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Interview
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"Comfort is the
enemy of progress" are the priceless words that the New Jersey
rapper/producer/A&R, William Cooper aka Booth, has adopted as
his slogan and constant reminder to always keep pushing his way
to the top.
In 2001, the hungry entrepreneur earned a valuable internship at
Steve Rifkind's New York based Loud Records. During this time
Loud was the home to hip-hop giants like Wu-Tang Clan, Big Pun,
Three 6 Mafia, Mobb Deep and Dead Prez. Booth soon found himself
working in Loud's A&R department under Arelene Delvalle. Here is
where the driven artist learned the ins and outs of the record
business and built valuable relationships.
Not missing a beat, William Cooper teamed up with legendary
rapper Tragedy Khadafi (Juice Crew, Capone-N-Noreaga) to A&R and
produce the critically acclaimed "Still Reporting" LP in 2003.
The record featuring the likes of Mobb Deep and more received
overwhelmingly positive reviews and sold over 20,000 records to
date through Solid/25 to Life records.
Knowing that timing is everything, Booth did not hesitate to
show that he was much more than a seasoned producer/A&R. He
began showcasing his mc abilities which led to the formation of
the super group "Black Market Militia". BMM is a five member
group that consists of William Cooper, Tragedy Khadefi and
Wu-Tang clan's own Maccabeez lyricists Killah Priest, Timbo King
(Royal Fam) and Hell Razah (Sunz of Man).
The group went on to release two street mixtapes that were
followed by their worldwide self titled debut LP "Black Market
Militia on Nature Sounds records. The LP received praise from
the hip-world and was considered the best independent release of
2005.
Presently, Cooper has been perfecting his solo début "Beware Of
The Pale Horse" which has taken blood, sweat and more than 3
years to perfect, and it features his Black Market Militia
comrades, 9th Prince (Killarmy), Nature (The Firm), Ill Bill,
Wu-tang's vocalist Blue Raspberry and more, with the album
dropping on the 20th of October, 2009, Wu-International caught
up with the man to find out why he has taken him so long to
release album, Black Market movement, conspiracy theories, Obama
and music.
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 Cooper, how are you today?
William Cooper: I am blessed...Finally getting the
opportunity to give the world a deep look into my heart and
soul... It took a long time; but patience is a virtue... and
magic was made... and you can’t rush magic...
Wu-International: We spoke to you around 2006,
and you were already working on your album, why has it taken
this long to finish it?
William Cooper: This is 3 years of my life on a CD...
I just felt there was no need to rush...I just wanted to
make a record that you could play 10 years from now and
would still fall deeper in love with it with each
listen...too much music is disposable these days...1 or 2
listens and you are done...that isn’t my type of
music...feel me?
Wu-International: Your Album drops this month, how
are you feeling about it?
William Cooper: I feel great...the songs we have
leaked so far have gotten tremendous love and I filmed 3
videos that we are going to start pushing soon...Hip-Hop
needs this record...I actually have a listening session
today in NYC for the magazines, websites, bloggers, radio,
and DVD’s...It’s going to be a real fly event...a real
exclusive invite only event...
Wu-International: On a recent interview Killah Priest
hailed your album and passed you off as the next best thing,
how do you feel about that?
William Cooper: That’s my brother...he is one of the
realest people I know... I spoke to him the other day and I
told him how much that meant to me coming from him...Priest
is a Legend...He has taking Hip-Hop to places no-one has
ever been able to do...its honor to be getting such praise
from such a master of the microphone...Shout out to Killah
Priest...He killed it on 3 songs on “BEWARE OF THE PALE
HORSE”...I hope the world’s ready for what we giving to
them.
Wu-International: Back to the album, what can fans
expect from this release?
William Cooper: We just giving the fans what they
been asking for...that fly Black Market sound that we gave
birth to in 2005...But now I’m taking it to some futuristic
1993 shit.. feel me? I don’t know how many people that are
familiar with the late Milton William Cooper who authored
the book “Behold a Pale Horse”...If not, you got to do your
homework...His book has inspired me to take the blindfold
off of the public and expose the lies people have been sold
for so long...R.I.P. MILTON WILLIAM COOPER...I am going to
continue to do my best to keep his name and message
alive...You can almost say this LP is the audio version of
his classic book...
Wu-International: The guest appearances are
impressive, on last interview you said you done a song with
Trife Da God, any reason why that didn’t make the cut?
William Cooper: Well I did some work with Trife and
it was decided it was going to go on his solo record; it
ended up not making it on his joint...it is a crazy joint
too...I produced the track...might put it on a future
project because its timeless...I just seen Trife the other
day at Ghostface Killah’s album release party...Peace to
Trife...I’m going to talk to him about taking that song out
the vault sometime soon...word up...
Wu-International: its obvious why Tragedy never made
an appearance, was there any other big names that was
supposed to be on the album that never made it?
William Cooper: No, no other big names...I pretty
much got everyone on the record that I wanted to work with
and people that I knew could take this record where it
needed to go...This is a conceptual album, not just a bunch
of songs on a CD, I made sure I got the right people...I’m
very happy with the line-up...and the love every last artist
showed when I reached out...real genuine love.
Wu-International: Is the Stoneface on your album the
same Stoneface from Royal Fam?
William Cooper: No, Stoneface is my good brother from
Philadelphia...He is nice with the mic and he has a real
story to tell...he was shot in the head at point blank range
and survived but unfortunately he is now blind in both
eyes...That’s why they call him Stoneface...The crazy thing
is I still feel he can “see” better than most of y'all out
there...His album “Stone Age” will be coming soon...and you
can vibe out to him on 2 joints on “BEWARE OF THE PALE
HORSE”...
Wu-International: It’s cool to see Ill Bill on a
track, how did that collabo come about?
William Cooper: Well I always liked his style and
subject matter... and he makes some fly ass beats too... he
is a deep brother and a real good dude...I pretty much
reached out to him and he was with it...everyone showed so
much love..And we made a real classic together... BP killed
that beat...y'all gonna go bananas when you hear that
joint...
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Wu-International:
Which are you favorite
songs on the album and why?
William Cooper: My favorites change every couple weeks,
I guess depending on my mood or what’s going on in my life
at the time...right now I’m loving the title track “Beware
of the Pale Horse” feat Ill Bill, “Heaven”, and “Still
Shining” feat Killah Priest...Next week I might have 3
different favorites ...that’s just how it is...feel me
Wu-International:
In reflecting on the recording process, what would you say
was the tone and feel you were aiming for and what type of
balance did you strike with this particular album, musically
speaking?
William Cooper: I wanted to take it back to when
albums where really albums, not just a list of your most
recent joints...I wanted the feel to be very passionate and
really heart felt...and that was definitely
accomplished...Then after we had all of the ingredients, me
and BP arranged and sequenced the record to move seamlessly
from beginning to end...there is never a need to pause or
skip a song...everything is there for a specific
reason...its real scientific...feel me?
Wu-International: What is the difference between this
album and Black Market Militia project?
William Cooper: well this is another chamber of the
Black Market Militia project, this is the William Cooper
chamber...I take it right where Black Market Militia left
off...and I give the listener the opportunity to really step
into my world and vibe out with me...Its everything the fans
have been asking me for...and they won’t be disappointed.
Wu-International: Album is getting out via your label
Gemstarr Regime, any reason why you chose the indie route as
opposed to a major?
William Cooper:
I thought about going
with EMI, and I also had offers from Babygrande...but when
it was said and done It was important for me to own my
Masters...So I just went out and got a worldwide
distribution deal with Traffic Entertainment...The ownership
was very important to me...This is my life we are talking
about and I’m not about to start putting on some hand cuffs
and locking my life up...feel me?
Wu-International: What is the first single and will
you be putting out a video for it?
William Cooper: The unofficial first single was
“Heaven” and you can check out the video now on
YouTube...the director’s cut of that video will be coming
soon...and we are gonna drop the “One Roll Of The Dice”
video any day now...Mad Sci did his thing putting that video
together...I can’t wait to see what he is going to do for
the “Heaven” director’s cut...that will also be coming soon.
Wu-International: Will you be touring, putting out a
mix tape or so on to promote the album?
William Cooper:
Me and Killah Priest are
in the process of lining up a tour right now...He said he
reached out to Cormega and he was down...and I reached out
to 9th Prince of Killarmy and he is also down...that will be
a crazy tour line up...Hopefully we will get something
solidified soon...as far as a mix tape I’m thinking about
dropping a free downloadable mix tape right before the album
drops...but I got to move quick because the album drops Oct
20th.
Wu-International: On our last interview you said
after your album drops you will put out The Ghost & The
Darkness with Bloodsport, is that still the case and how
soon can fans expect this?
William Cooper: That record is definitely going to
happen, I just don’t know how soon...But when it does that
LP is gonna be a problem...me and Bloodsport have an ill
chemistry together...shout out to Bloodsport and Team Gold
Medal.
Wu-International: More interesting, whats happening
with The Eloheem Team that was meant to be you, Starrblazz
and Killah Priest?
William Cooper: Well Starrblazz broke up and haven’t
did songs as a group for a couple years now...but there
seems to still be a lot of love amongst everyone so you
never know what could happen in the future...it would
definitely be a sick group of mc’s
Wu-International: You also had a secret group
Gemstarr Regime which you refused to share with us the
members last time, are you ready to tell us the line up now?
William Cooper: it’s still not time yet...it’s better
to move silent until it’s time to strike...feel me...when
the time is right we can build on that further.
Wu-International: The Black Market Militia album was
an underground classic, how many songs were left out of that
release and what are the chances of those songs ever being
released?
William Cooper: There were probably 6 or 7 joints
that we did that didn’t make the album...but if you dig hard
enough they are out there.
Wu-International: With Tragedy currently locked up
and Hell Razah and priest hardly talking to each other, is
there truly any possibility for another chapter of BMM?
William Cooper: There will be BMM Part II and me and
Priest recently began working on the Album...We got some
great ideas for this record...We gonna take it to the next
level this go around.
Wu-International: What’s your thought on the Priest
and Razah situation and how is your current relationship
with both of them?
William Cooper: Well they are the only two that can
really speak about that because it is between both of
them...I’m not here to add fuel to that fire...I’m here to
tell y’all “BEWARE OF THE PALE HORSE” is dropping Oct 20th
2009...feel me?
Wu-International: Back to the music, you also produce
and A&R, any recent production or project you have
A&R’ed that you would like to share with us?
William Cooper: Well I A&Red my record along with my
Conglomerate Cartel comrade BP... and I produced a
couple joints on this record too... all of my focus
has been aimed at making “BEWARE OF THE PALE HORSE”
a masterpiece...but you will also start seeing my
name on some other releases that will be hitting
stores soon...so keep your eyes open for William
Cooper...feel me?
Wu-International: How do you think you have
evolved as an artist?
William Cooper: The same way I have evolved as a
man...I do my best to never stop learning...It is
always my goal to learn at least one new thing every
single day...Knowledge is priceless...and with
Knowledge you can continuously sharpen your
sword...and never be afraid to enter and create new
chambers...you dig me? |
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Wu-International: If you could change anything about
your career, what would it be?
William Cooper: Nothing so far...every aspect of my
career has been a learning experience...and every
accomplishment has opened more doors and more
challenges...the top of the world is a hard mountain to
climb...and I’m not gonna stop climbing until I get
there...feel me?
Wu-International: Random questions, since you
are into a lot of conspiracy theories and all, what are your
thoughts on Obama?
William Cooper: I think it is great that there is a
bi-racial President in office...and it lets kids of all
races know they could be President when they grow up...but
that’s about it...We could talk about this for days... but
to make a long story short...Do you think this man just
popped out of no-where to save the globe??? Do you think the
powers that be suddenly lost their grip on the World as soon
as Obama took office??? All I’m saying is you have to look
beyond the surface in all aspects of life and never be
afraid to ask questions...and I’m not being Anti-American by
saying that...I am proud to be an American...I’m just not
proud of the many deceitful things I discover on a daily
basis...all I’m saying is take the time to think and don’t
take everything for face value...don’t let others think for
you...There are plenty of great American Patriots out
there... many great people all around the world...you just
need to be able to tell the difference...you know...good vs.
Evil...you need to be able to tell the difference.
Wu-International:
In closing, do you have a personal philosophy about music?
William Cooper:
1- when you
get the opportunity to speak make sure you say something...
2- be true to yourself and make music that you love...make
music for yourself...if you don’t love it unconditionally
how can you expect anyone else to love your music...feel me?
Wu-International:
Anything you would like to add on that has not already been
covered?
William Cooper:
Just that the fans
need to understand how important it is to go out and support
this music...If you love what we are doing then show love
back and purchase the record...all this downloading and
burning copies for all your friends is the cool thing to do
these days but it is really hurting the Artist that are
doing their best to keep putting out quality music...and we
can’t keep dropping these type of records without the
support of the people...We don’t have these Jay-z and Puffy
paper...and we don’t have those type of budgets either ...If
the people want us to keep dropping that raw they need to
support and buy these records so we can get our scans
up...The scans are very important...They are able to open up
some mighty big doors...and that’s what we are attempting to
do...one step at a time.
Wu-International:
Thanks for your time, any shout outs, parting phrases,
to the fans?
William Cooper:
Shout out and
thank you to everyone that was a part of making this record
a reality...It was a lot of hard work...but I am more than
pleased with the final outcome...and if anybody want to
holla at me it is as simple as leaving me a message on
MySpace or on twitter...Reach out to me...Let me know how
y'all feel about the record...”BEWARE OF THE PALE HORSE”
DROPS EVERYWHERE OCTOBER 20TH 2009...SUPPORT GOOD MUSIC...
and shout out to Wu-International.com for showing love
continuously...I thank you guys...peace
Catch up with William Cooper
at
www.myspace.com/williamcooperbmm
Read First Interview
Beware Of The
Pale Horse Interview
<Read Other Interviews> |
