Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Matt Smith Interviews Righteous B


Matt Smith
Originally uploaded by Righteousb.
Peep out the interview below from www.LifeTeen.com

Life Teen Interview

This next month www.LifeTeen.com is launching their new website and with it their first feature: A Righteous B interview by Matt Smith. Here's a little sneak peak for ya'lls:

1. Before you got into hip hop, you were an accomplished singer and
songwriter. What caused your shift to hip hop?


I don't know if it's accurate to say I was "an accomplished singer/ songwriter", though I did pen such classics as the "Growing Pains Theme Song" and "Bridge over Troubled Water".  Most people don't know about that chapter of my life and so I keep it tucked away in the shadows.   But as far as the shift to hip hop and all that - I was working in a real ghetto slice of New York doing youth ministry and rap was all my kids listened to.  I mean I always enjoyed listening to hip hop - but these peeps were saturated in it.  I would always joke around freestyling with them and they would laugh because I sucked (and still do!).  But one day, we were downtown and this guy had a beat machine.  He was making his own beats and rapping over them.  ...Well I fell in love (not with the guy, but the thought of maki ng my own stuff).  My wife bought me a beat machine for Christmas and I spent the next year in my basement till the wee hours of the morning every night dropping beats, rapping, even working with some old 70's turntables.  It was more of a fun thing than anything else...but I just kept writing songs - we'd be doing them during homilies and life nights.  It was cool using that kind of art to draw kids in.

2. Rap music mentions God more than any other music genre on the radio. And
at the same time, rap music is often violent, materialistic, and
disrespectful towards women. How did this happen?


I think the thing that draws people to hip hop (besides being something you can shake your body to) is it's authenticity.  Rap is the opposite of political America.  It's not some humble guy kissing babies thanking corporate America for sponsorship. - It's a guy with a mic - saying "look, this is about me - I made the album, I wrote the lyrics, pay me the money - this is my life".  Now that's not always a very pretty way to promote yourself - but the rock star who does the occasional "farm aid" concert is not really a whole lot better.  The problem comes when mc's start talking about drinking, smoking, shooting peeps up and then singing a song to Jesus on the same album.  I think it's hypocritical and it bugs me.  But it's really some guy living in major sin and still feeling a need for God that he w ants to respond to.  It's luke warm living.  But our church is full of people like that - people who lives of crazy sin and then show up to sit in a pew for an hour and feel all better.  These people are doing the same thing - they just know how to hide it better (namely not making a rap album about it)



3. Christian music comes in all flavors. There's endless Christian pop,
rock, punk, rap core, and even daeth metal. But still there are two genres
under represented in Christiam music: country and rap. What's your take on
that?



I think it's coming.  I don't know about country music (though I love Johnny Cash) - but Hip Hop music is taking over the world.  It's influence is everywhere from Mc Donalds commercials to mainstream rock.  I think more and more of it is coming up in Christian Music.  It's just for so long Christian rap was so corny.  Some guy like, "Carmen"  would write a "rap song" for his album and moms would buy it for their kids.  Meanwhile their kids were listening to Public Enemy and cheeziness of the Christian rap didn't do it for them.  But the whole game is changing - hip hop is at a different place and there are amazingly talented mc's all over the place spitting for the church. 

4. Music depends on pioneers keep things fresh and exciting. In hip hop
today, who are the pioneers? And who's doing the same old same old?


Like I said, the game is changing - I think people respond in a big way when artists start pushing the envelope of what hip hop is.  You got all kinds of ethnic people rapping, you got all kinds of instuments, and all kinds of breeding of other kinds of musical genre's with rap.  It's pretty cool.  Which is we are seeing 50 year old business men bopping to "Hey Ya!"  I think pioneers in hip hop are people being authentic to who they are - not just the gang banger stereotype.  People like Outkast, The Roots, Neptunes, Alicia Keys - are doing such innovative new things in the secular world (though not alway in the realm of sound lyrics). But we got some killer Christian artist doing their part in the hip hop world such as John Rueben, Mars Ill, Camp Quest, L.A. Symphony, Pigeon John.  I think people do ing the same old stagnant crap is anyone doing song after song about ice, cars, and booty.  People have had enough of that.  Some hip hop purists say hip hop is changing too much and is loosing it's roots - but they're dumb.

(please mention musical direction as well as lyrics)

5. Inside your liner notes, you have a retro-fitted senior yearbook picture.
Bemeath your mug it reads "Most Likely to be Black." I thought it was funny,
and it brought up an interesting phenomena. What's it like being a white
rapper?


I have to admit I don't always see myself as white.  I often times look in the mirror and see Ben Wallace of the Detroit Pistons.  Honestly, sometimes being a white rapper - some people automatically assume what I'm doing is "cute" and that the music is going to be lame.  And sometimes it is lame - but that's not cause i'm white.  To me it's fun though being a white boy in a minority driven genre.  I think humor goes a long way to tear down walls of racial tension or prejudice.  But honestly racism kills me, I really have a lack patience and Godly virtue when I hear someone make racist remarks.  So it blows my mind when someone thinks I have wierd racial issues.  3 of my siblings are adopted - my brother's black, one of my sisters is hispanic and the other is black also - so I got it in me a lil sumpin sumpin through osmosis.


6. I know you are a proud Catholic. Have you always been on fire for your
faith?


I had a conversion pretty young - in like 7th grade.  Since then my heart has always in the grasp.  And I feel like God really gave me the gift of zeal as a young person.  I had my moments of deadness in highschool - but just couldn't ever shake God.  And still nothing fires me up like Jesus Christ at work in our church.

7. When you're not making albums, you are a LIFE TEEN Youth Minister. What's
it like doing both? You're a dad too?


It's difficult and at times I really struggle with balance in my life.  It's at those times when my wife or someone reminds me that before all the "stuff" I do - my reason for existence is to be a lover of God.  After that comes my family and then everything else is the small stuff.  Don't get me wrong writing music  and doing Life Teen are passions for me - but can't compare to chilling with my wife and kids.

8. Although your album is tight and professional, you make an effort to not
yourself too seriously. Why?


It's just kind of who I am.  I like to think I'm really funny - but sometimes I just come across really stupid.   Either way I don't really care.  I know I'm not Dre or Biggie - I'm just a dude who likes to rap.  I just tried to make the album me - authentic

9. In listening to your album, I was impressed because the album seems to be
well thought out. You seem to have a clear vision behind the album. How does
this album play a part in your greater vision?


The Theme I tried to come around is that of Revolution.  The Pope has talked over and over again about this "spring time of the church" and I feel like we as a church are aching for it.  My thought with the album is that revoultion starts with me - not with our country or even big youth conferences.  My heart needs to change.  And sometimes that's a violent thing.   But who cares - bring it on.  I just feel tired of people talking talking and red tape - blah blah blah, I just know I want to be a part of what the Spirit is doing in the church.  To me that's not only exciting but fun



10. Any last words?
10% of all my album money goes to urban churches.  The other 90% goes directly to the "feed my 3 fat children" fund.  So stop by - purchase an album or just say "hey" at www.RighteousB.com

Monday, January 24, 2005

Who am I?


me trying to look cool
Originally uploaded by Righteousb.
A "Catholic Rapper", a "rapper" whose "Catholic", or just a guy trying a little too hard to look cool? Read on my brother...

Catholic Rapper?

Not too long ago I read a bunch of peoples posts on a website about Righteous B and their concerns about whether I was “Catholic enough” and I thought I’d drop a post after reading some of this discussion. I didn’t know I was so controversial (but that’s always good for advertising I guess) – I just happened to talk to someone after a concert who informed me I was the source of some Catholic controversy and so I decided to peep the sitch. Here's just a couple thoughts on where daddy is coming from.

First - as far as whether I'm a Catholic rapper or a rapper who is Catholic or a protestant rapper - you can call me a Catholic rapper, a rapper who is catholic, or a bologna sandwich for all I care - I'm just a dude who is trying to find a forum to share his heart. I find one way I can do that is through art (i.e. Hip Hop). And when I say, "share me heart" - I am ultimately referring to sharing Jesus. In the context of the Roman Catholic Church? ...Absolutely. BUT, I have to be honest with ya'll - I don't feel like the most effective way to reach the lost is to include apologetics in every hook of my songs. Over the past 4 years...I've lead an RCIA program where I've brought over 20 inner city teens into the Catholic Church. And the reason I share that is not to say "look how Catholic I am!" or to justify my music or weird dance moves (I wasn't even aware I had dance moves ... but now I feel like I can take on Usher!) -- I say it because - it wasn't my music/ lyrics that brought these kids to Christ in the Catholic Church. It was me sitting down and spending time with them. My concerts might be entertaining, they might be fun, or maybe if I'm lucky tear down some walls - but people are not going to be nourished at them. We go to the Eucharist for that - not a rap concert.

Bottom line is I believe that an incarnational model of ministry is the only kind of ministry that will make any effective or lasting impact on peoples lives. What do I mean by that? God came down and became one of us. Out of 33 years of life - he spent only 3 in active ministry. The rest of his time was spent just hanging out with people - just sharing life - not packing a heated agenda. I would bet that Jesus spent less time on apologetics than he did just spending time with others - hearing their story, eating dinner at their homes (maybe they even ate kielbasa?), playing, and yes even laughing. From here - at an opportune time - Christ whispered Truth to receptive hearts.

This is my goal in ministry - to use hip-hop, humor, and authenticity to reach the lost. That's where my heart is. I am a guy who wants to share my life with people in the context of art not apologetics. And I’m not saying apologetics are not important - I've taken numerous courses on the subject and see the need. I'm just saying as I see it, a Hip Hop song filled with apologetics just is not an effective way to reach people. Hard Core Catholics love it - but it easily turns others off. I'm saying - I just want to get my foot or further more Jesus' foot in the door of their heart. People more readily say yes to a passionate life than a well-planned argument. I feel I can do more good eating a hamburger with a kid after a show than to explain Lumen Gentium in the course of a two and a half minute rap song.

Anyway that's my vision. I'm not really looking for a debate - though I don't mind if you want to talk about it. That's just the vision Christ has placed in my heart. Maybe yours is different. More power to ya. I loved the controversial debate - it was really fun to read but don't read too much into my songs. Rhymes like “Kielbasa Posse” were never intended to be exegetical. It's just a song about sausage. Lighten up.

Let's keep fighting the good fight together ya'll.

Tuesday, January 11, 2005

North Philly Show


North Philly Show
Originally uploaded by Righteousb.
A picture from the Inner City Schools show - January 10th at St. Martin de Porres. Read more about it below/

PHILLY CHEESTEAKS

OK, so I always say I’m a Philly native. And that’s 99% true. The naked, unabashed (is “unabashed” a word?…and if it is a word – what does it mean?) truth is that I grew up about 12 miles north of the city – which means in reality I’m from the mean streets of Suburbia and furthermore it means I’m not a real “gangster”. I can only hope you’ll still love me. And while I’m being honest – let me tell you that although I have told the mass crowds that I’m black … I’m really white. (In heaven - I hope I’ll be black).
Now that that’s behind us – let me get to my weekend in the City of Brotherly Love. What a killer 4 days! It all started with in Yardley, PA (somewhere outside of Philly) with a youth conference at St. Ignatius Church. The retreat was very intimate and very intense - focusing on the cross. It was great to spend 2 days focusing on the mystery of the cross. Friday night, somehow, my arm got infected (weird, I know) and started swelling. As you know my arms are ALREADY really big with all my various large muscles and so with the extra swelling – my right arm looked a nasty sweet potato. Long story short – Jared (The Critic) took me to the E.R. and I got an I.V. with antibiotics and I guess that helped (my arm still looks like a sweet potato). A few hours later – we had a bumpin concert with an impressive freestyle battle highlighted by Chris Padget. Minus the fact that it sounded like our mics were plugged into a garbage disposal instead of speakers – the show was great.
Sunday – after The Critic bailed on me and hurled on me Saturday night (no joke – he was puking the rest of the weekend) – Me and Fiddy Bones (AKA my lil bro Ben) headed to Manmouth Junction, NJ. This show was beautiful chaos. The entire state of New Jersey by its very nature is “ghetto”. It’s like THE ghetto of the North American continent. It’ s a tiny, weird, state filled with loud in your face punks with wacky accents. …And I like it. For the most part New Jersians know all this and they are proud of it (except for your occasional dude who will try and convince you the Jersey isn’t weird but beautiful – I’m not sure how they define “beauty” – but one thing is for sure the people at St. Cecilia’s Church were beautiful!) These peeps had mad skills – they could dance like Usher, rap like Jay Z (at least Mike could), and get a place bumpin like it was their job. Thanks for the love NJ.
Lastly – the highlight of my little 215 tour – North Philly. We were blessed with the privilege to do a free show in the inner city (right down thur on West Lehigh) at St. Martin de Porres School. If I could do a show like this everyday I would do it. - So moving. It doesn’t get any more inner city than St. Martin de Porres. This parish represents 8 inner city parishes on Philly’s north side that were closed down in the last few years and consolidated into one. And Even with the consolidation – their total weekly mass attendance is 250. One could make the conclusion that inner city people must not go to church OR we are not doing enough to reach the urban Catholic Church. I believe the latter is true. We are losing multitudes of people in the urban Church because we fail speak their language. Though this all-black catholic school clearly embraces the culture of it’s students as evident by the art and atmosphere inside the school, -- they had never before used rap to reach the kids (not because they were against it but because has been available to them.) Now, allow me to make this disclaimer as I’m telling you how cool this concert was – I do not think I’m the urban savior of the Church. I’m just a white kid who loves urban culture, hip-hop, and Jesus (and my dancing skills rival Napoleon Dynamite). So… the school was beautiful, built in the 1920’s, with this amazing theater (where we did the show). It looked like a small version of the Apollo Theater and even though it was in shambles with old busted up chandeliers and exposed brick – it had such a soulful, rich vibe. The kids were amazing –spitting out every chorus I fed them the enthusiasm of wild turkeys. The highlight was definitely the freestyle contest in which – three 14-year-old emcees tore me to shreds. Even the nuns and teachers where bobbin heads. It was beautiful memory in my life that I will treasure for years to come.
And to ice the friggin cake – after the show we drove down to South Philly for 2 of the best cheese steaks you can ever have – Pat’s and Genos (located across the street from each other and interesting side note – they Hate each other with a passion). After consuming a luscious Pat’s steak, I was still hungry and decided to head on over to Genos for another. However I made one fatal mistake – I brought my cup that I bought at Pat’s to Genos. Well…while I was still 20 yards away the owner (Joey Vento – a 50ish, heavily tattooed man of about 140 pounds) leaned his head out of the window and yelled to me “Get the F#$@ off my property you piece of S**t A##*@*#@” But hey could you blame the guy - my cup obviously insulted him and he was just “keeping it real”. Man I love the city of Brotherly Love. Philly… my heart is thine.

New Years Eve Show


New Years Eve Show
Originally uploaded by Righteousb.
Crazy fun in Bunkee, LA. Read more below.

Saturday, January 01, 2005

New Years Eve in the Real LA

This December 31st I had the priveledge of sharing the final hours of my year surrounded by Louisiannaians (in the great city of Bunkee – to be precise). Bunkie is only about a 5 hour car ride from Houston but unfortunately for me – I had just gotten back from Colorado 2 hours before I had to leave for LA (and I failed to mention that I drove from Colorado – so I had already been on the road for about 23 hours). Now to add stress to the situation – The Critic was scheduled to join me for the show yet somehow missed his stinkin flight. So that left lonesome ol Righteous headin off to the Bayou State by himself in the Ghettofaboulous (my sweet, 2-toned, rusty, 95 Camry complete with 3 hubcaps and the word “Ghettofabulous” brazened on the hood with glittery stickers I bought at OfficeMax) As much as my tired self was not looking forward to the show – I must admit the quiet time on the road coupled with Louisianna’s landscape was a refreshing experience for my soul. This was my 2nd time to LA in the last couple months and I gotta tell ya – as much as Texans tell me that Louisiana sucks – I think it’s really cool. I love the small town America feel and the people out on their porches and the Cajun culture and the bare feet. The show was really fun and it was beautiful to see the people not only getting into the concert – but also worshiping with everything they had. They were alive.
I spent the stroke of midnight at mass and then retired to my motel – “The All-Star Inn” This place was wonderfully weird. It had baseballs painted all over it and a truck stop casino attached to the back. Well, I was so dang hungry and after banging on the casino’s doors (it was closed) in hopes to get food – I ventured over to the gas station for some fine cuisine. They had a little oven thing with some sausage that looked like it had cooked for about 14 years. I bought one along with a Diet Dr. Pepper and went back to my motel to feast as I watched re-runs of "Saved by the Bell". Who could ask for a better New Years? Word.