[RTD Interview]: Deal - The Villain

For almost four years, I've been championing the unsigned hype, trying to bring light to the artists who, new or not, haven't been getting the play they should. In my dealings with artists, bloggers, press agents and such, an opportunity to start up a digital label came about. I jumped at the idea, and after a year of this seed being planted, RTD Records is set to put out its first release, EPic, from NJ's own Deal - The Villain. You should know The Villain from "The Deal Dub", or as being one of the Elite Assembly. I knew him first as a talented producer, and got to understand how ill he is on the mic, and having him allow me to put out his debut EP on my digital label - I am forever grateful. If you're still wondering "who the hell is DTV", take a walk with us as we introduce a slept-on talent to you...

khal: State your name and affiliations for the good people, please.

Deal - The Villain: Deal – The Villain aka DTV DTF (for all the ladies out there). Member of Elite Assembly. Jersey representer, world dominator & the kid who’s bonin’ ya girl, wife, sister(s), cousin(s), aunties, & moms. Just kidding. Doin’ ya aunties would make ya mom mad. (Same reason I’m not in ya grams… that & respect). Ah-Ha !

khal: We know you rap, and we know you produce, but which came first?

DTV: I actually started as a DJ. I did mixtapes for my peoples & promoted ’em in high school. I bought a sampler to loop beats for freestyle features & decided to make a beat one day after being inspired by one of the producer emcees I worked with. Shouts to Moretti.

khal: Which exercise do you get more out of, producing or rapping? Why?

DTV: IDK, prali rap. The best workout's pushin’ up on somebody else’s chick. Rockin’ the stage is pretty easy once I’m amped. Then after that I let somebody’s girl rock the mic. EARLY! Are those whys?

khal: When did you realize that your talents were more than just a hobby, that you could get more out of what you were doing?

DTV: Back in '98, when people started coming to me for beats… and asked me to be their in-house producer.

khal: Next month, our very own RTD Records will be dropping your debut release, EPic. How did this release come about? Did you go into the project knowing it was going to be what it was, with tracks set aside?

DTV: It’s crazy cuz the whole deal & project w/ RTD came through twitter. I politiced w/ khal cuz I liked how the homie got down w/ the music & culture. And one day he tweeted who was interested in putting out projects. I hit’em back like “what’s good?” he was like “YOU wanna do a project rapping?” and BOOM it was magic.

As for putting the project together, I just sat down went through all the beats I had, picked the ones that made me feel something, sequenced them, then came up w/ concepts. The beats were actually jawns BrokN.Englsh, Rew Mec and Premium, as well as a few of the artists I work with passed on… but I know Myk Dyaleks would disagree. He & I are kinda like Talib & Hi-Tek, Guru & Primo, the way we get down. He tries to snatch all my beats LOL.

khal: Throughout the release, the interludes touch on a situation (or, a number of situations) with an odd cop. Where did you draw the inspiration for these shorts?

DTV: THAT SHIT HAPPENED B! I went through mad shit making this EP. I got hemmed twice. By the same cop! Car towed. My computer crashed twice. I had to get a new PC the 2nd time. And when I was finishing the project, my Grams passed. But yeah, it’s art imitating life. I don’t play those skits too tough when I’m driving. I feel like it gives off bad juju. I skip’em or play some John Mayer. Dude saves lives!!

khal: Do you have a favorite track on EPic? If so, which one and why?

DTV: It’s difficult because it like the project on a whole. But, if I had to choose one, I’d probably pick “I Do What I Want”. The whole project is a peek inside my persona with that track summing up why I move the way I move.

khal: What are some of your aspirations with your career, as a solo artist or as a producer behind the scenes?

DTV: As a solo artist, I just don’t want the fans or my peers to feel like I’m taking away from the culture. That & for them to know I’m nice. I GOT bars. I dare somebody to try me.

As a producer I just want my credit. Work with dope artists, & get cut a friggin’ CHECK! Damn. Come UP OFF THE MONEY!!! I ain’t been doin’ shit like “Body Bags”, “Caveman Boogie”, “Neva Ran” and then like to just get a “nice beat, my dude”. Nah, I’m spazzin, that shit is dumb cool. And I’d do a million of those tracks free for those artists, but when they get a budget opened up, I hope they don’t forget about ya boy & all the other producers who helped 'em on the humble on the way up. But fat chicks gotta pay!

khal: Can you tell the people what projects you having dropping after EPic?

DTV: Wow, I have a few things in the works. I’m STILL writing for this project called Kingvillain w/ King I Divine off the Crown Jewels Pt. 2 beat tape he put out. Tryin’ a finish that ASAP to beat everybody to the punch. I’m also working on a tentative EP w/ Akai Pro producer DJ Ment Plus. Whut up Ment! And not least what so ever, a project called “A Day In The Heist” to be release on RTD. Produced exclusively by The Jake. The homie is CRAZY!

khal: Now you’re part of the mighty Elite Assembly collective; how did that project come back?

DTV: 1st, we are not a collective my dude. We are a group! We all do our do & support each other’s endeavors but when we get down as EA, nobody is bigger than the Assembly. Egos, accolades, & notoriety go out the door. All for one. The music is the MOST important thing. We met each other on the music scene & chopped it up here & there. Had a love fest like “Yo, ya’ll killin’ it” “Nah, YA’LL killin’ it” LOL. Then we started hangin’, makin’ tracks and makin’ history. It just clicked. The homie Dan Tsingot had to make the final call on who was in & giving the group the name though. If we step outta bounds he’ll send Andre Dennis. And ain’t nobody tryin’ tah see him. He like Anthony Mason, except he NEVER played ball. Just hugged the block all day. My bad. We gotta move on. Take out the whole Dan Tsingot, Andre Dennis thing. Matter fact I ain’t even say that shit. You misquotin’ me.

khal: What is it about EA that separates your crew from the other units in the scene?

DTV: We’re family 1st. We laugh, cry, fight, & support each other. The music brought us together, but we developed bonds beyond that. Sometimes it’s kinda hard to do music cuz we vibe out, politic, bug & drop jewels without hittin’ the booth. But we’re goal driven so we end up burning it down anyway.

khal: You guys are working on an album project, right? What’s the science on that – what can the people expect it?

DTV: The New Year has been good to us so far. We’ve been coming up with some tough material. My best guess would be Spring/Summer. We plan on hittin’ everybody in the head before then though. We got freestyles from each member set to hit the 'Net in succession so you can see the prowess of each member individually as well as getting to know who’s who each week over 3 months.

khal: With work and music going on on the regular, how does The Villain unwind?

DTV: Man, I just gotta disconnect. Which is tough as hell for me. My mind keeps going & I get real frustrated without forward progression till I get to the point I say “FUCK IT”. That's when you catch me on twitter, Xbox, PS3, Facebook and just stealing any musical sources from the 'Net I can download… oh & pr0n. Yeah. Good pr0n. Shouts to all the well endowed & manufactured ladies getting’ it in & twerkin’ for the cam. ;-)

khal: Do you have any final thoughts or shouts for the people before we wrap this one up?

DTV: Shouts to Sincere, Anthwax & The Jake on the production for helping me make this project happen. The entire EA for pushing to do it through inspiration & actually saying “Do It….Do It”. khal for recognizing, taking a chance on ya boy & holdin' me down. Jazzo The Cre8tive, KD Management, After Image Records (the 1st to see the potential) & EMA Photography. My true fam, the Jersey music scene, supporters, fans, haters, & detractors. Divine Creation. Everyone who inspires me to push the button. Responsible Sex. Well Earned Money. Say No To Drugs Kids. And to one & all the very good HUSS!

Deal - The Villain's EPic drops on RTD Records Feb. 2nd, 2010 in all quality digital music retailers. For more information, hit up DTV via twitter, download FREE material via Bandcamp and on MySpace. And enjoy these two cuts from the project:

"This Ain't (Love)" :: "Don't Matter"

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