Necro Wants You to Die!

Words by Steve DiLodovico

Necro’s been in it for a minute. Widely recognized as one of the dopest producers of his generation, the kid has been dropping sickening jewels on a consistent basis for years now. As a producer he is untouchable: his dark, hypnotic beats have been fundamental bangers that are perfectly constructed for his distinctive style of seriously disturbed lyrical ability. The Brooklyn-born producer/rapper has also produced a string of gory hits for the legendary Non Phixion, as well as Q-Unique, Mr. Hyde and countless others over the years but it is his own solo work that truly defines him. Necro is one of those cats that can do just about anything: rap, produce, direct, act… he’s been the head of his own independent label Psycho+Logical records for a few years and oversees just about every aspect of running a label. In 2005 he dropped a porn video: The Sexorcist and has constantly pushed the envelope with a slew of records that most mainstream heads wouldn’t even touch. Necro music is definitely not for the faint of heart: it’s the kind of shit that goes to the grimy black core of the darkside of human nature. It’s fight music: all blood and guts and gore that connects with misfits, freaks and sociopaths. Necro fans love his shit, and, in turn, they are some of most loyal heads any artist has ever enjoyed. But, beyond the gory imagery and confrontational lyrics there is true artistry in what Necro does: his skills are unsurpassed and with all the many talents the kid has it’s amazing to see just how far he has come. I had a chance to kick it with Necro about a lot of things: the nature of the business, music, film, porn and the very sad and unfortunate passing of one of hip-hop’s most recognizable icons: Uncle Howie.

What do you have in the works right now?

Necro: My new album called DIE! drops May 18^th. I also just signed a new distribution deal with Fontana/Universal for my own record label Psycho+Logical-Records, gonna blow up the spot with original crack masterpieces. This year we got Necro, Q-Unique & Nems albums dropping so get ya wallet ready to cop dat krills!!!

What kind of people does “Necro music” appeal to? Who are your fans?

Necro: Anyone into sick shit, real hip-hop, thugs, weirdoes, fighters, juggalos, metalheads… I appeal to anyone that likes the opposite of Lil Wayne. I rep white kids in the streets and anyone that is misunderstood. The mainstream don’t like me because I’m too real. I’m not corporate: I’m a rebel and they like conformists.

You been in it for a minute now, how do you manage to keep coming up with such consistently sick production? How do you stay on top of your game?

Necro: I’m dedicated to my art, I know my style very well because I created and crafted it, so I know what it takes to come on the level I bring it, and its not easy but its fun, so I am driven to deliver hotness, no one on earth can do what Necro does, many try but they all fail miserably. Leave it to the big boys, fellas.

What do you like better, rhyming or producing?

Necro: Both. I’m one package. As Necro, you get both into one package of insanity that explodes in ya fucking grill like a grenade packed with Gemstar razors!

We were all sorry to hear of Uncle Howie’s passing. Through your music and the music of your squad you made Howie an icon. How much did he inspire you, both as an artist and as a person? How important is family, in general, to an artist’s career and growth?

Necro: Howie meant a lot to me, because he was more than my uncle. He was more like a big brother, and until someone is gone you don’t really realize how much you will miss them. But I miss him dearly and I hope he is in heaven looking down on me with a grin, crack pipe in his hand. Not to smoke but to play gangsta’ music with. Family has always been important to me, but I can’t say everyone feels that way. I haven’t had that much help from family in building the Necro brand, but I have always been able to get advice from fam and that’s enough. As far as money or investing I have done that all myself from jump, so I don’t rely on anyone for making moves. You gotta do shit yaself if you really believe in yaself: show and prove always.

People are definitely interested in your creative process. Can you describe how you approach concepts, beats, rhymes, etc.? Can you give us some insight into what it’s like when you go into lab and how you work?

Necro: I don’t usually share that because I don’t see any reason in letting these other rappers know my steeze. Everyone bites so much its better to remain a mystery on how I create. I do my thing, I have many ways to create shit, and it always requires focus and no distractions, so I don’t smoke or do drugs when making albums and my last 2 albums were made with me eating 100% healthy during the recordings: not one day cheating.

Your music is definitely on the edge and pushes a lot of buttons. What kind of censorship have you had to deal with over the years and how has it strengthened you as an artist? Do you enjoy more freedom putting out stuff yourself?

Necro: I think a lot of people have fronted on Necro because of my content, but I have released the music I felt I needed to release. I got my own personality so I need to release what is in my heart. I never felt the urge to create what the industry wanted. I am more like a 70’s jazz musician in a lot of ways: I make music that pleases me first and then I market it to people. Maybe I am warped but at least I won’t have regrets when it’s my time to go.

When you rhyme you have an incredibly visual, descriptive style. Ever consider directing movies?

Necro: Yeah, that’s something I wanna do, and I have directed 2 movies in college in the past. I am technically the first rapper to make his own movie, even before Master P dropped I’m Bout It.  Until then nobody ever dropped their own movie as far as rappers and I was selling mine on VHS through Fat Beats, so it’s a fact, but now I have been focusing on acting and this year I am featured in 3 movies so far. Indie films; full length ones, so that’s a good start. There’s definitely more to come so Pacino watch out!

How’s your porn career? Any new movies coming out?

Necro: I don’t fuck with porn movies; I made one but that business is annoying. I am happy being the illest sex rapper to do it in the new millennium; no one can touch me in that department in my opinion. Respect to the legends, but I took it over when I dropped The Sexorcist in 2005.

You’ve been known for bringing out the best in the artists that you work with, are there any artists you’ll be bringing out in the future that people need to be on the lookout for? What’s up with Psycho + Logical Records?

Necro: I will always release other artists, but my main focus is building up Necro to be on the level I can sell 100k indie. I haven’t reached that level yet so I got a ways to go. All in time man, nothing happens over night when you are indie. But I got this new deal and a new team, so things are moving along. 10 years in business and going nowhere: fuck anyone that doesn’t respect that shit.

What’s one thing that your fans would never guess about you?

Necro: That I am a human being behind the music and I feel and deal with situations like a normal human being. My music has, in some ways, made me seem like a cold demon or satanic god, whatever it is, I don’t like being viewed in a negative light, but the music takes a life of its own, so it’s hard to control, and I’m a control freak!!!! And the freaks come out at night!!

Necro’s newest joint: DIE! drops May 18^th. For more information on how to get it visit www.necrohiphop.com Go cop that shit!!!!!!!!