VAST AIRE
OF CANNIBAL OX

UDC: Name? Background? Who you are?

VA: I’m Vast Aire of Cannibal Ox, Atoms Fam, Weather Men, Def Jux and Chocolate Industries. I’m just this ill character that puts out music. People know me. Vast Aire simple, eight letters very clear. Peace to the world.

UDC: Tell us about your newest projects?

VA: I got a project with my man Karniege, if you don’t know who Karniege is, he is like the third member of Cannibal Ox, just unofficially. I got a project with him called “Mighty Joseph”, it’s coming out maybe in another year. I’m working on music with Vordul Megilah. Those are my dogs, my heart, there’s no release date on that because we are in the beginning stages of making a very hot project. Also, I got two projects coming out; one in April 2005 called Best Damn Rap Show. Produced by Dj Mighty My of High and Mighty. Then, in October 2005 I got a solo EP coming out. I’ve just gotten started on so it’s untitled. There’s also an Atoms Fam album, and a Weather Man album. So please stop asking me, we are working on them. We all got solo careers so it takes time. Plus, we don’t want to rush and just throw ten songs together. We’re not like that so if it takes two years that’s what it takes. Peace to Atoms Fam and peace to Weather Men. Forever holding it down. Vast Aire.

UDC: How do you feel the internet has affected your music and the music industry as a whole?

VA: It’s a negative and a positive to it, just like everything else. The negative might be that people are thieves. You used to go to your friends’ house and get the album. Now its just typing a few letters in and you get the album. So that’s a negative because we put a lot of time, effort and hard work into this. That’s like your grandma with a restaurant with the banging plates of yams and collard greens. And we eat it and then dip out the backdoor, we don’t pay her. She puts her hard work in her food, and that’s how we are with our music. That’s the negative effect; on the other hand the positive effect is someone in Idaho knows about me, someone in Dallas knows about me. You got to take the bitter with the sweet, that’s how I feel. It’s a positive and a negative but I think that the positives outweigh the negatives. If a person is going to steal your sh*t their going to steal it, you can’t blame the internet.

UDC: What are the advantages or disadvantages of being independent compared to being signed on a major label?

VA: That’s a funny question that can go either way. Being an independent artist you have the power to do what you want. If Walt Disney signed you, then doing what Walt Disney wants bottom line is what you do because his money is backing you. That’s what a lot of these kids today don’t understand. A label is nothing but a sponsor. Since these labels are putting so much money into you, they want to see a few things come true on their side. Since the money is there artist usually say “I don’t mind wearing my hair like that, I’ll do this and I‘ll do that.”

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I’m old school, I’m trying to bring that raw Hip Hop vibe that’s as close to Jazz as possible. Like we’re in this dark ass club, some of us are sober some are not. The vibe is just hot and we are jamming, that’s what I loved to do. I’ve done big stadiums and I’ve done small clubs. I love performing. It’s like this, if you’re a doctor, are you a doctor because of the money or are you a doctor because you like to heal people? And that’s my position, I love music and I'm here to put music out and to have fun. I don’t like all the headaches that a so called commercial deal will give you, but that doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t take a commercial deal if it fit my standards. That’s what a deal is, it’s what you make. If you paint my house for a bag of chips and we shake on that then that’s the deal. If you say I’ll paint your house for three hundred dollars then that’s the new deal. Just like what happens with record deals, it’s no different. So if your getting f%*ked right now, remember you signed on that.

UDC: Any words of encouragement to artist that are trying to get their name out?

VA: Just work hard and try your best. Someone is going to notice you, someone will put interest into. From there, who knows where sh*t can go. Honestly I’ll tell you its hard work, talent and luck. People don’t bring up luck but luck is real. I know a lot of nasty cats right now, cats that taught me how to rhyme. There not in your face. Bruce Lee is hot but who taught him, that’s how you got to look at sh*t. There’s always something beneath. Just work hard and you’re going to get a following that’s going to respect what you do and that’s going to help get your name out. You got to have good business. Get a lawyer. Get a good lawyer who understands music business and definitely contracts. Don’t get a wet behind the ears lawyer. Also, get a good manager that you can trust. I know everyone wants to make their mom their manager but your mom will screw you too, so get a real manager that knows what there doing and the rest is luck. Get a real DJ, like DJ Cip One.

UDC: Are there any final words you like to express to your audience?

VA: I love ya’ll. Mad respect. Just keep supporting real music. You know I’m going to be here. So keep supporting real sh*t and if you do it will keep coming. Everybody is complaining but everybody is downloading. You’re stealing but you’re mad that there aren’t artist around. The artist isn’t around because his sales aren’t up. You got to have that mutual love. I have people come to my show and their stealing my shirt. Damn, you don’t do stupid sh*t like that. I could have been the ni**a that put you on. Don’t burn bridges. Stay true to yourself. Be real. Do what you think is right. Then work hard. Because it’s all luck in the end. Sometimes your fan’s get b*tchy attitudes. Look I’m not your psychiatrist, I didn’t go to school for none of that. I’m here to entertain. I’m having fun. This is my medicine first, and then it gets to the fans. You just got to do you. You can’t let anyone hold you back. Work hard, when you think you’re the sh*t, you got to work ten times harder. I’m dead up. I’m serious. Ni**as get a little bit of money and… that sh*t will be gone by June. Work hard. I don’t play when it comes to Hip Hop.

VAST AIRE
WWW.VAST-AIRE.COM
DEFINITIVE JUX
WWW.DEFINITIVEJUX.NET

Interviewed By Exodus@undevco.com
Photography By Ean Pegram