M.C. LOGIC
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M.C. LOGIC

Fairfax, Virginia, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2005

Fairfax, Virginia, United States
Established on Jan, 2005
Solo Hip Hop R&B

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"The Listener"

Detroit-bred Virginia-based M.C. Logic presents “The Listener”, the single from Personal Legend, his new album produced by fellow Virginia resident Dub-L-Oh-Skytzo. Inspired to pursue a rap career after reading Paulo Coelho’s book _The Alchemist_, M.C. Logic has released seven independent music projects including The Rhapsody, also produced by Dub-L-Oh-Skytzo. M.C. Logic describes the single as “a dedication to the people who take the time to listen to my music and for those who just truly have an appreciation for music. I’m a listener as well as an artist so it’s also a dedication track to the artists that I listened to who influenced me.” Personal Legend is available now on Bandcamp and iTunes.




What inspired you to call your album Personal Legend?

Since the novel “The Alchemist” is one of the books that inspired me to pursue music, I always wanted to make sure one of my releases would be titled “Personal Legend”. During the process of writing/recording the album, it just felt like this was finally the one that deserved that title. I almost didn’t go with the title because I didn’t want people to assume that I already thought of myself as a legend. It’s more like me saying that “legendary status” is what I hope achieve once it’s all said and done.


How did you come up with the distinctive artwork? What does it signify?

I was introduced to the graphic designer, Rodrigo Patrel, through a friend of mine, Rafik of Cult Fiction. I talked to Rodrigo a couple of times and we got to know each other a little bit, then I let him hear the song and he did his thing with the artwork and sent me a few drafts. All the drafts he sent were dope but this one stood out. Plus it reminded me of some Tribe Called Quest type of artwork. I originally wanted to do an homage to the “Midnight Marauders” cover but I researched and saw that it had been done more than a few times by other artists so I didn’t even mention that idea to Rodrigo, so it was dope that he was able to come up with something along that vibe.


How has Virginia responded to your style of hiphop?

I’ve gotten mad love here in VA. I perform a lot at a spot in Fairfax called Epicure Café which usually has rock bands but it’s always love when I hit the open mic there on Thursdays. I also started a hip hop showcase at Epicure Café called Play It Forward featuring emcees and beatmakers.


Who do you prefer: Kendrick or Cole? And why?

I prefer Kendrick because he’s such a unique artist. He seems to really be the voice of the current hip hop generation. I’ll admit I wasn’t too much of a Kendrick Lamar fan until this year when “To Pimp a Butterfly” dropped. That album is just a phenomenal and it shows that he’s a true artist and a student of not just hip hop but also a student of music.


How do you sum up 2015?

For me, 2015 has been a continuation of past ventures and the beginning of new ones. The Signed to Myself fam and I have released our Powerful City clothing line and we’ve continued to release new episodes of LIVEVOLUTION. Check those out at: www.powerful-city.com and www.livevolution.com. I stayed on the promo grind for “Personal Legend” and I also started the Play It Forward showcase. In August of this year, the homie Xander Johnson and I started the In Yo Face! Podcast. which has been a blast to do. https://soundcloud.com/inyofacepodcast - Hip Hop On Deck


"The Listener"

For the last day of November, our The Whole 9 series chop it up with MC Logic, an emcee/producer out of Virginia by way of Detroit and not be confused with another emcee of a similar name. Homie recently dropped a new release titled Personal Legend. In this interview we talks about his name, Alchemist being an influence of his, comparing Detroit and Virginia and future projects. For more on MC Logic, hit him up on Facebook, Twitter and Bandcamp. Check out the interview below.

the9elements: Do you use the “MC” in your name to separate yourself from the other rapper Logic? Or do you believe in the importance of the “MC” in today’s game? Or both? And why?

MC Logic: Back in college I went by “Logic” (Leaping Obstacles Gaining Insight Constantly). That was before Logic from Maryland was on the scene. At that time I did music mostly for fun but as I got more serious about my music I wanted keep “Logic” in the stage name but add something to embrace an element of the hip hop era I grew up in and also have a distinguished name. In the early days of Hip Hop, a lot of rappers had “MC” in their name and nobody does nowadays and that’s another reason why I wanted to use it. I get negative feedback for that sometimes but like Ike Turner said, “The name stays home” (laughs).

T9E: You’ve mentioned producer Alchemist as a major influence. What was it about that book that galvanized you so?

MCL: One theme from the book that hit me was that it suggests that everything you are looking for is right at home. About a year before I read the book I took a trip to Toronto, a place I had wanted to go to for a long time. I had always heard that it was a great place from a lot of different people so it felt like Toronto was “calling” me. (sidenote: “The Celestine Prophecy” inspired me to finally make the trip to Toronto) I didn’t have the life changing experience that I thought I would but that trip did make me have more of an appreciation for my hometown. After reading the book, it was like I knew that I was supposed to stay in VA and pursue a career in music.

T9E: As a Detroit native living in Virginia, how do the two regions compare and contrast?

MCL: Detroit is the total opposite of where I live in VA. Detroit is the inner city and Fairfax County is the suburbs. It was a culture shock moving from Detroit to VA when I was 9. I was able to adjust to life in VA eventually but when I would go back to Detroit, it felt like home but I still would feel out of place. One similarity is that in both regions we love our homegrown music. Growing up in the DMV, you can’t help but love go-go. Downtown D.C. has go-go bands playing on the corners. In Downtown Detroit you’ll hear Motown playing on the corners.

T9E: What can we expect from your upcoming album?

MCL: The EP that I’m producing is titled “Don’t Tell Me What I Can’t Do” it’s a quote by John Locke from LOST. It’s sort of a rebuttal to people who might still doubt me and also a reflection of what I’ve accomplished musically and what is yet to come. I’m digging the beats that I’ve made so far. I don’t think I have a “signature sound” as a producer so the hard part will be making all these different sounds into a cohesive project. The next official album will be mostly produced by Dub-L-Oh-Skytzo but I’m going to reach out to some producers I’ve met recently to see if they can hit me with some beats that vibe along with the joints Skytzo gives me. I’m not sure what the sound or concept of that project will be just yet but it’ll definitely be dope.

T9E: What do you plan to do differently in 2016?

MCL: In 2016 I’m planning on going on my first tour with The Fire Tonight in February. I’m excited about that. I’m back to making beats so the main focus will be the EP “Don’t Tell Me What I Can’t Do.” - The 9 Elements


Discography

www.myspace.com/mclogic

The Dharma Initiative Mixtape -
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=GVT3F7SO

M.C. Logic's "Utopia" - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=HYI8ATPV

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Bio

M.C. LOGIC is a thought-provoking and introspective lyricist, representing the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia). His name and reputation stem from his ability to share a simple concept, but deliver it in a manner that causes the mind to brew around its meaning and purpose. 

Band Members