Contradiction? Pharoahe Monch Remembers Being Told He Killed Hip Hop Just Like Mumble Rappers

                                      

In 1991, rap music was in a transitional period in its then-nascent history. Rap music was still mostly regionalized, and underground Hip Hop acts that weren’t of the star power of MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice, Young MC, Tone Loc, or Technotronic had to be heard on either college radio or local rap video shows like New York City’s Video Music Box or California’s Pump It Up.

MTV was paramount in pop culture that celebrated its 10th year of operations, and Americans nationwide finally got their longtime wish from the slogan “I want my MTV” after the channel went from premium subscription cable to basic cable to their homes nationwide. This change enabled the visceral sensation of Hip Hop culture to be shown via Yo! MTV Raps, and fans got to see their favorite rappers on daily basis.

Yo! MTV Raps hosts Ed Lover and Dr. Dre showed a video for a song titled “Who Stole My Last Piece Of Chicken?” by a light-year, speed-travel rhyming rap duo from Hip Hop’s historic Southside Jamaica section of Queens called Organized Konfusion. The duo was comprised of the high-registered vocalist Prince Poetry and the preacher-like baritone spitter Pharoahe Monch. Organized Konfusion quickly became the standard bearers for underground Hip Hop’s elite with the release of their self-titled debut Organized Konfusion. After they released two additional albums before officially splitting in 1997, Pharoahe went on to a successful solo career with smash hits like “Simon Says,” the chart-topping “Oh No” with Mos Def and the late Nate Dogg, “Desire,” and several other underground rap favorites.

After 25 years deep in the rap game, Pharoahe, now 44, has seen the rap music industry and Hip Hop culture come full circle in many ways. The same traditionalist arguments about “rap isn’t the way it used to be” are are taking place; government politicians are continuing to disenfranchise people of color in ways that create protests in artists music; some artists are opting for dollars and fame than being woke seeking justice. Pharoahe Monch spoke with us about how he’s navigated the rap industry to remain relevant, why he is understanding and not mad at mumble rap being popular (including being a big fan of Desiigner), and how he defines his legacy.