10/24/2005

How's things been going?

I'm chilling. I'm just anxious about this release. We've got a lot of good feedback on this album, no negative feedback, that's a real good thing and a bad thing, because sometimes negative feedback is good for you. Everything's been good so far.

How does it feel to finally have an album out after all these years of grinding?

Aw man, it's a feeling you can't even explain. To see your shit sitting up there in the racks with all the other CD's, it's a feeling that you can't even explain. We're blessed to have that happen and Desi's looking out for us. We're just going to go with the flow.

How long did it take Asamov to record "And Now…"

Asamov's been recording since 2002. We've always had our individual music as well. We had maybe 50-60 songs and we were cutting songs trying to make a cohesive album. We recorded everything in a year and a half.

What's your favorite track on the album?

"Hook Slide" is one of my favorite joints because it's funky, "Bad News," "Help Me Sing," I got a lot of favorites on there, but "Hook Slide" is probably my favorite.

"Supa Dynamite" is focused on soul, do you feel like soul is missing in music today?

Definitely man! Soul is definitely missing in Hip Hop. I feel like the bar is lowered in Hip Hop for lyrics and originality. Back in the days, you had to be dope on the mic to even speak. You had to be dope to spit a rhyme. Nowadays, the bar is so low, anyone and their mama can spit a rhyme.

What's the significance of the "And Now…" title?

It's in the essence of good music in general. Coming from Jacksonville, it's like we're saying "we're here." Let's do it, we're here, and now, what's after that...

How does Asamov record a song?

Therapy's a DJ and producer, Basic's a DJ, MC, and producer, Willie's on the beats…it's not left up to anyone to make a decision. We've all been listening to Hip Hop forever. It comes natural because we work so well together with one another.

How was it working with 9th Wonder on "And Now…?"

We got that through our 6-Hole connect, 9th sent us a beat CD, and we knocked it out.

You guys have a wide range of guests, how did you go about picking who you wanted?

The "Standing Room Only" joint wasn't supposed to go on there, but Therapy reached out and him and J-Live wanted to make it. Wordsworth got on the track too. We just added it to our album and it was a wrap.

You guys are named after science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, what are your similarities to him?

What we're trying to do, we're trying to go out of the box and just trying to bring that feeling back when you first heard KRS, or first heard "Halftime" or when you were watching Juice and saw Special Ed get out the Volkswagen Jetta. We're trying to go back to that and bring that good feeling back.

How did Asimov come together?

We always knew each other from the scene. Therapy was the battle rapper. Basic was a DJ, and Willie was always making beats. I was that real Hip Hop dude that was always into shit. We were good friends at first. We all had crews back then, but the ones that were really serious made it through. We all had the same interests, and it just ended up that we formed a group and went with it. We all had our own groups doing our thing, but we just combined forces to try to put Florida on the map.

How much skill does each member bring to Asamov?

Damn. Motherfuckers are overqualified for this rap game. Therapy on the beats, wheels, and mic. Basic is a B-Boy DJ, he spins the illest breaks. Him and Therapy have the illest record collection. Willie on the beats, and me on the mic. Everybody is holding their weight and bringing more to the game.

How important is skill right now in the industry?

Skill ain't important in the industry. It's 90% business, 10% talent. That's why everybody and their mama is doing this. All you need is money and the right connections, and you got it.

What's the Jacksonville scene like?

Jacksonville is a scene that's pretty much overlooked in Hip Hop. It all boils down to a motherfucker having to go out of Jacksonville to get respect and then come back to Jacksonville. There are a lot of cats doing their thing here, but Asamov is the first cats doing this on a larger scale. As a whole, we run with your thug cats, alternative cats, anyone, because at the end of the day everyone is trying to do the same thing. The scene is cool. There's a lot of talent, but it's overlooked.

What made you want to work with Desi Relaford and 6-Hole Records?

Desi and Therapy were good friends. Desi saw some cats that were really serious about this and he did what he could to help us. He put us on our feet. It's a blessing that Desi was able to help us.

How much creative control did you have doing "And Now…"

We have all creative control. He heard stuff that we had done back in the days, but we gave him the finished album and he was like "that's what's up."

The album is out now, why should people cop it?

I can't say if "you want real Hip Hop." Nobody can front on good music. If you want real good music, check for Asamov. It's some melodic, soulful shit.

What's coming up next for Asamov?

We're trying to get this marketing campaign going full swing. We're about to go on a tour with the Perceptionists. We're just trying to get out there and spread the word.

What do you want to say to everyone out there reading this?

I want everybody to go out and cop "And Now…" Go get it, get two, three, four copies. Keep spreading the word and put Asamov in your vocabulary.

Also check out http://www.myspace.com/ASAMOV