Most people fail to realize that 90% of their favorite rappers are liars.. No Guts, No Glory just a rhyming story that represents a character.. P-Nyce a.k.a SPC Phillip Harris is more than a rapper.. He is a true soldier risking his life for a country that promises him no record deal yet he continues to focus on building his Hip-Hop empire and making his mark in Hip-Hop History.. This is the story of a true Hero and MC.. (strap on your vest and lace up your combat boots people, it's time to hit the battlefield)
GLOK: Peace King (it's been a while).. First time we spoke you were on air at 106.5 (or 92.1 now the infamous iPower92.1jamz) and I had that whole Imaginary SKILLZ BEEF going on with ya boy SKILLZ (he been avoiding me ever since).. How did that "Va Rap Up" joint do for you?
P-NYCE: That joint did it for me in VA, me being in the army my fan base has always been military communities and army bases, but with the rap up it kind of put my name out big time in the VA area! It even got play in the 757 stations too. What it was, was a business move, a thought out song to get the attention of the people who were ignoring me at the time, and it worked like a charm. They ALL HEAR ME NOW haha. Big ups to them tho!
GLOK: I checked you out homie.. You been moving on ya indie grind.. What are your album sales stats since day 1 of pressing and pushing these potent P-Nyce poetics?
P-NYCE: Since we started putting out music under the name of So Heated Records to date it has to be approximately some where around 40,000+ P-Nyce & So Heated Records out there!
GLOK: You started trying your hand at music at age 12 correct? (playing drums).. When did you decide Hip-Hop was the road (of all roads) you wanted to travel in expressing yourself musically?
P-NYCE: I was in college majoring in Music Performance at VCU, and got access to a music editing program and started recording my own music, then some of my childhood friends got involved and we formed what is now my independent label "So Heated Digital' Hip hop became a scapegoat for me. Whatever was going on in my life I could write about it, and put it in song format. It became therapeutic.
GLOK: How soon after school were you deployed to Ar Ramadi , Iraq ?.. and would you say that motivated or discouraged you pursuing your music career?
P-NYCE: 6 months after VCU I was getting deployed. If it wasn't for Iraq you probably wouldn't be talking to me right now! What we did out there was so special that we ended up in World wide news papers and TV News across the country, this really let me know that there was a market for my music.. and pushed me to take it to the next level!
GLOK: So let me get this straight.. You love Hip-Hop so much you built a studio out of scrap wood and old mattresses while doing time in Iraq (which led to you doing shows for soldiers)?
P-NYCE: Yea, we didn't really have much entertainment out there, since Jay-Z wasn't coming to our base, they got P-Nyce, haha!
GLOK: You made Hip-Hop history as the first ever Hip-Hop artist featured on the U.S. Army soldier show (40 states, 5 countries, on 3 continents) so it's safe to say you are in the HHHB (Hip-Hop History Book).. What have you noticed about how Hip-Hop is embraced all around the world?
P-NYCE: WOW man Hip hop is the SHIT! Pardon my French, I have been in Germany and Korea and they just LOVE IT!!! Not to down play other genre's but no other music then maybe rock can touch such a broad spectrum of fans around the world and I think the reason its like that is because Hip Hop is so EXPRESSIVE!! And no matter where or who you are, you go threw things and sometimes you just want to tell the world about, and hip hop is a perfect vessel to do just that!
GLOK: 80 shows in the past year alone while still executing duties as an active-duty military soldier.. How much do the two (your Music & Army duties) conflict?.. or have you mastered both battlefields?
P-NYCE: Well I have to be honest here, I am an exception of sorts throughout the army. The military is extremely supportive of my career. Being the first hip hop act on the soldier show tour kind of gave me a stamp of approval from the Army. So I receive favorable actions when it comes to requesting leave to go to shows and events, because they know the farther my career goes, the more free advertising the army gets,lol (its all business homie) Some times it does conflict but no one made me take the oath and raise my right hand, so when they do conflict I always have to accomplish my Military obligations first!
GLOK: I just had a sit down with Lord Luminous product of the WU (see past interview: ) and I'm working on METH so I'm still in 36 Chambers mode.. playing off the infamous "WU-Torture" skit I ask you.. How would P-Nyce torture Osama Bin Laden if he found him and could?
P-NYCE: I would let him see the faces of the children of the parents that he killed in 9/11. See first hand what kind of hardships he put on families out here! I wouldn't even be violent with him, because that's what he probably would like. I would torture his mind, because that last much longer!!
GLOK: How would you describe the Hip-Hop scene in Virginia ?.. and do you think artists who blow from Va. (knowing how fu*in hard it is to get on here) really reach back into the state and do their part in exposing more of the raw and hidden talent here?
P-NYCE: The scene in VA is 2nd To none! We got SO much to offer the industry as a whole and at times it frustrates me not just cause of my situation but the situations of all the other talent out here! I will say this, you have to have your business game on point before you even think about getting out here and doing this music thing and a lot of artist don't do that, that's why they don't get far with it. I had to learn that for myself, but when you do have it all together, with a good product (everyone has their own opinion tho) I think it is up to not only Radio but the community to support that artist! I'm from VA and some of the toughest crowds I have ever had, have been right here at home, lol. With me living in GA now I see how supportive they are of their local talent, Va is getting there but we still got some ways to go with the support factor. Artist need to support other artist in stead of fighting over who is the hottest on the corner! What I did to help was start "The Va Power Showcase" because its hard to get the talent out if people cant see the talent first hand! As for blowing and exposing the talent, I think more could be done, but if a person is successful in the game it is because they had the work ethic to make it! With that said they don't necessarily HAVE TO look out, but I think it would be definitely be a good look!
GLOK: What do you think should place a rapper in the Kings Thrown (as far as being the greatest rapper/MC)?.. their lyrics, their impact and guidance as a leader in this crazy game, or how much money they make off their music?
P-NYCE: I believe it should be his influence on his listeners. To me it has to deal with the impersonation of their lyrics on the country, Jay-Z came out with a song called Iceberg slim, so what did we do go cop ice berg. That's power! Having the ability to set trends within a generation. Lil W ayne is on his way, I just really have to see if the hip hop community will all say fuck Al Sharpton if Wayne says it. I'll be watching out for that!
GLOK: What was the first Hip-Hop song you ever heard?.. and who would make your Top 3 greatest MC's ever list? (in order)
P-NYCE: The first rap record I ever heard in its entirety was Biggies Ready to Die ( call me a late bloomer) but I used to listen to what my parents would play in the house growing up, Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Debarge stuff like that! Top 3 emcees for me would be 1) Jay-Z 2) Biggie 3) Pac
GLOK: What about your Top 3 "People, Rappers, Things" that fuc*ed Hip-Hop up list? (no order)
P-NYCE: 1) Snap Music (even tho D4L is some real street dudes) 2) The loss of Lyrics in songs! 3) Napster – I say that because when people stop having to pay for it, hurt the game so much.
GLOK: It's a fact that 30,000 children under the age of 5 die from poverty and disease every day. Other than donating to foundation's what do you think our country or the world should do to decrease this inhumane statistic?
P-NYCE: Well being from The US I think we have to help ourselves before we can go help others. If we are not stable economically as a country we aren't really doing any good to others in 3rd world countries. I have been to Somalia before and saw the famine first hand, but I have also been to areas of Mississippi that have it almost just as bad!
GLOK: Triple play question my dude.. (I know you rockin that Rambo Teflon so you can handle it I'm sure).. 1) What was the most horrific scene or situation you've been in while in the Military? 2) The most humbling? 3) and what do our soldiers need the most from our government?
P-NYCE: 1.Decapitation by a 50 cal sniper rifle 2. Coming back off tour with Plies on the Hypnotized tour feeling like a super star and having to do push ups because I was ten minutes late to P.T. the next day 3. Really can't speak on the government in that aspect sorry (contract obligations)
GLOK: I ask you this question (not to glamorize or with no expectations of justification, but to simply share a personal moment of understanding).. Have you ever killed anyone?
P-NYCE: Yes, I have and that is something that I don't glorify I am actually glad you asked that question. I hear a lot of rap artist depict killing in a positive light, like it's the cool thing to do, and right then I know that some of them aren't being real with themselves or their listeners. In my cases it was KILL OR BE KILLED and when you have to make that decision its nothing that you feel cool about, actually its something you rather forget about! With out being to graphic, lets just say taking another persons life is no where near as COOL or HARD as it sounds! That's why you don't hear that in a lot of my music! Living with those types of images can be tormenting, luckily in my case I truly believe it was a justifiably situation in Iraq!
GLOK: How do you think things would be if MLK Jr.or Malcolm X weren't assassinated and were still alive?.. and do YOU think Obama will bring about the change our people/government needs?
P-NYCE: Kings assassination put black people back at least 20 years, I think if he were alive the black community would be a lot farther then it is today. I think we have come a LONG LONG way don't get me wrong and I don't bash my own people at all. But with Dr. King we would have had a respected figure to head up a lot of issues within the black community, for instance if a Al Sharpton says all Black people don't ride the city buses until further notice, we might just laugh it off, but let Dr.King say the same thing, it will be a lonely bus ride for those drivers! As far as Malcolm X I think we would have had the million man march ages ago had he not been killed. I am a 100 percent Obama supporter, no one is perfect but his values and moral courage are something this nation has needed for a long time! YES WE CAN!!!
GLOK: You live by the motto "Grind hard in everything you do in life and success is inevitable".. Real Talk I feel that sh*t 100% brah.. Same theme different topic.. With the deceitful and hard way Bush and his puppets grinded this current WAR out do you think "success is inevitable for our country?.. What are you feelings about everything from the eyes, heart, and mind of a soldier?
P-NYCE: All I can say (contract obligations) is that I am 100 percent supportive of all my fellow service members (army, navy, marines, coast guard, & air force) fighting for our countries freedom across the world. Freedom is not FREE at all!
GLOK: What's your favorite Gangster Movie?.. and Army/War Movie?
P-NYCE: Favorite Gangster Movie would have to be New Jack City (if that's considered gangster).. It's some good lessons learned in that movie about TRUST and LOYALTY.. and my favorite War movie has to be Black Hawk Down, that's about the most realistic movie I have seen of war time chaos!
GLOK: You've been called an eloquent and amazing musician.. a lyrical commando.. you've assisted in the Hip-Hop meets Western Music crossover (Hic-Hop), you have your own label, and you even getcha Def Poetics (spoken word http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI13ohQas4w) on from time to time.. What is it that P-Nyce is set out to accomplish beyond all of his current success thus far?
P-NYCE: I want to take the success I have had within the military and bring it to the WORLD! The market for my music is so great, because 1 it's a monopoly I am the ONLY OFFICIAL ARMY RAPPER! 50 nor Jay, nor Wayne can do what I do, because they haven't live and seen what I have seen. Plus the fact that the sales could be tremendous, the state of this country is something that everyone can relate to (Black, White, Mexican etc) and that my friend means UNITS lots of UNITS sold, haha. So right now I'm just shopping for the right business situation that I think will totally capitalize off of what I have to offer the world!
GLOK: You have done many shows and have seen many places/countries (I know how it can get on the road).. How do you handle the "Me Love You Long Time" groupies?
P-NYCE: HAHA, what groupies, lol? (Pleads the 5th)
GLOK: Word on the street and in the field is So Heated Records is the movement.. Tell me more about your label and how it feels to be both the CEO and the main event!?.. and who is the next young gunner(s) droppin from your SHR platoon?
P-NYCE: Glad u asked.. It's one thing about helping your own career but its feels almost twice as good to help someone else develop and succeed also! With that said my right hand man Artik Phreeze is that Next Big Thing round here! He's got it all from marketability to lyrics! I also have some of the most lyrical young emcees in the area with Goone Squad and New Breedz they keep me on my toes! And last but not least the lovely ladies "The So Heated Digital Dymez" are VA elite Promotional Models! That's just some of many artist SHR has to offer (B-Ruger, Dre Day & Blk Spida)
GLOK: (The Scoop) How was it working with T-Pain and Trey Songz?.. and what do you have cookin up or in the streets right now for the world to go out and copp (purchase) 4 copies of?
P-NYCE: Pain is one of the most down to earth artists I have ever met! You really wouldn't even think he is as famous as he is chilling in a room with him I really respect that about him. Treys management sent the song we did via email but I appreciate him for looking out, he has a bright future ahead of him, and he reps VA hard body which is good! My album "War Stories" drops in 2009 world wide on military posts!
GLOK: You get a Purple Heart for your story alone homie.. Before this sit down CANIBUS was my favorite MC/G.I. Joe but you got that now.. Keep the music coming, stay sharp, and I salute you for not only this cigar but all you do and have done in protecting our people.. our country.. and Hip-Hop.. At ease soldier.
P-NYCE: Good look homie.. P-Nyce & So Heated is the name (stay tuned).. It only get's hotter from here.. 100
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