Thavius Beck Interview

Thavius Beck is an electronic musician, producer, MC, saxophone/bass guitar player, and a certified trainer of Ableton Live.

Hello my name is…Thavius Beck

I was raised in…Richmond, California and Minneapolis, Minnesota

The reason that you’re reading about me is…because of my awesome afro... and because I make music, and teach others how to make music as well

Right now I’m working on…two different solo albums, a project called Black Electro, and a few commercials

But I’d rather be…Having sex with my ex-love

My most prized possessions are… My laptop, my launchpad, and my headphones

But I’d give it all away for…a tenor saxophone

The first thing I do in the morning is… wake up

The last thing I do at night is…get high while making music

My momma always said…stop being lazy, and then she'd say I was a genius

I love it when people…enjoy their life

I hate it when people…cause you to enjoy your own life less

If you ever see me walking down the street…feel free to say whats up and burn one withcha boy!

My most notable run-in with the law…had more of these than I care to remember... I guess getting arrested for weed possession while on tour with Saul Williams the day of our show in Washington D.C. opening up for Talib Kwali was pretty notable

If I had to say sorry it would be because…if i had to say sorry it would have something to do with me breaking someone's heart

I get real aggro when…things take longer than they should for no reason

The last time I swore I’d never drink was after a night of…i've never sworn I'd stop drinking. I love beer, vodka, and absinthe

Future projects and plans…two new solo records, black electro, remixes, music for commercials/film, and teaching/private lessons.

And before I leave I’d like to give a shout out to…Me. Big ups to me. Tell your friends about me so I can play in Barcelona more!!

TOP 5 DEAD OR ALIVE: KRS-One

Like Scarface, KRS-One appears on the lists of several rappers of note. The challenge of getting his Top 5 proved to be more challenging than anybody imagined. Still, journalist Phalary Long managed to extract some of the Blast Master’s favorite artists and why he doesn’t include the “dead” in his Top 5. His list may seem odd, he’s got the experience and the gall to back every word he says.
KRS-One: I don’t rate dead rappers. I think that’s unfair. Actually, I think it’s a disservice when the number one rapper is a dead rapper. Like when everyone says Tupac is the best rapper. Tupac wouldn’t say he was the best rapper and he wasn’t. Biggie would never say he was the dopest emcee. We used to battle Biggie all day and all night in Brooklyn in SOB’s, in the Palladium, no. No way, no how. Biggie is an icon in the culture because of his contribution. He had his own unique style. That alone gives you points, originality.
Oh, you can win with that off bat but when you say the best, well the best are not really heard. They’re not really heard, like Supernatural. I can’t even say [my Top 5] because I’m arrogant. I think everybody is wack. But then again, I clean that up by saying, I think we all have talent, we can’t be rated. I don’t know how to rate emcees because everybody got there place. If you don’t have your place, you’re not even on the list.
So those that have their place, I could never compete with Kool Keith. If you put me and Kool Keith in a battle, we would cancel each other out. I be coming with lyrical and he would put on a Elvis wig and be Kool Keith or me and Biz, we can go on for days, Biz would not battle me with lyrics, he’s going to start doing the dance and get the crowd wild, you may lose a battle messing with Biz, doing that dance, and he never spit a lyric, but Biz come out and be like, “I’m the emizza-k…” and you did all these lyrics and the crowd is giving it to Biz.
Don’t get on the stage with Doug E. Fresh and think you’re going to battle because he’s not going to say no rhymes. He’s going to be Doug E. Fresh. Rakim don’t battle but let him step on a stage. Emcees are going to be like, “Oh God.” With KRS, I’m in my own class as well. I don’t know anybody really comparing.

KRS-One took a moment to challenge the youth that also strive for greatness.

KRS-One: I will say this, I want young people, to look down on me, don’t look up to me. Too many young people praise me too much. They shouldn’t because if you keep praising KRS, the culture don’t go nowhere. I’m the old teacher. I will bust you’re a**, no doubt but I’m the standard. You’re standing on me. You’re not supposed to be looking up, I’m not the ceiling because you’ll be like, “I’ll never be KRS, I’ll never be like that. I’ll never be… no.” You’re supposed to look at me, like damn, that’s the mountain that I got to climb. Ok, I’m going to climb it. When you climb it, your skills get better and better.