One of the most immediately recognizable characteristics about Portland, Oregon-based emcee Sapient is his sharp wit and unrelenting sense of humor. Since beginning his foray into hip-hop, he’s never had a problem injecting a healthy dose of either into nearly everything he touches, including his work with Sandpeople.
As the mastermind behind Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” Flip and Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” Flip, he comes off more like a musical virtuoso. In fact, he’s also a photographer, graphic designer and fine artist—basically he can do anything.
Six years ago, Sapient (real name Marcus Williams) became a father, which apparently drags countless men kicking and screaming into adulthood. HIs growth is evident in the lyrics he writes and subjects he chooses to address— ranging from divorce to substance abuse.
Despite his newfound responsibilities, he still finds time to create some highly personal and intriguing bodies of work, especially on his upcoming EP, Fool For Gold. Comprised of six powerful tracks, Fool For Gold provides a little taste of what’s to come from Sapient’s forthcoming full-length album.
Sapient managed to carve out some time to discuss Fool For Gold, art as therapy and getting help from Brian Eno—delivered (of course) with a heaping side of sarcasm. Check out www.sapientkills.com to pre-order the EP and to learn more about the man behind the moniker. Fool For Gold drops July 15.
RAPstation (Kyle Eustice): The first song “Dethy” talks about only your mother “remaining." What did you mean by 29 years later," it still fucks with my brain?”
Sapient: Welp, let's get into it [laughs]. My dad divorced my mom when I was one-year-old, and I've always felt like I didn't know what a mom and dad relationship looked like. Parents being divorced is pretty standard—not a huge deal— but now that I have a wife and family, and each of my kids have grown past the age my dad left us, I feel like new issues arise inside. I've always looked up to my pops, but as time moves on, 29 years later it still fucks with my brain.
Clearly this EP is very personal. Is music your favorite form of therapy?
Not sure. Both yae and nae. I don't deliberately make music to express myself in a therapeutic way, but if I go very long without creating some kind of art, I become very unhappy and feel similar to being in an elevator that's broken down between floors. Not sure why—probably because I'm a genius.
How has having a child affected you as an artist? A human?
Not sure. It's hard to gauge the changes in yourself. That's probably why people are generally so fucked up. Having kids is crazy though, as you may or may not have heard. Fuck-ing-cray-z.
Where did you write the majority of your lyrics for this one?
I wrote a lot of these in my studio, some at home and some on the road. I went through a lot of stages of revisions and re-writing though, so it's hard to piece together where I did what. My preferred method for writing is dropping everything and working when the inspiration strikes, but that's not my reality so at times, it was really draining to squeeze the most ultra-dopeness out. I went a bit crazy, but came back. Actually, when things were their most challenging, I got help from Brian Eno's oblique strategies cards—Google it.
You hit some pretty high notes on “Fool For Gold.” Did you sing when you were younger? Did it take guts to sing being a “rapper?”
I didn't sing much as a kid—didn't even know I was specifically musical, but both my parents are so I guess it's in my blood. I was a bit reluctant to be a singer since I hate how all rappers wish they could sing, and most can't, but do it anyway. People started telling me I should sing more, so that boosted my confidence and now I'm super dope.
“L.I.E." seems to address substance abuse. Where do you stand on that?
I keep it pretty mellow because I don't want to fuck up my brain. I’ve been trying to figure out how to get high off the love in my soul. I feel like love is the purpose of life and cocaine is wack.
Is this a precursor to a full length?
Yeah I'm already working on the full length, which I'm planning to burst onto people's dome pieces next year. Even in my 10+ years making music, I learned heaps making this EP and the full length is really going to benefit.
Do you ever get discouraged when so much subpar “hip-hop” is what’s selling albums, etc?
Of course I do. But I'm trapped in this artist life now. It's a fucking trap. I can't be distracted by my ginger-headed peers blowing up off of songs about Goodwill, as jealous as I may be. If I quit making music I don't have any options, I'd have to become a full-time videographer, painter, photographer, or graphic designer. I only have like four or five lucrative backup plans. I'm trapped.
How did your career with Sandpeople prepare you to be a solo artist? Are you still tight with them?
Themz my boys for life. I was always solo before Sandpeople and it's been a separate thing. I've learned so much from them as artists and it's definitely contributed to who Sapient is 100%.
