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Interview
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Last year we published the
“Mark of the Beast
Interview” with Napoleon where we
discussed the VA’s Inkpen’s past, present and future. As
announced then, this was only the first part of our
extensive Napoleon interview. Even though we had already
modestly touched the Illuminati Network project on
there, we decided to keep the second part of this
interview for the Wuminati series as it reveals a lot
about this project.
No introduction needed for the
man as if you do not know him by now, then you will
never know and do not deserve to know especially if you
are a Wu-Tang and Wu-Sydnciate fan. On our last
interview with Napoleon his main phrase was "World
Domination", haven gotten into the game at a very young
age, he is still young and relevant today, worked with
the biggest names in the music industry, as well
as on the streets, establised himself as a lyrical force
to reckon with while forming his own inprints and
company, Illuminati Network or WuMinati was an idea he
and his associates brought to life in their quest for
world domination, and according to Napoleon, he is not
just talking one section, he is after the radio
stations on the commercial front as well as on the
underground, with Wuminati targetted mainly for the
underground and Wu-Tang fans and his solo projects
"Mark Of The Beast" and Antichrist" targetted towards
the same market that the likes of Kanye West, Lil'
Wayne, Rick Ross and others are all part of.
Sit down to read interview
with Da Kingpin With Da Inkpen, representing the South
in this global rap force alliance along side Solomon
Childs, Dexter Wiggle, Shaka Amazulu the 7th and a
supposedly 5th hidden member. How did this collaboration
come to be? How did each member get involved? Will you
get a glimpse of the features involved? Who’s delivering
the heat behind the Illuminated boards? Time to
find out, 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-International: Hello again Napoleon, fans want to
know what you have been up to?
Napoleon: I have been working on the Illuminati Network
project with my man Shaka, you know, Solomon Childs, Dexter
Wiggle from the West Coast and also adding on and putting finishing touches to
my project "Mark of the Beast" which was meant to be
out the 4th of July last year, you know? That's it man, other than
that, for real for real, just tryin to stay afloat in this
crazy ass rap world, you know {LOL}
Wu-International: So you say you are still working on
"Mark of the Beast"?
Napoleon: Yeah men, Mark of the beats, its going to be
big, its here to coincide with the Illuminati Network
project, so one comes before the other to set the stage, you
know like in the revelations men, the world feared that, but
its like the whole concept like computer chips as CDs and it
gets injected into the consumers minds, know what I mean? so
like you get the mark of the beats or a chip inserted into
say your right hand or in your forehead, but I am
presenting mine in a musical form though, kno what I mean?
its going to be big.
Wu-International: So have you found a label
yet?
Napoleon: Like I told you before on the last interview
men, I have been kicking it with The Chef, and my man
G visuals, that's my right hand man, you feel me? had a
situation with Rae's imprint but I am shooting for the
bigger dogs like EMI, because we got our own label also and
you see the same way Rae be doing with Capone-N-Norega, you
know?
Wu-International: Done any collabos with Rae then?
Napoleon: Not on this street album men, you got to
realise the Mark of the Beast is a pre-album leading up to
the main album "The Antichrist".
Wu-International: That's a crazy title?
Napoleon: Yes, ill right? its going to be sick men
but its not what people think as far as the biblical
Antichrist, I'm just bringing another whole new chamber to
the game right now, you know?
Wu-International: Fans are used to hearing you on some
street, crime, Mafioso type rhymes, will this be any
different?
Napoleon:
Well this is same ol, same ol men, for real for real,
but updated. You gonna have the same ol' Syndicate
style, but on a different elevated level. You will see I am
more hungry than I ever been men, what people don't realise
is that my partner who put out my last project with me
"Kinpin with Da inkpne" got incarcerated for his involvement in
33 million drug ring, so my life story and tales you hear on
the album is all real, you feel me?
Wu-International: How well received was your last
album by the fans?
Napoleon: For real, for real men, it was decent, but I
feel it didn't get to the point where I thought it would get
to though, it was not promoted worldwide like it should have
had, I had mad features on the joint, I had Ghost, Jim, all
of them, but it didn't do what I thought it would do due to
promotions, you know?
Wu-International: Thanks, so lets talk more on the
project, Illuminati Network, how was that born?
Napoleon: Yeah I got with the homie Shaka, you know, we
been doing music for a minute, and we just brainstormed with
different ideas and concepts, Shaka's a concept master, my
plan was to have him as the international rep for Illuminati
Network, but he came up with a concept that I was building
on already as far as having different MCs from different
parts of USA as in West, East, South and international, but
taking it a step further and keeping it Wu, you know,
Wuminati, keeping it within the fam, and getting Killa Beez
from those regions together, just like you have in the
comics Illuminati, where different superheroes come together
to save the planet, you got 4-5 individuals all working
secretly together under Wu to save in this case hip-hop or
bring back its core essence, carrying on that raw hip-hop in Wu tradition,
you feel me?
Wu-International: So how did you get Childs, and
Dexter involved?
Napoleon: That was more Shaka's doing, he already been
working with Childs and Dexter and told me they were down
with it and it was a wrap, its a good idea for real cos we bringing a lot of different elements,
chambers and styles to different fan base cos everyone got
their own different fan base and chambers, you know, and that's how the
Wu always do it. its like making a punch, you
know what I mean? real tropical fruit punch, like you got
strawberries, you got grapes, know what I mean? and that mix
of all that goodness
should just taste good, you feel me?
Wu-International: You have told us why you called it
Illuminati Network, do you not worry about the negative
attention the name might get and how people would or might
want to associate with with the Freemasons or illuminati?
Napoleon: Well for one thing, I think the masses got
the wrong idea and interpretation on what the illuminati
really really is, they are just looking at stuff on the
surface and they don't take time to dig deep to the core,
kno what I am saying? but I named it that the same way I
named my shit and my alter ego on this project "Da Kingpin
wit da inkpen , Antichrist or mark of the beast", but there
is a science to all that, for one I am the ink pen and my
man was really the Kingpin, and it makes sense as one or
different entity, my man was locked up and I use the pen to
tell his story, same way with the illuminati network, its a
network of brothers under Wu from different clicks, and
affiliations workin together to for one common cause,
Dexter is Westcoast killa beez with the Black Knights, my
man Childs been in different groups from Theodore unit to
his own KMG movement, Shaka done been in groups too and you
know my history with the Syndicates, people's view of
Illuminati could be one rich family that controls the world,
you know what I mean? and apply that to us men, the Wu ruled the rap kingdom at one time and since we come
from different places men, if we utilise our resources then
we can control the music world.
Wu-International: But you got titles like Illuminati,
Mark of beast, Antichrist, fans would say you are either
trying to provoke or you are really into 666 topic driven
music?
Napoleon: Nah men, it has nothing to do with 666 men,
because I am a street dude, as you already know I just came
home from prison homie, but its just an expression of where
my mind is at right now, creatively speaking, my mind is on
some world domination right now, you got to look at my name,
like Napoleon, he almost conquered the world, and I plan
on conquering the world through my music. Everyone is
bringing different elements to the music, I am that crime
boss, organised crime beyond the streets and more on the
political level, Childs is meant to be the street dude, and
he reps the struggle, the street as it is, Dexter is the
Dracula adding on that Westcoast feel and soul to it and Shaka is the warrior, and of course we got a
secret member who runs and organises the organisation of the
whole project, the secret member can be one of us or none of
us, maybe all of us you feel me? {Laughs}.
Wu-International: Thanks for the answer, prior to this
project, have you worked with Dexter or Childs before?
Napoleon: Nah not really, but I was looking forward
to doing this project with them, they got rich history and
on point with theirs so its been great from what I have
heard them add on, Shaka's been responsible for putting
everything together and I am mostly looking forward to the
finished products. I remember Childs from the early days
though.
Wu-International: How did you link up with Shaka in the
first place?
Napoleon:
Ah men, Shaka has sent me a message on myspace, it
had to do with some work he was putting together for one of
his artists who was interested in doing a logo or art work
for me and we just kicked off a good relationship, know what
I mean? and we've been kicking it now for like 4-5 years, I
liked what he was doing and then the songs collaborations
came, then came the idea for this project, and its been on
since then, I mean between us we got about 40-50 songs if
not more for his solo projects, mine as well as Illminati
Network.
Wu-International: Thanks for the answers, saw
Wu-Syndicates listed as a feature on the track list of the
project some time back, what's good with you, Joe Mafia and Mya?
Napoleon: Joe's my man, I mean I got songs with Joe, he
is going to be on the Illuminati Network project, Joe's
always my man, and you know Mya, we always clash men, so we
aint got no songs together, I know Shaka got 3 of us on a
song together but that's for his project, and that song will
not be used for the Illuminati Network, kna mean? but Joe's
on there.
Wu-International: So fans can forget for now the 3 of
you ever working together on a song or even an
album?
Napoleon: Nah... . Nah, nah..straight up men, I don't
wanna do no more groups men, I am on a mission right
now for world domination like I told y'all and I'ma
be the one that brings the Wu back to the forefront,
to the limelight because men, I am still young, I
was 17 when I was with the Syndicates
album came out, I was still in
school homie,
Wu-International: What was your take on the diss song
Mya did towards you?
Napoleon:
Yeah I heard it, I laughed, you know when people
do that i don't respond men, because regardless
that's my man though, I wont even respond and go
back and forth with him like that as it becomes corny men,
look what happened with Jim Jones and Cam, you know
what I mean? and then after that they all get back
together and it all looks fake, and I am not trying
to get on no fake ass situation, you feel me? Mya is
still my dude though regardless. |
 |
Wu-International: Speaking of people Jim Jones,
and The Clipse were also featured on the Illuminati
Network, how did that come about?
Napoleon: The Clipse are from VA so they are with me, you know I am a don down here and our peoples knew
each other, so we got introduced and went into the studio
and did a club song together for my first project men, I mean I wish we had done
a better song together, but you know the VIP joint was
something we were all vibin to at that moment so I had to
bring it all back for a sequel, sort of like part 2 and get illuminati
Network on there over a Lex Lugar
beat, you know what I mean? I talk to Malice and Pusha all
the time.
Wu-International: Jim Jones?
Napoleon:
That's the homie right there,
Jim Jones, had to get him on the project also and wrap it up
with WuMinati, know what I mean?
Wu-International: Please tell us more about the
Illuminati Network album who else is featured on there apart
from the ones listed above?
Napoleon: We got Clipse,
Jim Jones, Joe Mafia of course, from what I know from
Shaka, Timboking, Holo Caust,
and Popa Wu jumped on a couple of songs, we got Lost
Children, Birdz of Prey, Black Knights, Deadly Venoms, the
god Lord Jamal and much more men, the album is in 3
volumes so its all spread out.
Wu-International: What are the titles of the albums and
when do you plan on dropping it?
Napoleon:
The first dosage is called
"WuMinati I: Novus Ordo Seclorum" thats latin for New
World Orda, my man Shaka came up with the titles and it we
got volumes 2 and 3 also ready.
Wu-International: Which
producers were responsible for the beats?
Napoleon: Production was
mostly in-house, our 5th member named Al-hajar handled the bulk of
it, but we got heat from Spanish Jose, Lord Jamar, Krohme, I think this
kid called Endemic from the UK got a number of joints on
there too, Darkim Allah and more, Shaka
got more info on this, oh yeah my mans Lex Lugar is on there
too.
Wu-International: Thanks, any general make the cut?
Napoleon: Ghostface Killah is on there, he my men, I
talk to the manager, Mike all the time, matter of fact, Mike
got me a digital deal with Universal and shit, Tried to
reach out the RZA men, he the one that gave me a break, and
every time I see him it aint nothing but love though, but he
a busy busy man, its hard to get him. Peace to Divine men, I
fucks with Divine, still kick it with Mook, never had the
chance to kick it with Power though, but shout out to the
whole Wu.
Wu-International: Thanks for those answers, so what's
next after this project and your solo project?
Napoleon:
There will be volumes one and two of Illuminati Network,
matter of fact I believe volume 1 and 2 are already or close
to completion, I know I have finished all my recordings, you
have to ask Shaka about that one, then there is Mark of the
Beast and Antichrist. its going to be crazy this year.
Wu-International: Any tours planned?
Napoleon: Yo, I would love to come overseas man, I am
waiting on Shaka to give me the word men, once Shaka tells
me its going down I will be right there with the brothers, I
just got my passport this year men, cos I am a felon and
shit men, so they gave me hard time but now I am good to go,
know what I mean? my passport is ready to go, and I most
certainly ready to come out there and kick it with the fans.
its time they got to meet the great Napoleon. I never got
the chance to get to meet the fans and show them love
overseas cos when the Syndicate dropped that's when I was
incarcerated and I was on the back and right now I am in the
front.
Wu-International: What else can the fans expect from
you?
Napoleon: Working on a book, like an autobiography I am
looking to get published called the true Hollywood story,
book is about how the shit went down with the music, and the
relationships with the Syndicate, I am still mad to this day
men, because we had a great album, it was a classic and I
was not even here to experience it, know what I mean? but I
have had to take the good with the bad and just keep it
moving forward, you know?
Wu-International: A quick questions fans would like
to know about the Syndicate days is if you have songs that's
still unreleased from those recordings?
Napoleon: Yo men, its so crazy, cos I got a whole album
that we never put out, cos we used to work hard, you
know what I mean? I got a whole album I can just put
together right now a whole Wu Syndicate album, and that's
what I am going to do too, maybe call it the best of the
Wu-Syndicates, songs produced by DJ Devastator and E Dread,
Dread's like my right hand man, the one that made Ice Age
and Weary eyes, he is still in the lab, he gave me some
beats for my projects,. mark of the beast will have
some from him.
Wu-International: Would be great to put those out, the
fans would appreciate some old vintage Wu Syndicate songs?
Napoleon: Yes, I am telling you men, its going to
give you like the ol' Wu syndicate feel, that crime
syndicate,. straight up.
Wu-International: Thanks for that, any last words,
messages to the fans?
Napoleon: Be on the look out for that
Mark of the Beast, Illuminati Network and Antichrist.
Related Interviews:
WuMinati Series
#1
[Napoleon] - Da Kingpin Wit Da Inkpen: World Domination
[29th Feb 2012]
#2 [Dexter Wiggle] -
Brown Dracula: Rhythem & Wu [07th
March 2012]
#3 [Solomon Childs] -
Red Heroine: Wall Street Hustle [16th
March 2012]
#4 [Shaka Amazulu The 7th] -
Black Stone of Mecca:
The Enigma [27th March 2012]
<Read Other Interviews> |
