East Coast artist Devon Blair who currently reside in Hartford, Connecticut was born in Springfield, Mass, and grew up in Boston. His family moved a lot when he was young so he never got to make consistent friends in one neighborhood.
Devon says "I was a troubled teen and got into Hip-Hop very young. It was all we knew in the ghetto. But I never wanted to become a professional rapper or take this up as a career. It was something we did as a release in the black community. We spit flows & raps to transfer energy about a particular situation or feeling about a subject. It was common and everyone did it so I thought nothing of it."
He was a jack of all trades but master of none and took on the many rap names but today he goes by CONSCIOUS. The internet calls him Con-Man, not that his intention is to con folks out of things but because he is a conscious artist, which there seems to be so few of in today's market.
OK-THO:
How and when did you start getting into rap and emceeing?
Con:
I got into rap when it was called Hip-Hop. When it was a culture, and when artist actually released dope music. I was 18 years old, but to go back even further, I grew up on hip-hop music. I remember at the age of 9 I wrote my first rhyme. (Damn that sounds like a beginning to a dope rap) I'm a black 80's baby from the inner city lol. I think everyone in that particular category grew up on Hip-Hop.
OK-THO:
My bad, I should of said Hip Hop in that question. Not too many artists now-a-days understand the difference between the two. So who were your influences when you first started?
Con:
My influences were rappers like Cannibus, Big Pun, Biggie and Pac, Jay-z, Eminem, Wu-tang, Nas, Big L, Jadakiss, rappers of that nature. People who did such an incredible job lyrically that you didn't listen to judge. You listened to learn. Now I can barely name a few in the game worth learning to.
OK:
Lol that was actually my next question, so are there any you can name of the artists today that have influenced you even a little?
Con:
I find myself influenced by those who are not a part of this gimmicky industry of today. Great writers like James Baldwin, and speakers like Les Brown. I find myself reading more inspirational material about achieving success and how to attain heights of power in life by mastering self. Most of my influences now don't even come from rap, and with this new era of foolishness how could it.
OK:
Wow that's dope! Ok so let's start with albums, what are 5 of your top albums of all time?
Con:
5 all time favs. Geesh. I can't even name 5 all time favorites I don't think, but I can give you 5 artist I fuck wit and any album ought suffice. DMX (particularly It's Dark And Hell Is Hot or Flesh Of Flesh Blood Of Blood) Canibus (2,000B.C, I was stuck on that for a minute) Nas (Illmatic). Jadakiss (any album particularly the old stuff) and Big Pun (forgot the album name but the one wit that track "WATCHA GON DO") I loved that album yo. All of Puns stuff was incredible don't you agree.
OK:
Yea of course, that album was Yeeeah Baby by the way. Now name some of your favorite producers you've loved over the years?
Con:
I don't even know who's making noise as far as producer wise goes. It seems like everybody's getting used or stepped on. But I like Dj Green Lantern, and Dr.Dre. The Kanye's and Jazzy Pha's. I don't care really where the beat comes from long as it can handle my delivery. So the production has to be insane pretty much lol. TOOT TOOT!!!!
OK:
Name 5 artists that you would do a track with if possible?
Con:
Aside from local heads my manager knows, I have no interest in doing tracks with any other artists. Not even big names. But if something happens to fall in place that doesn't mean that I wouldn't be grateful and appreciative.
OK:
Bet, obviously anyone wouldn't neglect a chance to rock with some major label cats, especially for the right money. So let's take it out music and go on other subjects for a sec. What's your favorite movie?
Con:
I watch a lot of movies. I love Netflix, I am a happy subscriber and I live in the foreign section. If I ever meet a chick who loves Karate flix as much as I do, dat bytch gon get a ring. But right now my all time favorite is a comedy with Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac entitled,"Soul Men". If you haven't seen that I encourage you to watch it a.s.a.p, and if you don't laugh your ass off you must be a boring twit with like no personality or character whatsoever.
OK:
Damn, that's a first for me, yea I seen the movie but I never would of thought anyone would consider it their all time fav. How about cartoons, do you watch any?
Con:
No I do not watch cartoons (while eating cereal) who I look like Kendrick Lamar. LOL.....THAT WAS A JOKE KENDRICK, lighten up......."AND I RUN IT".
OK:
Haha! Aight back to the music. So who have you worked with in your career?
Con:
I worked with big names in the past like Howard Stern, Maurey Povich, Dj Big Mike, Jadakiss, a few others..... but that's why its called the past lol. Recently I haven't worked with anyone worth mentioning aside from what you heard on previously released projects. Dope artists like Adam Reverie, Rumorz, The Verbal Surgeon and of coarse, THE My.N.O.R.S. All these artist I had the privilege of working with and look forward to more collaborations.
OK:
Yo that's a dope catalog so far, not too many artists get to work with artists of those calibers. Whats your favorite track of yours that youve done?
Con:
Favorite track I've done wow, lol. I don't even have a favorite. I don't favor my music. I just make it. I try not to judge it, thats what critics are for you know. I can't even name one. I like em all but I can't even begin to explain the level of creativity I'm on currently. If I tell you a favorite today I'll hate it tomorrow because that's how fast new material at Toosickmuzik.com is being produced. But I encourage people to listen and look up Con-Man-Be A Spartan-Produced By G14 Classified Media. It's a track I did for the spartan race that was selected to head the theme of the race. It's the official rap song for the Spartan Race. It's the track I am most proud of and is currently at about 75,000+VIEWS! It was a paid work I did about a year ago, and I am happy to just knock on another door or take an avenue in rap that is a road less traveled to get my name out there. It's family friendly and is projected to do bigger numbers in months to come.
OK:
Yea I heard about that race some time ago but I think it's dope how you got to do the theme to it and it's smart of you as well. Now you've made about 4 or 5 mixtapes so which of your projects would you consider your best or favorite?
Con:
None of the mixtapes I dropped thus far are my favorite. I don't have one because I know I'm capable of so much more. But if I had to choose the best work my manager Chris Fusick of TOOSICKMUZIK and I put out thus far, I'd have to say either "Go For Broke", which was the 1st mixtape I ever released, or New England Minute which is the 3rd or 4th one I dropped. But whats to come will shock all you non-believers.
OK:
Yea I'd go with New England Minute myself, the production of that album by DJ Low Cut was so in-tune that it made it really sound like the perfect project. Plus your lyrics and wordplay were phenomenal and very underrated. OK 2 more questions, who would you say are rappers you need to watch out for in the future?
Con:
If I was a conceited guy, I'd say Conscious aka:Con-Man is the only new rapper to look out for. But I'm not so I also vouch for The My.N.O.R.S because they keep Hip-Hop alive, and Adam Reverie cuz he's an actual artist to me. If you haven't heard him look him up, I mention him all the time. But I'm not really into the business of telling other people about other artist because for a long time, nobody talked about me. I was like the biggest kept secret in underground Hip-Hop and now I'm putting in work. So it's probably some others that need to be mentioned but I don't care to mention em cuz im not in communication with these people. Iv'e actually talked numerously with Rev and built a relationship with him and got to know him outside of music. A lot of people don't know me outside of music so shout out Adam Reverie, keep doin ya thang homie.
OK:
Word, and finally what is Conscious' plans for the future?
Con:
Ahhhhhhhghghghghhg!!!!! What, are my plans for the future?!??!?!?? lol. Sex, Drugs, and Hip-Hop!?!!? But seriously, I tried college, that didn't work, I tried the 9to5 thing, that don't work, you ever feel like there's something more for you in life, something that's bigger than your own state of being? A destiny perhaps, or a purpose even. I do not know what God has in store for me but I'm moving to California this year (San Diego). For personal reasons but it will be a music venture for me. That's the plan. I LOVE YOU EAST COAST BUT BYE BYE!
Conscious Links:
dopest interview i ever did thus far, thanks for the time dudes, its been a plum pleasing fucking pleasure. you guys rock!
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