The Bronx born emcee who’s not trying to be the “super-complicated, super-lyrical rapper” nor the “five-word rapper” who simplifies every line, is attempting to modify the face of hip-hop with his Supra sneakers and innovative electric sound. Mickey Factz plans to carry progressive, cultured music to new heights with his latest project, Heaven’s Fallout, and an upcoming EP entitled The Achievement. After years of applied passion, the innovative emcee plans to take hip-hop back to the future, through his perceptions of life, music and good times. Say hello to Mickey Factz.
In Fader Japan you were named one of “New York’s Finest.” How do you think Mickey Factz and the new generation of New York emcees compare to the days of B.I.G., Jay-Z and Nas?
Factz: It’s an amazing compliment and those are big shoes to fill. When you talk about “New York’s Finest” you can only bring up three names: Biggie Smalls, Nas and Jay-Z. For me to even be in that category and mentioned with those names is an incredible compliment. I take it wholeheartedly and humbly, because I’m following in the footsteps of great artists. They paved the way and I try to expand on that idea and take it into the future.
You asked: why bring New York hip-hop back, when you can move it forward? What exactly did you mean by that?
Factz: New York hip-hop stands for culture. When you look at life in general, you don’t try to bring things back, except for fashion. When you bring it back, that’s when it becomes a trend. When you start something new for viewers and consumers, then it becomes a lifestyle and a culture that everybody wants to follow. When people say they want to bring New York back, I’m like, “Why do you want to bring it back?” It never went anywhere. I’m not trying to bring it back. I’m here to set trends, not follow the leader. I’m bringing New York hip-hop into the future.
You’ve collaborated with the Cool Kids, have a close relationship with Kidz in the Hall and you’ve been spotted with boutique apparel and exclusive sneakers—what separates Mickey Factz from the clichéd idea of an ’80s nerd, or a hipster hip-hopper?
The thing is this: just because someone hangs out with somebody, they chill together or they collaborate or partner on different business ventures, doesn’t particularly make you the same type of artist that they are. If you listen to my music, it’s totally different from what the Cool Kids bring to the table, what Chris Cuda brings to the table and what Kidz in the Hall bring to the table. The difference between them and I is that I’m trying to establish a new medium within the culture, by means of fashion, music and us. That has yet to be done.
Word. You said you would like to think that you were everything that Afrika Bambaataa would’ve envisioned for hip-hop to be like in 2008, 2016 or 2030. What is it that you think Bambaataa envisioned for hip-hop?
I think he wanted us to take it to the next level. I don’t think he’s satisfied with hip-hop right now. I don’t think anybody is satisfied for that matter. Right now, we’re in a singles-driven market and we haven’t been there since the 1950s. At this point, Afrika Bambaataa is pissed off. What he did was to fuse early breakbeats and parts of electro music and he made classic beats over them, and what I’m doing is rapping over electro and techno, which is the foundation of the breakbeats that he did. I’m just doing it in a way that is accepted by people who listen and appreciate hip-hop and world music. I’m making music for the 10-year-old in Atlanta and for the 19-year-old in Siberia. Mickey Factz is all of that. ,
