Last Updated on Wednesday, 01 June 2005 00:00 Written by windwalker Wednesday, 01 June 2005 00:00

Interviews - Wuforever.com Conducted Interviews

Wuforever.com Presents: Anthai from 71RAW Interview (June 2005)

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(Listen and download his music at: soundclick.com
Purchase his Anthai Presents The Revival Remix CD and 71Raw Project at Chambermusik Store )

>	So to everyone that don't know who 71Raw is, tell 'em how you started and who you are?

71RAW CONSIST OF MARTIAL ART, BROKEN TONGUE, & MYSELF ANTHAI DA PROTAGONIST. THERE ARE ALSO 71RAW FAM LIKE MADD DATA, SOUL THERAPIST, & MICWILLY.

I FIRST MET MADD DATA OVER 10YRS AGO AND WE LINKED UP FROM DA DEGREE OF DA HIP-HOP CULTURE. HE WAS INTO B-BOYING AND I WAS JUST MCING AT THAT PERIOD. HE LED ME TO MARTIAL ART & BROKEN TONGUE WHO GREW UP TOGETHER IN WESTMINSTER. I CAN RECALL THE TIME WHEN WE USED TO MEET UP AT OUR ORIGINAL DJ JP DA MAYOR'S CRIB AND CHILL, LISTENING TO THE HIP-HOP JOINTS HE SPUN. THAT WAS WHERE I'VE LEARNED HOW TO MIX ON THE TABLES. AT THE TIME, I WASN'T EVEN INTO PRODUCING YET, I WAS STILL SHARPING MY TONGUE. WE WAS NEVER SERIOUS ABOUT COMING OUT WITH AN ALBUM OR ANYTHING, WE WERE INTO GOING TO HOUSE PARTIES AND GETTING ON THE MICS AND JUST FUCKED AROUND. BUT LATER AROUND 98' WHEN HIP-HOP WAS TAKING AWAY AND THE JUNK MUSIC WAS GETTIN' IT'S RECOGNITION, SO WE DECIDED THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY BUT TO CREATE HIP-HOP OURSELVES.

>	What's the science behind your name 'Anthai: da protagonist of mankind' and behind your group name 71Raw?

THE NAME ANTHAI DERIVED FROM MY VIETNAMESE LAST NAME "THAI". MY COUSIN CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF ADDING MY LAST NAME THAI INTO ANTI, THAT WAS HOW IT WAS SPELLED ORIGINALLY. SO BASICALLY ANTHAI DA PROTAGONIST IS I'M ANTHAI ALL THE NEGATIVITY AND PROTAGONIST IS I'M THE HERO TO BRING BACK THE POSITIVITY IN HIP-HOP. I CAME UP WITH THE GROUP NAME 71RAW, I JUST TOOK OUT THE "4" FROM OUR AREA CODE (714) AND PUT IN "RAW" AS A REPLACEMENT. WE ALWAYS WANT TO REPRESENT WHERE WE'RE FROM AND THERE'S NO BETTER WAY THAN USING OUR AREA CODE.

>	I heard you are comin' with a second album in 2006 How would you compare that with the first? Any guests yet?

SO FAR WE'VE LACED DOWN ABOUT A GOOD 6 SONGS. COMPARE IT TO THE FIRST ALBUM, WELL THE BEATS ARE MORE BANGING, AND THE LYRICS AND ENERGY IS GREATER OF COURSE. IT'S GONNA BE SHARPER AND ON TOP OF THAT IT FEATURES MY PEOPLE FROM "NORTHSTAR".

>	Nowadays there are so many rap groups going solo or presenting new artists, will this also happen to 71Raw?

I'M ALWAYS IN FOCUS ON NEW PROJECTS, WHETHER IT'S A NEW GROUP ALBUM OR SOLO JOINTS. I'LL PROBABLY COME THROUGH WITH A SOLO ALBUM FIRST, BUT I RATHER HAVE BROKEN TONGUE OR MARTIAL ART COME OUT BEFORE ME AND HAVE ME JUST LACE DOWN THE BEATS.

>	Former killa bees have disappeared after that RZA left them, but you haven’t really been like RZA's group, do you feel like you are free to release whatever music you want?

WE'RE DOING THIS HIP-HOP THING, 71RAW STYLE. KEEPING IT RAW, STRAIGHT HIP-HOP...SO FOSHO, WE RELEASE WHATEVER THAT'LL TAKE HIP-HOP BACK TO THE ESSENCE, NO QUESTION!

>	The next album is named “Northstar presents..” does this means that Northstar will be on many songs?

WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING ON MAKING MORE JOINTS WITH MY PEOPLE (NORTHSTAR) RIGHT NOW.

>	Have you and the Northstar ever thought of making an collaboration album?

I SPOKE TO CHRIST BEARER ABOUT A COLLABORATIVE ALBUM NORTHSTAR/71RAW, HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE ILL BUT RIGHT NOW U KNOW NORTHSTAR IS WORKING ON THEIR ALBUM AND WE'RE WORKING ON OUR JOINTS. IF ANYTHING, IT WOULD HAPPEN LATER.

>	After seeing a video with Freemurda and Anthai, will he be on your album or will you guys be on his album?

FREEMURDA WAS OVER HERE IN CALI TO RECORD, THEY'RE ALREADY SET AND DONE. WE DID NOT PUT A TRACK DOWN, HE'S BACK IN DA EAST COAST. BUT ABOUT THAT VIDEO CLIP, HE WANTED TO REACH OUT TO THE INTERNET FANS AND SHOW LOVE.

>	I'd like to know what your objective is? We all know the hip-hop culture is being milked by the pop scene nowadays and all, so I'm saying... what's your purpose? What are you trying to accomplish with your music / presence in the belly of hip-hop?

I BELIEVE HIP-HOP IS TRULY SIGNIFICANT AND PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVE WITH IT SHOULD ELONGATE IT AND KEEP IT MOVING. I PERSONALLY WANT TO BE A PART OF THE HIP-HOP MOVEMENT, ESPECIALLY BEING ASIAN...DOING SO LIKE YAO MING IN THE NBA BUT JUST MORE AGGRESSIVE. HAHA FOSHO! I BELIEVE HIP-HOP IS TRULY SIGNIFICANT AND PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVE WITH IT SHOULD ELONGATE IT AND KEEP IT MOVING. I PERSONALLY WANT TO BE A PART OF THE HIP-HOP MOVEMENT, ESPECIALLY
BEING ASIAN...DOING SO LIKE YAO MING IN THE NBA BUT JUST MORE AGGRESSIVE. HAHA FOSHO!

>	Regarding: Anthai Freestyle on the radio (on myspace.com) : The part where there is classical music in the back, with beat, some of the sickest shit I ever heard. How did the beat and melody combination come into mind??? i.e. how did it happen???

I'M NOT SURE IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FREESTYLE WITH CHRIST BEARER OR JUST MY SOLO FREESTYLE I HAD ON THERE, BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE BACKGROUND BEAT I FREESTYLED W/ CHRIST IS CALLED "THE MASTER & THE STUDENT" I WAS CRATE DIGGIN ONE NIGHT AND CAME UP ON SOME ILL MOVIE TYPE SAMPLE SO I HAD TO LACE IT DOWN. NOW IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE BEAT I DID A SOLO FREESTYLE, THAT BEAT IS FROM THE "71RAW PROJECT" ALBUM CALLED "300 BATTLES" I MADE THAT BEAT YEARS AGO, BACK WHEN I WAS PRODUCING IN THE GARAGE THAT'S WHY THERE'S THAT REALLY GRIMMY FEEL TO IT.

>	How did you start off making beats? what tools did you use?

MY HOMEBOY RECWORM WHO I GREW UP WITH SINCE GRADE SCHOOL WAS THE FIRST PERSON I KNEW THAT WAS INTO PRODUCING BEATS. HE WAS UTILIZING THE ZOOM ST-224, I WAS LIKE WORD! GET ME ON THIS, SO HE WAS THE ONE THAT SHOWED ME THE ROPES ON USING THAT MACHINE. JP DA MAYOR & I STARTED TO PRODUCE BEATS HERE AND THERE. I MADE A LOT OF MY BEATS FROM THAT ZOOM ST-224 MOST OF THE BEATS FROM THE "ANTHAI PRESENTS...THE REVIVAL" REMIX ALBUM CAME FROM THAT. I TRULY BELIEVE THAT IT'S NOT WHAT U GOT BUT WHAT U CAN MAKE OUT OF. I BASICALLY MADE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING.

>	When did you first get involved in the rap scene...and why? (is there a message you want to spread?)

I GOT INTO MCING WHEN THERE WAS THIS THING CALLED "THE ROLL CALL" RAN BY THE BAKA BOYZ ON POWER 106 FM. I WAS YOUNG, LISTENING TO LOCAL MCS CALL IN AND JUST BATTLE OVER THE PHONE. SO THAT WAS LIKE '92. MY MESSAGE WHEN I'M DEALING WITH HIP-HOP IS TO ALWAYS SPREAD KNOWLEDGE AND AS WELL KEEP IT LYRICAL ON THE MCING TIP.

>	How did you get together with the killa beez?...how is it working with them?

IT WAS MARTIAL ART, MIC WILLY, & MYSELF AT THE GZA SHOW IN LA AND I RAN INTO NORTHSTAR OUTSIDE OF THE VENUE. I CAME UP TO THEM AND GAVE MY RESPECT AND HANDED THE 71RAW DEMO CD. ABOUT A WEEK LATER CHRIST BEARER CALLED ME UP AND FO SHO SHO FROM THERE. WORKING IN THE STUDIO U KNOW U GOT KATS BLAZING & DRINKING SO IT'S ALWAYS UNEXPECTED WHEN SHIT HAPPENS. A LOT OF ENERGY AND YELLING, RAW SHIT.

>	If you can....explain your "process" in making beats and writing the lyrics (do you have a formula)?

WHEN I PRODUCE A BEAT, MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE TO FINISH IT ON THE SPOT,NO MATTER IF IT TAKES ME ONE HOUR OR 3 HOURS. I CRATE DIG LIKE ON SOME MADLIB TYPE SHIT. WRITING RHYMES, WELL I CAN ALWAYS COME BACK AND FINISH IT. WRITING RHYMES IS LIKE WRITING MY JOURNAL. I GOT MADD RHYMES WAITING TO BE LACED.

>	Who has influenced u the most, production and lyrically speaking....and what is your main goal through hip hop?

MY INFLUENCES CAME FROM LOCAL MCS AND THEN U KNOW OF COURSE THE ENTIRE WU-TANG AND WU-FAM. PRODUCTION, RZA WAS AND STILL THE MAN THAT ON IT.

>	71raw bringin straight up new/old skool 93 Wu/Anthai tracks.... I heard you grew up listening to wu-fam. What's your favorite wu(affiliated) beat/track and favorite MC?

YO TO PICK MY FAVORITE WU BEAT OR MY FAVORITE WU MC, IS IMPOSSIBLE. THERE ARE TOO MANY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT ME AND MY PEOPLE BE BUMPING COMING FROM THE WU CAMP. WE PLAY A LOT OF ANYTHING THAT'S RELATED TO SUNZ OF MAN, KILLARMY, WEST COAST KILLA BEEZ, & THE REST OF THE FAM.

>	How long do you normally spend making a beat before it's finished? how long with lyrics?

I USUALLY TAKE ABOUT ONE HOUR OR TWO TO MAKE A BEAT. MY FASTEST TIME WAS 5MINS. MY BOY INFRA RED WAS THERE TO WITNESS THAT. IT DEPENDS ON WHAT KIND OF BEATS AND ALSO DIGGIN FOR THE RIGHT SOUND TAKES TIME. WRITING RHYMES CAN TAKE ME 30MINS OR DAYS. DEPENDING ON THE MOOD.

>	Do you have any lyrical inspirations?

I RESPECT LYRICISTS LIKE KRS, CHINO XL, GZA, RZA, BOOGIEMONSTERS, COMMON, BOOTCAMP, RAKIM, NAS,
AND DA LIST GOES ON.

>	If your rap was a tree, what kind of tree would it be, and where would it stand in the jungles of rap?

WHAT KIND OF TREE? I DON'T KNOW ABOUT TREES BUT IT WOULD BE THE HERB SHIT, TAKES U TO ANOTHER WORLD. IT WOULD STAND NEXT TO THE REST OF THE MCS WHO HAS RESPECT FOR THE CULTURE.

>	What are your longtime goals, i.e.: distribution, marketing, collabos, etc?

I'M FOCUSING ON A GOOD DISTRIBUTION COMPANY TO GET OUR JOINTS OUT. COLLABORATION, I'M DOWN TO WORK WITH ANYONE THAT GOT THE RIGHT TYPE OF MIND STATE AND WHO ARE FAMISH TO BUILD.

>	Who were you the most exited to meet outta the killa beez?

IT WAS AN HONOR TO MEET WITH THE RZA AT 36CHAMBER WEST. I RESPECT HIS WORK AND HE ALWAYS GOT SOME WORK TO DO U KNOW.

>	Would you consider going mainstream at this point in time, or any time in the future?

BELIEVE ME, A LOT OF MCS ARE MAINSTREAM, BUT THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THEY'RE WACK OR
THEY'VE CROSSED OVER. TO ME, MAINSTREAM ARTISTS ARE THE ONES U CAN COP THEIR ALBUMS AT LOCAL STORES
LIKE TOWER RECORDS OR VIRGIN MEGA STORES. OF COURSE I WANT MY ALBUMS HITTING AT ALL STORES,
AS LONG MY ALBUM IS HIP-HOP TO THE FULLEST, THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANYTHING DISCOURAGEMENT.

>	What Wu-tang album are you waiting for to be released?

WAITING FOR NORTHSTAR'S ALBUM "NORTHERN LIGHTS" SHIT IS GONNA BE HOT. I'M GONNA TRY TO HOPE ON THAT ALBUM IS THERE'S ROOM.

>	What's your life like in Cali, what are your hobbies besides hip-hop?

RIGHT NOW I AIN'T WORKING ON ANYTHING BESIDES HIP-HOP AND GETTING 71RAW'S NAME OUT. LIFE
IN CALI IS GREAT, WEATHER IS STRAIGHT AND THE BIRDS ARE STRAIGHT.

>	From all commercial artists out there, any you like?

COMMERCIAL RAP ARTISTS? U MEAN THE RAPPERS ON THE RADIO THAT GETS PLAYED NUMEROUS OF TIMES? I'M FEELING THE GAME, HE'S THE RAWEST KAT ON THE COMMERCIAL RADIO RIGHT NOW. HE GOT THAT NWA TYPE RAP.

>	Where do you see Wu-tang and 71raw in the next 5 years?

WELL U KNOW THE WU ARE ALREADY LARGE AND DOING THEIR THING! AS FOR 71RAW, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MORE OF OUR ALBUMS OUT AND DOING MORE SHOWS AROUND THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN EUROPE SINCE A LOT OF HEADS ARE TELLING ME AND OH YEA CANADA ALSO.

>	What is your view on filesharing? Do you think tools like Napster, Kazza, Soulseek, etc... has helped to expose 71raw and other Wu-tang songs to more people or it has hurt album sales for Wu? What's your opinion on this topic?

FILESHARING IS GOOD TO CHECK OUT TO SEE WHETHER IF IT'S WORTH BUYING OR NOT, BUT IF U JUST DOWNLOAD THE ENTIRE ALBUM AND NOT EVEN GO OUT AND PURCHASE OR SUPPORT THEN IT CAN SLOW DOWN YOUR HIP-HOP MCS AND GROUP. I USUALLY BUY MY SHIT ON VINYL. FILESHARING CAN SPREAD THE NAMES OUT SO IT'S ALSO BENEFICIAL TO THE GROUP TRYING TO COME UP.

>	If you really like a sample, but don't want to pay for it, do you use it in a beat and just don't release it to the public?

YEA, FO SHO...GOTTA KEEP IT THORO.

>	How far ahead do you schedule interviews?

I DO IT WHEN IT'S THE RIGHT TIME.

>	What albums have you liked recently?

THIS ALBUM ISN'T RECENT ANYMORE BUT PROBABLY THE LAST ALBUM I FELT IN AWHILE WOULD BE IMMORTAL TECH'S ALBUM VOL.2 I'M INTO POLITICAL ALBUMS LIKE THAT AND STRAIGHT UP RAW.

>	What are you favorite 5 albums?

FAVORITE 5? DAMN! I CAN'T PUT IT OUT LIKE THAT, BUT ALL WU SHIT, KRS'S SHIT, BOOGIEMONSTER'S ALBUMS, COMMON'S JOINTS, RAS KASS'S FIRST ALBUM, AND OF COURSE THE NEXT 71RAW ALBUM. THERE'S MUCH MORE THOUGH.

>	When did you first fall in love with Hip-Hop?

I WAS ALWAYS IN TUNE TO HIP-HOP MUSIC BUT FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH HIP-HOP WOULD PROBABLY WHEN
I FIRST STARTED TO MC AROUND EARLY '93.

>	Where do you see Hip-Hop, 5 years from now?

MORE MC'S ACTING, MORE CLOTHING LINES, CLASSIC ALBUMS, BASCIALLY HIP-HOP CAN ONLY GET BIGGER, FULL SPEED AHEAD!

>	What makes you DIFFERENT from the other Emcee's that are trying to come up in the Hip-Hop game, today?

FIRST AND FOREMOST BEING ASIAN ISN'T THE NORM IN THE HIP-HOP CULTURE. I KNOW THERE ARE SOME ASIAN KATS WHO ARE BRINGING HIP-HOP BUT WE NEED MORE U KNOW, BECAUSE I KNOW THE ASIAN COMMUNITIES HAS A LOT TO TALK ABOUT. MANY FANS WOULD HEAR MORE ABOUT WHERE WE CAME FROM AND HOW OUR LIFESTYLE IS THE SAME LIKE OTHER PEOPLE, U KNOW U GOT THE RICH AND THE POOR, HAVES AND HAVE NOT. OUR GENERATION GREW UP DURING THE WAR AND MC'S LIKE MYSELF AND MANY OTHERS GOT SUBJECTS TO SPEAK ON.

>	Do you only rap over your own beats or do you like rapping over other peoples beats?

BESIDES MY BEATS, I'VE RHYMED OVER MY MAN JP DA MAYOR'S BEAT, AND ONE FROM MARTIAL ART'S BEAT WHICH WILL BE ON THE NEXT ALBUM...HE MADE THAT SHIT ABOUT 4 YRS AGO AND NOW WE THINK IT'S THE RIGHT TIME TO BRING IT OUT TO THE HIP-HOP WORLD.

>	I know u have an album coming out with 71raw this Feb....can you show some light on this project and give us a taste of your lead single?

THIS NEXT 71RAW ALBUM IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING ELSE, NOTHING BUT BANGERS AND EVERYTHING IS ON POINT! THE FIRST SINGLE WOULD PROBABLY BE "71WAR". IT'S HARD TO CHOOSE BUT THAT MIGHT BE THE FIRST EARTHQUAKE THAT'LL ROCK THE NATION.

(Huge Thanks to Anthai and big props to wuforever.com members for asking great questions )