METAPHYSICAL
Metaphysical has been on the Reno hip-hop scene since 1993. As one of the most versatile rappers in Reno, and a seasoned Burning Man attendee, Metaphysical and a large collective of musicians formed a group called “Tripknight,” and they recorded an album, “The American Dream” based on their Burning Man experiences.
Metaphysical took some time to talk with Reno Passport about the new album and Reno’s hip-hop scene. We printed a condensed version of this interview in November’s issue. Below is the entire interview.
You’ve been rapping with Element for 15 years now. How have you seen the Reno hip-hop scene grow in that time? How have you seen your crew, and yourself, grow?
The Reno Hip-Hop scene has grown in the last 15 years in almost every possible way. Back in 1993 the only radio station that remotely played anything pop, let alone hip-hop was Wild Bill Cody on 97.3…
…We started the first “Pirate” radio station in 1998 (using downloaded music) 89.1 FM, and broadcasted everything from Underground Hip-Hop to West Coast/East Coast Gangsta Rap, all the way to High-Energy House, Trance, & Drum ‘n Bass.
The people loved it so much, that within a year, someone else started 93.7 FM (they called it WILD 93.7), which I believe eventually became 102.9 FM, to satisfy the growing thirst for Hip-Hop in Northern Nevada.
Now in 2008, you have shows like the Bombshelter (which has been on-air since 1998), which play a type of underground hip-hop that could never be found before, unless you had tapes, CDs or vinyl.
As far as we go as a crew, we joined Digital Underground in 1996, and ended up touring all over the country, and as far as Australia. Getting out of Reno alone usually helps people grow in ways that can never be achieved staying here. I believe it made us one of the most well-rounded and versatile groups in Reno. In a town that almost prides itself with a segregated hip-hop scene, we were able to bridge the gap, and were able to gain notoriety from both sides of the tracks.
When was your first time at Burning Man? How many times have you been since?
My first Burning Man was 1999. I have been every year since except 2001.
What about Burning Man appeals to you?
It was the “FREEDOM” that people had, to be or do whatever they could create or come up with. It had a sort of Garden of Eden meets the first settlement on Mars type feel. I had never been to a party let alone a place like that before. It was so international. I went to my first REAL Trance Party with six of the most beautiful girls from Israel, they introduced me to Israeli Trance, and what they called “layers” in the music.
I can’t lie, the beautiful women half and fully naked running around definitely was a large part of the draw, but as the years went on, I grew to appreciate the Love, the Art, and the spirit of people as much as the sexuality.
I understand that you are the only major hip-hop presence at Burning Man. How does your music fit into the whole festival?
Well, our official Burning Man Theme Camp is called, FREESTYLE PALACE. This year we were located at 9:00 & the Esplanade. I can’t say we are the only hip-hop presence at Burning Man, because I noticed a little bit more hip-hop on the playa in the last few years, at least DJ wise. I believe we are one of the few, if not the only, camps that perform live hip-hop.
We also pride ourselves on involving the Burning Man community in our music, whereas they don’t just have to listen, they can join in, hence the name FREESTYLE PALACE.
Anyone can come up and recite original or off the top of the head pieces, sometimes over whatever music happens to be playing, sometimes a’capella. We had a dome this year with drums, guitars, and keyboards, even a cot! Random people would come in and just start playing the drums, or guitars, and pick up where the last person left off. It gives people, especially musicians & vocalists a chance to get involved, and to someone who loves to perform, those can be the type of moments that make your whole experience!
Tell us a bit about the new Trip Knight album.
Tripknight is a musical collective consisting of members from all different areas. From Reno you have myself, Dove, Tampa, Danny Spade, Platina, DJ Femur, Hotsteez, Juzown, Dialect, and have even had musical contributions from other Reno acts such as Who Cares and Dorm Room Music.
From the San Fran Bay area you have Adisa, L. Cooper, Daddy, Kate, Artie, Kelly, Vanessa, Tasha, Amy, John, Matt. The list goes on and on….
I camped next to Adisa McKenzie and L. Cooper about 5 years ago. We were all into music, but couldn’t find any stages that would allow us to play, especially because we had a weird blend of hip-hop and Folk/Bluesish type music.
So we decided to make a band out of random, and loner musicians that we could find anywhere. I mean we had everything from transvestite guitar players to pirate drummers. People from all different types of musical backgrounds, and then we would go hella deep to the places that had mics and speakers, and just by the size of our groups, we would get in. The first to accept us was a bar called “Whiskey n’ Whores”, we also did “Tai Chi & Chai Tea” that year. Our most famous performance became a widely viewed Youtube clip. If you search under Kristin at Burning Man, you will see our Center Camp performance, where a lovely young lady by the name of Kristin strip/hip-hop/Broadway dances to our music. The performance drew in people from all around the playa, and it ended up becoming a cracking party, in center camp of all places! This year we played at the Boho Crush camp, and several art cars.
So basically the Tripknight album is similar to the Tripknight group. It consists of music from all the various people involved, mixing everything from hip-hop to trippy ballads, even a little bit of what I call “LightHouse”, high energy house with hip-hop soul…
The album will be available shortly for free Download at Tripknight. com & myspace. com/tripknight
Since then we have played the 2007 and 2008 San Francisco Decompression as well as the 2008 Reno Decompression.
We have also played events like both the 2007 and 2008 Bay to Breakers race, and the 2008 Maker’s Faire.
Daddy aka David Levinstein started a group called “Lawyers for Burners” (lawyersforburners. com) after he was unjustly given a ticket for a marijuana bong that was left close to his camp that didn’t belong to him. Instead of paying the $500 ticket, he fought it in Federal court, and the fine was reduced to a $30 littering ticket.
After hearing more and more incidents occurring involving aggressive police ticketing, Daddy got together a bunch of lawyers and they began fighting people’s cases in Federal Court. This angered the Powers that be because normally people would just pay these huge tickets, and never would question authority. I’m not talking major drug ring cases, but one lady was a 65-year-old retired woman who got a ticket after standing in a crowd of people where the police thought they smelled pot. It’s all about that DOLLA DOLLA BILL YALL!
The songs on the album talk about these stories, everything from fighting oppression, to just learning how to love each other.
What should burners who might not have been exposed to hip-hop need to know about your music, and hip-hop in general?
Our music is bigger then a genre, or a category. I represent Black Rock City, and Reno, the way other rappers represent LA or New York. Just like anything else at Burning Man, you must keep an open mind and a welcoming heart in order to truly understand the Real Burning Man Experience.
Give of yourself in the Day, Dance in the night;
and somewhere between, you’ll see the LIGHT!
Peace and love
Meta
Links to groups and musicians Metaphysical is involved with:
www. myspace.com/metaphysicalmusic
www. myspace.com/elementmusick
www. myspace.com/tripknight
www. tripknight.com
www. lawyersforburners.com
www. shockg.com
Story by Danny Riggs
RENO PASSPORT
http://renopassport.com/local-reno-scene-builder-metaphysical/
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