170, 000. Imagine if Eminem had only sold 170, 000 copies of his first two albums, imagine if Jay-Z had only sold 170,000 copies of his first two albums, imagine if Nas had only sold 170,000 copies of his first two albums. Now imagine an artist with talent parallel to the aforementioned but having only sold 170,000 copies of his first two albums. The sad truth is that you need not imagine such a miscarriage of hip-hop justice, because unlike Em, Jay, and Nas, Ras Kass’ lack of commercial success is a reality.
After rising to prominence in the mid-‘90’s underground scene, Carson, CA native John Austin aka Ras Kass bypassed an offer to join the New York based Def Jam Records in favor of the Los Angeles based Priority Records, theorizing that a West Coast label would better understand his art and be more supportive of his career. However, what Ras imagined Priority to be would soon prove far from reality. After releasing two critically acclaimed, but commercially overlooked albums, 1996’s Soul On Ice and 1998’s Rasassination, Ras began to awaken to his reality. Unfortunately, having to record two more albums, which would never be released, Van Gogh in 2001 and Goldyn Chyld in 2002, in an attempt to appease his record label, Ras finally realized that his reality was that of an extremely talented artist who had been deliberately prevented from reaching more than 170,000 people.
So, what do you do when you’re an MC enslaved to a malevolent record label? You do what any man would do, you take your master recordings from the label, refuse to turn yourself in to the authorities who have a warrant for your arrest, and you tell the world your unbelievable story.
Finally, Y2HH caught up to Ras Kass via telephone, where he did happen to mention where he was, but no it wasn’t New York, and I don’t dry snitch like some b*tches, so the secret of Ras’ location (Australia) is safe with me. So please take a few moments and find out everything you need to know and never knew about the West Coast’ greatest lyricist. And after you’re finished reading this piece, please head over to www.raskass-central.com or www.freeraskass.com and sign a petition, buy a t-shirt, and show your support for the last MC left with any balls.
Viva la revolution!
Y2HH: We’ll do the five forum questions first.
ChinecroXL asks: Before you started your rap career, who had the biggest influence on you, whether it was an MC or anyone else?
Ras Kass: Probably W.E.B. Du Bois, Malcolm X, KRS-One, Rakim, my Mom, and all my dumb a** homeboys that was my peers. (laughs)
Y2HH: xXxKZAxXx asks: In a recent interview I did with KP, he said the Horsemen’s album was in the works and that it will be a banger. Are you really working on this album? If yes, how many tracks did you record already?
Ras Kass: Yeah, we definitely workin’ on it, its just life is real, people have to go on and do what they have to do, handle their business and take care of their families. But we already did about 10 or 11 songs. We’ve discussed just puttin’ that out anyway, and possibly tryin’ to do another 5 or 6 songs. 100%, undoubtedly the group does exist and we damn sure wanna put that record out. I’ma put one song on this Catch Me If You Can album called “Ain’t No Way,” which ironically goes: ‘ain’t no way I’m gonna let you b**ches, n***as come and get me.’ (laughs)
Y2HH: Devilman asks: After your latest shot at Alchemist on “Amerikkka Me,” are you two ever gonna squash the beef? Cos the 3 joints y’all done are tight.
Ras Kass:I never knew I did three joints with Alchemist. I don’t have a beef, (that line) just went real good with the rhyme (laughs), and I don’t lose no sleep over dude, it’s not a big issue like that. I doubt I would ever work with him (again), because from the beginning after that happened we had a conversation (and) I felt like he did some groupie sh*t, and because I wasn’t the object of his groupie-ism, then if I was the object of his groupie-ism, why would I reward that?
Y2HH: ill mic asks: Ask him if this new song “The Seance” produced by Dr. Dre is the same song he was talking about in an interview recently called “Whoop?” This song is banging and I would love a full version, tell him to leak it.
Ras Kass: No, “Whoop” is totally different, and actually Dr. Dre didn’t produce “The Seance,” it’s produced by Denaun, who’s actually Kon Artist from D-12, and he did a couple of songs on 50 Cent’s album, he’s a really dope producer, he actually does a lot of sh*t for Dre. We’re just trying to get all of the legalities out of the way and then I’m trying to drop that pretty soon, I was thinkin’ about droppin’ that first anyway.
Y2HH:MrDs10e asks: Do you feel that statements you have made on your records that might be perceived as racist have hurt your popularity and perhaps contributed to your problems getting fair treatment from record labels? Do you intend to continue featuring anti-white statements in your lyrics?
Ras Kass: I don’t make anti-white statements per se, I’m anti-everybody; I’m a misanthropist so I’m equal opportunity. It’s just ironic that when you talk about white people they a** get real red real quick. Like, I can say f*ck b*tches, I can say f*ck my daddy, I say n***as ain’t sh*t, I say ‘damn Ras Kass, you a piece of sh*t, f*ck me,’ (but) as soon as I say white people ain’t sh*t then all of a sudden they get sensitive. So I would suggest that the white hip-hop audience get real. We talk about f*ck faggots, but nobody bats an eye. And it’s ironic, I went to Europe and that was the first thing that they asked me. And I had to point out on the album, ‘what about this song where I’m dissin’ the sh*t out of myself, or where I’m dissin’ b*tches?’ But I mention: ‘white people burn your church then see you in the mall and clutch they purse / treat us like dirt when the black man was here first / that’s why I be on one officially / f*ck white people in general and f*ck the police specifically.’ Well ok, you got four bars, and meanwhile I got whole songs talkin’ about sometimes when I can’t stand myself or what I can’t stand about black men or what I can’t stand about black women or women in general. Now did that help to affect (my popularity)? My label’s just corny period, so I don’t really think that it hindered me. I’ma drop a jewel irregardless. This is a business, and if they feel like they can market it they’ll market it. If they see the returns and they can make money, they gonna make they money anyway. Nas came out with “I Can” talkin’ about white people shootin’ the nose off the Sphinx, which is all true and documented, but Nas just sold a million plus records.
Y2HH:Ok, these are the official questions.
I just spoke to a very credible source that I have, and he informed me that the authorities have picked up things in an attempt to locate you, and one of their most recent pieces of info came from the XXL article. (“On My Own,” June ’03) So, any well wishes and congrats to the writer of your piece for that one?
Ras Kass: I think it was bad taste to do some of the things. I’m kinda disappointed. No disrespect to XXL, it’s just I asked that somebody who knew me, whether their opinion of me was peachy keen or not completely to my liking, at least I could have respected it. I hoped that they would have respected to not completely snitch on me. Some things can go without saying.
Y2HH:So was that the main piece of information that rubbed you the wrong way?
Ras Kass:There were a couple of things to be perfectly honest, but I can’t change it, what’s done is done. I gotta be positive and work towards doin’ the best that I can with my time.
Y2HH: In that same issue of XXL, Daz is quoted as saying he wants to release Goldyn Chyld on DPG Recordz regardless of the legal consequences. Have you spoken to Daz regarding this?
Ras Kass: No, not yet.
Y2HH:So why are they gettin’ quotes from him and y’all ain’t even talked?
Ras Kass: I don’t understand how they could talk to Daz, or talk to people who wanna remain anonymous but not talk to my manager who’s known me eight years, or Xzibit, or somebody that’s observed me and I’m pretty sure have opinions of me, but at least could man up and say what they thought about me. They say it to my face, so if they say it in a book I wouldn’t give a sh*t. We say it to each other’s faces. I appreciate the fact that XXL cared; I just wish maybe I coulda had a different writer, somebody that would have had a little more concern (for my situation).
Y2HH:So do you wanna talk to Daz about (releasing Goldyn Chyld), is that a realistic option for him to put it out consequences be damned?
Ras Kass:If it makes dollars, it makes sense. That’s a blessing, I appreciate what Daz said in the magazine. I just been grindin’, but he always been a good n***a with me, so if we can make some business work I’m
all for it.
After rising to prominence in the mid-‘90’s underground scene, Carson, CA native John Austin aka Ras Kass bypassed an offer to join the New York based Def Jam Records in favor of the Los Angeles based Priority Records, theorizing that a West Coast label would better understand his art and be more supportive of his career. However, what Ras imagined Priority to be would soon prove far from reality. After releasing two critically acclaimed, but commercially overlooked albums, 1996’s Soul On Ice and 1998’s Rasassination, Ras began to awaken to his reality. Unfortunately, having to record two more albums, which would never be released, Van Gogh in 2001 and Goldyn Chyld in 2002, in an attempt to appease his record label, Ras finally realized that his reality was that of an extremely talented artist who had been deliberately prevented from reaching more than 170,000 people.
So, what do you do when you’re an MC enslaved to a malevolent record label? You do what any man would do, you take your master recordings from the label, refuse to turn yourself in to the authorities who have a warrant for your arrest, and you tell the world your unbelievable story.
Finally, Y2HH caught up to Ras Kass via telephone, where he did happen to mention where he was, but no it wasn’t New York, and I don’t dry snitch like some b*tches, so the secret of Ras’ location (Australia) is safe with me. So please take a few moments and find out everything you need to know and never knew about the West Coast’ greatest lyricist. And after you’re finished reading this piece, please head over to www.raskass-central.com or www.freeraskass.com and sign a petition, buy a t-shirt, and show your support for the last MC left with any balls.
Viva la revolution!
Y2HH: We’ll do the five forum questions first.
ChinecroXL asks: Before you started your rap career, who had the biggest influence on you, whether it was an MC or anyone else?
Ras Kass: Probably W.E.B. Du Bois, Malcolm X, KRS-One, Rakim, my Mom, and all my dumb a** homeboys that was my peers. (laughs)
Y2HH: xXxKZAxXx asks: In a recent interview I did with KP, he said the Horsemen’s album was in the works and that it will be a banger. Are you really working on this album? If yes, how many tracks did you record already?
Ras Kass: Yeah, we definitely workin’ on it, its just life is real, people have to go on and do what they have to do, handle their business and take care of their families. But we already did about 10 or 11 songs. We’ve discussed just puttin’ that out anyway, and possibly tryin’ to do another 5 or 6 songs. 100%, undoubtedly the group does exist and we damn sure wanna put that record out. I’ma put one song on this Catch Me If You Can album called “Ain’t No Way,” which ironically goes: ‘ain’t no way I’m gonna let you b**ches, n***as come and get me.’ (laughs)
Y2HH: Devilman asks: After your latest shot at Alchemist on “Amerikkka Me,” are you two ever gonna squash the beef? Cos the 3 joints y’all done are tight.
Ras Kass:I never knew I did three joints with Alchemist. I don’t have a beef, (that line) just went real good with the rhyme (laughs), and I don’t lose no sleep over dude, it’s not a big issue like that. I doubt I would ever work with him (again), because from the beginning after that happened we had a conversation (and) I felt like he did some groupie sh*t, and because I wasn’t the object of his groupie-ism, then if I was the object of his groupie-ism, why would I reward that?
Y2HH: ill mic asks: Ask him if this new song “The Seance” produced by Dr. Dre is the same song he was talking about in an interview recently called “Whoop?” This song is banging and I would love a full version, tell him to leak it.
Ras Kass: No, “Whoop” is totally different, and actually Dr. Dre didn’t produce “The Seance,” it’s produced by Denaun, who’s actually Kon Artist from D-12, and he did a couple of songs on 50 Cent’s album, he’s a really dope producer, he actually does a lot of sh*t for Dre. We’re just trying to get all of the legalities out of the way and then I’m trying to drop that pretty soon, I was thinkin’ about droppin’ that first anyway.
Y2HH:MrDs10e asks: Do you feel that statements you have made on your records that might be perceived as racist have hurt your popularity and perhaps contributed to your problems getting fair treatment from record labels? Do you intend to continue featuring anti-white statements in your lyrics?
Ras Kass: I don’t make anti-white statements per se, I’m anti-everybody; I’m a misanthropist so I’m equal opportunity. It’s just ironic that when you talk about white people they a** get real red real quick. Like, I can say f*ck b*tches, I can say f*ck my daddy, I say n***as ain’t sh*t, I say ‘damn Ras Kass, you a piece of sh*t, f*ck me,’ (but) as soon as I say white people ain’t sh*t then all of a sudden they get sensitive. So I would suggest that the white hip-hop audience get real. We talk about f*ck faggots, but nobody bats an eye. And it’s ironic, I went to Europe and that was the first thing that they asked me. And I had to point out on the album, ‘what about this song where I’m dissin’ the sh*t out of myself, or where I’m dissin’ b*tches?’ But I mention: ‘white people burn your church then see you in the mall and clutch they purse / treat us like dirt when the black man was here first / that’s why I be on one officially / f*ck white people in general and f*ck the police specifically.’ Well ok, you got four bars, and meanwhile I got whole songs talkin’ about sometimes when I can’t stand myself or what I can’t stand about black men or what I can’t stand about black women or women in general. Now did that help to affect (my popularity)? My label’s just corny period, so I don’t really think that it hindered me. I’ma drop a jewel irregardless. This is a business, and if they feel like they can market it they’ll market it. If they see the returns and they can make money, they gonna make they money anyway. Nas came out with “I Can” talkin’ about white people shootin’ the nose off the Sphinx, which is all true and documented, but Nas just sold a million plus records.
Y2HH:Ok, these are the official questions.
I just spoke to a very credible source that I have, and he informed me that the authorities have picked up things in an attempt to locate you, and one of their most recent pieces of info came from the XXL article. (“On My Own,” June ’03) So, any well wishes and congrats to the writer of your piece for that one?
Ras Kass: I think it was bad taste to do some of the things. I’m kinda disappointed. No disrespect to XXL, it’s just I asked that somebody who knew me, whether their opinion of me was peachy keen or not completely to my liking, at least I could have respected it. I hoped that they would have respected to not completely snitch on me. Some things can go without saying.
Y2HH:So was that the main piece of information that rubbed you the wrong way?
Ras Kass:There were a couple of things to be perfectly honest, but I can’t change it, what’s done is done. I gotta be positive and work towards doin’ the best that I can with my time.
Y2HH: In that same issue of XXL, Daz is quoted as saying he wants to release Goldyn Chyld on DPG Recordz regardless of the legal consequences. Have you spoken to Daz regarding this?
Ras Kass: No, not yet.
Y2HH:So why are they gettin’ quotes from him and y’all ain’t even talked?
Ras Kass: I don’t understand how they could talk to Daz, or talk to people who wanna remain anonymous but not talk to my manager who’s known me eight years, or Xzibit, or somebody that’s observed me and I’m pretty sure have opinions of me, but at least could man up and say what they thought about me. They say it to my face, so if they say it in a book I wouldn’t give a sh*t. We say it to each other’s faces. I appreciate the fact that XXL cared; I just wish maybe I coulda had a different writer, somebody that would have had a little more concern (for my situation).
Y2HH:So do you wanna talk to Daz about (releasing Goldyn Chyld), is that a realistic option for him to put it out consequences be damned?
Ras Kass:If it makes dollars, it makes sense. That’s a blessing, I appreciate what Daz said in the magazine. I just been grindin’, but he always been a good n***a with me, so if we can make some business work I’m
all for it.
o you think this leverage maneuver has actually worked? 
