Interview with Unlearn
- Jerica of Futuristic Dreamers
- Feb 26, 2016
- 8 min read
Photo credit goes to LOVE QUEST for snapping this shot of Unlearn
Questions:
1. Is there a story behind you using "Unlearn" as your stage name?
A: I think there’s an interesting story behind any artist’s name that isn’t their “real” name. When I was a kid doing cyphers and MC battles in New York, I use to go by Unorthadox. All of my friend’s Called me UN, so then I shortened it to that to be more mainstream. I still wanted a name that meant something though. Then I was watching one of my favorite movies “Higher Learning” with Omar Epps and Ice Cube and at the end of the movie, in big red letters, it said the word “Unlearn”, and I was like, “Yes, that’s it!” I released my first online mixtape, “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" as UN, but in most of the songs I referred to myself as UnLearn.
Then a few years ago, I was working on my debut album, “The Wake Up Call”, kind of reassessing where my life was and my motivations, and I was listening to the song “The World Is Yours” by Nas, off the Illmatic album. That was the song that made me want to rap to begin with, so I just thought it would be clever for my name to be more like a statement than a name, so I added “The World”, making my full artist name UnLearn The World. This name is a constant reminder that in order for us to make any real change in society, we have to first break the conditioning of this society by changing our thinking and UnLearning the system and it’s influence on us. It gets deep, haha.
2. Do you have any upcoming shows or a tour maybe coming up?
A: Ah man, shows upon shows! I am privileged to say that I am booked for a show at least once a week for the next 4-6 weeks all over the bay area. Just threw my own show in San Francisco with some of my favorite folks on the local scene, that also served as a clothing drive, which is something that’s important to me. I’m grateful for all these opportunities, considering last year around this time, I wasn’t booked for any shows. Last year, I was still thinking of doing pay to play club dates to open up for people, yikes! I’m glad I’m in a space where I’m getting chances to share my music and my personality with people.
In terms of touring, I’m looking to hop on some tours during the summer, but also putting together my own tours in both New York and Southern California in the Spring and Summer, so look out for that. This will be my first time touring in over 10 years. Last time I toured I was on the Lyricist Lounge Tour with Dead Prez, Killah Mike and Big Daddy Kane. Such a great experience to travel and vibe with like minded artists.
3. After listening to your music it seems like your studio sessions are ones to be at - How would you describe your studio sessions?
A: Drug induced sex parties! Hahaha, nah, very far from that. If I had to describe a studio sessions for my music, I would call it Intimate. Usually, it’s just me and the producer or the engineer. I’ve done most of my recording at Boss Studios in San Francisco with my good friend Patty Boss. Over the last 12 years, we’ve developed a solid system on how to record and mix to get the sound I’m looking for. I learned a lot from her, so more recently, I’ve been able to record myself and do some of my own mixing at my home studio. So now, when it’s my own music, it’s just me, the beat and God.
I’ve recently opened up my home studio to collaborate with and develop other artists, so those sessions are always fun. Artists can come through and just vibe. We got foosball, air hockey, Hookah, back yard for grilling food, it’s a chill spot to get those creative energies flowing. They’ll be special moments when I have some dope artists randomly show up and we just rock out and work on something magical. It’s all part of the process.
4. What do you expect your audience or current fans to get from listening to your music?
A: I don’t have expectations, I have intentions. Music is energy. I feel my music puts out a certain energy of true humanity in all of it’s perfect imperfections. The intent is to strive towards the light of positivity, but sometimes that involves turning into dark alley ways. This is therapy in a sense. Any clinical psychologist would tell you that you can’t have a theraputic breakthrough, without uncovering some of the harsh realities that have brought you to where you are. That some times that involves certain language and emotion being conveyed in the music. It’s not always going to be pretty, but being human isn’t always pretty. I wrote a line in a song off my new mixtape where I say, “Only God can judge me, had a really deep talk, chillin’ with Him last night and he Loves my ugly…” I say that to say that there is enough light in our darkness to make us beautiful human beings. I want to awaken people to their humanity by showing them mine.
5. Where do you see yourself in five years from now, still performing?
A: Absolutely, I took a long break from performing anything, so I don’t intend to stop now that the genie is out the bottle again, haha. Performing will evolve and take various forms. Sometimes, it will come in the form of rocking shows and touring, other times, it will come in the way of acting, but it can also come in the form of hosting and putting together my own productions that include other artists. The goal and objective is to be a creator of both content and platforms. As an artist and creative spirit, just rapping can get stale, so it’s important to parlay that social capital into creating engaging platforms for yourself and other like minded individuals to create art.
I want to do high-end urban art, whether it’s music, film or anything else. Let’s have the courage of our convictions to push the envelope and move the culture forward towards positive and radical changes in our society. What’s the purpose of art if it doesn’t inspire change and/or evolution in the soul? Hip Hop culture is in it’s 40’s, my generation and the generation after us have the responsibility of making the transition from expression to execution of a larger social agenda. Hip Hop is the vanguard of the spiritual and political revolution of the world and I want to be part of that in anyway I can.
6. Seems like you tend to perform and hang out with Watzreal, how did you guys connect as local artists?
A: Watzreal is the younger bro! Notice how I said younger and not little, cause he’s a lot taller than me, haha! I respect his ambition and drive to be an artist, it matches and inspires my own. But most importantly, his work ethic. You can say what you want about any artist, but if they don’t work hard for this life and aren’t willing to grind and perhaps struggle, you’ll never get to where you feel you deserve to be. He’s one of the very few artists friends I know that has that will and tenacity. You can visibly see his growth as an artist and a person.
We linked at R.O.T.C (Return Of The Cypher) which is by far the BEST weekly Hip Hop event in the Bay Area. Shout out to Slice IX, Kensho Kuma, Emcee Orukusaki, Emcee Infinite and MC Mars for organizing and having the vision for giving artists a place to chill and create. What I love the most about the Bay Area Hip Hop scene is the sense of community. That’s the environment and energy Watzreal and I are around. The Bay Area Hip Hop scene is a constellation of Stars. We all have our own orbit and solar systems, but we all recognize that we are part of a larger galaxy. For instance, just when you sent me these interview questions, I was on your site, reading your interview with Taste Nate. That’s my homie! We all support one another and respect each other’s craft.
7. I have been promoting and following you for some time now, but for those not following what are they missing out on?
A: First and foremost, I appreciate the continued support, thank you for that. As for what people may be missing out on? Honestly, and this is not a boast, they are missing out on one of the most interesting and compelling human stories in American history. I’m going to say that again. Who I am, and what I have to offer is one of THE MOST compelling stories in American history. Not just Hip Hop, but America as a whole. I’m older than most up and coming artist, so I have a wealth of experience to draw from, a shit-talking mouth and a loud ass voice to tell my story. How I grew up, what I have gone through and what I go through as a man has all the trappings of a classically American story that the rest of the world seems to captivated by; Hate, Parties, Sex, Violence, Drugs and the like, but at the same time Love, Spirituality, Revolution, God, Family, Children and all the things that make life worth living. All of this all rolled up in a Chubby Dominican kid from Washington Heights New York.
The challenge now is to live up to the hype with the way I tell my story. My music, my lyrics, my visuals, etc. they ALL have to be able to eloquently articulate my narrative in a way that keeps people engaged, entertained, educated and inspired. That first involves me being 100% honest with myself and who I am and how I feel. I can’t hold back because what I’m going to say may or may not make someone uncomfortable. Truth is the microphone that God speaks through. I’ve been hearing Him and now it’s time to talk back.
8. Do you remember how we began following each other on Instagram?
A: Not sure. I’m sure Watzreal real has something to do with it. Blame him, haha.
9. I ask all of the local artists I interview, but if I were able to look at your iPhone's playlist or computer's library - What kind of genres or songs would I find?
A: EVERYTHING. I have Salsa Sundays in my house where I just play old Hector Lavoe and Fania records. My homeboy Cooper just got me some Bobby Blue Bland on Vinyl. Lately on my phone, I’ve been listening to a lot of Alina Baraz & Galimatias as well as this Cuban French sister group Ibeyi. Can’t forget Sade. In terms of Hip Hop, beside my local folks, there's some dope stuff on my UnLearn The World Pandora station, not just my music but a batch of new independent artist that are HOT, Skyzoo, Anderson Paak. Run The Jewelz. Overall, I’m inspired by everything.
10. Where can new followers find your music and follow you on your social media sites?
A: My website is about to relaunch soon, so look out for that, unlearntheworld.com. We’re going to be re-releasing my older mix tapes as part of the build up for my forthcoming mix tape, “The New Golden Era”. I’m also going to start a new season of my weekly Podcast Itz All A Hustle, where I talk about current events, politics, spirituality, play some Hip Hop and do interviews. In the meantime, you can check out my new music onSoundcloud.com/unlearntheworld. My new song Star Child just got over 9,000 listens and my song Droppin’ Slang produced by Sticky Ricardo, has been featured on a gang of blogs and internet radio shows. If you want to follow me, check out my Instagram and Twitter both @unlearntheworld. Peace and Blessings to all.
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