Audio One Be Lo
The R.E.B.I.R.T.H.

Hailing from Pontiac, Michigan, One Be Lo has been serving up top-shelf independent hip-hop since the late 1990s. His old group Binary Star was beloved by heads around the world, despite only putting out one full album; the ridiculously dope Masters of the Universe (originally recorded as Water World in 1999). Since embarking on a solo career, One Be Lo has continued to excel, releasing multiple albums, singles, and compilations on his own label Subterraneous Records while captivating audiences with his introspective lyricism and rousing live shows. We caught up with him in the midst of a European tour, promoting his brand new album The R.E.B.R.T.H.

MP3.com: You've been making music for a long time. How does The R.E.B.I.R.T.H. differ from your earlier work? Did you approach things differently this time around? One Be Lo: There's really only two differences in the projects now. One, I'm not putting out the record three years after it's done. And two, I'm working with more producers. Like the last several projects, you're rocking the acronym title again. Is that a theme you plan to keep running with? Is that sort of a nod to back in the day when that was more common in hip-hop? To be honest, I only started doing it because I was originally going to release an album called L.I.F.E., but I wasn't ready for that title yet. I never expected it to go this far. It's just me being different, but also letting people know that each record is a part of an overall collection. You've got a bunch of different producers on there, but it still comes off as a really cohesive album. Some of these cats are pretty well known -- Jake One, Vitamin D, Memo. But a lot of them are less familiar. I know some of them are AML dudes. Are the others mostly local guys or people you've connected with on the road, or online, or what? Yeah, all people I been knowing for years. I just never took the opportunity to work with them until now. I been knowing all of them for at least four years now; some even up to 10 years or more. What happened with the Trackezoids? Are you still cool with Decompoze and them? Trakezoids is the name of a production team that I started, and there will always be a Trackezoids. Decompoze -- that's my guy. I been knowing that cat since high school. I think sometimes people look at the credits and when they don't see a certain name, they start guessing and assuming s***. Of course, if I'm working with only one producer, I'm gonna pick what I like from his stash. But now, I don't care who the producer is; if I like the beat, that's what I'm writing to. Whoever give me some s*** that inspire me, I'm gonna use it. I still make beats too, but I can spit over my s*** any time. The track "Headlines" addresses a lot of current events: politics, war, gas prices, the church, celebrity gossip, and so on. Do you try to keep up with all of that stuff on a day-to-day basis? Or do you try to avoid it because there's always so much bad news? I just write about what I know or what appears to be common to me. The only thing I try to keep up with is my own music. I don't really watch the news or read the paper, but you don't have to keep up with the things that you just mentioned. Are you following the presidential race much? Do you have a favorite candidate? If so, who and why? Not really. Once again, it's hard to be totally oblivious to what's going on. I don't really know s*** about Obama, but for some reason he feels like a real person more than the other ones. I wouldn't vote for him on the strength that he was black, but for the reason I just said. In 31 years, I never registered to vote. This year, maybe I will; but to be honest, I don't think about it that much. You sample a bunch of dialogue from Rocky 3 on "Smash." Did you get to check out Rocky 6 or the new Rambo? Hell naw. Mr. T ain't in them flicks. [laughs] What country are you in right now? How is the tour going? Right now, I'm in Ireland. The tour is nice; my first tour in Europe. I think anywhere you find real hip-hop, you will have a good time -- Europe, the States, wherever. Do you have any favorite cities or countries to play at and visit? I like it all; every experience is something that I keep with me. Every show is a new adventure. No matter how big or small it is, I try not to take any of it for granted. My favorite places to visit have nothing to do with hip-hop. I know you travel a lot and are always performing around the world, but you've always shown a lot of love and support for your hometown. What is the scene like in Pontiac? I'm never there, so I couldn't tell you [laughs]. That's just the place that made me. I wouldn't tell nobody to visit -- you would probably be mad at me. I just think it's dope for us (me, Senim, Decompoze) to come from a place like that, doing what we do. It's not common, and most of all, we are known all over the world, but not in Pontiac. People recognize me on the streets and in malls in other cities, but not in Pontiac. They don't even know I rap. Binary Star was really special to a lot of people -- both critics and regular heads really dug it. Your solo albums have also gotten a great response. Even though you're not all over the radio and BET and whatnot, you've got almost universal respect from the "underground" or whatever you want to call it. Do you feel like you get the props and recognition you deserve? Or do you feel kind of pigeonholed into a certain scene? Personally, I make music for myself and because that's who I am. Coming from Pontiac, I was never looking to be ''accepted'' by anybody. I just wanted to play my part, and if you like it, cool; if not, that's cool too. I'm still here because the people like me I guess. I don't really pay attention to what props I get or don't get. That don't mean nothing to me. If you respect my music, then it's much appreciated. But I'm gonna keep doing me regardless. Throughout your entire career, you've always been a very lyrical emcee. Your words are really visual, and there's a lot of subtle stuff packed into it. Do you ever feel pressured to "dumb down" your verses to appeal to more listeners? The only pressure I ever feel is to never repeat myself. I don't think you have to ''dumb it down'' to appeal to more listeners, unless you looking for those type of listeners. Me, personally, I'm looking for people who appreciate what I do. If it's only 25 people, then this is what I got. I'm an artist -- not into statistics when I make music. In addition to the music, I know you do a lot stuff in the community--talking to kids, giving lectures, spreading the word of real hip-hop, and so on. Is education something that you'd like to get more involved with in the future? In the future and the present too. I'm always talking to people, reading books, trying to learn more. If you mean degrees and all that...the only reason I would go back to school is so I could teach on that level. I wouldn't mind being a professor and affecting the lives of youth on that level. I can connect with people, and I recognize that -- whether I'm rapping or not. I'd like to continue to do that even when I'm not rapping. Nowadays so many rappers are trying to prove how tough or street they are -- bragging about doing crimes, being locked up, and all that. You did some time when you were younger but don't mention it very much in your music. Because you've been through the system and turned it into a positive thing, is it especially disheartening to hear all of these cats fronting like prison and violence are cool, hip things? I don't know why they do, but I always try to talk about what I feel is relevant. Sometimes it is, and sometimes it ain't. But I don't do it just because. It's easy to talk about the problems, but somebody gotta have some solutions. Hip-hop music in 2008: good, bad, ugly, or all of the above? If you a One Be Lo fan, then it's going to be a great year. What's cracking with the [World Champion B-boy crew] Massive Monkees? That's the crew; them cats stay busy. What's up with Subterraneous as a label? Are you working on releases from any of your other artists? Subterraneous is a label that I started, but it was more like a vehicle for myself. Just in case there was no other rides coming along, I could drive myself. I had cats that I worked with in the past, but it was never the kind of label that goes out and signs artists. I don't have any artists; I just got cats that do the same thing that I do. I never wanted to get into putting out somebody else's s***. It's hard enough pushing my own s*** full time. Them dudes gotta do them just like I gotta do me. If they get signed to somebody and it works out, that's good for them. We crew because we say we are--not because we obligated. You have a lot of new projects on deck--the L.I.F.E. album, the collabo with Majestik Legend, and a new Binary Star record. How are those progressing and do any of them have a release date yet? So many projects on deck...mostly collabs. Me and Bean One got a project called ''The Ones and Only'' coming out this year. Me and Black Milk got a project coming out this year. They make beats, so it's easier working with them than Senim. Me and him live in two different places and got two totally different lifestyles, so it's not that easy. We talk about Binary Star project, but who knows when. I got another project called B.A.B.Y.(Being a Black Youth) that I wanna drop this summer as well. I'm trying to get a big label to put out L.I.F.E. and that prolly won't be this year; I just want to set it up. I don't work with Magestik Legend no more. That Security record been done for two years, but it ain't never coming out. Everybody and their cousin is trying to be a rapper these days, and technology has totally changed the game as far as indie labels and home studios go. With more than a decade of experience behind you, what advice would you give to all the fledgling emcees, producers, and small label owners out there? Surround yourself with positive, resourceful people. If the labels don't get you, them haters will. And stay true to yourself. If you a thug, be a thug. If you a skater, be a skater. Just make sure you work hard to perfect your craft. Any last words for the fans? Support One Be Lo -- 2008 will be a busy year.
For more on One Be Lo, check him out here