FEATURED ARTIST: 4th Pyramid

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 )