Miami continues to overflow with talented artists that stretch across the city limits and lately over the horizon. The artists that flock down here love and respect Hip-Hop as a lifestyle, a culture, and an art. No matter how you try to convince them, they refuse to believe that Hip-Hop is in a slow decline, they will defend their beloved genre until the bitter end. With the fusion of music and culture, Hip-Hop is definitely an entity all on its own and has been for quite some time now.
One artist who simply goes by the moniker Supreme has proven to me that Hip-Hop is not in a slow decline and continues to push the genre he grew up on excessively. Supreme is considered a heavyweight artist in his hood and amongst his peers, however, an underdog in this overwhelmingly game that we’ve have become a part of. He is constantly in the studio honing his craft day by day, recording track after track on a regular basis. His lyrical content normally revolves around his everyday experiences and what inspires in to continue to pursue his prospering musical career. His philosophy has always been, ‘give back as it was given to you,’ with that being said, this is why this new street album entitled ‘No Pressure’ will be available for free download and free handouts, at the same time, he will also be doing a Thanksgiving drive for the less-fortunate families in his hood and all over South Florida that he and his team organized themselves.
This is the exclusive interview with the artist and the philanthropist, listen and understanding as he gives you the meaning behind his Hip-Hop Supremacy.
24: All right, so let’s get right into it. So what’s been going on as of late with the infamous Supreme that everybody knows all over the streets?
Supreme: Right now, I’m working on my street album, that’s the ‘No Pressure.’ I’m currently working with IFAP Productions who produced ‘Get Crunk Music’ for Dipset, and Pretty Ricky’s ‘Personal Trainer.’ I’m working with them and they’re doing a lot of production on my street album.’I got a project working with Al Jenkins called ‘808 and Purple Kush.’ That’s going to be a street smash. But lately I’ve been on a loop, I’ve been grinding. I came out with ‘I Just Wanna,’ did the remix with Ballgreezy and C-Ride. Had Dirtbag on one version of the remix, but we had to take him off because, you know, there were situations. But other than that I took a little break, and now I’m back to work.
24: So basically Supreme is back in the studio, he’s working hard, and he has more material coming out, right?
Supreme: A whole lot more material.
24: Do you want to talk more into it?
Supreme: I never left the studio. I just dropped one single, street single and I took a pause, but I never left the studio. I got a new mixtape, again I told you about the ‘No Pressure,’ street album. I got one that I’m trying to work with Obscene that’s called ‘The Drop,’ and that’s going to be me showing my expertise o
n industry beats.
24: Well, let’s get into Supreme before the name Supreme even existed; Supreme before music, the humble beginnings before he got into the industry where everything came about, the introduction.
Supreme: Well, I go way back, born a Little Haiti baby, started off on the Ave; moved down to the Runway. But born and raised in Little Haiti, and as a matter of fact, got off the porch late around seventh grade. That’s when I got introduced to the streets, and all that other crazy shit. You know the crazy lifestyle that every other rapper goes through. But that’s pretty much it. Didn’t jump into the rap game until like really I believed it was in ‘03 or ‘04, when I first met up with 7 Heights, with Mike G and Zoe Pound and from there I took off, pretty much. And there you go, you have Supreme.
24: Let’s talk about that first song that you wrote that you put your pencil to and when you start spitting in the mic. What was the name of the song and what did you put into it?
Supreme: The first song that I ever wrote?Oh man, it wasn’t even a song I didn’t even know how to construct a song at the time. I think that shit was like 152 bars. But the first time I picked up the pen and pad, I remember I was growing up from old school music, but the first time I decided to rap was when I heard Zoe Pound ‘Money Makes the World Go ‘Round.’ And I was like “Damn, these older niggas from my hood that came up from nothing and I look what they doing, they got songs with Raekwon, they had songs with Hot Boys, when Hot Boys was the shit. Like damn, I can do the same thing, I’m pretty sure I can do the same thing.” Started picking up the pen and pad dipping and dabbing here and there with words, and the next thing you know, my word play got sick. That’s how it all jumped off though.
24: So when it comes down to your writing in general as of right now, what subject matter do you incorporate into it? Is it like you take experiences that you get from the streets, what exactly is it that you do? What runs through your mind?
Supreme: My inspiration is basically my life. If you hear my music, I’ll jump from situations to my baby mama, everything that I go through in my life everyday, it’s in my music, you hear it; It’s everyday reality.
24:I ask a lot of artists this and I get different answers. That’s the only reason I ask this, because every artist has a different answer to different questions. All right, they say that when you listen to the beat, the beat gives you an idea of what to write. Does the same thing go for you or does a whole different element come to mind?
Supreme: Sometimes I can go in a groove already having in mind what I want to do, but in the process of me doing that sometimes, a lot of times, I could say 75% of the time, I can say “I’m going to the studio and I’m going to work on this type of song. I’m going to try to make this type of song today.” But then you got niggas like Nacho, drop the beats in your lap, and you have no choice but to do it. The beats do tell you. Some beats, but then on the vibe the beat tells you to do something else. So sometimes it does depend on the beat. Cause if it’s a good vibing beat I’m going to be in parking mode. If it’s a hunger beat and some struggle beat, I’m going to get on that mode. It’s all in my mood, but at times it’s what the beat tells me.
24: All right, so you mention Nacho and we all know that he’s a producer. When did you and Nacho start working together? As a matter of fact you want to talk a little bit about Nacho?
Supreme: (laughs) I talk about Nacho a lot, cause he helped me with how to construct a song. But I met up with Nacho in like ‘03. At the time, I wasn’t even on the rapping train. But they taught me how to put songs together, and ever since then its Nacho and Supreme, Supreme and Nacho, you know, Taco Bell. However you want to call it. (laughs)
24: The name Supreme what exactly is your derivative behind that stage moniker. A lot of people can take ‘Supreme’ as a different definition. What exactly was your mindset when you thought about it, and you put together a name when you told the world, “I am Supreme?”
Supreme: At first when I got started, Biggie was my favorite artist, and that’s how it started off. I used to listen to Biggie and he used to always talk about the Supreme team and I always liked that and I was like you know what, “I’ma run with that. I’ma put100% in anything I do. I’m securer than any other nigga out here. Anything you can do, I can do ten times better. You say you’re the hottest nigga on the street, I’m way hotter than you nigga.” And that’s how I feel about anything and anybody.
24: Powerful moniker. With the music that you do, which everybody lately has been getting a hold of, they know who you are and everything. Where would you put yourself in a genre?
Supreme: I’m a little of everything, I try not to limit myself to nothing. I was very limited when I started, I’ll admit to that. But now I limit myself to nothing. I give anything a try, because I’m a student of the game. I’m still learning. If it hurt your feelings, then goddamn it oh well. Eat a bullet and die, I don’t really care. But I’m very outspoken. That’s how I describe my music.
24: That’s a good answer. Now with the way that the industry is changing, that Hip-Hop is no longer Hip-Hop; that pop is taking over, and commercial hits are become less gutter and less gutty. Would you think that you would take that route, or would you still keep it hood, but sway away just a little bit at times? I know that you got a power in that that I just heard, and I think that you should talk about it.
Supreme: First off, to answer your question, the first part your question, I think people who say that Hip-Hop is getting soft or turning pop, need to grow up. You need to elevate your game nigga, don’t hate on the next nigga doing it, and don’t get mad cause you can’t do it. I mean don’t get me wrong, sometimes I hear some shit and I’ll be like “Goddamn what the fuck is going on? If he can do it, damn it, I know for a fact I’m I can do that.” But you can’t hate on a nigga’s music. Hip-Hop is Hip-Hop. Hip-Hop is not just one style; it’s a whole bunch of different styles. So sometimes you can find it’s a lot of Hip-Hop in Pop. Hip-Hop is what it is man, step up.
24: Well let’s talk about your upcoming singles ‘Candy’ and ‘Groupie.’
Supreme: First, I’m going to talk about Groupie. That right there is going to be a shoosh full of it. I shout out a couple of my niggas in there, who I fucked with in the music and who showed me love. A lot of niggas don’t show me love, but hey, I could show them love anyways. But Groupie is going to be a banger, I got my dawg JR on the hook, and I just took off on there, and it’s going to be a classic. Candy is another record, that’s going to be an official banger, that’s me featuring JR and featuring Ronnie J on the hook. That’s for the ladies. That’s a certified banger.
24: Getting back into what you were saying, you had a good anthem, that Hip-Hop has its own realm, its own world. Give me Supreme’s definition of Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop as a whole in your mindframe. How do you see Hip-Hop?
Supreme: Hip-Hop is life. All quests for life all different types of cultures… As I said, Hip-Hop has no limits to me. Anyone who limits Hip-Hop, limits themselves in life, I think, cause its all around.They way you dress, the way you move, the way your hair is. Hip-Hop has no limits.
24: So you’ve been underground for awhile, but people know who you are. Are there any labels that are major right now that are looking at you, or that you’re looking at, or are you not really focused on that right now? What exactly is going on with that, with Supreme going commercial?
Supreme: Yeah, I’ve been underground for awhile, but I’m to the point right now that I like being the underdog. I like people to turn around and hear something and say “Who is that?”And that’s my goal and that’s my obligation. I’m going to start a bidding war, and them muthafuckas better get they money right, cause I’m going to cost, ain’t going to be nothing cheap. But right now, I like being the underdog. Unsigned hype, that’s how I am. Ain’t nobody got more hype than me.
24: You mentioned to me earlier that you were going to be releasing a street album for the streets. Its not about money, it’s just about them hearing your music. Why don’t you give everyone an idea of what’s to come and what we should anticipate from that street album?
Supreme: The street album ‘No Pressure,’ I guarantee the release date January. I guarantee that. I’m going to talk to Sneak or Kronic to host it. And pretty much what you’re going to get from that, ‘No Pressure’ is a freebie. I’m giving it out. I mean, of course, I’m going to try to get my little chip off of iTunes here and there, but for the most part it’s free. And ‘No Pressure’ is showing that this is easy for me. I’m giving away free bangers, original bangers for free because it’s that easy for me. These niggas bust they brains all day, I got a team behind me, trust myself, and we make it a whole lot easier. We do this for fun. I don’t have to run outside, I just sit around and just write music all day just because I can and it’s that easy. I do 4 to 5 songs a day, cause it’s that easy. And out of 4 or 5 songs, I can guarantee that at least 3 could be top 8 against any nigga. That’s pretty much about it behind ‘No Pressure.’ I promise you a classic, January, first quarter.
24: Now this is a question that I wanted to ask you. Because you call yourself ‘Supreme’ and you said that you are superior to any other, what exactly sets you apart from any rapper trying to come up in this game?
Supreme: Basically it’s because I’m outspoken. A lot of these niggas bite their tongues and shove the secrets down their mouths and I call it like it is. ‘Walk like a duck, talk like a duck, nigga you a duck.’ A lot of niggas scared to do that, and I’m far from that. So that’s pretty much it with that.
24: Before we close out, I want to verify something. I’ve heard people tell me that you do community projects; that you actually give back to the hood; that you have people backing you and you do community events. You want to talk about that?
Supreme: This is actually our third year of us doing this, me and my team, Farm Studios and IFAP productions, we try our best to give back to the community cause the hood is where we came from. We started from the bottom, and I don’t have to wait until I have too much. If I got a little something now, then I’m trying to give back now. We are working on something for Thanksgiving actually. We are working on trying to feed a minimum of 100 families. And we have sponsors like IFAP, Farm Studios, I believe Winn Dixie, and we have some other sponsors and we’re working on a Christmas drive as well, stay tuned for that.
24: So this is open to all communities and where exactly is this going to be held? Do you have locations yet?
Supreme: Actually what we want to do is reach out and get families, its open to every hood, any hood; we went to a couple of churches and ask for a list of at least 25 names for who many people need. We went to local parks; shout to 89.1 they gave us a couple of families. They helped sponsor in that. And once we get all the families names, we’re actually going to deliver the turkeys to them. So they don’t have to come out of their way. It’s going to be delivered a day before Thanksgiving or two days, and make sure they have time to cook and enjoy themselves with the family and all that good stuff, same thing with the Christmas drive. You know I’m gonna be like the hood Santa, coming Christmas Eve, knocking on your door with a couple presents for you. Yeah, so that’s a couple of things we’re working on. Checkout the website: www.FeedTheFam.org
24: So how do we get in touch with Supreme if we wanted to hear music, or get to know him? I know you got a MySpace, a website?
Supreme: How to get in touch with Supreme; get out there on myspace.com/darealsupreme. For any DJ who needs drops, we got the Gmail, supreme.team@gmail.com, and I got the twitter, but I don’t really know everything about it yet. And that’s pretty much it, unless you keep your ears tuned to the streets, cause that’s where you’ll find me.
24: Well, thank for providing 24hourhiphop.com with this exclusive overdue interview with Supreme. Do you have any last words for your present and future fans?
Supreme: Look out. I’m coming, I’m coming hard, and I’m bringing a lot of pressure to a lot of niggas. And that’s pretty much it. I like to shout out IFAP productions, Farm Studios in the building. And other than that, I’m coming. Keep your ear to the streets. Most importantly, Rest In Peace Neo Brown!!
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