Armageddon Interview

  Armageddon Interview on Learning the Ropes of the Rap Game, the U.S. Presidential Election and More.

ARMAGEDDON
(November, 2008)

A couple of months ago I received an email from Armageddon, formerly of the Terror Squad. He had stumbled upon RapFundamentals.com and was curious about the uniqueness of the e-book. I was still in Peru at the time but I was excited about exchanging ideas with an MC that I spent long hours listening to throughout high school and beyond. We decided to pick up our discussion when I got back to the States.

Once described by Fat Joe as "the deepest lyricist in the group", Armageddon has more than proven his ability as an MC. He has appeared on numerous Gold and Platinum albums including Big Pun's Capital Punishment and Fat Joe's Jealous Ones Still Envy. Armageddon first hit the scene in 1995 as a writer and producer for Fat Joe's freshman album, Jealous Ones Envy and has since made a name for himself in the underground while still receiving much mainstream recognition for various popular hits such as "Take You Home" and "All I Need". More hardcore fans will remember Geddy from records such as Big Pun's "Glamour Life" and "Terror Squadians" which was featured on the Rush Hour Soundtrack. Recalling the lyrics that completed the final verse of "Terror Squadians" not only reminds us of Geddy's controversial tendencies, but also brings me back to '98 if for only a moment...

"...Golden riches, better hold 'em bitches/
Cause we've been robbin' niggas way before/
the translation of Holy Scriptures/
I was Armageddon before the motion picture/
The last nigga to drop his verse and have the globe shiftin'/
My Squad's hard, and far from Puritans/
Robbin' and killin men like we proud to be Americans"

Fast forward to '08 and Geddy is still bringing the heat. He recently remixed Lumidee's "She's Like the Wind" and his new album The Journal  is set to be released in 2009. By leaving the Terror Squad Armageddon has truly taken his future into his own hands. But as you'll read in this interview, don't count out the possibility of future collaborations with some familiar faces.

From talking with Geddy himself I can see that the future looks bright for this naturally talented entrepreneur and I'm more than proud to provide our visitors with his insights. Enjoy the interview.

"People say NY rap is doing bad...I don't think so. NY's underground culture is developing. Cats are taking their careers in their own hands and building fan bases and making money below the radar."
-Armageddon
(Below is a sample of Armageddon's music. Click play once.)

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   Armageddon - Sampler

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TheStateofHipHop: I'm going to preview some of the material from your new album soon and I'm excited to hear it, so let's start with that. Your new album, The Journal  is being released through GeddyMusic.com and it's not only your first solo album, but also your first album since True Story, which featured the #1 Hit, "Lean Back". How does the process of recording a solo album compare to recording a Terror Squad album?
Armageddon: It's a big difference. With a group album you have other people to bounce ideas around with and you only have 1 verse to write since you're sharing the song, and there are certain restrictions like time and content. When recording your own album, there are no restrictions whatsoever and nothing but creative freedom...lol so a person like me almost never gets anything done (at least not on time) cuz I'm always tweaking and experimenting with shit. I can mix the same song 20 different ways until I find the sound I'm looking for.

TSOHH: Lots of people say that the Squad's original members (Prospect, Cuban Link, Triple Seis, Fat Joe, Big Pun, and yourself) were the best TS lineup, with each member being capable of releasing quality solo albums. What members of the original Terror Squad are you still in touch with and should fans expect any collaborations with them or others on your upcoming album?
Armageddon: I talk with Pros [Prospect] here and there and just recently reconnected with Joe. Collabs are always possible...never really discussed it with anyone because its so easy to get done when the time comes. I'll get them both on some joints for you lol.

TSOHH: Joe, Pros and Geddy back on a track? That sounds hot! Fat Joe once described you as "the deepest lyricist in the group". How would you describe Armageddon to someone who has never heard your music?
Armageddon: I always say im "hardcore conscious" haha which is basically a cop out...cuz I don't really know how to describe my sound.

TSOHH: We interviewed Joell Ortiz a while back before he signed with (and subsequently left) Aftermath Records. Being from the Bronx, what do you think of Joell and the current hip-hop scene in New York?
Armageddon: Joell is an MC's MC. Aftermath is a brand that wouldn't know what to do with someone like Ortiz. He's better off on his own, like all the other NY rappers we all know of but don't get to hear much of their music. People seem to think that if you dont have a snap crackle pop song on the radio that you're unsuccessful or insignificant...a lot rappers believe this bullshit too. Depending on how you measure success, it isn't true. People say NY rap is doing bad...I don't think so. NY's underground culture is developing. Cats are taking their careers in their own hands and building fan bases and making money below the radar. Just cuz you dont see it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. So I dont buy that NY rap is doing bad crap.

TSOHH: Alright, well shifting away from NY for a minute, I'm going to throw out the names of three prominent MC's that have been creating a buzz lately with talk of their new or recently released albums; Eminem, Lil' Wayne and Kanye West. What are your thoughts on these three artists respectively?
Armageddon: All three are incredible artists. Each is creative, each is unique and true to self, each makes good music, and each has serious work ethics. Their buzzes are well deserved.

TSOHH: Can you name a few songs or albums you've been listening to lately?
Armageddon: I'm a rapper and I can't listen to rap 24/7!!! So I bump all kinds of music. It helps keep me balanced and creative. I listen for all kinds of reasons though. I analyze mixing techniques, musical arrangements, keys and chords used. I have everything from rock, trance, r&b, punk, anything with a dope sound to it. Right now I have Santagold in heavy rotation, The Police and Gary Wright. Their keyboard and drum sounds are crazy. I even listen to Beethoven and Bach when I want to relax and read.

TSOHH: I hear that, I always advise young cats to vary the genres of music they listen to. As far as hip hop, though, what do you think about the state of hip hop in the U.S. and worldwide moving into 2009?
Armageddon: Hip Hop is as strong as it ever was. When things get bad, we just find new ways to express ourselves. The state of hip hop is pretty much in a constant change. People tend to think its in a bad state because its changed from what they were used to. Once it shifts out of their comfort zone then all of a sudden "something's wrong", "Hip Hop is dying"...people have to learn to grow and change with everything else. Hip Hip is just as exciting as it was yesteryear.

TSOHH: Do you plan on voting in this upcoming presidential election? Are you leaning towards a candidate?
Armageddon: At first, no...I don't care much for politics, but I do like marketing and advertising. So I started looking at it for what it is and crediting candidates for their strategies and not their empty promises. Now its all interesting shit to me. They're just trying to sell themselves to the public. McCain is using sex to sell himself with the Palin chick and Obama is the face of change lol..it's entertainment. I'm thinking about voting now...though its already been proven that they can tamper with votes and get away with it. I might entertain it anyway. If I do, I'll go Barak of course.

TSOHH: It's been 15 years since Public Enemy dropped "Fight The Power" and 12 years since Tupac Shakur advocated the creation of a new political party to help the hip hop community. Do you think hip hop has lost its political roots?
Armageddon: Again, I don't think Hip Hop has lost anything. It's the people. It's the information we're given. Believe me, there are people out there still doing what 'Pac and PE started. It's just not the trend right now. Sad but true.

TSOHH: You have undoubtedly come in contact with many aspiring MC's over the years. What is one of the things you've noticed struggling MC's have the most trouble with?
Armageddon: Either staying on topic or not varying their verses enough. If you choose a topic your verses need to be consistent with eachother and the overall topic. But that doesn't mean each verse has to be an imitation of the last. You can vary the verses and still stick to the topic.

TSOHH: You told me previously that while growing up there were no books that helped MC's with their craft. How would you describe the way in which you learned to rhyme?
Armageddon: I'm still learning to rhyme lol. your book proved that! Nah but I started rhyming in the 5th grade. A Just-Ice song and a pad was all I needed. At first you're just so caught up in the fact that you're rapping, you don't really pay attention to the mechanics of it...you just do it. As time goes on, you encounter other rappers and styles and begin to develop your own style. That's how it happened for me. You take what you like about another person's style and try to incorporate it into your style.

I really learned how to rap when I hit High School though. I was still kicking Junior High raps lol. We were all rhyming in the lunchroom one day and it was my go...I started spitting and caught a cat making faces behind my back...basically implying that I was wack! That shit got me so tight that I went home and murdered 20 people on paper haha. I came back the next day and spit with the same crowd in the lunchroom again. This time I unleashed the rap from Hell haha. When I was done, the same cat that said I was wack was going crazy! "Yo that's Armageddon!!! That was Armageddon!", he kept saying. I didn't know what Armageddon meant at the time, it wasn't my name yet. I went home and looked it up...and took on the name Armageddon. Rest in Peace Rassan!! that was the homie that named me basically. He forced me to learn how to rhyme.

TSOHH: You recently reviewed the Rap Fundamentals course which was designed to be the most complete resource available to new rappers. What are your honest opinions of the course and do you see it as being helpful for aspiring rap musicians?
Armageddon: Let me tell you, that book is off the hook. It helped me to look at flow and rhyme schemes in a new light. It will definitely help aspiring artists to impove their flow and get a better understanding of their style and how the industry works. That's my official testimony! Rap Fundamentals is an invaluable tool!

TSOHH: You've gone from aspiring MC to being on a group which released a Gold album to starting your own virtual music label and production company. Can you tell us a little more about your plans for the future?
Armageddon: My number one goal is to complete this freaking album lol. It's been way too long. I'm too much of a perfectionist, and with the way technology is these days, we have way too many options, too many plugins! Seriously though, the plan is to release The Journal via GeddyMusic.com as an ever eveloving album. It will start with 10 songs when you prurchase it and over time it will continue to grow. You pay once and your album keeps growing with songs.

TSOHH: Wow! I didn't know it was going to be like that. That's the most innovative way of releasing music I have yet to hear! Where can fans expect to pick up The Journal and learn more about Armageddon?
Armageddon: The Journal will be available through GeddyMusic.com. We're updating the sites design and content now.

TSOHH: Any final words you want to send out to all the Armageddon fans that have been following your career over the past 10 years?
Armageddon: Yes..thank you for the love and support! My fans are who keep me motivated and on point!!!

>> Enjoy this Armageddon interview? Learn more about The Journal, and find out more about the rapper Armageddon here!