How does that affect artists like you who've been on both sides of the spectrum?
For me, it's about my brand. It's important for me to put this record out and to establish in the market place that Pharoahe Monch is an artist with a viable product. On what level that becomes right now, you've yet to see. But, its definitely the fairest shot that I'm getting. The product will be in stores. For example, I liken it to cereal: You can walk down the cereal aisle right now in the supermarket and you see some Common cereal, Jibbs and Mims cereal, Diplomats cereal. And, I think that just coming out, the brand is gonna be put in place better than ever. The Pharoahe cereal has nutrients and vitamins, and the packaging is right. For everybody who might eat fast food twice a week, but on the weekend you want to eat something healthy, Pharoahe cereal is gonna be their "Yo, let me try this sh*t and see how it tastes."We need to get some of those Pharoahe Monch cereal down here then.
[Laughter]You definitely had a lot of offers on the table, but not every artist is that fortunate these days. Would you advise aspiring artists to go the major or independent route?
My thing is, you formulate and shape your style, your vision, the direction. You turn it into music for the people. You're not just turning it over to the first person that says "This is hot, let's put it out." You, as an artist, need to understand who you are, where you wanna go, what you wanna accomplish. Years down the line, that helps you make that choice. Whether it's your own company, or you as an entrepreneur, or Whether you wanna see yourself developed as an artist and marketed on a bigger level than an independent would do...these are decisions that you've got to make while you're still working on your craft. And, if you're meeting with people, and you're getting feedback from people, you wanna align yourself with people that's definitely seeing your vision. Not a hot record, but your vision. People who believe in what you're seeing.You've been known to make some political statements in the past. Which presidential candidate will get your vote in 2008?
I'm undecided. I voted here. I've been discouraged and haven't voted in some elections.Why were you discouraged?
I was just discouraged with politics in general. I don't even participate sometimes. All those years, I participated on a local level and then on a national level. This year, this upcoming election, I want to see how things unfold.Anymore Organized Konfusion albums?
[in a hesitant, sing-song tone] Who knows what the future holds for Organized Konfusion.Anything else you'd like to tell your fans?
I definitely want them to go pick up Desire. Pick up two copies. Moreso than that, I just want to say thanks to my fans because the sh*t was frustrating to me. A lot of fans hit me up and said they were tired of waiting. I just want to thank everybody for being so patient.