“I started MC-ing,writing around 1992 around my early to mid high school days approximately in that hip-hop golden era timeframe when Big Daddy Kane was still somewhat doin his thing, and I was also influenced by that Rakim song:”Mahogany”…(actually was amazed by that song to the point where I copied the verse of that song on a sheet of paper)….then started messing with a group wit a long-time friend of mine. Then in 94′ was part of another group wit a friend on my old block, around that time I was taking it a lil’ more seriously putting together a demo-tape networking at certain events and trying to get our name out at a couple of underground radio stations, as well as gettin my 1st taste of booking studio-time etc., I was always torn between rapping & artwork….so I took a break from my rap group and went to Art School..(graduated with an Associates Degree in illustration)….but I was always dabbling wit the rap and went to a couple of open mics and recording with a few friends in somewhat of a rap-group as well as doing solo stuff hooking up wit another friend and laying down recordings to do my independent thing. I currently rest in Queens, but I rep Brooklyn…(born&raised). My style is lyrical, flow is kinda jazzy at times story-telling with somewhat of alternative subject matter & content, but at the same time relate-able for the masses.
1. Sketch what’s good? How’s things your way?
I’m good man, thanks…….jus tryin to survive & stay positive..
2. We have seen you making appearances on Digital Dynasty for almost a decade. How did you first get involved with the mixtape series?
I got on the mixtape series thru my boy Tha Advocate, I’ve known him for years now, we’ve always had a kool business relationship, da homie iz always on his grind, respect……whatup Advo!..
3. To date, we know you haven’t dropped a solo mixtape or album yet, what’s on the agenda? Anything for 2017?
Yeah, I def got plans for 2017, I do however got an EP out dat I did awhile back….”Tha Sketch Factor” dat I recorded wit my boy Medina, it’s on Cdbaby, but I got a mixtape in the works for 2017, expected to drop around Summer, Im excited about dat.
Get that here- https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sketchbeats
4. Any idea for a title or anything like that?
Yeah I got some title ideas, but nothing etched in stone just yet, but it’ll be a kool & catchy title defining myself as an artist, not really stressin the title, I’m more concentrating on the music, content, lyrics, beats etc., tha quality of material is more my focal point, the title is jus the icing on the cake.
5. A lot of people may not know, but you got your acting in Tha Advocate’s “Best Friend” music video. Youre role was very believable. What was it like to play that role?
Thanx man I appreciate dat, that was a great experience, I enjoyed doin dat alot, got a chance to get my Al Pachino on…..lol, I’m not gonna front…I was kinda nervous at 1st but once it was lights,camera,action….I was comfortable, it felt natural transforming myself in a role of a dude dat was bad,sinister,decietful etc., To me acting is a form of art, I got natural artistic ability in my DNA so I felt confident dat I could pull it off, I was fortunate to get the opportunity, I’d be open-minded to fuck wit some acting in the future as well.
6. Out of all the songs you have done to date, which is your favorite and why?
Aw man, dats kind of a tough one…..I liked “Rays of the Summer” dat was on the latest Digital Dynasty mixtape, this otha joint “Persevere”, “Sunbeam”, I did a joint awhile back I believe was called “Storytellin”…I got some good feedback from dat song…I tell stories sometimes in my raps, so it felt good to get good feedback from dat song, I got a handful of joints dat I put out, and some I didn’t yet, oh yeah…”So Hard” was a joint I liked too….I don’t know if I have a favorite song….I’m always excited off of what I’m gonna write nex, sorta like wit my artwork.
LISTEN TO SO HARD HERE — http://www.thaadvocate.com/songs/soohard.mp3
7. Outside of music we know you have an Associates Degree in illustration. What avenues are you pursuing when it comes to your art?
Yeah I got a degree in Illustration, well since I graduated I’ve done some freelance work, did some animation related stuff which was a great experience, been in a few galleries etc., got some gallery shows comin up in the near future, I would like to do my own independent thing….I like to have full creative control, so I got some ideas in the works.
8. Which type of art lets you paint a picture better, your words on the mic, or your illustrations?
I think both help me paint a picture, I think one compliments the other sometimes….95-100percent of the time both my art & music is based off of me tryin to express myself….what I’m goin thru….how I’m feeling, experiences etc……….Artwork most people would say is my truest calling, even though I get kool feedback wit my music, but there’s times when I go thru moods that the music can express better or exactly what I’m tryin to convey….and other times my artwork would express things I’m tryin to say……my art always paints a picture….but my music paints a picture too….dat basically da definition of my name “sketch”.
9. So you started in the Golden era, back when NYC had the bull by the horns. Now the rap game turned a full 180! How do you feel about today’s hiphop climate?
Well, I’m not really trying to knock the new skool….there’s some good artist out there….especially underground….but of course you got your wack artist out here too….lol….I think because HipHop is gettin older, it has evolutionized….So artists now can get away wit stuff now dat they couldn’t get away wit back then…..and yeah dat hurts da culture…cats rhymin simple or at times not even rhymin…..lol…..Back then, you couldn’t get away wit dat, or some cats now dat might have ghostwriters….not tryin to take a shot at Drake….some of his shit I like….he makes some kool songs, but skill-wise, originality especially…I’m reppin the old skool all day…..I grew up in tha 80’s….so basically I grew up when hip-hop was born in it’s infancy stages growin….eventhough I was a kid growin up too, I feel kinda fortunate growin up round dat time, I was educated well……so I saw hip-hop before it got commercial & global….when it was still underground & raw…..then the late 80’s goin into the 90’s golden era-time, when I started fuckin wit writin,rhymin…I started studying cats dat are now considered legends so artistically I feel fortunate to learn around dat time…..Slick Rick,Puba & Brand Nubians,Big Daddy Kane,Rakim,Gangstarr,Nas even Eminem….even a whole bunch of artists before them!…..Growin up I use to be anticipating how this or that MC was gonna spit or what they had to say….now? Im not dat excited…maybe cuz the bar was much higher back then, maybe now since I know how to rhyme….some cats jus don’t impress me like when I was younger….I jus think now….there should be more of a balance…..Kool…have your ABC mumble rapper sayin tha typical shit…..but at the same time, give an opportunity to da rapper dats lyrical,original,on some different shit….give him da same amount of spins on da radio, da same amount of opportunities for him to make a living off his craft dat da typical rapper gets…and hip-hop would be better.
10. Any new era artists that catch your ear?
I like J.Cole….I really neva listened to his catalog but some of his shit I heard in a car one time….I felt it was good…some of Drakes shit is kool…I like how he rides a beat sometimes….I neva really listened to Kendrick Lamar but some of his shit I heard was kool….there was a cat named Ol’ Droog dat I thought was good….cats was sayin he sounds like Nas….haven’t heard anything from Droog in da hottest minute though….I really can’t remember anybody else comin to mind right now…so I basically listen to Ol Skool….not even really rap….I was listening Old time Reggae,Rocksteady and some old Rock&Roll.
11. How do you feel about Donald Trump as President?
Donald Trump….man..I don’t know where to start…….lol….dats kinda complex……..but at da same time I wasn’t 100percent agreeable wit Hillary either…..lol……..I plead the 5th man…..lol, I’m not too deep in da politics, but I definitely like gettin educated on what’s goin on & up on politics,current events etc.
12. Back to you and your craft. Can you give us some insight on what exactly you want to put together as your latest project and when you think you would drop it? Any producers or features?
Id like to put a solid album out…like 25 tracks deep….but nowadays a mixtape is jus as kool so I’m aiming for that first….the beats are more instrumental production….but I’m open for dope producers….I’m kinda picky wit da beats though….I feel you gotta be at times, I can basically rhyme over any dope beat…but there’s times when I feel not every beat is tailor made for the type of artist I am….but yeah I’m open-minded for producers.
13. It was good chopping it up with you and we look forward to hearing more from you homie. The floor is yours, let the world know where to catch up with you on social media or the streets!
Thanx man….good lookin out….support dat EP “Tha Sketch Factor”- Sketch Architec lookout for more EP’s I may put out on there as well….check my artwork on Facebook as well as Instagram…..check some of my joints on Advo’s Digital Dynasty series as well as some more shit on future Digital Dynasty volumes….and stay-tuned for my mixtape droppin around summer 2017…..thanx for politikin wit me on this interview……OnE..
Connect with me here- https://www.facebook.com/Sketch-Architec-116326951779261/