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Interview
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Yes, he is back,
not that he really left, Napoleon (Wu-Syndicate) burst into the scene
around 1999 with the release of his then classic group
album "Wu-Syndicate
- Myalansky & Joe Mafia"
unfortunately his name
got omitted due
to the fact that he was locked up around the same time
the album dropped. In 2007 we saw the return of Napoleon
with his solo project "Kingpin
Wit Da Inkpen" an independently released album that
sold out fast and currently a highly sought after and hard to
find album by fans.
Since the release of his last album, Napoleon has been
monitoring and watching the game and movement, and his
approach is world domination.
With a rich history
and background, Napoleon's life is like a movie,
and unlike a lot of artists in the game, he actually
lives the life he raps about: without getting into too
much details, an associate of Napoleon was behind
one of the highest (33 Million) drug raids in US
history.
He is in a very interesting position right now:
still
young enough to be
considered a current up and coming artist, but has been
in the game and paid his dues long enough now to also
be considered a vet.
Still proud of his Wu
roots and heritage, Napoleon said in a recent interview
that his mission is to keep that "W" flying and active
while capturing the new hip-hop fans, he feels he has
something that distincts the Wu fans from the commercial
hip-hop audience, something that will put him in same
league with the likes of Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, T.I,
Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z, while still keeping his die hard
Wu-Syndicate fans happy. |
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He has also assembled the
help of his Wu brethren to put together the project
Illuminati Network in he quest for world domination (hence Wuminati)
based off the comic "Illuminati" which sees different
heroes from different regions and affiliations working
secretly together to save the world. Only this time, we
witness a group of MC's adopting an alter ego working
together from a far to save hip-hop
whilst keeping that Wu tradition. The project apparently consists
of 5 members, Napoleon himself, Solomon Childs, Dexter
Wiggle, Shaka Amazulu the 7th and a secret member.
What about another Syndicate album with Joe Mafia and
Myalansky? You will have to find that out by reading
this interview. Be it with his group, allies or
associates, Napoleon stands fully grounded on his own
feet as a solo artist and it's evident he intends to
flood the market this time around and he is setting it off with his new album "Mark
of the Beast". According to a recent interview
the pre-orders on the streets of VA have been crazy and a number
of labels are in bidding war for his album, Napoleon
seems to be taking his time to choose the best forum to put this
out. The album currently host production from his V.A resident Lex
Lugar (Who has produced hits for the likes of Rick Ross,
Kanye West etc), to DJ Devastator and E The Dred (the
original production brainchild behind the first
Wu-Syndicate album).
Last week saw the
release of "The
Best of Napoleon" mixtape which was made available
to fans as a
free digital download. Wu-International chops it up
with The Kingpin with The Inkpen to find out his
blueprint to world domination.. 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, how are you?
Napoleon: All good
Wu-International: Let's talk about Mark of the Beast, is
this a mixtape, street album or
full album?
Napoleon: Its more a street album, a continuation from
Kingpin Wit Da Inkpen
Wu-International: Street album, does that mean all
original beats with some industry beats?
Napoleon: No, its all original beats and songs.
Wu-International: Please tell us more about this
project?
Napoleon: 20 songs, I basically went in by myself,
first album was introduction and to show peeps my connect
and capabilities, this time around I am reinventing myself
and giving the fans a full dose of Napoleon, very little to
no features but its a few surprises up there still, just
know that big surprises.
Wu-International: You said all original beats, who are
behind the production?
Napoleon: Yes, all original tracks, beats and
concepts, beats feature hits from my hometown homie Lex
Luger and of course E Da Dred and DJ Devastator the original
formula used on Wu-Syndicate first album with a different
twist, kna mean?
Wu-International: Great you used E Da Dred and
Devastator, what songs did they produce on the project and
what was it like working with them again as you did not use
them for your debut album?
Napoleon:
Was great working with them again and the tracks and I got
enough songs from from E Da Dread and DJ Devastator that I
plan to use them for project after this.
Wu-International: Lex Luger is quite huge right now
making joints for the likes of Rick Ross, Ace Hood, Lil’
Wayne, Kanye West and more, how did you get Lex involved in
your project and what songs did he produce on the album?
Napoleon: Lex Luger’s my homie from the hometown, we are
from the same city so you know we had to do that.
Wu-International: Was there any specific reasons you
have kept the features to a minimum?
Napoleon: No particular reason as such, as explained
earlier, I didn’t use that many features because this is
only my street album, a pre to my coming album and I really
wanted to showcase myself in a different way this time, know
what I mean?
Wu-International: That tag street album, it does
sound like a real album to me with all original beats,
concepts and songs wouldn't you say?
Napoleon: Sort of but not really, I can see why you
think that but Mark of the Beast is a pre to my upcoming
official second album.
Wu-International: Interesting, we will cover more of
that on the second part of this interview, having heard some
songs off this project, I must say one of my favourite so
far was "33 Millions", it was quite personal; can you please
tell us more about this song?
Napoleon: Without going into too many details for
legal reasons, I will just say this, that song was based off
a real story, my man that was backing me got arrested on the
biggest drug ring in US history, 33 million. That song was a
way of me keeping his name alive, kna mean? He is the
Kingpin and I am the Inkpen, expressing things for him that
he cannot say through my songs, kna mean?
Wu-International: This is the second time I have heard
you refer to someone else as The Kingpin other than yourself
and you just the Inkpen, I as well as others were under the
impression you were both?
Napoleon: Yeah, Kingpin Wit Da Inkpen was much more
than a title, it was a double meaning, the kingpin was my
man, and I was the inkpen, the voice, the ink that is used
to pen the stories of these kingpin, kna mean? both alter
egos combined is one I used for the Illuminatti Network as I
had to play both roles.
Wu-International: Another name that I hear allot on
songs is D?
Napoleon:
Yeah, D was my homie, we met in prison and he had my back,
we put together a lot of plans and ideas, one being
Illuminatti Network.
Wu-International: You are in talking terms with Da
Clipse based on your previous collabo with them, Myalansky
recently did a diss song "VA Day" towards them, did you see
the video and what's your take in all of this?
Napoleon: Yeah, I’ve seen the video, that’s how he gets
down, he is a villain, but I can only speak for myself, I am
a peoples person, so I am cool with everybody, I network,
that’s my claim to fame.. Da Clipse are my peoples, look out
for the Wuminati remix of the song "Vicious Illuminati
Protocol" on the Illuminati Project with Solomon Childs,
Dexter Wiggle and Shaka AmaZulu.
Wu-International: Thanks for those answers, let's move
back to your first album, Did you read the review of your
last album on the site written by Rec? It’s evident the fans
want to hear more of that Wu-Syndicate formula from the
first album as opposed to that dirty south influence heard
on your previous album, what did you think of the review?
Napoleon: Shout out to Rec, I understand where he and
the fans are coming from but I’m the sacrifice, Wu niggas go
to clubs and party and all that shit so I’ma be the one to
bring that chamber to life, I already done that Syndicate
and its time for something new, innovative and on point with
the time, I am still young, 28 years old and when I did that
Syndicate album I was in my teens, so this album reflects my
growth and adaptation to changing times in the music, and it
is bound to capture not just the Wu fans but the ever
expanding hip-hop audience and that's what Mark of the Beast
is going to do.
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Wu-International: Mark of the Beast sounds quite
aggressive, what's behind the title?
Napoleon: {Laughs out loud} Because I’m going to leave
my mark on the game and the people will know I’m a beast,
Kna mean?
Wu-International: When does this drop and will it be
download only or also on CD?
Napoleon: Was meant to drop in August but there's a
lotto companies and people showin interest so I am gunning
for the best option, and yeah its going to be digital and
physical release.
Wu-International: If this is a pre to your main album,
when do you then hope to put out the main album?
Napoleon: Yeah the album is coming around end or
third quarter and will be a major release.
Wu-International: You have said your mission is to bring
back the Wu, can you please tell us how you aim or plan on
doing this?
Napoleon:
I’ma be the fly dude that keep the W rolling because of my
new plugs and I’ma take the chance to do the radio records,
the club records and still keep the syndicate lingo but
modernized it to fit this new era, kna mean?
Wu-International: Who within the Wu do you work with
or plan on working with?
Napoleon: Rae, Ghost, you know the usual suspects, but I
am willing to work with anybody from the family tree if the
chance arises, word!
Wu-International: The fans will kill to see a
Wu-Syndicate reunion, how possible is this
right now?
Napoleon: Anything is possible especially if the money
is right?
Wu-International: We will cover questions about the
Illuminatti Network project on second interview during the
Wuminati series, but can you just tell us when the album is
expected to drop?
Napoleon: After Mark of the Beast buzz gets crazy, its
gonna ride the napoleon wave, so expect it sometime soon
after this project.
Wu-International: How easy was it putting this project
together?
Napoleon: In the modern age of technology it was
fairly easy, and the guys involved were on point with what
they had to do.
Wu-International: We understanding Illuminati Network
was initially just your company
with a different line-up of artists, can you please tell us
who were on it initially and how that developed into the
current project?
Napoleon: I still got a crazy roster but I'm evolving
into my mogul mode and I understand the law of difference so
I'ma be an innovator, Shaka reached out with an idea and
concept that I dug and we rode with it, its about
creativity, unity, enhancement and world domination. when
Mark of the beast drops, you will understand all this.
Wu-International: So who were and what happened to the
artists that were or used to be on your roster?
Napoleon:
They are waiting on the don to deliver, I am a man that
understands the importance of timing.
Wu-International: You keep mentioning world domination,
Illuminati, Mark of the Beast, Wuminati etc some of your
religious fans or ones that are into conspiracy theories
might read something else into the titles, names and so on,
why have you called it Illuminati Network?
Napoleon: {Laughs} Because I assembled the most
powerful people I could to hop in this chariot with me for
world domination and its gonna happen, first we swarm under
Wu then conquer the music world. Dexter Wiggle is from Cali,
the West coast, Childs' from New York, the East coast, I'm
from Virginia, which is on the Atlantic coast of the South
of America, the Old Dominion, it holds the distinction of
being the birth place of 8 US presidents, you see what I'm
sayin'? domination, world power? Shaka is our International
link, and he is from London, United Kingdom. We come
together from different clicks, affiliations under the Wu
for one common but wider cause.
Wu-International: Who is the 5th secret member?
Napoleon:
It wouldn't be a secret now would it {Laughs} you can put
the puzzle together on next interview.
Wu-International: New free mixtape, any reason for
putting out a greastest hits for free?
Napoleon: Wanted to give back to the fans man, also
wanted to remind those that forgot.
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Wu-International: Thanks for those answers, anything
else that you are working
on that has not been covered that you'd like to share with
us please?
Napoleon: I just need all my Wu fans to really support
and understand my direction, gotta get us back to the
mainstream, Mark of the Beast is the beginning.
Wu-International: Any last words, shout outs before the
end of this interview?
Napoleon: All fans hit me up
kingpinwithdainkpen@gmail.com I'm bout to bring it
home for us this time and its no turning back after this,
Strength in numbers, lets put Wu back on top big shouts to
Wu-International, details will be posted up on the site for
pre-orders soon.
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