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Interview
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For those that are
interested in all things Wu related, the name Stumik will
definitely ring a bell. For the ones who are wondering who
Stumik might be, the name Ice Water Inc might help to place
Stumik in Rae’s camp. After Raekwon’s American Cream Team
folded, former AMC’er Polite started a new crew with amongst
others Stumik. Fans first got to hear them officially on
Raekwon’s third album “The Lex Diamond Story” with the track
“Robbery”. Those that wanted to hear more had to wait 4 years to
hear their debut album, presented by Raekwon and featuring
amongst others Busta Rhymes, Rae, Method Man, Rick Ross and Pimp
C. Since then another 4 rather silent years have passed : we saw
Stumik appear on the album of his crew member Hanz On in 2009
and last year he released the Mixtape “Who’s eating Vol.1” .
But it seems Stumik is now gearing up to give us more: soon
he’ll be releasing “Who’s Eating Vol.2” plus an EP in the near
future with his new BOP movement, he’s preparing two solo albums
and also working alongside Fes Taylor in the Staten All Stars
crew. So Wu-International sat down with Stumik to talk about all
these upcoming projects , to look back at the early Ice Water
Inc days and to look at it's future as we learned the crew got
back in the studio and is preparing a second album as we speak.
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 Stumik, how are you?
Stumik: I'm good, thanks
Wu-International: For those that don’t know who
Stumik is, can you introduce yourself a bit?
Stumik:
My name is Stumik, and
I'm from the group IceWater, put together by Raekwon the
Chef. .
Wu-International:
Why did you choose the name Stumik? And do you have other
aliases you go by?
Stumik: I got the name from Raekwon known for
being hungry and very humble. They call me Draft and Dot Dot
Goose.
Wu-International: How did MC’ing start up for you
personally, were you part of another group, a solo artist or
was Ice Water your first entrance as an mc into the hip-hop
world?
Stumik:
I started off in the 9th
grade being part of a group called the Dark Hearted
Bastards, consisting of me, Dramadeus, and Spank.
Wu-International:
What ever happened to the Dark Hearted Bastards?
Stumik: Spank
ended up moving out of town so me and Dramadeus started
working on our solo careers and a few years later Dramadeus
passed away. RIP to my nigga Dramadeus.
Wu-International: We became aware of you through
Raekwon’ s Ice Water group, Can you please take us through
the whole starting point of Ice Water Inc, how you all came
together and your involvement etc?
Stumik:
In 2002,
Polite had a solo deal and decided to put it on hold and
team up with me and Cigars to form the group IceWater.
Wu-International: Can you tell us some more about
this formation, for instance where did Polite know you and
Cigars from ?
Stumik:
We all grew up in
the same neighborhood, Park Hill, together.
Wu-International: It was said the group was initially
know just as "Ice Age" around 2000, how true is this and why
the name change?
Stumik: This isn't true, the group was
never called Ice Age
Wu-International: Was the group called Ice water Inc
right from the beginning or did it go through different name
changes?
Stumik: Yes it was called Ice Water Inc
from the beginning
Wu-International: There was some confusion when it
comes to the original line up and members. We hope you can
help us out here: Some fans think Cigar is the same person
as DC?
Stumik: Cigars is not the same person as DC, Cigars
was in the original group and DC came along later on down
the line.
Wu-International: Thanks for clearing that up.
Can you share with us why Cigars left the group and how and
when DC and PC joined Ice Water Inc?
Stumik: Cigars
left the group for personal reasons then PC came along
through Polite and then PC brought along his little brother,
DC, and we all became known as Ice Water
Wu-International: The group recorded a lot of songs
for “The Lex Diamond Story” but as seen from the advanced and
retail versions, some of the songs never made the final cut,
any reason for this?
Stumik: Yes, because we decided to keep some of
the songs for our album Polluted Water.
Wu-International: Can you give us any examples of
songs that ended up on Polluted Water?
Stumik:
We had Knuckle Up featuring Pimp C was a song that Rae
previously recorded and allowed us to use it for our album.
Wu-International: One would have hoped/expected the
group’s debut to follow shortly after the introduction on “Lex”.
But unfortunately it still took four more years to release
the debut album. What was the reason for this?
Stumik:
We were still
going through the trenches and figuring out the right way to
market ourselves.
Wu-International: Going through the trenches in what
way: finding a label?
Stumik:
We were still shopping
the project to different labels to see which one would best
benefit us and Babygrande was the label we chose to release
the album on.
Wu-International: How well did you think the album
was received by the fans and looking back is there anything
you would have done differently?
Stumik: I think the fans received it very well and if
it was one thing that I can change it would've been the
first single, instead of it being Animal it would've been
I'm a Boss feat Rick Ross and Raekwon.
Wu-International: Interesting, any specific reason
why you’d change that first single choice?
Stumik: Yes because at the time Rick Ross was on top
and it would've been easier for us to get radio spins being
that we had him and Rae on the song.
Wu-International: Rae presented and acted as
executive producer for that project, people are still not
sure if he was just presenting the project or was also part
of the group, can you confirm his role and responsibilities
within Ice Water Inc please?
Stumik:
He did present the
project but no he wasn't a member of the group.
Wu-International: After Lex Diamond, the fans were
surprised not to see Ice H2O Inc members featured on most of
Rae’s project like “OB4CL 2”, and his latest “Shaolin Vs.
Wu-tang”, was there any reason for this?
Stumik: No there wasn't
Wu-International: You did inform us a while ago that
Ice Water had reunited and was planning a second
album. Did the group ever split up and if so, what
caused the split?
Stumik: No the group never split up. We all just
started working on our solo careers
Wu-International: What made the group get
back again you think?
Stumik: I think it was just time for us to do another
album together
Wu-International: So when you say Ice Water are back
again, can you please tell us the current line-up of
its members and Hanz On’s role within the group as
he was not initially part of the original formation?
Stumik:
The current
line-up consists of Stumik, Polite, DC, PC and Hanz
On.
Wu-International: When and how did Hanz On get to
join the group?
Stumik:
Hanz joined the
group when he came home from prison. He was always
our brother, he just was incarcerated at the time of
the group's formation. |
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Wu-International: Have you all started recording
already or is the project rather still embryonic at the
moment?
Stumik: We
started recording already.
Wu-International: How much songs would you say are
100% done at the moment?
Stumik:
So far we got like five songs recorded for the album
Wu-International: Will Rae be presenting the album
again (and featured) or will the group mainly go at it on
their own this time?
Stumik:
We're going to present it to Rae to see if he'll present it
and hopefully yes he'll be featured.
Wu-International:
Can fans expect a major change from this second album and if
so in what direction?
Stumik:
This album is more us and less featured artists
Wu-International:
Would the Ice Water Production team that delivered on OBFCL
II be involved in the production of this album as well?
Stumik:
Yes
Wu-International:
Can you give us some more info on this production team,
who’s in it exactly?
Stumik:
We all have our personal
producers who are involved in this team. My team consists of
GoldHands, Big Hak, Cee the Architecht, Marvy Productions,
Follow Me, DG Berlin and Haki Bela.
Wu-International:
So that is your team, any other names on the production team
outside your team?
Stumik:
As of right now, no.
Wu-International: We are always asking artists we
interview to see how they see themselves in connection to
the Wu regardless of who the fans think is Wu, being part of
Rae’s Chamber, do you consider yourselves Wu-Tang Killa beez
or affiliates of some sort or totally prefer not to be
associated with this?
Stumik: Every member in the Wu is like a big brother
to me so i consider myself to be a Killa Bee and a Wu
affiliate
Wu-International: The reason most will
associate you with Wu is due to the common knowledge that
only RZA and the generals among others have the power to
affiliate artists with the Wu-Tang movement, and Ice Water
comes under Rae, so naturally you are seen as affiliates,
some would say this is a blessing and others say a curse,
what are your views in this respect being associated with
hip-hop’s royal legacy?
Stumik: It's definitely a blessing to be affiliated with
the best rap group of all time
Wu-International: Outside of Rae, who else
within the Wu or wider Killa Beez circle are you
close or closely working with?
Stumik:
I'm close with
Method Man, Ghostface, Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna
and U-God.
Wu-International: Let’s talk a bit about you as
a solo artist now. You released “Who’s Eating Vol. 1” in
2009. Were you pleased with the sales/reviews it got?
Stumik: I was very pleased with the perception it got
but still know that I could do better with marketing myself
Wu-International: Where can fans who’d like to check
the mixtape get it from?
Stumik: Chambermusik, Sick O Store, Ebay and the
trunk of my car
Wu-International: There were first talks of releasing
Vol. 2 in November of last year, that got pushed back to
January, then it was announced for March 25th. What caused
all these delays?
Stumik: The music just kept getting better and I
wanted to put out my best work.
Wu-International: Do you have a release date now?
Stumik:
July 25th
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Wu-International: We noticed on your Twitter account
you asked RZA for help finding a label for the mixtape. One
would assume Rae’s Ice H2O label to be the logical candidate
for any release from an Ice Water Inc member?
Stumik: Yes
but at the time Rae was putting out Cuban Link II and CNN
was dropping War Report 2 so I just wanted to drop the
mixtape on another label
Wu-International: We noticed on your Twitter account
you asked RZA for help finding a label for the mixtape. One
would assume Rae’s Ice H2O label to be the logical candidate
for any release from an Ice Water Inc member?
Stumik: Yes
but at the time Rae was putting out Cuban Link II and CNN
was dropping War Report 2 so I just wanted to drop the
mixtape on another label |
Wu-International: You have more in the pipeline for
the fans you told us: the B.O.D. EP (Bars On Deck). Can you
give us some more info on this EP please?
Stumik: This is a street album that I'm putting out
representing my new movement B.O.D.
Wu-International: Interesting, can you give the fans
some more info on this new movement?
Stumik: B.O.D is a movement that consists of a few
artists from all over the world, internationally. We got
artists from Chicago, Miami and Georgia all the way to
Germany, China and Switzerland
Wu-International: When can fans expect to see
this EP available?
Stumik: Some
time in the Fall of 2011
Wu-International: We also learnt you had a single in
China at the moment with Bryan King and Proff. How did that
come to be?
Stumik: I met up with a famous entrepreneur named
Proff from China who had an artist Bryan King from
California. We decided to do a track together called
Overseas that we just shot a video for featuring vixen Lia
Cha
Wu-International: Nice, can fans check this video
online , if so where exactly?
Stumik: The video is still being edited but when it's
done it will be on all major video websites including MTV,
HH2C.TV, worldstarhiphop, and Vlad TV.
Wu-International: With all these upcoming releases
you must have had your hands full. Fans love the mixtapes
and side projects but what they ultimately want to know is
when Stumik will be coming out with a full or debut album?
Stumik: I plan on putting out my debut album by next
year
Wu-International: If so can you please tell us
more about the album as in timeline, working title, features
if any and so on?
Stumik: The title of the album will be called
Starvation with features from the industries best and
upcoming artists.
Wu-International: What is good with the announced
Stumik LP produced by Gregory Beats?
Stumik:
We are still working on
it
Wu-International: PC and DC have the Green Back
Gorrillaz side project and are also members of Deck’s House
Gang Animals, you were said to be a part of the Staten All
Stars project. How did you get involved in this crew?
Stumik: I linked up with some of Staten Island's best
up and coming artists like Fes Taylor, Iron Mic, Flyce the
Coroner and Baker Don
Wu-International: Yes, Fes Taylor seems to be the
driving force behind this as he was on the largest part of
the “Staten All Stars” free download. Can you give us the
current line-up please?
Stumik: The current line up consists of myself, Iron
Mic, Fes Taylor, DC, PC, Flyce the Coroner, Baker Don, Hue
Heff and Judah Priest
Wu-International: How should we envision this crew,
is it a collective, a group of artists, a project, what is
it?
Stumik:
It's a movement
Wu-International: Will there be a “Staten All Stars”
album eventually and if so who’s going to be involved in it?
Stumik: Yes there will be a Staten All Stars
album. We're not sure of the involvement but we do know
Chambermusik will definitely be the driving force behind it
Wu-International: To conclude our interview we could
perhaps take a look at the music that made you the mc you
are today ? Could you perhaps name the top 5 albums that had
the biggest impact/influence on you as a rapper?
Stumik: 36 Chambers, Ready to Die, Illmatic,
Reasonable Doubt and Hell on Earth
Wu-International: Interesting choice, can you
describe how each of those albums influenced you?
Stumik: 36 Chambers inspired me because the Wu are my
big brothers. They brought life to Staten Island hip hop
giving others a chance, like myself, to get on. Ready to Die
influenced me because it changed the fashion of hip hop, it
made everybody wanna get fly. Illmatic showed me how to step
my story game up. Reasonable Doubt made me wanna get money
and Hell on Earth brought the gutter in me out, straight
hood shit.
Wu-International: And are there any music genres or
artists outside of hip-hop that influenced you as well?
Stumik: Yes, Michael Jackson of course, he made me
wanna be an entertainer. New Edition because they were my
sister's favorite group and that's all I heard being played
in the house. I'm a big reggae fan since I was young,
listening to Buju, Shabba Ranks and Supercat and of course
Bob Marley. They made me appreciate different cultures of
music.
Wu-International: Anything else you would like to
share with the fans that have not been covered
already? Shout outs?
Stumik: Yes, be on the lookout for the I-90
project with Stumik and The One and Only from
Chicago released on Pretty Boy Records Inc. which is
ran by KJ. This is an up and coming label who's
about the artist first. As far as shout outs I wanna
shout out Wu International, Raekwon the Chef, K
Woods, Dom Perrion Woods, Rico Jones, Divine Diggs,
Chambermusik, P the Rebel, G-Clef, Marvy, my boy
Haph, King Dele, Mex, R.I.P. Megatron and Genice
Clark, Free Rated R, Chunky, Flip Style, Billy Pope,
Joe Puma, Proff, On Grind Ent., Somolyan gang, Team
Napalm, FrontLine Ent., Red Top-Milli Flea, Chip and
8 Gun Droop, Smalls, General, Shady, Philly, Mello,
the Ruthless Bastards, all the Staten All Stars, my
GBG fam, Pretty Boy Records-The One & Only, KJ and
Flip Style, my B.O.D. Movement, my two boys Jahmek
and Brandon, my Mom and Pops, my sisters Diamond and
Renee, my nephews Scram, Tory, Brandon and Rob, my
niece Nakia, my cousins Gregx, Shanice and Peanut.
RIP my little cousin Angel.
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Thanks
for your time and we wish you all the best in your future
endeavours.
For all features, hosting and shows, contact Stumik at
stumik@yahoo.com
Keep up to date with
Stumnik
http://www.reverbnation.com/stumik
http://www.myspace.com/stumik57
<Read Other Interviews> |
