24: Introduce yourself to everyone that doesn’t already know who you are.

The name’s AbWoN pronounced Ab-One, most people call me Uno though. I’m from Irvington, Nj, and no I don’t know anyone from the Jersey Shore.

Tell us a little bit about your history, how you came about getting into the industry and who were some of your inspirations coming up?

I started out in a group named “The Rat Pac”, and we made some noise putting out a few Top 10 videos. Our “Top 10 Worst Rappers” video hit the 3 million mark on VladTv in as little as a week. I’m moving solo right now though, and some people would know me from the Joe Budden “Robbed Me” video last year that put up around 30k views or so. I’ve moved on from that, and I have a song out with Boogz Boogetz right now called “We Don’t Believe You”. I listen to every genre of music so it’s really not a case of one artist influencing me. I listen to everything from Tupac and Canibus to Beethoven and At The Drive-In.
 
24:What makes Abwon unique as an artist and different from other rappers?

Versatility, and creativity mostly. Most rappers are so used to rapping about one thing and never stepping out of that box, and they end up never evolving as an artist. If you want a story teller, that’s me. You want a cross-over song, that’s me. You want a song with punchlines and metaphors, that’s me too. I can do it all, and keep it honest. I’m not going to rap about selling crack to school kids because that’s not what I do.

24: Have you ever felt like too much time passes in the game where you have to make it and that window is closing?

The window only closes for those that don’t climb through it when it’s open. Too many artists are sitting on their couch watching television expecting someone to magically appear in their living room with a recording contract. Go out and do something to better your situation. You can’t make the basketball team if you don’t try out right?!

24: As of right now, who in the industry would you say you listen to on a regular and would probably like to work with in the near future?

I want to work with anyone that wants to work with me. Whether it’s 50 Cent or Vanilla Ice, I could care less. Right now, I’m listening to Jim Jones, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Akon, and Thursday. That lineup will change when I’m done with this interview though.

24: In the beginning stages of your new mixtape, what producers have you worked with or would like to work with on this upcoming project?

Riccardi, Vic Firth, S.Jones, TrakStarz, Franchize, and Jinx just to name a few. I basically have everything I need as far as production goes.

24: Are you happy with the feedback you’ve been getting from the mixtape since you’ve released thus far?

Oh yeah, definitely. I’ve only put out 3 or 4 songs, but it’s been getting positive feedback so far.

24: When you put music up for free download, does it bother you at all that you’re giving out the music for free or do you look at that as something that you have to do at this point in your career?

I’ve been giving out free music for years. If someone can get Lil’ Wayne’s mixtape for free and he’s sold millions of records, why would they pay for mine?! Nobody wants to buy music now period, so whatever you can put out for free, make it happen.

24: You have a buzz slowly building now. How are you going to keep it going?

Slowly, but very surely. I don’t have a machine pumping dollars into my project so everything’s coming out of pocket. This means it moves slowly, but it’s getting done. Once all the music is done, I’ll move onto phase two.

24: Do you enjoy the social networking aspect of the game or do you look at it like it’s something you have to do?

It’s something you have to do, but I’m a social person so it doesn’t bother me. Most artists feel they’re “too important” to talk to fans, but without the fans where would you be?! I’ll talk about everything and anything, sports, music, movies, whatever it is. You might forget that I’m a recording artist because half the time that’s the last thing I’m talking about.

24: Where do you see yourself going in 2011?

Getting my buzz higher than it was last year, that’s the goal every year. I’m not going to tell you “I’m winning artist of the year and selling 80 million records”. I keep it real, as long as you know my name by the end of this year whether it is over a song or a video I put out, then it is mission accomplished.

24: In today’s free download age, what do you need that you don’t have to make yourself a household name?

A team that’s focused. Everyone wants to shine, but nobody wants to grind, and that’s counterproductive. If I’m doing a video, I need people to make sure it’s going to make the noise we want it to make. I can’t do everything
myself because I have other things to worry about. If you’re sitting around waiting for me to make the decisions for you then we have a problem on our hands.

24: Do you feel like the magazine-type websites or blogs are more valuable today to a new artist?

Invaluable actually, I used to see Wiz Khalifa on every blog last year, and look what happened. Nobody reads magazines anymore, or should I say reads anymore period. They go on 24hourhiphop.com, look at the pictures, and click the link and the song plays. It’s easy, and it helps artists out tremendously because they can record a song this afternoon, and e-mail it somebody tonight, and it’ll be all over the world.

24: How would the fans go about contacting you and where can they go to find your music?

You can Youtube my song ‘We Don’t Believe You’ with Boogz Boogetz, hit me on twitter @abwon, and find me on facebook.com/abwonuno. Your best bet is hitting me up on twitter though.

24: Thank you for providing 24hourhiphop.com with this exclusive interview, do you have any last words for your present and future fans?

Talk to me, I talk back, it’s as simple as that. Garden State Project coming coon.