Girl in the Corner

Living In Los Angeles, where everyone is a rapper or in a band (Including me) , and being a journalist, it seems that I'm always being asked to attend someone's show at some hole in the wall club somewhere, either for moral support or to conduct an interview. Sometimes my schedule allows me to go, sometimes it doesn't. I'm usually pretty numb to the whole experience but on one particular day I got a message that Graph Nobel was performing in town. I move as fast as I can to secure an interview. While it is true that adding her to the list of people I've interviewed would add some credibility to my career, the whole truth is that I'm a huge fan and I'd just like to meet her. Interview or not. So, how does a jaded music critic turn into a drooling fan? Those of you that have experienced the music of the lovely Toronto native can understand why. In case you haven't had the pleasure, be prepared for an eclectic mix. Equal parts hip-hop, and punk. But honestly you'll be doing yourself a disservice trying categorizing it. Since hooking up with producer Doc (Res, Esthero) in the late 90's they've created some or the most mesmerizing sounds to come out of Canada since... well, you tell me. Anyone that's witnessed one of her shows can attest to that. Sadly, I'm not one of those people. I had already promised to attend another friends show. (When worst come to worst, my people come first.) Thankfully I did get a chance to catch up with her the day after and we talked Black Canadians, industry Rule #4,080, and the luxurious ghetto's of Toronto.

Tell me about growing up in Toronto.

I grew up in different parts of the city. The co-op housing which isn't bad at all in Canada, then my mom separated from my dad and we moved to a new place. Markham. Then one night my neighbor got murdered and we moved out of there to my favorite house in Scarboro, which was the town I was born in. Mike Myers is from there. It's one of the coolest parts of Toronto. Completely multicultural which is what makes Toronto so special and different from everywhere else. No matter what type of person you are, you can always fit in.

How different than, say New York?

Very. Canadians are very different from Americans.

How so?

Toronto is like Europe and New York combined. We're laid back, less aggressive. Pretty socialist for a democratic society. We have a different political mindset than American government and it reflects in the people, especially in Toronto. There is way less of a ghetto. I think our ghettos are far more luxurious than ones in the usa or yugoslavia.

That's funny. "Luxurious" and "Ghetto" usually don't end up in the same sentence.

[laughs] But that's what I love about Americans, no matter what obstacles are set against an individual, you guys seem to have the heart and will to defeat that, politically- black panthers, artistically- hip hop, and what's going on right now in Cali with the mexican community is inspiring to see. I am a first generation Black Canadian and pretty much so is every other Black kid. Which differs from Americans. We do not have the fight Black Americans have had for so long. Our history as North Americans is shorter and most of us Black kids are of West Indian descent. Our parents are all from Jamaica, mine are from Trinidad, Barbados, and Guyana. Black Canadians see themselves as very different from Black Americans but we do share the universal black culture Americans do and include that as a part of our culture too.

That really comes through in the hip hop I hear from there.

Definitely. Which makes it harder for us to really do. We have not created our own urban identity the way Black Americans or Black British have. We have a different history , a new Black identity to mold which we're not quite finished with, we're just getting started we only have one Chocolate City which is where the underground railroad ended in Halifax, and few to no Black reps at the Canadian record labels, however other artists besides myself define the Torontonian sound: Shawn Hewitt, Don Cash, Melanie Durant, K-os, K'naan

When you were younger you were in a rap group, when did you decide you wanted to sing?

Right around the Portishead era, that's what made me start to sing on my recordings. When I was a youth I did musical theater, and when I decided I wanted to be a rapper, I stopped the live theater thing because I didn't think it was cool anymore.

And did you get disenchanted with rapping and start singing again?

I was about to say I never get disenchanted with rapping, but I did during the Puffy era and post 94, so yes I started to sing more and revisit stuff like Police and Eurythmics. I started to get into punk rock because the history of it is dope, I like the music and found a great parallel between hip hop and punk rock, I think they're like brother and sister, I was the only black person working in a skateboard and snowboard shop 'round my way so I got inspired by other things.

The whole "antiestablishment" thing I think they have in common.

Yes, and early hip hop acts had nowhere else to play but punk clubs, those were the bills they could get on in the early stages, that was probably the early Rick Rubin/Russell collabo, the Run DMC, the LL Cool J. They always talk about playing those bills when they started.... so I've read.

So how'd you end up working with Doc?

He lived close to me and at the time was the only producers house in the vicinity, he was a cool guy, I loved his style of music, so I would just pop by his house watch and listen to everyone recording. One day he let me touch the mic. Rap and sing. He ws surprised after his Esthero thing, and after me being in other groups, going to NYC, working with 88 Keys and Geology. I came back with proven talent, will and drive and I asked him to do a record and he finally said yes, after saying no before when I was in another group. I was now solo and he thought it was better that way too! We've known each other for about 10 years. Been working together about 7, and specifically on my record for about 5.

Speaking of your record you signed a deal with Columbia/Sony Music Canada,no?

I had a co -venture U. S. Canada deal, I was signed out of New York, by a guy named Gerard Babbit and Matt Pinfield of VH1 was my A&R.

Are you still working with them?

No soon after I was signed, Sony dismissed I think hundreds of people. I got signed right as the music industry collapsed. Everybody was gone, and even eventually in Canada the company was presidentless for a while and then Sony got eaten up by BMG, it became a different label and not a good home for me, so we bounced.

Are you looking for a major or do you think you'll be independent from now on?

[Long Pause] Depends. I've been indie for about a year. Music costs money. It's good to have a bank to back it, which is what a record label is, it's just a bank for people who make music. It's good to have access to. Provided you got great management that can bully them back in order to protect the artist and music. It's hard to fund your own career.

You don't have tell me twice about that one.

Especially if you want great players, which is a must, and proper promotion. No point having a record if you can't tell the world you've got one. That costs. Videos, MTV, billboards, adds in magazines somebody rich has to pay for that. Either label, an investor, or drug money.

It wouldn't be hard to sell drugs at the shows

[Laughs]

Do you have any other artistic outlets like dancing, DJ-ing, painting, basket weaving, etc...

I just wrote a first draft of a musical. I used to paint. I'm going to start drawing again, when I hit the road I am going to start a graphic novel. The music business sucks so much I had to find another love so I wrote the musical, and started reading comics.

So do you see anyone being able to buy a Graph Nobel CD anytime soon?

Hopefully next year. Waiting to do it correctly, when I can tour it well, when I get proper promo, a few more teammates. I want to be able to run it into the ground. I want people to be sick of me. I'd love for it to be that huge!

You don't want to pull a Tom Cruise.

No. I'm not that kind of crazy... or a Scientologist. I just want to do well. I'm writing on as many records as possible, playing out here and there.

Good. Maybe I can finally catch you live.

Yeah, try and make it out. Very nice talking to you. Enjoy the rest of your day.

You too. P

Until the album release you can catch Graph moonlighting on numerous together recordings with G Luv ("Love"- Peace Songs CD), Hawksley Workman ("Smoke Baby"-Lover/Fighter) Tone Masons ("The Throwback") Esthero ("Wikked Lil' Girls") and on " No Cover " when it airs this Spring on CBC television with Ron Sexsmith, the Stills and more.

Lee H. Tillman is a Los Angeles based MC/writer. For more information go to Calogerodean.com

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