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Interview
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Back
in 1996 with his self released EP - Lock Shit Down/ Gotta Get
the Cream , the artist known as Dark Skinned Assassin garnered a
huge buzz. With a Wu-Tang affiliation, and support from
Funkmaster Flex, Dame Dash, and many other industry heavies, he
was well on his way to enjoying a brilliant career when all his
dreams came crashing down in the form of an "upstate vacation".
After serving his 3 year term, his return to freedom was
bittersweet when he found the music game had passed him by. He
then resorted to non-musical career choices, but never lost his
ear for Hip-Hop. |
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A mysterious figure, rumours
even emerged that he was locked up in Russia. However, during
this time his artistry and name was slowly rediscovered by a new
generation of fans, especially within the Wu Fans who never let
his name rest, and his return to Hip-Hop was sparked by a new
hunger to express himself. He appeared on K-Slay tapes and
created within himself, an alter ego, the birth of Dr. Ama.
Dr. Ama (Deadly
Rhyme Alters Man's Attitude) was
created to represent the amount of personal Drama he had
been through, as well as a tribute to Amadou Diallo, the young
student accidentally gunned down by NYC police in 1999. "Split
Personadli-D" marks his official return to the Hip-Hop game,
as he presents both his personas vying for exposure over a
veritable cascade of instrumental backdrops by genius producer
Falling Down (Killarmy/Lil' Flip). With strong hooks, and rugged
street soundtracks, this album promises to be a classic in the
history of Rap music. With guest spots filled by the likes of
Block McCloud (Brooklyn Academy), BlakkStarr, Fresh Jones & J
Maul etc and additional producers includes 100 Grand (Salt n
Pepa), and Kwiz (T.I.).
In this interview
Wu-International attempts to identify the genius or madness
behind both characters Dr. Ama and Dark Skinned Assassin
covering his background, albums, aspirations and much
more. Enjoy!! |
I like to say thanks first and foremost for
taking the time to answer these questions, highly
appreciated, and will also point out that nothing will be
altered, edited or changed when this is published online.
Wu-Internationals: Peace?
Dr. Ama: Peace fam, I'm good, how are you?
Wu-Internationals:
Fine, thanks, so how do we address you for this interview,
Dark Skinned Assassin or Dr. Ama?
Dr.
Ama:
Either one may pop up based on the question or the frame of
mind I'm in, so it doesn’t matter.
Wu-Internationals: Ok, based off your new album Split
Personali-d, is DSA the same person as Dr. Ama, or are they
both different alter egos within a split personality?
Dr.
Ama:
Based on the album they're 2 different people sharing the
same physical being.
Wu-International: So it’s not like you had a name
change, would you say you adopted a new name within the same
person?
Dark Skinned Assassin:
No, not name, Personali-D
Wu-International: So why and how did Dr. Ama come
about?
Dr.
Ama:
Deadly. Rhymes. Alter. Mankinds. Attitude. was born when DSA
saw that the world needed a more sensitive approach to
curing the afflictions that plague the body of hip-hop and
the streets over all. Dr. Ama as in doctor Ama is here with
the cure to the b-boy bacteria and vernacular virus that
causes the art form to suffer. The Amadou Diallo slaying
made me sick to my stomach so I saw it as a way to remind
people of the incident every time they speak the name Ama
but the NYPD is doing a great job reminding us with the Bell
slaying and now with Edwards (an officer himself).
Wu-Internationals : That’s deep, it spells Drama also
without the dot, so what would you say are the main
differences between DSA and Dr. Ama??
Dark Skinned Assassin:
Dr. Ama cares a little more, and DSA
don't give a fuck.
Wu-International: It’s a great concept featuring one or
the other on songs together, is “Split Personali-d” a DSA
album featuring Dr. Ama or vice versa?
Dr. Ama: Dr. Ama featuring DSA.
Wu-Internationals: You must really have split
personality or great acting skills to be able to play both
roles very well, so which is it?
Dark Skinned Assassin:
I’ll let the public decide that in time whether I'm acting
or sick in the mind.
Wu-International: If there was a battle between DSA and Dr.
Ama, who would win?
Dark Skinned Assassin:
Dark Skinned Assasin.
Wu-International: Do you have control of which
personality you let out and what would determine who you let
out when approaching a song?
Dark Skinned Assassin:
Marvin
Gaye said it best "let the spirit move ya" what controls it
is the environment, the track, the people I'm around or
whatever situation I may find myself in.
Wu-International: Interesting, let’s dig deeper into the
album, would you care to tell us why you have called it
“Split Personali-d” and spelt with a‘d’ too??
Dr. Ama: The album itself gives the listeners a
chance to embrace the reality that we all have that alter
ego waiting in the wings anxious to spring out but most
people don't allow it. The spelling stems from the fact that
both persons name start with a D.
Wu-International: Cool, didn’t realise that, thought it
was I-d as in identity? D would also go with Diallo, Drama
etc quite clever. The album dropped 21st of April, how well
has it been received by the fans?
Dr. Ama: Exceptionally well, but we can all do
with more record sales.
Wu-International: How did this chambermusik project come
about?
Dark Skinned Assassin:
I started a MySpace page and P. Rebel saw
me on and reached out to me.
Wu-International:
I
love the album, its very consistent, Falling Down provided
you with some heat, and how did you meet him?
Dr. Ama: Thanks, we appreciate all the support you
give. I met Fallen Down through the proper Wu channels, he
been doing songs for Deck and Killarmy, he heard I was back
in it and requested to do a song with me, after sending me a
couple of tracks I recorded "So Close" at Laughing Dog
studios in Staten Island with Jacob at the board then
emailed the song back to Fallen.
Wu-International: Fallen down produced most of the
album, was this a conscious decision on your part or
Chambermusik’s, and if so why?
Dr. Ama: After doing “So close” (featuring J
Maul), Fallen felt like he wanted to do a complete project,
at the time I was already recording an album with my 7od
family and The Outfit tracks and decided what the hell let's
get it in. The production is primarily Fallen because it
started out as a project for Fallen, Kwiz and 100GRAND are
my producers and understood this was a Fallen Down project,
so when it became an album thing it would not be official to
put out an album and Kwiz and 100GND not be on it that's the
reason for their minimal production on the "Split Personali-D".
Wu-International: Thanks, which songs off the new
album stick out for you the most?
Dr. Ama: "Keep it in the Streets”, “So close”
“M.O.N.E.Y” , “Move me”, “Get it Straight”, “Quiver”, “It’s
Mine” “No More Games”, “The Don’ts”, “We Not Yall”, Real wit
It” “Lay ‘em Down”, “We run it” …. Damn! that's close to the
whole album (hahaha!)
Wu-International: True indeed and rightfully so as
the whole album had a coherent feel to it and not one song
was weak. Are you happy with the finished product and if you
were to do the album all over again is there anything you
would do differently?
Dr. Ama: Not put 20 joints on it. The listeners of
today attention are lost easily due to outside influences.
The die hard lovers of the art stay true and I'm proud of
them and they keep me optimistic about the future of
hip-hop.
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Wu-Internationals:
Priory to Dr. Ama, you were simply known as DSA, why
where you called that?
Dark Skinned Assassin:
Darkskinned Assassin and my mission was to assassinate
emcees or whatever target got caught in my sites.
Wu-Internationals: You had a couple of joints some years
back, why has it taken you so long to release a début album?
Dark Skinned Assassin:
After releasing those back then I went to prison. I came
home after a few years and decided the industry wasn't for
me based on what was going on in it.
Wu-International: After this project, what’s next on the
menu for you DSA or Dr. Ama?
Dr. Ama: Releasing the 7od album and basically
putting hip-hop back on the path it needs to be on.
Wu-International: Who would you say were your influences
in the music community?
Dark Skinned Assassin:
The God Rakim, Wu-Tang Clan of course, Kool G Rap and life.
Wu-International: Thanks, let’s go back to your
group 7.O.D, could you please tell us more about this and
any future projects in works?
Dark Skinned Assassin:
The primary gunnaz consist of Haxaw and RBI, the following
members Vexed ,Stretch Strongarm, Blackk Starr, Royal Rapper
Uncle Breezz, RifleMan, NasttyMan are also on deck to
provide you with that nonstop hip-hop.
Wu-International: How and what is your affiliation with
the Wu?
Dark Skinned Assassin:
Stapleton Projects. I know Ghost (that's like family for
real) Rza always ask me for music when Wu first popped but I
was curious to see if I could do it myself (Rae is my
a-alike, much admiration for the god) me and Tical act up
whenever we get an opportunity to see each other. Musically
we are one big family.
Wu-International: Which of the members within the Wu
–Tang Clan members and Wu fam would you say you are closest
to?
Dr. Ama: The Rza, Ghostface, Methodman, Downlow
Wrecka, Pop Da Brown Hornet, Bandz, June Lover, Shyheim,
Carlton Fisk, Lounger Lo, Solomon Childs, Killa Sin, got the
opportunity to chop it up with Inspectah Deck a lot more
recently due to the Outfit Movement and Fes Taylor project.
Wu-International: Do you have any non musical
aspirations?
Dark Skinned Assassin:
Yeah, but we can't speak on those.
Wu-International: Thanks for the question, to round up
we are going to have some fun as well as test the
differences between DSA and Dr. Ama.
I have a few word associations for you to react to. Tell me
the first thoughts that come into your head and anything
else you'd like to add...
Dr. Ama: Cool.
Wu-International: Hip-hop?
Dark Skinned Assassin:
Changing
Dr. Ama: Curable
Wu-International: Barak Obama
Dark Skinned Assassin:
Political target
Dr. Ama: Change needed a change
Wu-International: Digital Download/MP3s
Dark Skinned Assassin:
Armageddon
Dr. Ama: Our present future
Wu-International: Wu-Tang Clan as a group
Dark Skinned Assassin:
Wu-nderous
Dr. Ama: In need of the doctor (Ama that is)
Wu-International: Wu-Tang as a movement
Dark Skinned Assassin:
Unstoppable force
Dr. Ama: Hurricane status
Wu-International: Thanks very much, any last words,
shout outs or anything we might have missed you would like
to cover?
Dr. Ama: I would like to shout the lovers of the
art form of music generally and hip-hop specifically for
staying true to what really moves your spirit and to let
everyone know that "Split Personali-D"is out there go snatch
that up request it on your local fm stations and help keep
our music from suffering a meltdown at such a rapidly
growing rate that the H1N1, or SARS pandemic pales in
comparison. PEACE! on behalf of myself and DSA i would like
to say thanks again and peace!
Stay up to date with Dark
Skinned Assassin [Dr. Ama]@
http://www.myspace.com/dramadsa
<Read Other Interviews> |
