When it comes to stage performances, Lord Vital is second to none, the Brooklyn, New York representative is at the forefront of The Everything is Beast Mode movement, as well as a pillar of the tri-state area's Hip Hop scene; recently he took to the stage @ Club XL with a ferocious freestyle, after winning the much coveted ASMA for Punchline Artist of the Year. His demeanor is that of a disciplined individual, always willing to impart knowledge on peers as well as all those who are willing to listen, vowing to go BeastMode at every chance. Check out my interview with the veteran emcee
Jason Bourne: Lord Vital, Mr BeastMode is what happens to go around a lot, break down for us the science behind the whole Beastmode movement
Lord Vital: Well the phrase I use is #EIB for "Everything Is Beastmode". This Is the mindset that you must have in order to live the lifestyle. In any aspect of life whatever you do go Beasting with it. It doesn't matter if it's working out, your music, shows, raising your kids or family in general go hard and be the best that you can be at it. Without taking no shortcuts. We work hard with no excuses. The movement itself grows rapidly in the calisthenics community because my fans force themselves to adapt to the lifestyle in order to attempt the crazy shit that we come up with while working out. But it's all about promoting health and becoming stronger as a human being. My movement changed a lot of lives for the better, and to think that all it took was a couple of pull ups to inspire the world to say "I CAN DO THAT". Not saying that it is easy because it's not. It encourages them to know that it is possible.
Jason Bourne: I understand that both your parents were accomplished instrumentalists, how did that influence you as an artist and your overall love for music
Lord Vital: My parents influenced me a lot musically. My mother plays the piano. But she only played songs that she wrote and composed. I guess that is where I get my writing skills from...lol My father he played all kinds of instruments. African Congo drums were his favorite. He would go to Prospect Park every Sunday and play with a wide variety of other artist and my family would just sit and listen for hours; even though I can't play any instrument, I've learned to appreciate different sounds that I use today when I sit with my producer and we create my beats.
Jason Bourne: First studio you ever recorded in? what do u remember about your first time in the studio and understanding how songs came together and the roles that each individual played in the process?
Lord Vital: This is funny because the first studio I've ever recorded in is the same studio I record in now. It had to be around 1994 and the manager I had at the time made me earn my way into the booth. I use to battle rap back then and he had me doing shows with no songs. All I had was verses that I would put together to make songs. He would say that I wasn't ready to get into the booth yet. This used to get me heated but he was teaching me about patience and playing my position which I didn't understand at the time. His younger brother was his main artist. He was good but always needed a hook or chorus for his song..... That was my key to getting in the booth. So now when we would go to the studio and the started recording I would automatically start writing a hook. By the time he finished his verse I would jump up "I GOT A HOOK!". I was ignored for a few but when they finally listened they knew then that I really had talent. Now I've been rapping since the early 90's but it wasn't until my producer grabbed me up and made me his artist. This is when I began to understand the musical side of a song and how the verses should fit. He taught me how to arrange music and showed me that every song isn't the same.
Jason Bourne: Who are some artists that you consider as peers and you have developed a great chemistry with over the years. How has that chemistry played out in song (name features)
Lord Vital: I've developed relationships with a lot of artist over my years but the ones that I had the privilege of creating with are very few. I feel and believe that certain artist are not ready to do music with me. This has nothing to do with skill level, It's all about chemistry. But the chosen few include my brother Rockness Monsta who was easy to record with because I was and still a huge fan of his work. I used to write like him when I first started. My dudes Billy da Kid & Cortez from Murda Ave Gang. We started out doing shows together way back and recorded a couple of tracks since then. We've always respected each others craft. My boy Trife Boss we've toured many states doing shows so when we got in the booth we already knew what to expect. I think it's safe to say that if I don't respect your show performance, then I probably won't do music with you.
Jason Bourne: I must say that when it comes to a performance, I have seen you in action many times, and what stands out for me is the energy level that you bring to the stage. Tell us a little about your preparation for a show
Lord Vital: When you love doing something, you don't need to prepare for it. I love doing shows and performing the music that I create and it shows in my stage presence. Plus I go Beastmode on stage. Performing for me is a major part of doing music. It's backwards if you're an artist and you record but don't do shows. "YOU ARE A WASTE OF TIME AND ENERGY", that's like buying a car and don't drive it; just don't make sense.
Jason Bourne: How did you get the name LORD VITAL
Lord Vital: The name Vital I chose because I knew that I would become an important part of anything I was associated with. Like a vital organ to the human body, you may live without me but it will be difficult. Lord was giving to me by other artists I used to rap with in high school. There was different levels to our battle community back then, And I was a Lord.
Jason Bourne: Aside from the music you are very active in the workout world, through calisthenics you have helped shaped the mind and bodies of many, when did you first fall in love with HEALTH
Lord Vital: I was always an active kid, and I was part of a gang. But this one day I was in one of my local parks planning to rob some random person, I was spotted by someone who changed the direction of my negative energy and transferred it towards positive energy by introducing me to the game of calisthenics. Through the years I was taught "YOU'RE ONLY AS STRONG AS THE ONES YOU TEACH" which means that no matter how strong I became it didn't mean anything if I didn't share it with some one else. I took that and shared it with the world. And the calisthenics was just a hobby to me, helping the world become stronger through my talent, I fell in love with that.
Jason Bourne: You recently won an ALL STAR MUSIC AWARD for punchline artist, tell us a little bit about that
Lord Vital: I was nominated for four awards. But out of all of them Punchlines Of The Year was the one that meant the most for me. Me winning that award was for me to show myself that they still respect my pen game as a lyricist; even though I song write, this is where I started from. The bars, the delivery and content. This means more to me than Artist Of the Year to be honest.
Jason Bourne: Whats next on the menu for the 2014 year for Lord Vital
Lord Vital: I have a couple of things lined up for the 2014. My boy Rock Redd will be home shortly so we can finish up the E.I.B Empire Group album. Of course I'm recording another solo project. I also will be traveling the world where my fans are who support the E.I.B movement whether it's for the music or the calisthenics. So I'm getting that together. I'm creating new E.I.B apparel that the world can wear in and out of the gyms because they love the brand I've made. Also I'm lining up my own Everything Is Beastmode Concert series because I've been doing other people shows for too long for me not to have my own. I will be in a couple of short films and webisodes, one called "Atlantic City Chronicles" that we're about to start filming season 2 for. And just keeping the brand alive because as you see it's more than music.
Jason Bourne: Where can fans and supporters get updates and stay in tuned with your work
Lord Vital:
To stay updated with me you can fan me on Reverbnation https://www.reverbnation.com/
follow me on Twitter https://www.twitter.com/
watch me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/
friend me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/
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