New York, NY - 4th Pyramid is part of a small group of Canadian producers/rappers who have been fortunate enough to tour around the world without ever signing any major record deal. If you’ve followed him since the year 2000, when he first released an instrumental album called The Light Is But The Shade Of Darkness, there is no doubt in your mind that his success has come from hard work and the will to make some of the most original hip-hop music coming from Canada. 4th Pyramid has rocked at least 250 live shows which he’s performed with acts such as De la Soul, Wu-Tang Clan and Pharcyde. In the last couple of years, he’s teamed up with producer and secret weapon Simalahk (Bully Records/ Audio Eesearch) and is now ready to release his first full length album Twice as strong. I caught up with 4th Pyramid to talk about the project.

HipHopCanada: What’s up 4th Pyramid? It’s great to see you doing your thing. Good luck with the album. I just want people to know a little bit about where you’re from and how you came up with the name. What does the name 4th Pyramid represent to you?

4th Pyramid: What’s up brother? I was born and raised in Toronto and have been bouncing back and forth for a few years now. After I graduated from college, I lived in the Bronx for a bit and then back in Jersey. The name 4th Pyramid is an extension of my heritage and culture. I’m an Egyptian dude so the pyramids have a symbolic role in that culture. It’s a statement. They’ve got the 3 big pyramids over there and I’m trying to make the 4th pyramid with my music out here.

HipHopCanada: So you are a rapper and producer. What did you get into first?

4th Pyramid: The truth is, I started writing before any of that but I got known as a producer first. I did an instrumental album in 2000 (The Light) and that was my start as far as getting my name out. After that, I started writing again and started putting some singles out with Def Jux which kind of established me as a rapper in the city. Now it’s been all about where I can get work. Whether it’s on the production or the vocal tip, I’m always keeping busy. I also do a lot of engineering. I just do whatever’s clever, you know what I mean?

HipHopCanada: Yeah. It’s important to be diverse and get as much exposure as you can. I checked out your new website at www.4thpyramid.com called the “One Man Gong Show” and saw that you’re really involved in different aspects of the industry. You just finished hosting Scion’s Hypeman Competition over in ATL. What was that like?

4th Pyramid: That was a fun project. I do a lot of stuff for the Scion people in the states because they do great things for the music industry. It was a serious competition with serious judges but myself and Ricky Powell (photographer from NY) were just trying to have a good time with it. It was comedy for me. My music is usually pretty serious but people who know me, know that I like to joke around and have a good time. I just had fun with it and didn’t take it too seriously. I was able to show my personality with that project. It wasn’t really something where I was 4th Pyramid doing that. Comedy was really the only way that this was going to be entertaining to watch and I think it worked out in the end.

HipHopCanada: I saw the show and laughed my ass off. That being said, If you could have anyone as your hype-man, who would it be?

4th Pyramid: Man, I guess I’d go and get someone like Rakim. To me, the best hype-man in the bizz is Spliff Starr. He always gets that crown. He kills it. Him and Busta work so well together. Fat Man Scoop would be dope too. [Laughing] Lil Jon might be a pretty good hype-man to have on your side too.

HipHopCanada: So here’s the question nobody can escape. What’s your comment on the hip-hop scene these days? On your blog, you talk about the decline of lyricism in hip-hop. How do you feel about the content of most hip-hop songs that get wide commercial exposure?

4th Pyramid: It all depends on whom. I’m not one of those guys who is just going to put a blanket statement and say it all sucks, but compared to what I grew up listening to, I feel sorry for the kids. I remember being 13-14 years old, and I was listening to Wu-Tang, Nas, Biggie and artists like that . . . the usual suspects. At that age, you really take the words literally because you don’t really know any better. I won’t lie; I like Lil Wayne and I like some of the guys out. I like Lupe and I respect his lyricism but I’m not that type of guy who is going to go buy a Plies or Rick Ross album. I don’t have anything against the music either. I think the big problem is that the true school guys like myself (I call myself a true school head for lack of better terms) is that we are always trying to recreate the glory years. And that’s just as corny to me also. 1995 was 13 years ago and you just can’t bring that back. I think Kanye is dope and I think Pharell got some hot shit out. I also feel like they aren’t trying to be 95-96, or whatever the fuck you call the golden years; 1988 even. We’re not going to bring that shit back. It’s just not going to happen. On a positive tip, hip-hop is making more money right now!

HipHopCanada: That’s truth my man. You’ve released quite a bit of work but this is your first album. When is Twice As Strong coming out and what do you hope that this project says about you and your work?

4th Pyramid: I’m aiming for a winter release. This is my first album where my focus is really on rapping and my plan is to really push it to the next level. I’m just trying to make music that I like; banging drums and heavy bass lines. Real neck crackers man. I want you to hear the music and say, “this shit feels good right here.” I’m not trying to make it sound like any era in time. Lyrically, I think this is my best work. Every 4 or 5 years, I change my whole character when I’m writing so this project is more up to date with the person I really am. In my early days, I liked a lot of the stuff I was doing. I don’t want to call it aimless rapping, but by the time the record was done, you didn’t necessarily know anything about me on a deep level. I think this album is a lot clearer and it’s just about getting the ideas I want out, with the right production. I’ve been working with this kid out in Montreal, Simalahk, who is down with that whole Audio Research camp. The kid is gifted. He’s like a Jus Blaze or a Kanye. He’s got that type of talent in him and I’m really trying to push his production to the light on this album. He’s one of those guys that I feel didn’t really get the shine he deserved and I think he could eat a lot of people’s food down south and I’ve been there to know that. I want to bring his stuff up to the forefront. I think together, we made some really impressive music.

HipHopCanada: It’s important to respect the work your producer puts into the project. How do you go about finding beats and writing your songs? Do you have a lengthy process or formula or do you just come up with ideas in the studio?

4th Pyramid: Yeah, lately it’s been taking a little longer. Back in the day it was a lot quicker but I think it’s become way more of a tedious process. There’s a lot of music out there and if you aren’t going to spend the time and be meticulous, then who is going to give a fuck? I don’t give a fuck about most new rap to be honest. It’s about really sitting down and making shit that is flawless and if it isn’t, then it doesn’t make the album. It does take a longer time these days but the concept still comes the same way. I might just hear the beat and go in or I might have some shit written and tweak it around that. In the last few years, I put a whole lot more energy into the writing. I also try to produce my own stuff but I like to have a slightly unknown dude help me out. In the past, reviews have been favorable to my own produced stuff but lately my focus has really been on the lyricism.

HipHopCanada: And all the work didn’t come without any pain. I understand that you recently had a pretty serious hip injury which required you to go through a lot of surgery. Are you back to 100% now?

4th Pyramid: Yeah. My hip is still fucked up right now. It only happened a few months ago so it’s been a rough summer. Either way there has been a strange energy vortex that has helped me get through it or I’m hoping for the best.

HipHopCanada: You were still doing your thing even though you were injured. On that down time, you were running your blog of course but you also hosted a party with Sammy Bananas, Simalhlak and the Tasc called 151 Proof. You did the whole party in the wheelchair am I right?

4th Pyramid: I started a monthly event with this dope magazine in NY called Frank 151. They helped me get my foot in the door for a bunch of shit in the last few years. They stepped to me to create a league, with teams in NY and LA. They also have a successful fitted hat line which a lot of emcees have been wearing all over the country. They said they wanted to get something done in Toronto and so my business partner and I came up with ways to make it happen out here. This was the first party that they did outside of America. The concept is to bridge the gap with what’s going on in the scene and what’s going on now. I put so much work out there so when that injury happened, I said “fuck it, I’ll do it in the wheelchair anyways.” The last party was August 7th and Now Magazine put a good review in there about us, so I’m happy about how that is going.

HipHopCanada: So what is next on the plate for 4th Pyramid? Where do you plan on touring and promoting the album?

4th Pyramid: We’re really hoping to go worldwide with this and land our first Canadian tour. I’ve done a lot of US shows but for some reason, Canada has eluded me up until now. The plan is to hit up Europe and Japan and just stay on the road. That’s where I like to be and I really think that we can do it with this project.

HipHopCanada: Do you have any people you’d like to shout-out or projects you’d like to promote?

4th Pyramid: Shout-out to UB Nation (my click, my collective, my spiritual brothers). Simalahk of course. I’ve got a joint coming out on the U God album with WU. I’ve got a few beats on that Theology 3 project right now too.

HipHopCanada: Flash round: 5 questions, one word answers. Ready? What’s the most overused word in Hip-Hop?

4th Pyramid: SWAGGER

HipHopCanada: What are nicest shoes you’ve ever bought?

4th Pyramid: AIR CANADA DUNKS

HipHopCanada: If you could work with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be?

4th Pyramid: JIMMY HENDRIX

HipHopCanada: How would you define your musical style?

4th Pyramid: AWESOME

HipHopCanada: Where does the music come from?

4th Pyramid: THE SOUL

Editor’s note: For more information on 4th Pyramid, check out http://www.4thPyramid.com and http://www.MySpace.com/4thPyramid.

(Interview by King David )

 Interview by King David      

Any rapper will tell you that one of  the harder challenges for anyone trying to make it in the music industry is being everywhere at the same time. In an age where Myspace pages and blogs allow anyone to log on and get to know an artist’s music, the key is to turn as many heads as possible. 

Donny Goines is a man who fully understands this trend and is mastering the art of self promotion one website at a time.

Born in Manhattan, Donny spent most of his early years going back and forth between Philly, the Bronx and Harlem. He quickly realized that the only way to surface from his surroundings would be to turn his circumstances into something positive. Fueled by his passion for writing and performing music, Donny set out to get his message heard, and subsequently succeeded by being awarded this years’  Underground Music Award Buzz Factor award.

KD) So let’s say it how it is. You’re name is everywhere these days. From blogs to websites, it’s clear that you’re working your ass off to get heard. What is it that keeps you wanting to take it to the next level and what’s your ultimate goal in this industry?

DG) Thank you for recognizing that because I do work very hard at this. My motivation is simple, I want to make great music and be remembered for doing great things. Money, fame, women, all that’s cool but at the end of the day when you die none of that goes with you. A legacy does tho, and that’s what I am trying to build.  

Hard work is nothing new to you. I heard that you served 3 years with the navy before deciding that you belong in the music industry. What made you leave the military and pursue a career in music instead?

DG) Well I decided to leave that motherfucker waaaaaay before music really came to mind haha. It was a real controlling envoirment and I didn’t enjoy myself there whatsoever. They believe and practice many principles that I don’t normally embrace such as conformity and things of that nature, so I really had a hard time adjusting to the whole thing. Although the Navy taught me alot of invaluable lessons such as a strong work ethic, discipline and drive it really just wasn’t for me at the end of the day.

KD) Everyone and their mother have a record out these days but once in a while, a true artist has his work come to the light. You’ve been grinding for a while now, what do you hope to bring to the table that is different then what we hear every day? How do you plan on standing out amongst all the rappers we see out there nowadays?

 DG) Well I just finished recording all the tracks for my debut album “Minute after Midnight” and I think people are really going to be impressed with the creativity and concepts within it. When making music, I always try my best to make clever songs and speak on subjects that anyone can relate to. I think about how people feel when I write and try to capture “emotions” within my records. When you listen to many of the artists today, you honestly just don’t believe them most of the time. There’s no conviction in their voice, or meaning in thier words. I on the other hand, try to do just that so when listening to my music you can expect a certain feeling or mood to come along with every song.

KD) Technology has played a huge role in facilitating the promotion of music. You have set up many blogs to show people what you’re up to. In fact, I noticed you call yourself the suicide blogger. Can you explain where you got the name?

DG) Hahahahahahaha I just love that name. To be honest that blog wasn’t intended to be just a personal one at first. I was going to talk about many subjects within it (and will do so more often in the future, I’ve just been very busy as of late) and just “bomb” people but I decided to chill with that haha. I don’t like to offend people too much, just a little bit (I’m kidding) and some things are better left unsaid I suppose. I am just the type of person who speaks my mind and thats where the idea came from. Shout out my man Bigga Threat hahaha.

KD) Can you talk a little bit about the “Bars” segment you’ve been working on?

DG) Bars is something that I wanted to do for many reasons. Basically its an online video series which showcases myself and other up and coming artists just spitting “Bars”. At first I did it to show unity within New York’s underground scene but once I felt that was properly done I reached out to other artists from all over (Rain from North Carolina, Jon Hope from Rhode Island, Blu from the LA) to appear because its bigger then New York at the end of the day. Bars is simply a vehicle used to promote myself and other artists who are doing their thing in the game. I’ve always been the type that likes to share the spotlight so to me it was a no brainer. KD) You’ve released quite a bit of work so far. “The Non Fiction EP” hosted by Shake & HipHopDx came out and made a lot of noise for you, as did your first studio album “The Prologue”. Can you tell us a little bit about how those projects came together with the different artists and producers you worked with? DG) Well as of now I have 5 under my belt. The Prologue was my very first studio project. I did that with no one and was just getting my feet wet with that. The second was “About the Author” which featured Production from Kwame, Scram Jones and Fury to name a few. That one was more Producer driven. The next one after that was called “The Excerpt” Pg. 1 which was the first of a trilogy. That one was a concept album which focused on one aspect of my life. The Artist. After that I dropped the “Off the Books” mixtape just to show people I really gets in lyrically and just spit my ass off. The last project I did was “The Non Fiction” EP with my boy Shake and HipHopDX. We had a contest for producers to send in the beats, I then had to pick the best of the best and make a cohesive EP. That one was fun. All of these projects are available for free download on my Myspace page so check them out if you get a chance. KD) This year, you won the 2008 UMA Buzz Factor award. What was it like being recognized for the moves you’ve been making and all the hard work you have done? Do you feel like you can finally relax or does this motivate you to work even harder? DG) It feels very rewarding when people start to recognize you for your hard work and sacrifice. Thats exactly what it is, hard work and sacrifice. I have given up so many things to pursue this career and when people actually praise me for the work that I do it makes me feel like the pain was worth it. As far as relaxing, I NEVER relax. I could win a Grammy tomorrow and I would still have the same exact attitude I have today because there’s always work to be done. I never rest on my laurels and really give a 110% in everything I do, and will continue to do so as long as I am still passionate about the music.

      Flash round: 1) If you could work with any producer, who would it be? Dr. Dre 2) If you could have anyone as your hype man, dead or alive, who would it be? Busta Rhymes 3) What’s the most over used word in hip hop? Movement (Grindin’ falls at a close second) 4) What’s the name of your favorite song off any of your releases? Do it for Hip Hop 5) How do you know when you’ve found the right beat? Divine       Don’t forget to checkout Donny’s official websites… The Suicide Blogger (Official Donny Goines Blog) Donny Goines MySpace       Interview by King David

When you name yourself after one of most powerful guns available on the street, chances are you know a thing or two about living in dangerous surroundings. For Magnum 357, also known as the voice of the streets, surviving is only part of the hustle.Born and raised in the borough of Little Burgundy in Montreal, Magnum’s quest for recognition started at the young age of 14. As his buzz grew, the rapper’s mission to rise out of Real-City and gain international respect only became stronger. A few years ago he teamed up with some of Canada’s hungriest producers, street teams and hustlers and has managed to bring attention to his movement by strong arming the industry one radio station at a time. In 2007, Magnum dropped his first mixtape Revolver Music Volume 1 and began to open for acts such as Mobb Deep, Lloyd Banks, Juelz Santana, Papoose, Boot Camp Clik and Planet Asia.

Featuring tracks by Mazaradi Fox, Hell Rell and Max B, Volume 1 turned heads on the street and on the internet with the release of street videos for “Cake” and “Hold up.” Now, with the New Year well in progress, it’s easy to see that Magnum’s team is set to make big strides and bring his presence to a whole new level.January 2008…Magnum has been hard at work all day and, incidentally, kept me waiting for our scheduled interview. It’s now 11PM and I’ve been told that he’s running a little late and should be arriving for his interview right after a photo shoot. An hour later, he pulled up to my house along with his producer Primal and was ready to get the interview started.HHC: What’s up Magnum? Glad you could make it. I know you’ve had a busy night. How are things? Are you enjoying your stay in T-Dot?Magnum: Life is good right now. I’m glad to be in T-Dot where there’s way more opportunity for artists to get noticed. I’m just out here trying to make some noise and show people how we do it in Montreal. It’s only a first step for us. We’re making key moves right now and the plans are to hit the rest of Canada and the world real soon.HHC: The streets have spoken. The word is that they’ve elected you as “the voice of the streets.” What does that mean to you?Magnum: That’s what they call me around Burgz [Little Burgundy]. I mean, you’ve got to understand that I represent the real people who you never hear about. I’m trying to show you where I come from and not only from the angles you always see. Beyond the street violence there is people like me; trying to get out and get their voices heard. I represent for those people so I guess that’s why they call me the voice of the streets.HHC: So what do you think of the state of hip-hop right now? Is it a big challenge to get your music heard?Primal: Right now, I think hip-hop is in a state of emergency and not only in Canada. There are way too many artists claiming to be things that they’re not. Too many artists are getting away with making hits off gimmicks and not talent. It’s almost as if you don’t need credibility anymore. So many rappers make up stories about themselves that nobody can really check out.Magnum: At the end of the day, I’m only being real with the people. The street wrote my music and we just out here trying to get this money whether they like it or not.HHC: Fair enough. Let’s rewind a little bit. 2007 was a big year for you and your camp. Revolver Musik Volume 1 dropped and you got some videos out that generated a buzz on the Net. It has to be hard to match the buzz that’s been surrounding you since Volume 1. What can we expect to hear from you in 2008?Magnum: Bigger moves and more music. Our team is solid I’ve got my U.N.C.B Inc. Independent label, my Star Money Ent. camp, Dutch from Escape Entertainment putting in work, plus Primal from DirtWork on production, and we’re going to be bringing in some new members. I don’t want to make anything official just yet but I can tell you that “Luck” from Cream World is going to be a big part of the changes this year. On the musical tip, we’re about 80% done with Volume 2. We’ve been really putting in a lot of work on this tape to match the hype behind Volume 1. People have learned to expect some heavy music from me and that’s exactly what they’re going to get once again. That’s going to drop in February. The full album The Revolver Story is supposed to drop this summer. We’re really focused right now and if we can’t get it we’re going to be breaking doors down this year…straight up. [Laughing]

HHC: Big things. So what do you feel you bring to the game that’s different than others? Is there anyone out there right now that you feel isn’t credible?Magnum: The game is filled with fake dudes but I’m going to stay reserved for now. When it’s time, I’ll start kicking these cats out the game. The bottom line is that I bring a breath of fresh air. Most of these artists just imitate what they see and can’t back up their words. I’m making my own moves, my own choices, and my own style of music. What really sets me apart is that I’m really about what you hear on tape. Ask me about it, I live it. This isn’t an act for me, it’s a true story.HHC: Primal, you have worked with artists such as Bad News Brown and have been around for some time now. What is it about Magnum that made you dive into the project at full force?Primal: Magnum is the full package. There are tons of dudes out there that are street but can’t actually rap. They might have the credit, but they don’t have the talent. Others make up their stories and make sure nobody can check into their history. Magnum is like an open book you know? Look and you’ll find out. The man has got delivery, the lyrics and the credibility to really make it out here. It’s not just a formula, its real talk. He’s by far the most versatile cat I’ve worked with because he isn’t scared to push the boundaries. I can respect that.

For more information on Magnum 357 please visit his MySpace page athttp://www.myspace.com/mag357.