Y’all should know who he is…and if you don’t — wake the hell up and purchase Chain Letters immediately!
1. What’s up man, could you just do a quick introduction for people who don’t know who you are?
I’m Kam Moye but I’m known to most people as Supastition. Born and raised in North Carolina and been in the game since the 90’s. I’ve been featured on songs with everyone from KRS One to Royce the 5′9.
2. I’ve heard an old freestyle where you go by the name of Black Mel…where does the name Supastition come from, and are you changing your name to Kam Moye now?
I used to go by Blackmel professionally from maybe 93-97. Around 97, I signed a shitty deal with a label out of NYC (whom I won’t name) because I was new to the game and real naïve to the business at that time. They ended up owning my name, music, and everything. I realized it was a waste of time and my album would never be released so I refused to record anything else for them. I basically waited the contract out for 3 or 4 years until they finally released me. I had to change my name to avoid any legal actions or rep tape.
I started going by Supastition around ‘98 but people in NC had always known me by Blackmel. I wasn’t even going by Blackmel when you heard that freestyle but people still called me that regardless.
Kam Moye is just my government named shortened so I’ve always been Kam Moye since day one. I never officially changed it so I use it to release music that I don’t feel would fit the Supastition vibe. Maybe that’s the Gemini in me! In this game, you are allowed to be gangstas, hustlers, pimps, and killers but it aint cool to be yourself or be a regular dude. That’s who Kam Moye is…. the father, the husband, the son, and the hardworking black man. People expect Supastition songs to always be angry and bitter but I’m honestly not that kind of dude anymore. I got a good life with a good family now so my new music will reflect who I am now.
3. What made you want to be a rapper?
My cousins used to buy records and get these tapes sent down from NYC when I was younger. As a kid, I was real quiet not because I was shy but I didn’t know how to express myself. So I realized that being an emcee was one way to speak my mind. Plus, I used to see how all the girls would flock to the rappers, DJ’s, and b-boys. I couldn’t afford turntables and there was no way I was gonna be spinning on my head forever so being a rapper was the best choice.
4. How did the “Guest of Honor” mixtape come about?
Over the past 2-3 years, I’ve done over 40 guest appearances with different artists. I decided that it was time to put together a mixtape featuring some of those songs. Me and DJ Forge originally had planned to just sell it on tour in Australia but we received the CDs too late. I just hustled them online and the demand was crazy. I sold out of them a few times.
5. Why is the Leave of Absence EP only on iTunes?
It was intended to be a limited edition EP in the first place. I was gonna press it up on CD first but CD sales are terrible nowadays. I figured since it would be uploaded to a blog in less than a day anyway then why not make it available online first. I am about to finally release the CD version of it with three new tracks and a brand new cover. Just wanted to motivate those cats who want a physical copy of it and give them their money’s worth. M-phazes and Illmind laced the new tracks and I have another bonus track.
6. What does Kam Moye / Supastition have in store for 2008?
After the CD version of Leave of Absence, I’m gonna start focusing on getting the Kam Moye name out there more. I’m gonna set it off by dropping a free EP on June 17 (which is my bday). What better way to birth a new project and name then on the day you were born. After that, I’m doing a mixtape to get people more familiar with my movement. Finally, the full length Kam Moye album called Splitting Image will be released. That’s gonna be a powerful project with alot of substance.
7. You seem to tour mostly overseas. Will you be doing a U.S. tour anytime soon?
Honestly, I perform in places that I have a demand and that the promoters show love. Most of the time that happens to be outside of the U.S. so I do what I gotta do to keep my name out there. I don’t sit around and complain that I don’t get booked in the U.S. A lot of it comes down to whether I am willing to take a risk or whether the promoter is willing when it comes to losing money. Even though I am an indie artist, I am a father and husband first. So if I’m going to end up doing a show and end up making zero dollars or going in the negative then I will just stay at the crib instead. I don’t feel like I’m too big to do a show for free but I’ve been performing since the 90’s and I’ve done a shitload of shows without getting paid. You realize that somebody is gonna get paid off of you regardless. I make music for a living, I got married for the love! You learn how to decide what’s worth the risk and what’s not. Fans seem to think that the artists get to pick and choose where we want to perform. That ain’t the case….you go where they will book you and treat you with respect. I’m in talks with a few different artists about doing a U.S. tour but we’ll see.
8. “Chain Letters” seemed like a very personal, down-to-earth album. What’s your inspiration or writing rhymes? Where/When do you do most of your writing?
The funny thing is that Chain Letters was one of the least personal projects compared to my previous releases. I was at a crossroads when I did that album. One half of me just wanted to make songs about what I was going through and the other half wanted to earn respect as a lyricist. Overall, I love that album and I went through a lot to release it.
Inspiration for writing comes from traveling and wanting to interpret things in my own words and feelings. Sometimes its not about being the most innovative but more about delivering something in a unique way that other people haven’t. ‘Fountain of Youth’ is a song about growing up and getting older. Songs like that have been recorded before but my approach was different. How many songs about having bills and hating your job have you heard? ‘The Williams’ was just done from a different perspective. There are so many situations in front of us that people can write about but they have a fear of being labeled soft or not hip hop enough. I don’t care about all of that. I’m comfortable in my own skin and I’m a grown ass man.
9. Is the song “A Baby Story” true?
Shit, I would hope not! I kept hearing people do songs about cars and material things. This one dude told me awhile back that it was corny for me to make songs about my kids and family. When the fuck did it become corny to say that you love your family? I swear, hip hop has some twisted philosophies. I just wanted to show what’s really more important…a car or your child.
10. Who would you like to work with in the future?
Anyone who is level-headed and not on some ego shit. I learned not to come in this business with a fan’s perspective or you will get your dreams shattered. Some of the people I grew up listening aren’t the type of people I want or need around me. If I click with you on a personal level then we can do some work but if not then its just another paycheck to me. That’s why you rarely see alot of people on my albums. If you got hot music and you are a cool cat then we can hit the studio.
11. You and Illmind seemed to have a natural chemistry. Is he going to be on the new album (I’m assuming you’re making one…), and is there any chance that you two might form a group in the vein of Pete and CL?
Illmind is my homeboy and I got nothing but respect for him. He has a track on Leave of Absence (cd version) and he has a couple of beats on the Splitting Image album. We actually started working on a project in 2006 before he signed with Sha Money XL. Things began to take off for him and I started touring heavily overseas so we put everything on hold. Recently, we decided to start from scratch and begin working on a new album in between all of our projects.
12. You recently got to appear on WYNU’s 10th Anniversary Halftime Show. What was that like for you, and how did that come about?
That was a crazy experience to be there with so many legendary cats and have people like Primo and Alchemist show me love. DJ Eclipse has invited me for the past 3 years but I was always booked for a show or had prior commitments. I’m glad I finally made it this past year.
13. Finally, if someone has never heard your music before, what would you say to make them listen?
I’d just say that I’m from a period of music where lyrics were more important than swagger and hooks. If you listen to music to live out your fantasies of being extra street, ladies man, or being a millionaire then I’m not the artist for you. But if you don’t mind being reminded that there are rappers who speak from the heart and aren’t afraid to act their age….then you might dig my music. I got 2 daughters looking up to me and watching my every move. What do I look like carrying myself like an 18-year old? That sets the tone for the music that I make now.
Big thanks to Supa for doing this, make sure you pick up some of the man’s work, or go see a show as soon as he comes in your area!
Also, (shameless plug), I helped out Kevin from This Is Hip Hop, and we’ve completed the sample set for The Fugees’ “The Score”. Go check it out!
