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Interview
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Last but not least
in our series of LCOB interviews is also the latest addition to
LCOB Productions and only official member and affiliate from
outside USA, White Lotus. White Lotus is from Canada, and have
been putting in work behind the scene with LCOB for some time
now.
The name White
Lotus is common within most Wu-Nerds (die hard internet Wu-Tang
fans) as White Lotus was once indirectly mentored by Wu-Tang's
own Bronze Nazareth and have gone on to work and produced for a
number of artists in hip-hop especially within LCOB and Wu-Tang
Killa Beez, most notably with Holocaust (aka Warcloud) and his
group American Poets in addition to a whole list of others.
While true to the
tradition of the Wu academy, it might come as a surprise to some
that Lotus ended up with LCOB instead of Wu-Tang family tree,
but rather than fake his WU affiliation as seen these days by
numerous artists or keep waiting for something to happen, Chief
of the Lotus Clan decided to join the LCOB family which pretty
much mirrors that of the WU and where he would be able to
add on, contribute and elevate his craft as that of his fellow
members to a whole next level. Rasul called him "one of the
hardest working person he knows" and his inclusion to the group
was put down to his skills, work ethics and determination.
Mainly known for
his production skills, White Lotus is also an MC and have
released a number of albums to date. His latest album "Formless
Kungfu" under LCOB Production was hailed an underground classic
and featured the likes of Bronze Nazareth & The Wismen, Darkim
Be Allah, The Begga Clan and more. Lotus has his own movement in
Canada way before any affiliation and is currently working on
building and moving on his groups and projects, dive into the
realms of the Lotus Chief and find out more about his humble
beginnings, approach to music, LCOB, Wu-Tang and
everything else in between, 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 Lotus, how are you?
White Lotus: All is Good in the Hood, Maintaining and
tying to Stay Positive.
Wu-International: Can you please introduce yourself
to everyone; tell us who you are, your affiliations, where
you are from, currently residing etc?
White Lotus: I am the White Lotus, Chief of the Lotus
Clan, I reside in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I am 30 years of
age, officially affiliated with Lost Children of Babylon &
Lotus Clan.
Wu-International: Even though you are an mc as well,
most of our fans would recognize you more due to your
productions for some of the Wu Killa Beez, how did you get
into producing?
White Lotus: I got into producing through
encouragement from Bronze Nazareth, I had sent him a email
with some lyrics attached in about 2002, and he was very
kind with showing me the ropes. I had been a lyricist, a lot
longer then I've been making beats, basically I learn to
make beats, so that me and my team could record lyrics on
our own beats.
Wu-International: Was actually going to ask you about
your Bronze comparison by fans who label both of your sounds
as that sad soul, how do you feel about the comparison?
White Lotus: I would say it is very accurate, because
he was a mentor to me, over the world wide web.
Wu-International: When you say Bronze was like a
mentor to you, what do you mean exactly?
White Lotus: Bronze more or less encourage me to get
better and we have been building online for a while about
engineering and beat making.
I went out to Windsor Ontario which is right next to Detroit
so we could build in person but I got held up at the border.
He taught me the basics of recycling soul breaks. On the
real Bronze is a humble person and I am lucky to have
had the chance to build with him.
Wu-International: So how many songs have both of you
worked on as far as collaborations go, be it on beats or
vocals as I read somewhere it was about 7?
White Lotus:
I traded Bronze some Pro
tools hardware for a few beats and he gave me a few freebies
before the Wisemen popped off. I think I have recorded close
to 6 Bronze beats, the most accepted songs would be "Blood
Flow" an "Falling From hands of Gods".
Blood Flow Features Tragic Allies and is on the Lotus
Society albums. "Falling From hands Of Gods" features
Cosmic Crusader and is on "Formless Kung Fu". There are more
tracks to come with Bronze and Kevlaar as well, They will
both be guest MC's On my Project "Royal Reserve".
That will make it 7 songs in total I have done with Bronze,
but this the first time I have him as a MC on my beat.
Wu-International: Thanks for those answers, so who would be your top 5
producers of all times?
White Lotus: 4th Disciple, DJ Muggs, Prince Paul, The
RZA and True Masta
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Wu-International: A lot of people have also compared
your music to have that eastern kung fu flair, is Wu-tang
your only influence?
White Lotus:
Wu-Tang is obviously what made me want to rhyme, and make
beats, but that was because I could relate to what they were
saying, and how they were saying it. I take Science
and Philosophy of life very serious, and I felt like we were
on the same page. When I was young I had never heard anyone
speak of god\devil as an extension of self. I am no carbon
copy rip off, the White Lotus is a reflection of my true
self.
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The exact moment I decided I wanted to take rap
seriously was in grade 11, when my friend Curtis
gave me an ODB tape of E.T. 36 C. The dirty version.
Ol' Dirty Bastard
was such a free flowing ball of Chi, the true Drunken
Master, and a lot of his lyrics are on some next level
sharpness, I got cut deep by his blade and I just got
inspired to "beee" and let my own voice be heard. R.I.P.
Osiris, your spirit lives on in the seeds you planted.
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Wu-International: So Rhyming came first when you
decided to take it seriously?
White Lotus:
Like I had stated earlier, I was a writer for mad years
before I made beats, or even made songs.
Wu-International: Thanks, one would assume
you would be looking to be part of the Wu Elements for
whatever is left of it due to their influence lyrically and
musically, but you ended up with LCOB, how did that happen?
White Lotus: Well honestly I heard Rasul on a
ChamberMusik interview, and I liked what he was saying, so I
contacted him on his email, and I flew out to LA and stayed
with him and his fam. Wu-Tang is sewed in my genes,
but I am not holding my breath .
Wu-International: So you are now part of the LCOB
production team, what does your role within this movement or
brand entail?
White Lotus:
I am making the album
"Appendices" with them, and they helped me out with a
co-sign for "Formless kung fu". There will be more music to
come with LCOB, they push boundaries others are afraid to,
and I fully support the message behind there music.
Wu-International: You have been making music with
LCOB prior to joining them, now you are part of the team,
what’s it like from the inside looking out, and do you make
any decisions as far as concepts, titles and so on goes for
song, how do you contribute to the song?
White Lotus:
No I do not, because we live in different countries, and my
role is to bring something new to the table. With such a
large group, they need variation in the production, to keep
the team happy. I lend a helping hand when needed, because I
believe in what they are doing.
Wu-International: Rasul informed us that you
would be producing the whole of LCOB next project
“Appendices”, what sparked that idea and how do you feel
about this challenge?
White Lotus:
I did a bunch of
remixes for them, such as, "Philosophers Stone Age", and I
think Rasul saw how we could use raw soul break beats with
LCOB and take it back to the old school roots. For me any
challenge is good, we strive for perfection, we build and
add on.
Wu-International: How would you say your style of
production sits or fits in within LCOB style, and will you
also be lending your mic skills in addition to producing
that project?
White Lotus:
Like I was just saying, I
think my beats give a 1990s type feel to the music.
I am trying to head out to Atlanta, to build with them, and
get in the studio and drop some bars. When it comes down to
doing lyrics for their album, I don't wanna do it through
the internet.
Wu-International: Thanks for those answers, we know
you have been working closely with Warcloud and American
Poets 2099, can you please tell us how you met Warcloud that
lead to working with him and his group?
White Lotus:
Well actually I got in contact with him through Gage 1, then
we tried to bring him out to Canada from Boston, but he got
snagged up at the border and sent home to LA, so on the same
trip I took to LA to meet up with Rasul, I also stayed with
Nova Kane and he was building with Holocaust.
Wu-International: We gathered you recorded some of
your projects with him in US, how many songs do you have to
date with Warcloud?
White Lotus: On the real, I do not even know, a
lot of that project was like a puzzle, he is hard to work
with. Trying to get him in the studio is harder then you
would think, Nova and Pro handled the recordings, and when I
chilled with him, we mostly just politic and went through
beats.
Wu-International: We saw a video on your site
of Warcloud recording a verse about mosquitoes, a pretty
dope verse, what song is that and when do you plan on
putting it out?
White Lotus:
That was done the
same day I met with him in Hollywood @ this dude named
Scobra's spot, those lyrics are for a song I set up with
Shaka Amazulu the 7th, the song is on his CD.
Wu-International: Some say he is a genius,
others say he is insane and hard to work with, how was your
experience with Warcloud?
White
Lotus: Like I said he is hard to work with, but for a
reason, a lot of fans forget that he is a person. He has
lost a lot of trust in people, because of the leeches in
rap, and the mind state of us all.
My
personal opinion is, he is a new age Shakespeare lol, if
people had any respect for him,
they should let him be who he is and let him get his life in
order, instead of feeding off his fame, and mixing him up in
beef. A lot of people know rappers are not making that much
money any more and so they prey on that for there own gain.
He is one of a kind, and no one will ever replace him, often
imitated but never duplicated, Holocaust is a strange
entity and a force not to be reckoned with.
For all the people who
respect and love him as an artist, you should all send him
good energy, because the last I heard, he had a run in with
L.A.P.D. and he is in custody, this may be the best thing
for him, lets hope he returns for a sequel.
(1 luv Tank) keep your
head up god ................
Wu-International: You went on to produce the entire
AP2009 latest project, how did that come about and what was
that like to produce a full album for someone else other
than yourself?
White Lotus: It was cool working with Caust, Nova
Kane , Pro and Scrolls, but I would have liked to have more
of a say, in what was done with the final CD. I basically
sold them the beats, and arranged a few tracks to make a
cohesive format.
Pro and Novaova Kane are good friends to Anthony
(Holocaust), they had his best interests @ heart.
Wu-International: So you got the LCOB project in
works, how far gone is that project, have the group started
recording for the Appendices and if so how many songs deep
are you all?
White Lotus: I think we got about 10 songs, but
there is a lot of stuff to do, I just follow their lead, and
keep trying to come up with new beats. Good artist take a
long time to create, especially with little to no budget.
This year seem to be the year, things are coming full circle
for LCOB, there a great bunch of individuals, and I support
their movement to the fullest.
Wu-International: Are there others you are
producing full albums for, or plan to in future that
you would like to share with us?
White Lotus: I will be producing
projects for Sleep Sinatra of (Slang Mob), Info of
Lotus Clan, Willy Cold of Lotus Clan, possibly the
Killer Falcon, me and him have been building on the
idea for a while and LCOB of course. I also did a
large amount of the production on Nova Kanes solo
(Price of Victory) and also my own projects are all
my own beat production.
This year I will be releasing....
(Royal Reserve): A solo of mine featuring many great
artist such as 60 Second Assassin, Bbronze Nazareth,
Kevlaar 7, The Beggas, Tragic Allies, Udi, Slang Mob
and Lotus Clan affiliates.
(Ice Sickles): my first duo album with Lotus Clan
affiliate Willy Cold
(The Lotus Souls Technique) a strictly solo album I
wrote with story settings an Sci fi themes.
(The Ghost Ship) Dread Knaut Hhost army album
(release 2012 )
Wu-International: Thanks for those updates,
if you were to produce a full album for a Wu-Tang clan
member and a Killa bee, who would you choose and why?
White Lotus: I would choose GZA, because he
is my biggest influence lyrically and I like all his albums
to date, and if I could choose a Killer bee it would be
Frukwan of the Gravediggaz, but I think as far as chemistry
with a Wu artist would go, I would sound best with Rza, I
would like to take Rza back into the beat break chambers,
and work on the Cure :)
Wu-International: Same questions as above but
for a member in LCOB?
White Lotus: That is a hard one "I can't even
pick, so I will state what I like about them individually.
Rasul Allah: his topics an voice are his strong points, and
he is the most psychedelic.
cosmic: his educational aspects an delivery is so damn on
point.
Rich Raw: his tonal type mantra of delivery mixed with how
he rolls his rhymes
Kemit: his humble sounding peaceful tones and how he rides
the beat
Stretch: his beats make my beats an raps are mad powerful
Atun Sen: his harmony on the tracks an lyrical intricacy
Jon Murd: His flow is mad on point and he owns most tracks
he is on
Lex: his style is sharp as the blade of a samurai.
Wu-International: Let’s talk a little bit
about your last album, "Formless Kung-Fu", how well received
was it and how do you feel about it?
White Lotus: Formless Kung Fu is exactly what
the title states, that CD was me mastering self to take
shape. When I put it out, I got a lot of good feedback,
except for the mastering on the album. For me I do not like
to sound shiny and flashy, like the studio albums of today,
I want my shit to sound like it was made in 1993 on a 4
track. My opinion is people should keep rap music basic an
simple, "don't go against the grain".
Wu-International: Personally I liked the
album too, the joint with The Beggaz was one of my
favourites, Darkim of course, one with Wisemen and LCOB etc,
which was your favourite off the album and why?
White Lotus: my favourite song on the album
is "Crippled Beggaz" they are my favourite Killer Beez
group, me an Darkim have done about 5 songs, I do not know
what he plans to do with them.
Wu-International: Surprisingly you didn’t have
Warcloud on that project, any reasons why?
White Lotus: Because I did not want to work
around someone else on my own album, if you are making a
song with Holocaust, you sorta got to play his game.
Wu-International: How easy or hard was it assembling
those features and was there anyone else you wanted on there
that didn’t make it?
White Lotus: It was actually all love getting the
mc's who were on the CD, no money changed hands for the
project, and I try to keep working with all the people
involved. I would have liked to get Kinetic\Berretta 9 on
the album, he always showed me respect.
Wu-International:
You released that project independently, any reason why, and
will you be looking to maybe put it out commercially
sometime soon?
White Lotus: I was working on a disto deal with
Babygrande at the time, but I was late finishing the CD and
things fell apart with Willy Friedman. I think the music
industry has failed, and it is better to be independent.
Would be nice if I could sign with a indie label, so I do
not have to deal with shipping, and pressing my product but
as of right now, I do not think anyone is interested in
marketing that genre of music.
Wu-International: You have also released other
projects before "formless kung-fu", can you please list for
us all your projects and where we can get hold of it from?
White Lotus: Murder Fist, Bloody Leaves, Lotus
Society volume 1 & 2, and Formless Kung fu, they will all be
available on my blog for sale within the next few weeks.
www.Whitelotuschamber.blogspot.com
Wu-International: Thanks for that, can you
please tell us about any solo work planned or currently
worked on as far as features, titles etc goes?
White Lotus:
I am mostly just working
with my team out in Canada, and I listed all I am working on
earlier.
Wu-International: There was an artwork some time back
with Popa Wu presents White Lotus, can you please tell us
about this and what’s currently happening to it?
White Lotus: The art was made as a marketing
tool, to try and build with Papa Wu, that is all. But when I
spoke with him on the phone, he was not interested in doing
biz internationally. My man TGC did the artwork for me, so
we could try to insight a project. I am in no way connected,
or currently trying to make any moves with Papa Wu.
Wu-International: Prior to joining LCOB, you had your
own groups and associations, names we are familiar with are
the Lotus Clan, White Lotus Society or DKGA, can you please
tell us more about these group and names of members
involved?
White Lotus: Lotus Clan is made up of various members
of my close working fam in Canada(always growing) Lotus
Society was a project' and I will be making more society
albums in the future. DKGA is made up of Seraph Guard,
Morning Star, White Shark, Diktator, Lokee, and Hour Glass.
Wu-International: A fan wanted to know how you focus
or cope with new projects being busy with projects such as
Rhyme Fabric, Immortal Gods, DKGA, LCOB etc?
White Lotus:
Immortal Gods is no
longer a group, Rhyme Fabric was a mixtape that me an Kane
did, I work a 9-5 job and maintain doing hip hop in my spare
time, I just pace myself.
Wu-International: Thanks, what is the Canadian
hip-hop scene like and is there any difference between that
and what’s in USA?
White Lotus: Canada is a lot more laid back, but that
is not saying it is not violent,
We have a very diverse Country, some cities are more urban
than others. Hip hop is alive and well here, if only we
could get music out, without dealing with broke labels.
Wu-International: What do you think of the
Zeitgeist project and which are your favourite songs from
that project?
White Lotus:
My favourite track is
"Men Behind the Curtain", big ups to Tragic Allies, but this
album is like something you need to listen to as a whole,
and not separate it into songs.
This shit will take the dumb def ad blind to school, word is
bond.
Wu-International: Do you share some of the spiritual
and political views of the group on records?
White Lotus: I share a lot of the same spiritual
views, as far as politics go I am not an American, we got a
little more freedom in Canada, but the world is fucked
everywhere right now. Plus Canada is like USA's little
brother, so the LCOB sun me, and put me onto new science.
Wu, Gravediggaz, Sunz of Man, and LCOB are all you need to
listen to, all the youth need to turn out off the radio and
tune into the gods.
Wu-International: Why are you called the White Lotus
or Lotus Chief?
White Lotus: Just variations of my name, I am
White Lotus Chief of the Lotus Clan, but a ot my fam call me
The Chief.
Wu-International: Thanks for those answers, so what’s
next for white lotus, what does the remainder of 2010 and
2011 have in store for you that’s not already covered?
White Lotus:
2010-2011 will have
lots of new music from me an my team.
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Wu-International: Thanks for the answers, any last
words, shout outs etc?
White Lotus:
I would like to shout out
all the people, groups, artists and educators who put me on
to the science & mathematics of life. DKGA, sailing the
ghost ship = perfect balance, love is love. Jordan Maxwell,
Gza, Rza, Wu- Tang, and all the Killa Bees, LCOB, Cypress
Hill, and Psycho Realm, Cosmology, String Theory, Prince
Paul (the hip hop psychiatrist), Kool Keith, DC & Marvel
comics, Buffalo Springfield, Jefferson airplane, Hunter s
Thompson, 5% Nation & Papa Wu, Shaw Brothers, Bruce Lee & IP
Man, People on elevated thoughts, info, Willy Cold, Mosaic,
Nebula, Ominous, Tragic Allies, may the force be with u Purp,
good luck with the new seed. The Lost Tribes of Israel,
Celtic chieftains, DGK, Sacred geometry, Jedi Mind Tricks
'Psycho social album (the title of this shit alone blew my
mind lol), Pascal's triangle, The apocryphal bible & all
religious material featuring some basic truths, Salvador
Dali, Mark Twain, Public Enemy, Fresh Prince, B boys and
graff artists, 1 love to the Voltron crew, LSD, Magic
Mushrooms, weed, Flatland (2007) this movie will help you
all see how stupid this game of life can be and last but not
least , the Beatles, pay attention & homage (watch yellow
submarine high).
Peace and respect to
anyone who is doing something positive with there anger.
Much love to Wu-International, thanx for holding it down for
all the Wu famatics everywhere.
We are the key to unlock the matrix, the 5th dimension is
next ................ P.e.a.c.e. To the gods 100
White Lotus
" music holds us all together " literally " Download enter
the magical mystery chambers and the Wu Tang secret will be
revealed to you. All you need is love so pay homage, That is
today's mathematics.
Catch up with The Lost Children of Babylon
http://lcobproductions.com/
www.myspace.com/thelostchildrenofbabylon
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