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EVIDENCE
Evidence has been a major influence on the hip-
hop scene for years, rapping along side of the
highly acclaimed Grammy winning crew, Dilated
Peoples. Now he’s returning to the scene with a
solo album, his 3rd solo album to be exact.
Evidence is by far one of the realest artists in the
hip-hop game. Known for his conscious
meaningful lyrics, or as he would call it “Educated
Animal Rap”. Evidences new album is set to drop
on November the 25th. His last album “The
Weatherman LP”, was released in March 20th of
2007, and included features from fellow members
of the Dilated Peoples, as well as Defari, Planet
Asia, and Slug, and included production from The
Alchemist and DJ Babu. There’s one thing for
certain, Evidence can hold his own against most
of the rappers in the game today, and this new
album is sure to bring a new chapter to a book
already filled with accomplishments.

DSB: You were raised in Venice, California, what
was it like growing up there?
EVIDENCE: It was different, but in a lot of ways it
was the same as growing up any where. There
was a lot more money coming from the area; it
was a small area with a lot of different types of
people.

DSB: What was the music scene like when you
lived there, was there any outlet for a young hip-
hop head like yourself?
EVIDENCE: I really wasn’t doing music then when
I was running around, observing, playing ball,
graffiti, you know, things normal kids did. I didn’t
get into rap until like 14 and 15 or so.
EVIDENCE: That’s a tough one. Marijuana, weed. Yea, it’s funny, when I don’t smoke I don’t seem to do as much
creative stuff, I do more promotion, but when I smoke weed I do a lot of creative work.

DSB: You have a new album “The Layover EP”, coming out on the 25th of November, how long have you been
working on this album?
EVIDENCE: It’s a EP, not an album, it has more songs than a EP traditionally has. I wanted to go over the
expectations of what people would have. It also comes with the DVD all for the EP price. My next album will be
named “Cats & Dogs.

DSB: What do you think the industry as well your fans can expect to get from this album?
EVIDENCE: I think this will be a good building process to help me build my brand, maybe a video will get a lot of
views or stuff like that. As far as my fans, I think they’ll be overly satisfied, I managed to do some new things on this
record as well as stuff they like to hear more of. I would like to sell a lot on soundscan, but I wouldn’t be betting on
it. I didn’t press that many copies.

DSB: The whole album has an airport theme, for example when you look at the cover, inserts etc. Explain the
concept?
EVIDENCE: There is no hidden meaning behind the concept, a layover, is just a middle spot between two
destinations. It’s really hard to get into an airport and shoot video and photoshoot. We went in and did it guerrilla
style.

DSB: So you had some great features on your last album “The Weatherman LP”, who can we expect to see join
you for your new album?
EVIDENCE: There are a lot of good features on this album, I had a lot of songs from my solo album and ended up
putting them on this EP. You know, on an EP, you can do thing’s you normally couldn’t do. It featured Will I Am,
Fashawn, Alchemist, and Phonte. It was cool hearing my voice next to people I haven’t worked with yet.

DSB: The Alchemist and DJ Babu have always done great production for you, did you get them in on this project as
well?
EVIDENCE: Yea, it was the same people, Babu, Alchemist, and Crisis, was the only new person, on this one really.

DSB: So do you have any plans to go on tour or anything else to promote your new album?
EVIDENCE: Yeah, I’ve been on tour non stop now, opening for Red Man & Method Man and before that a lot of
single shows, and touring Europe with Dilated Peoples. Going around the west coast and touring all around really”

DSB: So what’s the situation with the Dilated Peoples right now?
EVIDENCE: We just got back from touring Europe, Babu just dropped duck season 3, were all representing dilated
peoples still, were just doing our solo thing right now, stuff we really couldn’t do under the EMI-Capitol  umbrella.

DSB: Are there any plans for another group project?
EVIDENCE: Yes after we do some solo projects well be back doing another group album, I think doing solo projects
will put us in a better place then we were, and hopefully when we get back for the group project it will be that much
better.

DSB: What label are you on right now?
EVIDENCE: Right now there’s no label, just my own label, Taylor Made Records, which is my Indi label, right now
really only has me on it the first release on the label was the layover EP, I partnered up with Decon to do it, Decon
has a lot of dope things happening right now. Not sure who the next release will be.

DSB: If you could work with any one in the industry who would it be and why?
EVIDENCE: Well there are a lot of people that I wanted to work with in the music industry, and a lot of them are on
this EP and also my solo album. You always have ideas about people you want to work with but things don’t ever
seem to work out like you plan.

DSB: What can your fans expect from you this year?
EVIDENCE: Expect to see me back in the studio, full time rap mode, rap zombie mode. Anything with being a full
time rapper and producer.”

DSB: Any thing you want to shout out or promote?
EVIDENCE: No, that’s always corny when people promote on that question. Thanks for having me.


Interview conducted by J-Chase
www.myspace.com/jchase45