Phoenix, Arizona's finest, Mav, has always had a love for both music and his city. Coming with a one-of-a-kind sound, he makes music that speaks his mind and represents his life experiences.
Creating a major buzz with his group Sol Camp, a collective of Latin MCs, throughout his home state, Mav is now to set to blaze a trail as a solo artist.
Teaming up with the world famous DJ Vlad and Slopfunkdust (of Rawkus Records) Mav has dropped his first solo mixtape, titled Bassline Killa; over 20 tracks of lyrical heat, which will prove to be one of the most solid mixtape to come out in some time.
The Bassline Killa himself recently caught up for an exclusive chat with Planet Urban, talking about his new mixtape, representing Latin culture and what projects he has coming out in the future. Enjoy.
Give the people out there the background on who Mav is and what you do?
Its ya boy Mav a.k.a. Bassline Killa, a.k.a. Micadvancement. I'm an emcee representing Arizona but I was born in Chicago, Il. I have been making music for about six years now. I have dropped a few mixtapes and one album. I have opened for artists such as Ludacris, Lil' Rob, Chingo Bling, Baby Bash, Too $hort, Pitbull, KRS-One and many more. We are doing it big out here in the southwest.
I also am in a group called Sol Camp. I feel I have accomplished a lot since my debut album in 2005 called Micadvancement. If you come to the valley of the sun you'll definetly hear the name. I can name more things I have done but I'd rather you listen to the music for yourself.
Despite being on the West Coast, Arizona hasn’t really been checked for as far as Hip Hop music is concerned over the years. Let us know about the scene in Arizona (particularly Phoenix) and why you think it hasn’t made much noise yet?
Everybody gets their shot. Phoenix, Arizona will be in the lime light eventually. Its a matter of the right emcee at the right place at the right time bringing the right movement. That will help open the flood gates.
You are a member of Sol Camp, a collective of MCs from Arizona, tell us about the crew?
Yeah, Sol Camp is a group consisting of Me (Mav), Skunk One, B Staks, Chino D, Sal and DJ Villin. We are the new sound of Latino Hip Hop. We have achieved a lot and have a lot of faithful fans backing us with this. We are about to drop our first album in 2008 called Es Oh El.
Is it important for you to represent Latino culture in your music and represent for your people/hometown?
I represent a lot of things and my culture is definetly one of them. I am proud of who I am and where I am from. I am Half Mexican and Half Puerto Rican. Arizona is pretty crazy right now also. The racism is at an all time high with the war on immigrants. It is a place where you have to stand tall to get past all of the bullshit.
We here in Arizona representing this movement together. So yes it is important.
How do you differentiate yourself from the rest of the artists currently out, do you have any secret weapons?
I am me and put all of my soul into my music. That's what you get every time you get one of my albums is the truth. I ain't into talking about things I don't do. The secret weapon is my styles. I got a bunch of them, check the mixtape.
Who/what inspires your music and style?
It all starts from the beat. I have no idea what I will talk about on a song 'till I hear the beat. Also a lot of times I'll just freestyle the hook and record it and get the verses in my head and drop them.
What’s your relationship with Rawkus Records, is it a distribution type of deal?
Well the homie Slopfunkdust hosted my mixtape and he is the head A&R (Artist & Repetoire) of Rawkus Records. He helped host the mixtape and is behind it with Rawkus. Online distribution is what they are helping me with. I have a label with Sol Camp called Es Oh El Musik. That's gonna be the label that puts out all future Sol Camp projects.
Let everyone out there know about the Bassline Killa mixtape, which is available now on Planet Urban…
You definitely need to download that and give independent music a listen, you'll be pleased. The mixtape is hosted by DJ Vlad the Butcher and Slopfunkdust. The mixtape is put together like a movie. It's about me, Mav a.k.a. the Bassilne Killa and his run-ins with the law, because he always kills tracks and murders emcees. It's also a dope album musically.
What projects do you have coming out in the future, anything big we should look out for?
You definetly need to look out for Sol Camp's debut album titled Es Oh El. Then late 2008 I will drop my second album which is even more bananas than the mixtape. Look out for a bunch of projects droppin' on the Es Oh El Musik label also.
Do you have any words of wisdom for the fans out there?
Thanks for the support and check out the website www.mavmc.com to keep updated with me.
Thank you for your time and good luck in your endeavors, the mixtape is dope.
