometimes things have to go
that way on some negative shit to become positive. I
don't regret anything I do I guess if I would have
spoken to him (RZA) before, the song would never had
been done but as an artist I was on it as soon as I
got the word in and within an hour the song was
leaked out but look, this all worked out for the
best so nah like I said it all worked out for the
best.
Wu-International: How does or did Deck feel
about you doing that diss song?
Fes Taylor:
He really ain't say much, he understood where I was coming
from, of course I spoke to him about it that's my dude like
I said he got my back I got his.
Wu-International: You have also been
rumoured to be close with G-Unit who are not the best allies
with the Wu right now, what are your thoughts on the current
beef between both camps? |
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Fes Taylor:
Well I fucks wit both sides, it ain't shit, it ain't
a problem, Mobb Deep, Nas and the Wu was cool I feel
like Queens and SI always had a bond I'm just
patching it back up. |
Wu-International: Do you feel any need to be loyal to
any particular camp or just keeping your nose out of it?
Fes Taylor: I have nothing to do with any of that as
far as I know, ain't nobody thinking bout that shit except
the media.
Wu-International: Rounding up on beefs, Joe Budden
recently attacked Meth, and you have also come out going at
Joe, what's behind this?
Fes Taylor: He (Joe Budden) stole my shit and now he
had the nerve to come at Meth, its over! want to know more
about why then listen to the song Howl @ cha wolf.
Wu-International: Thanks for those questions, taking it
back to how it all started, how, when and why did you first
start rhyming?
Fes Taylor: I started when I first heard a Big
Daddy Kane record, then Nas made me really want to do it,
from there I was in Blackfist records I was only rapping for
four years and was on a CD out in stores.
Wu-International: Yes, Fans knew you from your close tie
with King Just as Profes from the Shaolin Soldiers, what's
good with the group and why the name change?
Fes Taylor:
I just felt
the name was out-dated, had to come with some new shit Fes
Taylor is the future, Profes never made it when he got shot,
he died. The Soldiers Leatherface is still doing him, so is
King Just, Babi Pa is a part of Two 4 War and Star Child
moved on with his life.
Wu-International: As well as a solo artist you are also
a member of a couple of related groups such as The Warriors,
Shadow Government, Heart Foundation and so on, could you
please tell us more about each group, their members and
mission and your role on all of them as well as any future
project in works?
Fes Taylor: Yeah I have been a part of a lot of
groups, Shaolin Soldiers, Militant Misfits, Loose Links,
Heart Foundation, Shadow Government, The Warriors, The
capital, 3rd Rail... that's a whole other interview word.
Wu-International: Woow, thats a lot, any other not
mentioned above that existed or you are planning to put
together in the future?
Fes Taylor: All of them above
Wu-International: So with T-2 Fly out of the way, what’s
next on the menu for Fes as in tours, another album, major
collabos, movies etc?
Fes Taylor: Just pushing this project now but I got a
new mix CD coming "240 B.C.". The next album "I Am Not A
Rapper" and then the breaking point album we got the Heart
Foundation part two coming, Deck's album, T-Bird album, lots
of work check the MySpace for show dates
www.myspace.com/getmoney240 movies would love to
get into that, word.
Wu-International:
Thanks,
outside music, what other hobbies or jobs do you dip your
hands into?
Fes Taylor: Music is my job that's all I do or at
least all I can say LOL, music is my life word! I don't got
time for anything else.
Wu-International: Thanks for all the answers, is there
anything else we have not covered that you might like to say
or add on to?
Fes Taylor: Go cop that flight 10304 in stores now,
best buy, FYE, I-Tunes, Chambermusik stores, Amazon all
record stores world wide.
Wu-International: Thanks again and best of luck with the
projects, we will be keeping a close eye on your movement,
any parting words for the fans?
Fes Taylor: fuck wit ya boy howl @ cha wolf,
thanks for the support ya dig
Stay up to date with Fes
Taylor@
www.myspace.com/getmoney240
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