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Hiphopcanada.com - Artist Interview 8@U with Ryan Somers aka 'Fritz tha Cat' from OK Cobra OK COBRA - OK Cobra (URBNET Records) Reported by: noyz319  Where did you Grow up? london, ontario. born and raised. i moved to toronto in 96. What schools did you go to? central secondary in london. ryerson journalism (dropped out). harris institute (dropped out). i just can't sit in a class room, it drives me nuts. i learn by doing. Who or what inspires you? music inspires me. words inspire me. nature. a beautiful woman. a river. sitting on a rock. a bass line. a wicked drum pattern. colors. When did you start listening to hip hop? & what have you done since then involving the hip hop culture? i started listening to hip-hop in the mid-80s, but i started getting into it SERIOUSLY in the late 80s... when i heard NWA and public enemy, my life changed completely. i've done it all, on the artistic side... i've been an MC (still am), b-boy, graf artist, and DJ. on the business side, i've done a number of things... music journalism, concert promotion, artist management, publicity, major label a&r rep... i've since left the "business" and am back to my first love: being an artist. i'm making music again, performing, acting, painting, writing, etc. Name all of your talents i don't know. i write. i act. i paint. i take my shows pretty seriously, you'll never see anybody quite like me on stage, i get pretty intense. anything artistic, i like to explore, so hopefully you'll be exposed to my talents through my various projects coming out, whether it's the OK Cobra album with my partner recordface, or one of the films i'm in, or my upcoming book, or a painting. i just need to keep working and exploring various artistic and creative areas. Where have you been in Canada and the World? i just got back from a 5-week, cross-canada tour. coast to coast, it was amazing. i've been out to bc a few times, lived in vancouver, toronto, and montreal. i've also lived in los angeles briefly, and travelled around california, nevada, florida, and a few other places. going to europe for my first time this winter on tour, which i'm very excited about. How do you participate in your community? i reflect my community as it's experienced by me, through my art. i also help old ladies cross streets and rescue kittens from trees. What are your plans for the future? try to keep breathing. i've got a lot of projects in the works, so i just want to keep being as productive as possible. hopefully i can get myself off the booze and drugs and allow myself to create. i'm just going to keep recording music (new OK Cobra album is in the works), keep performing, keep making films, whether i'm acting or writing/directing, or both, keep painting, keep writing, as i'm almost finished my first novel, and just doing whatever i feel like, as opportunities and experiences come along. keep travelling. at some point i hope to meet the right woman and fall in love and have babies, but all in due time. for now, i need to a) not die, b) keep making things, and c) see the world. for anyone who cares, you can find info on me and my projects at these internet locations... www.fritzthacat.com www.urbnet.com/okcobra www.myspace.com/okcobra ^^^^What he said^^^^^^ Ryan is a multi faceted artist and on to becoming a true renaissance man, and deservingly so. Touring the world starting with Europe this fall, Book in stores , Full Length CD national release, painter, poet, actor, cinematographer the list goes on. The 'NEWZ' would like to thank Ryan for dropping some facts about himself, Every Thursday we will be spotlighting a Canadian Hip Hop Artist so check it out. Next week it’s someone who you will recognize from the HHC community. Here is some info and the list of Dates OK Cobra did this summer. If you go on to http://ryansomers.blogspot.com you will find pictures of the tour and find cool stuff and of course Ryan’s ramblings. RYAN DURING THE 2006 SUMMER CROSS CANADA TOUR  OK COBRA OK Cobra is the alternative/indie rap duo of Fritz tha Cat (vocals) and RecordFace (production). Originally from London, Ontario – best friends in Junior High - they hooked up ten years later in Montreal to record their self-titled debut album, a collection of emotional and philosophical lyrics with beats crafted from a diverse library of musical influences. Everything from DJ Shadow to Suicidal Tendencies, Public Enemy to Cat Stevens, Deep Purple to The Pharcyde. Fritz tha Cat is an indie/underground hip-hop legend, a renaissance man who's worn many hats, including Vice Magazine rap columnist, Universal Music A&R man, TV show host, and has recorded with various artists including DJ Moves (LEN), Moka Only, and Buck 65. RecordFace runs a production studio in Montreal, works with the National Film Board, and was a founding member of Montreal-based indie-math-rock band Jane.Fon.Dorb. Fritz tha Cat & RecordFace to release "OK Cobra" album, "Child In Rhyme" video, and to tour Canada this summer! OK Cobra is the alternative/indie rap duo of Fritz tha Cat (vocals) and RecordFace (production). Originally from London, Ontario – best friends in Junior High - they hooked up ten years later in Montreal to record their self-titled debut album, a collection of emotional and philosophical lyrics with beats crafted from a diverse library of musical influences. Everything from DJ Shadow to Suicidal Tendencies, Public Enemy to Cat Stevens, Deep Purple to The Pharcyde. Fritz tha Cat is an indie/underground hip-hop legend, a renaissance man who's worn many hats, including Vice Magazine rap columnist, Universal Music A&R man, TV show host, and has recorded with various artists including DJ Moves (LEN), Moka Only, and Buck 65. RecordFace runs a production studio in Montreal, works with the National Film Board, and was a founding member of Montreal-based indie-math-rock band Jane.Fon.Dorb. The album will see an official release on July 4th, 2006, with OK Cobra (Fritz tha Cat & RecordFace) touring across Canada in July and August. See below for tour dates. A video has been shot for "Child In Rhyme," and will be on your television and computer screens in the coming weeks. Early response to the album has been nothing but lovely. CBC Radio 3 named "Time Flies" as one of the best songs of the year. A few other early quotes from press... "A welcome debut too long in the making." -Exclaim "Gritty production flavour, solid raps and a dope loop-driven sound." -Hour, Montreal "A peek into the minds of two guys who've heard enough of the same and decided to offer another look at how this shit is done." -Mirror, Montreal | ||||||
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