Wake Yourself
New Mexico's Wake Self On the Rise
New Mexico's hardest working emcee might just be turning into one of the world's hardest working emcees. Andy Martinez, better known as Wake Self, has been perfecting his craft over the past decade and his dedication is paying off. The Albuquerque-based artist fell in love with hip-hop at an early age, gravitating towards the sounds of classic hip-hop artists like A Tribe Called Quest and The Pharcyde, which eventually made him want to pick up a microphone. It's been on ever since. After a successful run with hip-hop band, Zoology, Wake Self went on a solo mission, beginning with 2013's The Healing Process. The album revealed the inner thoughts of a young man intent on positive change. That album took him to countless new places, including Europe, where he did a short run and widened his fan base even more. With his sights set on the world, Wake is preparing to release his follow-up album soon and will drop the first single, "Different," at the end of April 2015. The track features Bay Area legend Equipto and Raashan Ahmad of the Crown City Rockers. For now, the upcoming album is rumored to be called Malala, which is named after Malala Yousafzai, the young, female Pakistani activist. No release date has been announced. Until then, let's take some time to get know the man behind the moniker. Check out http://www.wakeself.com/ for more information.
RAPstation (Kyle Eustice): Tell me about the new album.
Wake Self: The new project is really heavy. My last two albums were a lot more fun, and feel good, this one doesn't have many happy songs. I always like to touch on as many topics as I can and this album is the same in that sense I just feel my approach was much different this time around. I did a lot of learning, living and researching to bring all my thoughts and focus together for this. I feel like I've been utilizing my voice for change, but I wanted to say more and maybe say some things people are afraid to address. This isn't music that you can just label "conscious rap" or "underground rap" it's just real music with heart and soul. When I look at the track listing for this one, I get a great sense of accomplishment that I haven't felt yet regarding a piece of my work. I have some surprises on deck for this one, some great vocalists, beat makers, emcees and DJs helped out. I'm super excited for this to be released. It's like waiting for a child to be born [laughs].
What's the name of your first single? Can you tell me a little bit about the song?
The song is called "Different." It's about setting a new standard with hip-hop, lyric-wise, who people support, how we view ourselves and basically how the whole rap world operates from fans to artists to corporations, etc. The beat is produced by Maulskull of Black Mask and features Raashan Ahmad and Equipto. It's interesting the route each MC took with their verse. I address rappers not thinking outside the box, and how the industry standard is continually rehashing the same subject matter for a quick buck. As well as how social media is changing us, and how I feel about the term "Follower." Raashan illustrates a familiar scenario for most rap cats who dreamed of being an emcee growing up and wanting to be like your favorite artist, until you finally understand being yourself is what's important. Equipto really says a lot in his verse and goes into how the true artists in hip-hop are the ones who are really preserving the culture regardless of what's popular. It's great to work with such talented artists that I consider friends yet still look up to each of them for what they do and have done.
You're getting more and more attention out of New Mexico. How does it feel to be on your way to more notoriety?
I'm very grateful for everything. I just keep focusing on getting better and making the best music I can make. Hunger pains to get this music heard keeps me up at night and keeps me excited on the road when I'm doing shows off no sleep. I try not to take any gratification the wrong way and just appreciate it all, but never be satisfied. My new slogan is "kill the ego and save the artist." If someone makes a shirt off it, at least quote me [laughs].
2013 and 2014 were pretty big years for you in terms of videos, albums and touring. What do you hope to accomplish this year?
I've already started accomplishing a lot this year. I did my first shows in Brooklyn and Philly, which was amazing to feel the hip-hop vibrations in those places. I imagine all the writers, breakers, emcees, DJs, and beatboxers who did their thing and expressed themselves through out the years, and how much history is in those areas. I've also been working more with schools in my community and in the surrounding areas to help educated and encourage the youth through hip-hop. I've also taken more responsibility in speaking out on issues I feel are important via: radio, live shows, interviews, discussion panels or workshops. I plan to release this album and tour extensively any place I can go. If you're reading this, I want to go rap in your area, too. Working with the youth is something I will continue to do, as well as working with kids in detention centers. I performed and spoke in a juvenile detention center here in Albuquerque recently and it was a very powerful experience. With my childhood, I can relate to those kids and for me to be an example of positive encouragement is very humbling. Artists need to learn how to give back. I will also be working on a new album with my best friend and favorite emcee, Def-i. I think when we get together it brings out a whole different side to my rhyme style. What we are working is very exciting to me, the music just keeps growing and solidifying itself.
Equipto and Raashan Ahmad pop up on your new album. How did those collaborations come about?
I've been connected with EQ and Raashan for a while. I know them from doing shows together and having mutual friends. Those two are both real genuine people and I have nothing but respect for them. I've talked with both of them for a long time about making some music together and finally the right situation fell into place.
There's a sea of emcees out there. How do you stand out?
I read books and do research [laughs]. But really I don't want to compare myself or say I'm better than anyone else. I'm not about the hype, just the music. If you listen and pay attention you can make your own choice on that topic. I just feel like I have things to say that need to be heard. I want to see the state of the world and music get shaken up in a progressive way.
You're now in your mid-20s. How have you grown since beginning your music career?
I think the music parallels my development and personal growth, as well as my visionary window of how I view the world inside and out. I'm definitely getting deeper into music, and trying new things that I haven't before. My mind in the same sense is opening up more and more each season, as I keep reading and keep experiencing the internal/external world. I guess the obvious thing to say is, I've gotten much better at rapping.
What do you think is missing from current, mainstream "hip-hop?"
Respect for the culture, for the elders who paved the way and for the children's minds and hearts that we influence. Also, respect for women and for the human being as a whole. I feel, at times, rappers don't even truly respect the airtime and spotlight they're given. I think it's sad that in hip-hop, our elders can't play sold out stadiums like an old school rock act can. Artists like Guns & Roses can play huge shows, but hip-hop icons like Rakim or KRS-One can't rock a venue half the size of them. In mainstream rap culture, we don't honor our elders like rock does. Rap has such a quick attention span and short term memory. Only artists like Jay-Z, Kanye, or Eminem can perform for the masses on that level, in America at least. I think part of it may be because rap is such a young culture to mainstream popularity, and it wasn't always fully embraced, but I do feel the popular radio stations don't have the classics in rotation and you can't learn about hip-hop history on TV like you can Classic Rock/Metal so the kids now days grow up with almost no knowledge of the roots and foundations. On to another topic, I think hip-hop and popular music has to be an instrument of change right now. So much going on in the world, so many issues plague us and this music and culture is the voice for a lot of youth!. We can't take that responsibility lightly. I'm not saying every song should be a protest, but you should at least have some thought provoking content in your art. Feel good, dance music is needed too, but right now with the world in the state it's in, we have to step up and inspire change. My second slogans is "Rappers need to read more books." It's sad to see people impressed by money, fame and image when to me, skills are what matters, your intentions matter and how you utilize your time on this earth matters.
What keeps you motivated every day? What do you love about making music?
I love to rap point blank. It's my favorite thing to do. It wakes me up everyday, even when I had no fans/support, I still just loved to rhyme. The visions that I have about expressing music to help inspire change keeps me going, when people send me messages or come up to me at shows and tell how a song has affected their life or their mindset that's love at work. All the people in pain, people fighting for freedom and change inspire me. All people in general inspire me in someway or another, the corporate forces who extort us make me understand the value of living self sufficient. I want to see a better world and I'm always looking to learn and understand how I can be a part of the healing and help others to be involved. Music is my tool for cultivating my awareness, my pain, my visions, prayers and to illustrate the human condition, as well as pay homage to the ancestors and to help preserve the hip-hop culture. I love how making music can give us hope, can build community and provide opportunities for people like me who came from very humble beginnings. Music can destroys a lot of boundaries that separate us. It is truly medicine. Music gives us a chance to tell our stories and to dream big. It's a therapy and an outlet for our hardships.
Wake Self: The RAPstation Interview
Wake Yourself
New Mexico's Wake Self On the Rise
New Mexico's hardest working emcee might just be turning into one of the world's hardest working emcees. Andy Martinez, better known as Wake Self, has been perfecting his craft over the past decade and his dedication is paying off. The Albuquerque-based artist fell in love with hip-hop at an early age, gravitating towards the sounds of classic hip-hop artists like A Tribe Called Quest and The Pharcyde, which eventually made him want to pick up a microphone. It's been on ever since. After a successful run with hip-hop band, Zoology, Wake Self went on a solo mission, beginning with 2013's The Healing Process. The album revealed the inner thoughts of a young man intent on positive change. That album took him to countless new places, including Europe, where he did a short run and widened his fan base even more. With his sights set on the world, Wake is preparing to release his follow-up album soon and will drop the first single, "Different," at the end of April 2015. The track features Bay Area legend Equipto and Raashan Ahmad of the Crown City Rockers. For now, the upcoming album is rumored to be called Malala, which is named after Malala Yousafzai, the young, female Pakistani activist. No release date has been announced. Until then, let's take some time to get know the man behind the moniker. Check out http://www.wakeself.com/ for more information.
RAPstation (Kyle Eustice): Tell me about the new album.
Wake Self: The new project is really heavy. My last two albums were a lot more fun, and feel good, this one doesn't have many happy songs. I always like to touch on as many topics as I can and this album is the same in that sense I just feel my approach was much different this time around. I did a lot of learning, living and researching to bring all my thoughts and focus together for this. I feel like I've been utilizing my voice for change, but I wanted to say more and maybe say some things people are afraid to address. This isn't music that you can just label "conscious rap" or "underground rap" it's just real music with heart and soul. When I look at the track listing for this one, I get a great sense of accomplishment that I haven't felt yet regarding a piece of my work. I have some surprises on deck for this one, some great vocalists, beat makers, emcees and DJs helped out. I'm super excited for this to be released. It's like waiting for a child to be born [laughs].
What's the name of your first single? Can you tell me a little bit about the song?
The song is called "Different." It's about setting a new standard with hip-hop, lyric-wise, who people support, how we view ourselves and basically how the whole rap world operates from fans to artists to corporations, etc. The beat is produced by Maulskull of Black Mask and features Raashan Ahmad and Equipto. It's interesting the route each MC took with their verse. I address rappers not thinking outside the box, and how the industry standard is continually rehashing the same subject matter for a quick buck. As well as how social media is changing us, and how I feel about the term "Follower." Raashan illustrates a familiar scenario for most rap cats who dreamed of being an emcee growing up and wanting to be like your favorite artist, until you finally understand being yourself is what's important. Equipto really says a lot in his verse and goes into how the true artists in hip-hop are the ones who are really preserving the culture regardless of what's popular. It's great to work with such talented artists that I consider friends yet still look up to each of them for what they do and have done.
You're getting more and more attention out of New Mexico. How does it feel to be on your way to more notoriety?
I'm very grateful for everything. I just keep focusing on getting better and making the best music I can make. Hunger pains to get this music heard keeps me up at night and keeps me excited on the road when I'm doing shows off no sleep. I try not to take any gratification the wrong way and just appreciate it all, but never be satisfied. My new slogan is "kill the ego and save the artist." If someone makes a shirt off it, at least quote me [laughs].
2013 and 2014 were pretty big years for you in terms of videos, albums and touring. What do you hope to accomplish this year?
I've already started accomplishing a lot this year. I did my first shows in Brooklyn and Philly, which was amazing to feel the hip-hop vibrations in those places. I imagine all the writers, breakers, emcees, DJs, and beatboxers who did their thing and expressed themselves through out the years, and how much history is in those areas. I've also been working more with schools in my community and in the surrounding areas to help educated and encourage the youth through hip-hop. I've also taken more responsibility in speaking out on issues I feel are important via: radio, live shows, interviews, discussion panels or workshops. I plan to release this album and tour extensively any place I can go. If you're reading this, I want to go rap in your area, too. Working with the youth is something I will continue to do, as well as working with kids in detention centers. I performed and spoke in a juvenile detention center here in Albuquerque recently and it was a very powerful experience. With my childhood, I can relate to those kids and for me to be an example of positive encouragement is very humbling. Artists need to learn how to give back. I will also be working on a new album with my best friend and favorite emcee, Def-i. I think when we get together it brings out a whole different side to my rhyme style. What we are working is very exciting to me, the music just keeps growing and solidifying itself.
Equipto and Raashan Ahmad pop up on your new album. How did those collaborations come about?
I've been connected with EQ and Raashan for a while. I know them from doing shows together and having mutual friends. Those two are both real genuine people and I have nothing but respect for them. I've talked with both of them for a long time about making some music together and finally the right situation fell into place.
There's a sea of emcees out there. How do you stand out?
I read books and do research [laughs]. But really I don't want to compare myself or say I'm better than anyone else. I'm not about the hype, just the music. If you listen and pay attention you can make your own choice on that topic. I just feel like I have things to say that need to be heard. I want to see the state of the world and music get shaken up in a progressive way.
You're now in your mid-20s. How have you grown since beginning your music career?
I think the music parallels my development and personal growth, as well as my visionary window of how I view the world inside and out. I'm definitely getting deeper into music, and trying new things that I haven't before. My mind in the same sense is opening up more and more each season, as I keep reading and keep experiencing the internal/external world. I guess the obvious thing to say is, I've gotten much better at rapping.
What do you think is missing from current, mainstream "hip-hop?"
Respect for the culture, for the elders who paved the way and for the children's minds and hearts that we influence. Also, respect for women and for the human being as a whole. I feel, at times, rappers don't even truly respect the airtime and spotlight they're given. I think it's sad that in hip-hop, our elders can't play sold out stadiums like an old school rock act can. Artists like Guns & Roses can play huge shows, but hip-hop icons like Rakim or KRS-One can't rock a venue half the size of them. In mainstream rap culture, we don't honor our elders like rock does. Rap has such a quick attention span and short term memory. Only artists like Jay-Z, Kanye, or Eminem can perform for the masses on that level, in America at least. I think part of it may be because rap is such a young culture to mainstream popularity, and it wasn't always fully embraced, but I do feel the popular radio stations don't have the classics in rotation and you can't learn about hip-hop history on TV like you can Classic Rock/Metal so the kids now days grow up with almost no knowledge of the roots and foundations. On to another topic, I think hip-hop and popular music has to be an instrument of change right now. So much going on in the world, so many issues plague us and this music and culture is the voice for a lot of youth!. We can't take that responsibility lightly. I'm not saying every song should be a protest, but you should at least have some thought provoking content in your art. Feel good, dance music is needed too, but right now with the world in the state it's in, we have to step up and inspire change. My second slogans is "Rappers need to read more books." It's sad to see people impressed by money, fame and image when to me, skills are what matters, your intentions matter and how you utilize your time on this earth matters.
What keeps you motivated every day? What do you love about making music?
I love to rap point blank. It's my favorite thing to do. It wakes me up everyday, even when I had no fans/support, I still just loved to rhyme. The visions that I have about expressing music to help inspire change keeps me going, when people send me messages or come up to me at shows and tell how a song has affected their life or their mindset that's love at work. All the people in pain, people fighting for freedom and change inspire me. All people in general inspire me in someway or another, the corporate forces who extort us make me understand the value of living self sufficient. I want to see a better world and I'm always looking to learn and understand how I can be a part of the healing and help others to be involved. Music is my tool for cultivating my awareness, my pain, my visions, prayers and to illustrate the human condition, as well as pay homage to the ancestors and to help preserve the hip-hop culture. I love how making music can give us hope, can build community and provide opportunities for people like me who came from very humble beginnings. Music can destroys a lot of boundaries that separate us. It is truly medicine. Music gives us a chance to tell our stories and to dream big. It's a therapy and an outlet for our hardships.
