By Odeisel

The DMV is known for many things: guns and Go-Go, commonwealths and corners, pushers and pundits. More increasingly, they are becoming known for emcees.  The Clipse, Wale, Quan and a few others have been pushing against that glass force field for a few cycles.  Now we have the Diamond District collective of Oddisee, EyeQ and yU.  

Planet Ill sat down with yU to discuss the music, his motivation, and the DMV movement. He recently dropped his second work Before Taxes, a very dope look at how he believes Hip-Hop would be before they remove (tax) all the good stuff. We found him full of conviction, focused, and a compelling interview.  Enjoy.

Planet Ill: Your new album is called Before Taxes.  What are some of the things they take out to get the net that we get on radio in mass production?

Planet Ill: Coming from the DMV, a place where they have burgeoning talent but they haven’t really kicked the door in, what kind of flavor do you bring to the table that’s different from what’s out there now?

Planet Ill: People have different things to sell in their music. Some sell image, some sell message, some sell sex.  What are you selling?

Planet Ill: What goes into your music; making an album?  This is the second time you’ve gone from free tale to retail. What was behind that decision?

Planet Ill: What are your musical influences? Do you think that people should do music because they have the talent or because they have the passion

Planet Ill: When the money isn’t what what it could be, and the hunger pangs are there, what kept you rapping?