Pick up some swap meet socks for Rakaa Iriscience

Rakaa Iriscience is half the voice of Dilated Peoples and a grinder undeterrable, with 10 years since he, Evidence and Babu released “Third Degree” and began a slow takeover of the neglected space between hard-ass street-rap and avant-experimental art-rap. Since last full full-length 20/20—sped-up soul samples, tactile kicks, weed riffing, tight focus—Dilated opened even further with the release of Evidence’s surprise critical solo hit The Weatherman this spring, the decade-in-the-making documentary Release Party, and now news of Rakaa’s own coalescing solo effort, all preface to a possible 2008 release for a new Dilated record. But as expressed by DJ Revolution on Weatherman’s first track: “It’s just time we all expanded.”

Do you really have dreams that you’re battling people or doing shows?
Definitely! The chorus for ‘Triple Optics’—‘Put out one of my eyes, I still got two/put out the second one and I can still see you . . . ’ That was part of a battle dream. I can still see the crowd, but that was the only line I clearly remembered—there was a piece of paper and a pen next to me, so I jotted it down.

Keith Richards supposedly got the riff to ‘Satisfaction’ in a dream, too.
When you’re truly locked in and tuned in, you become a conduit—energy blows through you! It’s a beautiful thing to channel that creative energy—you just have to be appreciative and humble enough to understand.

What’s happening with a new Dilated LP?
Evidence is already back in the studio working on his next solo album, and next is A&E—Alchemist and Evidence—they’ve been best friends since I’ve known them. Babu has a new Likwit Junkies coming and also Duck Season Part 3, and for me personally, I’m in the studio working on a solo album for 2008 called Crown of Thorns.

Who’s on it?
Official official—Evidence, Babu, Alchemy. I don’t wanna get rumors. Dilated is a multifaceted group. Evidence is like the master grill man, and I’m in the back playing with spices—I get to sprinkle it in Dilated, but here I get the chance to go full force. It’s the hip-hop I grew up on, before the rap music industry—when the vibe included punk rock, reggae, rock, breakbeats, soul—all the different thing DJs spin and take parts from. Fishbone Truth and Soul. Bad Brains. Old Chili Peppers stuff. Suicidal Tendencies will be around. Also Barrington Levy, Augustus Pablo, King Tubby—then move over to Coltrane, Mingus, Monk, Miles . . . I love creativity, I love expression.

Is this a healthy time to be an artist?
It’s definitely a great time to be an artist. It’s not a great time to make money selling records! But with the Internet and direct marketing, direct sales, touring and merch being what it is—it’s a great time to be an artist, and especially an independent artist! If you’re a major label artist, it’s probably the worst. If you’re independent, it’s probably the best. On a major, as much as you have the benefit from the push of the label, you’re also at the mercy of the label. You only move how the record label wants you to move. They’re just moving units. You could be boxes of cereal or socks. If it sells, they’re happy. But with the record industry as sick as it is—some of them are stuck in the tar like the dinosaurs, and they’re going to have to evolve themselves out. From dinosaurs to like alligators and crocodiles—not as big and deadly as before. Record labels are losing power—they’re trying to get money any way they can to survive because they fronted so long. As an independent, it’s the opposite. There’s a middle class of artists now. We can tour the world, get decent press coverage, make our money and do it our way. You don’t have to be signed to a major label to be a success, and you don’t have to be starving and selling out of the trunk of your car. Really all it comes down to is a willingness to study the science and to roll up your sleeves and get dirty. If you can do those, it’s no problem. It’s just hard work. And I don’t have a problem with hard work.

Do you really buy your socks and boxers at the swap meet?
Of course! I buy the majority of my clothes at the swap meet. There’s a midtown spot on Lincoln and Venice, there’s always Slauson Indoor, or people I know will just be like, ‘We’re going,’ and I’ll say, ‘Pick me up some socks and boxers—bring ’em through!’

What swap has the best food?
I’ll keep it real—I don’t mess with any of that. I’ll just say a nice lemonade, and that’s as deep as it goes. I don’t really hang out too much at the swap meet now—usually I’m in and out as quick as possible.

Keep it business?
And keep it moving.

FRESH KUT AVE AND HIP-HOP’S APOSTLES PRESENT RAKAA AND EVIDENCE WITH X-CLAN, TASH WITH DJ LIME GREEN AND BAD AZZ PLUS HOCHII AND TECHNICALI AND MANY MORE HUSH NIGHTCLUB | 217 N PINE AVE | LONG BEACH 90802 | MON 10PM | $35 | 21+ | HUSHONPINE.COM AND FRESHKUTAVE.COM

Tags: dilated peoples, hip hop, hush nightclub, Long Beach, new year's, rakaa iriscience