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Interview
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4th week of our Watchmen series, interview # 4: Prox
... The Watchman.
Prox started off as member of the group Shadowhand
alongside 7th 7ign and others, and after a couple of
internet and underground releases Prox and 7th moved
on to form Watchmen with Cipher, BlackMask, Pro and
Eclypse.
Although Prox is on almost half of the tracks on the
double album he is quite right when he states “Y’all
.... don’t know me” on his supposedly solo cut off
the first disc. While others such as BlackMask fluently assume their
position in the spotlight, Prox prefers to take a
step back and watch all things Watchmen from a
distance. To observe, and play his position
effectively from behind the scene.
This week’s interview was the ideal moment to try
to get the man in the centre of the spotlight for
once. To find out who is behind the Prox alias. How
does he, as an observer, see the Watchmen? the
history behind his previous group Shadowhand,
Watchmen's latest double LP under Wu-Tang Management
and the
POWER album they had recorded years ago?
and much more, its time for the fans to sit back and
observe more about Prox on this interview as he
comes out the shadows for this Wu-International
exclusive Watchmen interview series.. enjoy!!
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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 Prox, how are you?
Prox: Great. Thanks.
Wu-International: The double album out, POWER album
almost out. Things are finally moving for the Watchmen, how
do you feel ?
Prox: I feel great about it man. We had struggles in
the beginning but this whole process was like a kid riding a
bike for the first time. You get on the bike, it feels all
shaky at first and you fall a few times; but once you get
the feel for it and start rolling you forget all the
problems you had to go through to get there.
Wu-International: How do you feel the fans see the
group in regards to being Wu affiliated or not?
Prox: I feel as though fans are curious, but in the
end it doesn't really matter to them. I mean, I am a fan of
others also and could see their points of view. You're a fan
because you respect what they do and how they do it. That
means that you also respect the decisions that are made
pertaining to the music along the way. The talent is there
whether affiliated or not. We could arm chair analyze this
all day but in the end we can only work hard and give the
fans the best music possible, minus the complications.
Wu-International: Why do you call yourselves
The Watchmen?
Prox:
We came
together as a unit to form this group and wanted something
that would signify who we are as a team right; so we went
through this whole process. We came up with the process that
we need to all come from doing our individual thing and come
together as a unit to help do our part for hip hop. This
reminded all of us of the concept with the watchmen comics.
You know a group of superheroes who were in retirement and
watching life go by and had to come out and join forces to
to help save millions from an unknown threat.
Wu-International: What kept you believing in the
group through all these delays and problems?
Prox: Believing in each other, man. I'm telling
you, one day I would feel down and out and you can count on
someone else not feeling the same way and they would lift
you up. That's what this group is about, that's what this
movement is about...dependence on one another so we can all
make it.
Wu-International: Right before the album
dropped there were talks of one of the Watchmen leaving the
group. Could you please tell us who and why?
Prox: ...hmmm.
All I can say is...people have priorities that don't
necessarily always align with the common good. This was
discovered during the ups and downs and was like a stake to
the heart but......we still went on and that's what matters.
We are in this game, not only for the love but also for the
people who love it. This is a sacrifice game and if you’re
not willing to sacrifice for the "greater good" of the game,
then well I guess you gotta part ways.
Wu-International: Also BlackMask was 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?
Prox:
This a question that's more for Mask as each team has
its own specialized player for a designated role. Mask is
the man, El hombre, the mother brain of the group. He has
the option to be on the front line or not. Because he might
take the rear, doesn't mean his effect would be gone. If he
sees a need to add on more members, I think this is more in
line with the LOK movement we’ve got going. It's about
giving others the opportunity to do what we do, because the
difference between our group and others only boils down to
the opportunity given.
Wu-International: Adding or replacing more members could
make the group come across as a band/brand as seen on TV
shows. You don’t get RZA replacing ODB in the group, is
Watchmen going the route of a made up group?
Prox:
You know there was a beginning and there will always be an
end. That is how it is with everything in life. The only
thing you can change is the process in between. There are
risks involved in everything we do. The threat of a risk is
directly proportional to the chances of greater reward. Not
to say that this will happen, but when other people are
involved and you have fans you have to review all options at
the table and make the move that's best for the team and the
fans.
Wu-International:
Thanks, let’s move on to you, Is there any special meaning
to your name?
Prox:
Yeah, actually there is. Back when I first started, I was
then called Professor X because I was like well....you get
the idea. It's clear where this is going; so when me or
other group members would try to incorporate my name into
their bars it was difficult well, because, let’s be honest
here....That's a long muthafuckin name; so a group member
decided to shorten it in a song and called me Pro ex. From
there it ended up as Prox. So I would say my name was carved
as a result of necessity to fit. I like this idea as in
order to infiltrate and be relevant, you have to "trim the
fat" around the edges to fit in your role.
Wu-International: How would
you describe your style?
Prox:
I wouldn’t know how to categorize it. I do know that the
only thing that's dynamic in music is the individual, so I
like to expose this as much as possible when doing music.
Wu-International: How do you
see your role within the group?
Prox: I
am more a sit back, wait and see type of person. I like to
watch from a distance with my thinking cap on.
Wu-International:
There’s not that much info to be found on you, even your
Facebook page doesn’t reveal much. Do you prefer to keep low
profile and if so any particular reason?
Prox:
I do usually like to keep
a low profile. I am one that doesn't really speak unless
spoken to, and I don't say anything unless it needs to be
said; but as time goes on, you will see more content about
me.
Wu-International: Does the song “Don’t know me”
perhaps refer to that ?
Prox:
Nah, that song was
written for a another purpose which will be revealed in my
solo.
Wu-International: We first got to know you through
your features on 7th Sign’s solo album, where you name
dropped “Shadowhand” repeatedly. You and 7th sign were in
that group together. Let’s talk a bit about this group first
if you don’t mind. Can you please tell us more about
Shadowhand ?
Prox:
Well yeah, that was the
group 7 and I were a part of. See, 7 brought me on in that
group back in the past. Shadowhand is like ancient form of
combat that was rarely seen and where we were living, it
applied.
Wu-International: Is it true Shadowhand had
ties with the Sunz of Man? If so, how exactly?
Prox: Haha... No man, I wouldn't call it like
that. See, when we first started out in the USA as
Shadowhand, we wanted to post our music all over. I mean,
this was back in like 2000. Hey, remember when MP3.com was
different and was more a local artist spot? The time when
you could upload your music, have competitions online, and
hear great local and signed underground artists. Well, we
used to post many of our songs on mp3.com for the rest to
hear. I can't really remember how it went down but Sunz of
Man had a music page there also and they liked our music. We
were like on their top artists friends list and they would
shoot us posts of the songs that we did. I mean it was never
a “hey, we got ties” thing. It was just that they dug our
music and let us know that in a local sense. Ahhh, I
remember the mp3.com days....good times.
Wu-International: What are the chances of some of the
Shadowhand tracks floating around, officially seeing the
light of the day?
Prox:
We have many of the
tracks. It's just a matter of if the masses want to hear
them. I am sure if or when the time is right we will
announce something.
Wu-International:
Is Shadowhand still an
active group or defunct?
Prox:
Well, I would say that
they are still an active group but they are defunct in the
sense of what they are doing now. The remainder of the group
is doing other things music-wise, that don't necessarily
meld with essence of where we came from. I have mad respect
for them but hope that they would return to the roots of
what we did and not sway in the ways of the wind.
Wu-International: You
have a song with 7th Sign called “Blood brothers” . Would
you describe the two of you as blood brothers ?
Prox: In a sense yeah. I mean we
are related so there go the blood and we grew up together
and hence he is close like a brother. That song just sealed
the deal as on the way we like to support and balance each
other.
Wu-International:
Who else within the group are you closest or closer to?
Prox:
I would say that I have a
certain bond with everyone, you know. These guys each have
their own personalities that shine in very different ways;
so I’m balanced in how I view the others.
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Wu-International: Would
you consider doing a joint album with 7th Sign?
Prox:
Of course I would. We have done that before also under the
Shadowhand banner. It was named "First Chapter". This was
only released on mp3.com. I love that album and listen to
that on a regular basis. We always speak about doing another
one; so don't be surprised if you see one sooner than later.
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Wu-International:
Looking at the double album, what is your favourite track on
that album and why ?
Prox: I guess I am a little biased toward Blood
Brothers. I don't know. I just thought that 7 and I really
synched in that one; and also if you listen to my bars
closely you will get a good sense of the type guy that I am.
Wu-International: What’s your best memory of
the recording sessions?
Prox:
At times when we were all
there sharing thoughts and critiquing the album. We would be
at this up until early in the morning. I would always get
this thought that the meld of the minds was there and that's
the way it should be.
Wu-International: Which feature was the most fun in
your opinion and why?
Prox: I would say the Blue Raspberry feature was the
most fun in my opinion, only in the way it was done. I don't
really wanna get into it but let's just say, we were
laughing the whole time and couldn't be that we pulled that
one off. The contents of that one will be revealed.
Wu-International: How would you compare the double
album with the POWER album you recorded prior to the double
album?
Prox: I would say that the POWER album is the hard
core, we coming for ya, knocking you to the ground, make way
for the underground word spray, we here all day type of
album. The double is the hardcore, well everyone moved out
the way already, so what the fuck is going on, but we will
still put it down for a greater audience type of album. In
other words, I would say the Power album is more direct in a
sense, and you can sense underground to the core in every
track. The double is direct with a touch of a few elements
to expand upon for a more complete final product.
Wu-International: Please tell us more about the POWER
album, the number of songs on it, features and producers?
Prox: Well
the Power album can speak for itself when it is released
next month. More on that will come from Black the Mother
Brain.
Wu-International: With so many of you in a group, how
easy is it to think or get outside features involved in a
song?
Prox:
I wouldn't say it is too
complicated. I mean when people see a group, they know that
there has to be some chemistry going on and a lot of times
many people want to be a part of that also. You get to see
how the team takes care of each other and it kind of makes
you want to work with those people. No matter how many of us
there are, features are always a welcome as it gives another
perspective of the same goal.
Wu-International:
Any reason why it is called POWER?
Prox: Power is strength and the album was to be a
strong debut. It was supposed to hit with authority and make
people recognized what they were missing.
Wu-International: So the Watchmen formed in August
2006 to record the “POWER” album. But somehow the crew
folded one month after you started. What caused this sudden
stop ?
Prox:
Well we were all solo artists in the past and came together
to form the Watchmen for this Power album. Once the album
was done we were in the workings to get it noticed by RZA
but the connect for this fell through, and it never
happened. From there that was what it is.
Wu-International: Now the “older” work is
getting released, it’s time to focus on the future. Do you
have plans for a solo album ? If so any info you can share
with us about this album: title, producers, features,
release date, ... ?
Prox: Solo album, yes, no, doubt. As you know with
release dates, they are never set in stone but I would swing
for mid to late 2011. Producers and features...well I got a
few tricks up my sleeve and I know the fans will love ‘em.
The title is on the inside insert of the double album; so
cop the album to find out what it's about.
Wu-International: A question we asked the others too:
which General and what Wu album influenced you most?
Prox:
I would say, that the
General that influenced me the most and made me recognize
was Old Dirty Bastard (RIP). I was never too much into hip
hop until I heard his Return to the 36th Chambers. I was
amazed at how dynamic he was on the tracks. This guy was the
gateway drug.
As far as favourite album, I would most definitely say Ghost
Face's "Supreme Clientele". I thought every track on that
album was bangin’ and ghost was rippin’ it up man. I was now
a complete junkie.
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?
Prox:
This is more of a question for Black to answer. He is the
source code for this one.
Wu-International: Anything else you would like to
share with the fans that have not been covered already ?
Shout outs ?
Prox:
Well as I said before, as time goes by I will post more
information about me...hey you never know, I may throw up
some old vintage clips for you to see from back in the day.
Cop the album, its most definitely the album to get. I
listen to it every day. Big shout out to everyone that
helped us along the way, whether big or small. I would like
to say thanks to the fans that helped to guide us also.
Believe it or not, we like the feedback and take all of it
into consideration. You might not be the chef of the product
but you definitely are the spices in it. Thanks to everyone
for your support.
Keep up to date
with Prox
www.myspace.com/thewatchmenspace
Related Interviews: Watchmen Series
#1
[BlackMask] -
Behind The (Black)Mask Interview
[20th Oct 2010]
#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]
<Read Other Interviews> |
