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"Trouble Man" Author | Project Coordinator | DJ Kwame Freedom | myspace Page 1 | 2 Lee: For those being introduced to you and your story for the first time through this interview could you introduce us to who you are your background, your work as an author and your current situation with the law? Kwame Teague: MY NAME IS KWAME TEAGUE AUTHOR OF THE ADVENTURES OF GHETTO SAM AND THE DUTCH TRILOGY. I AM ALSO THE PROJECT COORDINATOR FOR C-MURDER'S TRU PUBLISHING. I AM ALSO INCARCERATED FOR 2 LIFE SENTENCES FIGHTING TO PROVE MY INNOCENCE. L: I haven't read the series of Dutch books but plan to soon. Looking back on the first book, what initially brought you to start writing the story? KT: WHAT BROUGHT ME TO WRITE DUTCH WAS THE INSPIRATION TO WRITE ABOUT ONE SINGLE CHARACTER FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF EVERYONE BUT HIM. HIS FRIENDS, HIS EMEMIES AND ALL THOSE BETWEEN. L: What effect did writing have on the disciplines that you follow day to day? KT: WRITING FOR ME IS ABOUT MORE THAN EXPRESSION, SO FROM A DAILY POINT OF VIEW, IT WAS CATHARSIS, A RELEASE OF THE MENTAL FRUSTRATIONS. THE SAME REASON THE CAGED BIRD SINGS. L: Looking back on your contribution to literature and the experiences that come out of your writing, what is your definition of expression and how important do you feel recognizing the power behind that is, especially for a young person? KT: MY DEFINITION OF EXPRESSION IS THE ESSENCE OF BECOMING AND NOT JUST BEING. AS CHILDREN WE ARE GRANTED THIS GIFT OF EXPRESSION THROUGH IMAGINATION. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE BUT IN LIFE, REALITY MAKES ALOT OF PEOPLE DOUBT THAT GIFT. SO IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE YOUTH ARE ALLOWED TO MAINTAIN THAT GIFT, NOT AS A REBELLION NOR AS DEFIANCE BUT AS A CONDUIT AS TO WHAT COULD BE. L: As a youth, what books were you reading back then that had an influence on you today or that are logged in your memory when you think of some of your favorite books? What are some of your literature influences that you are currently reading today? KT: MY FAVORITE BOOKS, LES MISERABLES BY VICTOR HUGO, THE BLUEST EYE BY TONI MORRISON AND DISAPPEARING ACTS BY TERI MCMILLIAN. CURRENTLY I LIKE THE CLASSICS SUCH AS MANCHILD IN THE PROMISED LAND AS WELL AS ALSAADIQ BANKS' BLOCK PARTY. L: I definitely would like to know more about your role with Hip Hop from back when either as a listener, fan, artist, etc. Before being incarcerated, what memories do you have of Hip Hop? KT: AS A YOUTH, MY GREATEST MEMORY OF HIP HOP WAS MY 7TH GRADE END OF YEAR PARTY. I WAS THE DJ. EVERYONE IS DANCING TO LISA LISA "WONDER IF I TAKE YOU HOME" AND I MIXED IN RUN DMC "JAM MASTER JAY". I TOOK OUT THE SECOND COPY AND I RIPPED IT! I WAS IN A ZONE. WHEN I LOOKED UP; EVERYONE WAS STANDING AROUND THE TURNTABLES, MOUTHS OPEN LIKE DAMN!!!!! L: If you were to make someone a mix tape of the artist that you were and are listening to, who would we find on a mix tape from Kwame? KT: A KWAME MIXTAPE....IT WOULD BE LOOOOONG! OF COURSE KRS, RAKIM, BIG DADDY KANE. ALSO MC LYTE (IS SHE REALLY LYTE AS A ROCK?) X-CLAN, JUNGLE BROTHERS (FOR LIFE!) TRIBE, PREMIER BEATS, THE CHRONIC, REDMAN (HOOTERVILLE!) PETE ROCK BEATS, MAIN SOURCE, and RAEKWON'S PURPLE TAPE (EVERY SONG) REASONABLE DOUBT (EVERY SONG).... L: What are your thoughts on Hip Hop today? KT: HIP HOP TODAY IS NOT DEAD! BUT IT IS BURIED, IT'S UNDERGROUND WHERE THE POINT OF REFERENCE IS SALES BUT NOT SKILLS. JEAN GRAE, 9TH WONDER, THE ROOTS, SELF SCIENTIFIC'S THE BOOM BAP PROJECT, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. BUT MY POINT IS HIP HOP IS AN ENERGY, TRANSLATABLE INTO LANGUAGE. RADIO AND TV DOESN'T DEFINE HIP HOP, IF IT DID, THEN VANILLA ICE AND HAMMER RAN THE EARLY 90'S!! KID AND PLAY DEFINED THE GOLDEN DAYS (88-89), FEEL ME? BUT BECAUSE IT BECAME MORE OF A BUSINESS AND LESS OF AN ART, MANY OF THE OLDER HEADS ARE JADED. BUT HIP HOP WILL NEVER DIE. L: How much of Hip Hop or music in general have you been able to keep up with behind the walls? KT: I KEEP UP WITH WHAT I CAN, MAYBE 35%. OF COURSE I DON'T LISTEN TO RADIO RAP BECAUSE TRUTHFULLY THAT'S FOR THE KIDS. THE RICH BOYS AND LIL MAMA ARE THEIR ERA. BUT I DO LISTEN TO ALOT OF UP AND COMING CATS LIKE LIL' HALF OUNCE OUT OF MISSISSIPPI, OR BAMA OUT OF CLEVELAND, TRAUMA SQUAD OUT OF NEWARK... L: I'm listening to the background music on the Free Kwame Teague myspace page and I'm hearing "Trouble Man" by Marvin Gaye. What are your thoughts on that song and Marvin Gaye's life and music? KT: "TROUBLE MAN" IS ONE OF MY THEME SONGS. THE DARK SIDE OF ME, THE SIDE THAT NEEDS TO BE DOWN TO GET UP. AS FOR MARVIN, HE WAS A TRUE ARTIST. THE BEST ART COMES FROM TORTURED SOULS, SOULS THAT WANT TO BE GOOD BUT FEEL SO GOOD BEING BAD. IT'S WHY WHEN MARVIN SONGS OR CHARLIE PARKER (THE REAL BIRDMAN) BLOWS HIS SAX, YOU CAN FEEL IT IN YOUR GUT BECAUSE DEEP DOWN WE CAN RELATE. TUPAC, DMX, RAY CHARLES, JANIS JOPLIN, RICK JAMES… THAT INNER STRUGGLE OF HEAVEN AND HELL, MARVIN HELPED DEFINE THAT.
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