“Stones”

Coming all the way from New York to give Nor-Cal Connection his take on Hip-Hop Culture on the East Coast to the West Coast.

How do you feel your music inspires people today?

I would hope that my music inspires people to get up and do something productive. I try to drop jewels and my philosophies often with every rhyme I spit so you could take something more than a dope punch line away from of it and apply it to your everyday life. I write my music from a perspective where I relate to those out there participating in everyday “hood activities”. I try to let them know I understand our environment sometime forces us into “stupid” situations people on the outside looking in can not or won’t understand but at the same time it doesn’t have to be that way 24-7. It’s not cool to go out looking for trouble and doing things just to get a rep but when things of that nature comes your way then that’s when you stand up and protect what’s yours. So to answer your question I hope one day my music inspires someone to change their life or even better inspires a generation.

What does music mean to you?

Music is everything to me! Music is the soundtrack of my life. I don’t go a full day without interacting with some form of music. Whether it’s writing a song, listening to a beat, producing a beat, watching a music video or just enjoying music from other artists than myself or those I’m affiliated with. Even if it’s as simple as having a discussion or debate about my favorite emcees I’m doing something involving music daily.

How did you come up with your name?

I had Stones since I was about 12 years old. Right now I’m 21 so the story of it’s origin has been passed down andaltered a little bit during the years but from what I remember I got it from my dude Banks who is like a brother to me. We’ve known each other since we were 4 years old so at this point we look at each other as true family. I recall us sitting in my living room and I was trying to come up with a new name because at the time I was going by the name “Ice Man” but I felt like I was growing out of that moniker. We was just throwing names back and forth and then at some point Banks said “Stones”. At first I was kinda skeptical of it cause I was like “why would I put a extra “S” at the end?”. “Shouldn’t it just be ‘Stone’ since I’m only one person?” (Laugh) but after getting use to the name it just kinda stuck. The funny thing is I didn’t realize until later on that both names kind of coincided with each other because when I was going by the name Ice Man I use to make a lot of references to the Ice Age. Now that I go by the name Stones I make a lot of references to the Stone Age and I can honestly say that wasn’t planned. But to make a long story short, that’s my take on how I got my name, Banks will probably tell you a different story though (Laughs).

What town did you grow up in?

I was born and raised in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, New York. The same part where Mike Tyson, Zab Judda, Shannon Briggs, M.O.P., Sean Price, etc was born. As you can tell we got a lot of the boxers (Laughs). I guess that’s why we’re one of the roughest parts of Bk. Bedstuy got all of the commercially successful rappers (Notorious B.I.G, Jay Z, Fabolous, Lil Kim, Maino) but I’m a come through and sell a mill for the ‘Ville though (Laughs).

What are some of your favorite Artist/Producers?

DJ Premier is definitely one of my favorite producers of all time. He successfully molded a time period in hip hop music and made everyone else follow his lead so you have to applaud that. Pete Rock is another favorite of mine. Alchemist is also one of my all time favorite’s. He’s a straight problem when it comes to producing. As far as artist goes though, Wu tang is my favorite group of all time. Jay Z is another artist I’ve learned a lot from and Az is on my list as one the most underrated emcees to ever spit. I listen to a lot of neo soul too and I’m a huge follower of Amel Larrieux’s music. She has one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard. I hope one day me and her can do something together. That’ll be a true dream comes true for me.

Name some artist you have worked with on stage and/or in the studio.

For the most part I keep it real in house but I’ve gone outside of my camp and worked with a few established New York underground artists such as Mysonne, Five and a few others. Me and my dude 80Grand are also currently putting together a project that we’re going to be releasing this year. We don’t have a name for it yet but we’re working so look out for it.

What artist or producer is your inspiration to do what you do?

A big inspiration would have to be my cousin aka the Co-CEO of Duck Down Records Buckshot. Every time I speak to him and he gives me advice or I log onto the internet or turn on the TV and see what he has going on it’s definitely inspirational because I see someone that’s just like me and has the same blood flowing through his veins as I do break down doors in this industry which I could tell you from first hand experience is not a easy thing to do. On top of everything else he’s doing all of this independently so it shows me that theirs limited excuses. If the industry doesn’t want to let you in you force your way in. The people won’t allow them to deny good music and the grind.

What are some of the hardest things you have come across being who you are as an artist?

Some of the hardest things I’ve come across would have to be the typical industry politics that every serious artist goes through. The executives in this business are real shady so they’ll tell you one thing when they’re thinking the total opposite. Right now it’s also tough for New York artist because the industry has basically labeled us as stagnated. I’ve been approached a few times about changing up my sound and straying away from the “New York sound” but I’m a NY dude so I refuse to abandon my roots and a style that I feel like best interpret mine and million’s of other New Yorker’s lifestyle just to chase a dollar.

Have you recorded in any big studios?

Well my main studio is in Times Square right in the heart of Manhattan. A ton of well known and indie artist from various genres record there. I’ve also recorded in other Manhattan studios such as the same one Buckshot and the Bcc record in as well as producers like Chris Styles (who did “Window Shopper” for 50 Cent), Uncle Murda and many other New York rappers. I haven’t been to the legendary Headquartez (formerly known as D&D Studios) yet though but my engineer Nick Price is gonna walk me through over there cause he’s done work for Premier and them over there from time to time.

Have you ever gotten stage fright when you perform?

Not once! (Laughs), performing comes natural to me. When I’m on stage it’s a whole different zone. I know what I gotta do and I do it.

When is your next big album?

My next big project is going to be titled “The Steppin Stone”. It’s going to be a mixtape/street album with all original production. I’m going to have my in house production team on there which consists of 80Grand, my dude Ex from Germany who produced a bunch of joint’s for me including “Systm Bumpn”, My long time producer Boomer who submitted a few joints that I think is gonna make the cut and my cousin Mr. Blake who got some real stadium sounding joints if I had to describe it. I’m also reaching out to a few people like Nick Wiz who produced and was the A&R on Rakim’s last album. Me and Nick had a long conversation over the phone about putting something together so hopefully we make it happen. I got a joint from a dude from Seattle named Marcus D who’s doing his thing. He’s produced a few joints for a well known underground artist named Substantial. I had the track for about 2 years now but it’s still relevant. In fact it’s even more relevant now than it was when I first wrote it so that might be the only dated joint that makes the cut. I also got my dude Tryfe on deck that’s produced some joints for so it’s going to be a real diverse but cohesive project. We’re going to keep the features to a minimum like usual because I enjoy showcasing my lyricism but I may put a few surprises on there (Laughs). We’re trying to put that out by the summer of 2010.

Where do you see your productions in the future?

In the future I see myself all over B.E.T, MTV, VH1, Hot 97, Power 105 and all the major networks and radio stations of the music industry. I consider myself amongst the few artist that has the ability to gain critical and commercial success simultaneously because I’ve been told and also believe that my lyrical content reaches a totally different audience than my appearance and image does which is a rare combination that could potentially allow me to bridge the gap. so I definitely see myself doing things on a much larger scale pretty soon.

Shout-Outs:

Shout out to my manager Caesar who is also the CEO of Gallic Wars mixtapes, Andrew U the Super Producer, 80Grand who I look at as a mentor and always holds me down on the West Coast. Shout out my D.O.H.H. (District of Hip Hop) movement, everyone that supports me and stays in tune with what I got going on and most definitely shout out to the Nor-Cal connection for taking the time to find out what’s going on in the Stones Zone.

How did you hear about us?

I heard about y’all through my dude 80Grand. I also read the feature you all did with him. It was dope!