LeeNo/Teflon Artist Interview
After the blog’s post on rap beats and producing rap beats, I thought we’d switch the topic to showcasing the talent of another one of our members.
LeeNo is a certified HHA vet, badboy and O.G. The man who dominated the HHA battle scene and even started and ran the O.R. Thanks to Lethal for conducting the interview.
Artist Interview - LeeNo
HipHopAve: Lets start off with a small introduction.
O.G. LeeN: well shit I’m Leeno…. been backin battlers off the ave for awhile now. Doing my thing. I innovate shit that ave aint ready for, as well as introduce ish. Bottom line, I’m the best pound 4 pound battler on THEE ave text/audio.
HipHopAve: How long have you been on the Ave?
O.G. LeeN: I haven’t been counting, but a max 3yrs!
HipHopAve: How long have you been into hip hop?
O.G. LeeN: Since 1995, n’ I been rhyming since 1995… not steadily but that’s when I 1st was inna studio; as far as hip hop; I was listening to ll cool j when he 1st dropped “momma said knock u out”….. so u can say I was raised on rap.
HipHopAve: So, what’s your favorite thing about hip hop nowadays?
O.G. LeeN: How “I” can create shit….. I really don’t care about the weezies n souljah boys n shit like dat…….. I care about what I do n what the innovators do like Nas/saigon/joelortiz/kanye/Jay-z does……. other than that underground is cool BUT u just need to b creative period……n this is from a 80’s baby’s perspective……………..
HipHopAve: What would you change about hip hop?
O.G. LeeN: I would change it back to the golden age……… I wish I was born earlier so I could blow…. period
HipHopAve: Which Rap artists do you consider the greats of all time?
O.G. LeeN: Jay-z….. even tho he claims 2 b a 80’s babies rapper he wasn’t born in da 80’s……..that’s what happened 4 real 80’s kids got skipped n dats y u hear all dis bullshit
HipHopAve: Based on the growing trends of hip hop, do you think it will remain a focal point in Popular culture? If so, at what expense?
O.G. LeeN: yes I do!……. I think young white kids will define who sells……… N its bullshit str8 up n down. young white kids n’ urban females determine who blow, urban white kids can only understand the surface…… n urban females just wanna dance. nobody cares about lyrics no more n dats y u hear all dis bullshit….not to mention the #1 factor …. ITS BIG BUSINESS!
N’ the expense is niggas will conform to make dollars versus advancing the culture which truly is OURS n IS MEANT FOR ADVANCING
(PAC N BIG R PISSED RIGHT NOW)
O.G. LeeN: lately me, I’ve been fallin back!…… tryin to school the younger gen. on the ave…. which I’ve been doing for the time I been here, like I had my time to shine n’ w/e….. I carried 2 independent labels with my lyrics W.U.N ENT/RISK TAKERZ. I was the ceo of risk takerz but shit fell thru cuz I was engineering most the time instead of recording. (I went to school 4 music engineering) I make bread regardless tho; outside of rap I’m payin mortgage on a 125,000 crib
n’ I have a 2004 range rover discovery paid for…….. so I’m doin me to the 60% fullest, I say that cuz I have no licence lol
HipHopAve: What do You think about Lil Wayne, The carter 3, and his claim of being one of the best of all time?
O.G. LeeN: I’m better than Wayne lyrically.. Hands down
HipHopAve: What do you see yourself doing in 5-10 years?
O.G. LeeN: 5-10 yrs I’ll at least b a millionaire…. n not off rap
HipHopAve: Who have some of your biggest influences been?
O.G. LeeN: Rap wise - notorious BIG & nas. My father was a one hit wonder n my mother paints portraits - one sick ass writer……..so both of them……RIP JOHN SCALES JR…. my father
HipHopAve: What/who; is your favorite movie, video game, album, track, artist, food, sport, & female?
O.G. LeeN: belly……..cod4…… life after death……. I’m ur pusha man- Curtis mayfield………. killah priest…. chines food…….nfl football(real football) Alicia keys
HipHopAve: How do you feel about online text rapping?
O.G. LeeN: I think text is da 6th element to hip hop
There’s 5 elements to hip hop…. rapping…graffiti…….DJ-ing…….break dancing……. etc… text, I FEEL is da 6th element
HipHopAve: Lets do some word association.
Religion
- self opinionated
HHA
- Robots..
Obama
- PRESIDENT/HOPE? ANTI BUSH
I wanna take this time to say: Fuck McCain
4 real, if u about anything real, vote obama
Spoonz
- My only TRUE rival.
Kyran
- anotha dude dat got mashed out, goodnight boston shook his whole squad him / noonz/sac was supposed to reply.. n NOBODY DID. Them cats was PM-ing me talkin bout fuck the dissin lets collab but i dropped that to 3 people n I haven’t heard a REPLY YET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jessica alba or Biel?!
- Renae Cruz..
HipHopAve: Any thing else you would like to add?
O.G. LeeN:
I’m 25
5″10 190 pounds now! n gaining.
I’m a str8 up G……. regardless of anything
I feel privileged that I’m here
shout outs to the whole hood
Liquid shells
Vipah
the whole awol no matter how wack/gay yal R
nigga is str8
shouts to Mastamind even tho he’s gonna get rocked by one of minds
shouts to lethal for his comeback
shouts to Swiss aka sinn for his comeback
most of all shouts to hella/paperboy/verb/phantom
n a special shout out to YG…… girl u just don’t know?!
lol
overall shouts to the ave as a whole/jizzles bitch ass.
HipHopAve: Thank You for your time LeeN.
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