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ThaFormula.com - So how did you get down with Raptivism?.

Tahir - We were in the studio recording "Behind Enemy Lines" for the No More Prisons album which I did the track for and then I pulled my own joint out, "Murda Box".  I played it for them and they was like "Yo, let's make it happen".  From their we just felt each other out a little bit longer to see if we wanted to do more things and then decided yeah let's hook it up.  

ThaFormula.com - Are you a part of any organizations?

Tahir - Nah, I'm just People's Army.  For the people, you know what I'm sayin. That's about it.  I would love to be part of an organization and really contribute, but with what I'm doing, I don't want to be part of an organization and not be doing nothing.  If anything if I can just make a record about being pro this and pro that, I think that is a good contribution for myself that I can go to sleep with.  

ThaFormula.com - How do you feel you are trying to represent yourself on this new album?

Tahir - On my new album, "Homecoming", I'm representing the regular black male.  That's what I'm representing and everything that comes with it.  I like nice cars.  I like 76 Impala's on 20D's and at the same time I love my girl and respect her.  I'm glad she stuck with me.  I think we are in a bad situation in the hood.  I have something to say about that.  I'm just askin questions that every black male asks.  I'm from the South and I love bass and bounce music.  I love to get in a party and get it crunk.

ThaFormula.com - You are doin some crazy things with the drums on your album man.

Tahir - Yeah man, I'm just trying to really put everything of myself in it.  I feel I got something to say and that cat's with my point of view count as well.   

ThaFormula.com - How are people responding to this album?

Tahir - They are responding well man.  Alot people are surprised because of what they think I'm gonna come with.  They think it's gonna be "Let's Get Free" part 2 and shit.  But it's really not that at all.  But people are more surprised at the certain type of beats that I used.  

ThaFormula.com - Are you going to be on tour for this album?

Tahir - Right now I'm on a promotional tour as we speak with radio and stores and what not.  But as far as performances, I got a couple of shows here and there lined up but I plan to hit tours a little bit harder.

ThaFormula.com - Is their anything about hip hop that really bothers you right now?

Tahir - One of the things that I run into that I don't like is this let's take it back to the essence of real hip hop shit.  That gets on my nerves cause that's just another way to separate the people.  Who is to say Juvenile ain't real hip hop.  I mean he's in the ghetto where hip hop started.  He's bumpin still there right now.  That separation of the people man, is weakening us.  This goes both ways cause you got people that say, "I don't wanna hear that Talib Kweli", not even respecting the man.  He got's something to say to, just like you.  I don't like it when I see it because we can be so much more powerful if were together. 

ThaFormula.com - Does it affect you when you are performing at all these shows and the majority is European?

Tahir - It don't bother me at all. If they came there to see me, then I'm good. If there is a whole bunch of white folks in the joint, they know what they are about to get into.  If they don't know, they will know after.  

ThaFormula.com - How do you feel about interracial relationships?

Tahir - Well me personally, I don't do it.  But what a man and woman want to do is up to them.  Me personally, I love black women.

ThaFormula.com - So are you doin any work on the new dead prez album?  

Tahir - I have a couple of cuts on the new album, but not as many cause I been busy with my own joint.  But I can tell you that it's going to be real hot the second time around.  Stic did like half of the new album and we reached out to get some beats from other folks.  We got alot of instrumentation and we just tried to follow our hearts one more time and do what we feel.  I think people are really gonna enjoy the second time around.

ThaFormula.com - Who are you feelin in hip hop right about now?.  

Tahir - Well I'll tell you, the tightest album to me out there right now is that Jay - Z blueprint album.  I ain't even gonna lie about that.  That album really gelled real good.  I can play that album front to back and top to bottom.

ThaFormula.com - When you say crackers in your verses, what do you mean by that?

Tahir - That's white folks, like when I say niggaz, that's black folks.  Yes they both are derogatory terms, but they also are both used alot. 

ThaFormula.com - Other then you immediate family, who have you done production with lately?. 

Tahir - I've done a joint for Black Thought's new solo album, which is the lead single called, "The Water".  I don't know when he's gonna release it cause he's been workin on his album for a while.  I've done stuff for Boots from The Coup for his new album called "Get Up" with dead prez.  I done stuff for this group called Crime Waves who are out of the Bronx and they are in an Indie label.  Also, a group down south called Inner Thought that's on a local label down there.  

ThaFormula.com - Who are some artists you would really like to work with? 

Tahir - I really would like to work with somebody like Ludicrous or somebody that is real flamboyant with there style cause I like to experiment.  Experimentation is my favorite thing man.  When you can try to make something else that is past the norm.  I would love to do something for Dre from Outkast. He can get on anything and pull it out.  

ThaFormula.com - Who do you think is the best producer out there right now?

Tahir - A couple of months ago I would have said Dr. Dre cause I really felt  that Chronic 2001 and Snoop.  But lately, just for his diversity, Timbaland is really showin me he can flip it any kind of way.  That "Hola Hovito", where did that come from man.  For more info on Raptivism Records, check out www.raptivism.com for the latest on the label, Shabaam, Tahir, and future projects.

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