When it comes to Hip Hop, New York is home to many great MC’s and artists of all genres. Anyone who has ever visited the borough of Brooklyn will have seen its wide mix of cultures, ethnicities, and renowned musicians living within some of the most historic neighbourhoods in the world. Growing up within this melting pot has inspired the MC known as T.R.A.C. and as a result, he holds a deep burning ambition to rule and conquer the scene he is so immersed in. DMC checks in with the power house ahead of his forthcoming album ‘Life In Motion’ out via V Recordings in December…
Interview by Dan Prince
Terry a huge welcome to DMCWORLD dude, where on this crazy planet are you at the moment?
I’m back in NYC, the hometown of course. The holiday spirit is just about to get started here.
Ah, the city that never sleeps. What a place to live right now!
Whether you’re just visiting or you’re a native NYC is a very exciting place. At times it can get too exciting and at times it can be too fast when compared to your average town but this is home for me. I’m usually a laid back fella but I guess I didn’t grow up as simple as I thought. Still it’s where I fell in love with music especially Soul, Reggae, Hip Hop and Drum and Bass.
The coolest new music you have heard in the last 24 hours…
I just gave a listen to the Break tunes (We The People, Midnite Classic) with Fats and Cleveland. Both are favorites as well as the Cocoon tune by Bungle. I also have the new Talib Kweli and and Wu albums on deck .
Big news for you right now fella thanks to your new track ‘Late Night Connection’ featuring Dynamite MC. Please talk us through the history and sound of the track…
We really wanted to work with Serum and so we reached out. He came back with such a proper roller that it was easy for me to find the vibe. After laying a verse we also reached out to Dynamite for the additional fire power. I came back around with one more verse and the result is a deadly combination. High energy production from the producer and proper toasting from the Mc’s. Big up to the homies.
This is of course a predecessor to the main event, your new album ‘Life In Motion’ swinging our way on December 8th via the mighty V Recordings. The album includes productions from Calibre, Serum, Marc Mac and Random Movement as well as guest features from the likes of Conrad and Adrienne Richards. BOOM!!!! How long did the album take to create and was it all recorded in NYC?
I’d say we took just over 2 years. we couldve just done something quick and put it out but that that couldve been a disservice to us. Bryan Gee was getting me to see a bigger picture here with the idea of doing something really amazing and long lasting so we took our time putting the pieces together. I vocally recorded everything in NYC and kept in touch with everyone thru the webs. and now that we’re here with a soon release and good early feedback I’d say it was all worth it.
Okay let’s rewwwwwind for a moment and find out where all this began for T.R.A.C. musically. Tell us a little about your childhood, how did music enter your world?
In my single digit years music became essential for me. I was always crazy about anything I’d hear being played on the radio or playing with my parents vinyl records or just taping over my brother cassettes (whoops). I remember one time in my childhood my pops leaving me in the car with the keys after a long drive because I just wanted to hear what was playing on air at the time. It was either a MJ or a George Clinton tune but I definitely stayed in the car until a commercial break came along. you could say music was a much bigger curiosity to me than trying to learn how drive at 4 or 6 yrs old…he knew I wasn’t going anywhere. lol
I interviewed Shy FX last week in the magazine, he was telling us a story about when he first played Drum & Bass to a New York crowd, they looked at him like he was an alien. How did your love affair with the genre begin…who were the jungle generals ticking your boxes?
I’d say about 2001 around 9/11 was when things started to make sense btwn me and Drum and Bass. Prior to that I had just put out my first Hip Hop/dnb fusion with longtime homie Dj I-CUE called “Next level $hit’ on a label called Liquid Sky ran by Soul Slinger. It became a quiet dnb anthem here in the city and a well respected tune of sorts in the stateside underground. Those fellas were out there spreading proper vibes at all these rave and outlaw parties and I pretty much understood it. But to touch on the influences besides my NYC cohorts, I can’t forget the heavily influential stuff being done by 4hero, Shy fx, Roni Size, Bryan and Goldie among a few others. very appreciated artist.
A big moment for you was when V Recordings head honcho Bryan Gee spotted you at a gig. What’s the story there?
Bryan had just put out the latest Club Sessions No. 5 and I did a tune with Paul Sg and La Meduza called “Let Me Show You” which eventually ended up on the same V compilation. He came to Brooklyn later that year and for the first time I MC’d for him. I just remember his reaction during the night came in a form of a Philly Blunt T-shirt smacking me in the head. It was one of many proper vibes that happens whenever he comes to town…
We give you a blank cheque for the next album. What artists would be dream collaborators for you?
A blank cheque? I could single handedly bankrupt the music industry lol. I mean imagine Dr. Dre, Pete or Primo, Dilla if he still was with us (RIP) or even Quincy Jones at 174 bpm then collabing it with guest as poetic as Mos Def, a Nas or or a Kendrick – and then having features as soulful as Mary J. Blige or Beyonce. I believe we already have those kind of artist in the Dnb scene, some who I will soon work it, but if you’re into namesakes then that would be such a dream come true for any artist.
Tell us about the music scene in New York right now. It seems to be in a healthy state at the moment?
The NYC scene is healthy as the interest for the genre has risen again in recent times. We have some die hard promoters…BP2, The legendary Mac of Konkrete Jungle, Natural Selection and Driven AM doing their part in throwing some proper Dnb parties. It’s still not at the levels of what I would see across in Europe but we do have some great moments here that we all can be proud of from east to west coast.
What music genre do you immediately turn off if it comes on the radio?
I’ll take the high road on this answer. If it’s good music, no matter the genre, then I won’t complain. not one bit.
What was the last…
AMAZING film you saw…
It’s been a while since I have been to the cinema but currently have Thor on my mind. I’m going to check that real soon.
Album you loved
MC Eihts latest project has been getting blasted on my travels, along with Paul Sg’s This is Me and Lenzmans Earth Tones Ep.
DJ that rocked your world
Marky recently came to Brooklyn and put a slapping to my ears man. An absolute fun set he did.
What are the touring plans for the coming months?
We are getting that together as we speak. it feels like I’ll have a bunch in the works. I’m definitely excited.
And finally, Christmas is around the corner. What would be the perfect gift Santa could bring you this year?
The toughest question thus far! I’d a say a much prosperous and successful 2018. I wouldn’t open it til January.
Album pre-order link here: http://bit.ly/go-plv086
Socials:
Twitter: @trac_
Facebook: /tracmuzik
Soundcloud: /t-r-a-c
Instagram: teenickelz
