Scheme
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Scheme

Chicago, Illinois, United States | SELF

Chicago, Illinois, United States | SELF
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"Scheme - Same Rebel , New Cause"

So often, underground hip-hop falls into the category of “uninspiring.” Albums that carry any semblance of cohesive thought throughout the entire project can be scarce. That’s why when a person comes across something that appears to be completely authentic, that holds water within the genre according to the preconceived notion of what is good, it’s somehow reassuring that digging deep into the music is still valid. The role that Scheme’s Same Rebel, New Cause plays, is one that reassures the will to wade through the underground.SRNC has everything that one wants in an album. It has solid production for the most part, it has lyrical flexibility and panache, and it has content that flows throughout the entire project. It has a great balance between street tales and personal introspection, as well as thoughts on the hip-hop culture itself, though thankfully this isn’t another hip-hop record all about the state of hip-hop.

The Chicago resident and Molemen emcee has features on the album from the likes of Mikkey Halsted and Emilio Rojas, among others, and Scheme does a great job of not allowing himself to be shown up by any of his guests. He also takes a very famous lyric from a very famous Dead Prez song to use as the chorus of the album’s title track. The way it comes off is not in the vein of biting as much as it is paying homage to the song and its idea, so honestly there should be no qualms with this.

All in all, from “Intro” to the very sincere “Labor of Love” SRNC is an album that rarely falls flat, and is perfect for what it is at 14 tracks. Anything more would’ve taken the album from solid to monotonous. Though it’s not going to be on many/any top 10 lists for the year, the album is still a great example of the abundance of quality hip-hop Chicago, and the rest of the Midwest, has waiting in the wings for the people who are willing to get away from “top tier” of the underground. - www.okayplayer.com


"Safety in Profanity"

Local rapper Scheme has been enamored with hip-hop since scoring his first Cypress Hill cassette as an 8-year-old growing up in Humboldt Park. "It stayed in my Walkman for months," he says. "I would fall asleep listening to that tape."

That seemingly small purchase ignited a lifelong love affair with the genre that culminates in the just-released "Same Rebel, New Cause," an album that finds the rapper (real name: Rafael Navarro) balancing streetwise tales with songs that touch on his unique background--born Stateside to Mexican immigrant parents, the MC admits he has struggled with identity since childhood. "I always thought that [being a Mexican rapper] was going to be my obstacle," says the 27-year-old, who currently makes his home in Belmont/Cragin. "Instead I've made it my upper-hand." Reached by telephone in late October, Scheme talked about the origin of his name, how he discovered hip-hop and the dangers now inherent in visiting his familial home.


Is there a story behind the name Scheme?

When I was rapping with friends in high school, I went through so many names before settling on Rhyme Scheme. But then I kept getting confused with Rhymefest to the point where I thought, "This is getting out of hand." So I shortened it up and went with Scheme, since that's what everyone called me anyways.

So it's not like you grew up brewing all kinds of crazy money-making schemes?

[Laughs] No. I wish there was a better story behind the name, but the truth is what it is.

No lemonade stands? No paper route?

Since I was younger, I've been stubborn with this music. It's the one scheme I've been stuck on. I made my money off selling albums and mix tapes. I would be out at other people's shows selling my CDs. Now I'm trying to do that same thing on a worldwide scale.

Talk about how you first discovered hip-hop.

I was 8 years old and my sister and I put our Sunday money-we used to get $5 from my parents every other Sunday-together to buy the Cypress Hill album in '91. She conned me into buying it by saying, "Swear words." That was her sales pitch. "They swear in it." I was like, "Oh, cool. We gotta get it."

When did you start writing your own verses?

I started to write when I was in 6th grade. I had a Shaquille O'Neal notebook with all my raps in it, but my parents got ahold of that and threw it away because I was swearing too much. I got back into it heavy freshman year of high school [at Prosser Career Academy]. I grew up in the core of the city, so pretty much everyone I knew was in a gang. Music was my way to stay out of trouble.

I imagine your parents wouldn't have stood for that lifestyle anyway.

Yeah. They realized that they'd rather have me in the house writing than out on the streets gang-banging. They weighed it out and were like, "Let him do what he's doing."

How would you describe your style in five words or less?

Nothing less than real.

Do you ever find politics filtering into your music, particularly in terms of the tone surrounding the current immigration debate?

When I was younger I always wanted to make some kind of political statement, but as I've gotten older I've strayed from that. I do want to educate. We're from Nuevo Laredo right on the [U.S.-Mexico] border, and that's the drug lord capital right now. There's gun fights going down between cops and the drug cartels. People are getting kidnapped. I started writing a record about that a couple weeks ago.

When did you last visit Nuevo Laredo?

When we shot the video for "Chicano" last year.

Were you worried about your safety?

I went over there a little ignorant because I remember when it wasn't so bad. My cousin shot the video for me, and he was scared because they live down there and hear about everything that goes on. Two girls had just gotten kidnapped the day we were there shooting. We were crossing the border and there was a tank surrounded by soldiers with AK-47s. Just crazy [stuff]. The less attention you draw to yourself the better, so we just played it real low-key.

Scheme personality test
What's the last album you bought? "The last actual album I went to the store to buy was 'Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor.'"
Song you've listened to on repeat recently? Rick Ross: "Tears of Joy"
Song you never want to hear again? "That Barbie song [Aqua's "Barbie Girl"] from the late '90s."
Best concert you've seen in the last year? "I've only been to one concert so far this year. Drake put on a dope show, and his band was amazing."
New band you don't know personally that deserves to be big? Trainwreck Symphony
Favorite movie ever? "El Camino al Norte"
Chicago's best music venue? Metro - Andy Downing


"Metromix (Chicago) - Scheme "an artist you should know!" + Interview"

Local rapper Scheme has been enamored with hip-hop since scoring his first Cypress Hill cassette as an 8-year-old growing up in Humboldt Park. "It stayed in my Walkman for months," he says. "I would fall asleep listening to that tape."

That seemingly small purchase ignited a lifelong love affair with the genre that culminates in the just-released "Same Rebel, New Cause," an album that finds the rapper (real name: Rafael Navarro) balancing streetwise tales with songs that touch on his unique background--born Stateside to Mexican immigrant parents, the MC admits he has struggled with identity since childhood. "I always thought that [being a Mexican rapper] was going to be my obstacle," says the 27-year-old, who currently makes his home in Belmont/Cragin. "Instead I've made it my upper-hand." Reached by telephone in late October, Scheme talked about the origin of his name, how he discovered hip-hop and the dangers now inherent in visiting his familial home.

Is there a story behind the name Scheme?

When I was rapping with friends in high school, I went through so many names before settling on Rhyme Scheme. But then I kept getting confused with Rhymefest to the point where I thought, "This is getting out of hand." So I shortened it up and went with Scheme, since that's what everyone called me anyways.

So it's not like you grew up brewing all kinds of crazy money-making schemes?

[Laughs] No. I wish there was a better story behind the name, but the truth is what it is.

No lemonade stands? No paper route?

Since I was younger, I've been stubborn with this music. It's the one scheme I've been stuck on. I made my money off selling albums and mix tapes. I would be out at other people's shows selling my CDs. Now I'm trying to do that same thing on a worldwide scale.

Talk about how you first discovered hip-hop.

I was 8 years old and my sister and I put our Sunday money-we used to get $5 from my parents every other Sunday-together to buy the Cypress Hill album in '91. She conned me into buying it by saying, "Swear words." That was her sales pitch. "They swear in it." I was like, "Oh, cool. We gotta get it."

When did you start writing your own verses?

I started to write when I was in 6th grade. I had a Shaquille O'Neal notebook with all my raps in it, but my parents got ahold of that and threw it away because I was swearing too much. I got back into it heavy freshman year of high school [at Prosser Career Academy]. I grew up in the core of the city, so pretty much everyone I knew was in a gang. Music was my way to stay out of trouble.

I imagine your parents wouldn't have stood for that lifestyle anyway.

Yeah. They realized that they'd rather have me in the house writing than out on the streets gang-banging. They weighed it out and were like, "Let him do what he's doing."

How would you describe your style in five words or less?

Nothing less than real.

Do you ever find politics filtering into your music, particularly in terms of the tone surrounding the current immigration debate?

When I was younger I always wanted to make some kind of political statement, but as I've gotten older I've strayed from that. I do want to educate. We're from Nuevo Laredo right on the [U.S.-Mexico] border, and that's the drug lord capital right now. There's gun fights going down between cops and the drug cartels. People are getting kidnapped. I started writing a record about that a couple weeks ago.

When did you last visit Nuevo Laredo?

When we shot the video for "Chicano" last year.

Were you worried about your safety?

I went over there a little ignorant because I remember when it wasn't so bad. My cousin shot the video for me, and he was scared because they live down there and hear about everything that goes on. Two girls had just gotten kidnapped the day we were there shooting. We were crossing the border and there was a tank surrounded by soldiers with AK-47s. Just crazy [stuff]. The less attention you draw to yourself the better, so we just played it real low-key.

Scheme personality test
What's the last album you bought? "The last actual album I went to the store to buy was 'Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor.'"
Song you've listened to on repeat recently? Rick Ross: "Tears of Joy"
Song you never want to hear again? "That Barbie song [Aqua's "Barbie Girl"] from the late '90s."
Best concert you've seen in the last year? "I've only been to one concert so far this year. Drake put on a dope show, and his band was amazing."
New band you don't know personally that deserves to be big? Trainwreck Symphony
Favorite movie ever? "El Camino al Norte"
Chicago's best music venue? Metro - Metromix (Chicago)


"Premiere Interview with Chicago’s Scheme"

Tell us who you are and where you are from?

My name is Scheme and I’m a Hip Hop artist out of Chicago.

Who have been your greatest musical influences?

Nas, Carlos Santana, Ramon Ayala, Big L, 2Pac, Big Pun, Jay-Z, Eminem.

Where do you envision taking your lyrical talents?

Straight to the top. The opportunities are limitless. I want to make a great music, put out amazing albums, and put on a show for the people. I’m capable of doing all of this, just putting all the pieces to the puzzle together now. I honestly feel I’m a top contender for one of the top spots in this game. I am confident in my craft and what I am capable of doing. Hard work and dedication will let everything else fall into place.

What are you currently working on and what can we expect to hear from you in the future?

I have an album dropping November 9th which is called Same Rebel, New Cause (Deluxe Edition), which will be available on iTunes, Amazon, and Scheme773.com. So that’s my priority at the moment. Making sure we promote the album well and we do everything we can to get it out there for the people to catch on to it.

After that I have a couple other projects I am working on, but on the top of my list is the LP. We’re aiming to get to work on that real soon so we can have it ready to go by next year.

Where can your fans find out more about you and what final words do you want to leave your fans?

The official site is www.Scheme773.com. Anything and everything related to me can be found on there. You can also find me on Twitter: @Scheme773 or on Facebook www.facebook.com/schememusic773.

Just want to let them know that I appreciate all the support I get from all around the world. Every message and email is greatly appreciated. Please support the new album which drops Nov. 9th, 2010. SRNC is the crew and all my fans are a part of it. Thanks for the love.

Links: www.Scheme773.com - www.nuetv.com


"February Artist Spotlight: Scheme"

Scheme is the perfect example of an emcee recognizing his full potential. He has been grinding for years in the Chicago underground hip hop scene. He has put out an album, an EP, and countless guest shots on other artists work and compilations. Now it is time for heads to recognize the dues paid and for the spotlight to shine on him.

If you have yet to hear The Manifesto EP you are really missing out on an auditory treat. It was as if I was bearing witness to an artists arrival as I listened. The music was that good. But you can be the judge of that as well as I can. You can cop The Manifesto EP at Amazon or drop some duckets in Scheme's Paypal account. (Check The His Blog)

In celebration and anticipation of Scheme's upcoming mixtape, I am dedicating a blog post a day to Scheme's music for the first week of Febraury. Please check back to see some of his videos and download some of his music, but first things first, check out the interview below, leave a comment, send Scheme a message, etc.

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Interview



Darius: I've been listening to you for quite a while, and with all the Molemen compilations, the guest shots over the years, and the albums, can you describe what it's been like grindin' for so long in the hip hop scene of Chicago?

Scheme: Honestly, it's been a blessing man. I love what I do, and I appreciate the good times that go into working on my craft, and the hardships you have to go through to learn from it all. There's a lot of talent in my city, and I appreciate everything everyone does. It's definitely a tough city to make it in, but that's good in a way, it gives you tough skin. Honestly though, lately, I love the way the artists in my city are moving. The unity has been great and people are starting to diversify. A lot of barriers I feel are being broken, and that's letting us as artists get together and really work towards a common goal.

Darius: As we get older, things change, but I think a lot of people who have followed you and your music have seen your evolution as an emcee. Describe in your own words that evolution as an artist from then to now? How have you grown as an artist? How has the game changed since you first started?

Scheme: I think these years I've spent on the cut just learning were great for me as an artist. I was able to test the waters by putting out releases here and there, but I can honestly say I am truly comfortable with the music I am making now. I feel I am now a lot better at putting songs together; I knew I could rap a long time ago, and I was confident on the mic, but writing complete songs is something completely different than just rapping. I think that's where most of my evolution took place, in my writing and song making process. I've stuck to my guns as far as concepts and subject matter, which was what I always told myself I was going to do. I always knew I had a story to set me apart from the crowd, and have stuck to my original goals as an artist. I told myself I would never lose the message in my music and I've learn to balance it all, which I'm very proud of.

As far as the game changing, I think the biggest change has come from the internet, and the impact it has on our culture. I appreciate the opportunities it has given a lot of us independent artists. You can now go on sites and see major label artists being posted on the same blog as independent artists. That line has been faded out I believe. Which is great. It gives people the chance to like new music and artist they might have not heard if it wasn't for these sites. I like the fact that people are being introduced to new music and don't have to solely rely on radio and tv to dictate what is good anymore.

Darius: Things are really buzzing for you right now. Obviously it takes talent to make moves but from a business aspect and marketing aspect, what do you think it takes or has taken for you to get noticed and develop that loyal fan base who will pay to come to the shows and eventually buy that album in today's environment?

Scheme: I think the quality of the music and the videos have just reached the people and they've gravitated towards it. I didn't do anything out of the norm. Just a lot of early mornings and late nights either emailing or calling people, sites, companies, etc. I think people could tell when an artist is devoted to his craft and gives his all to what he/she does. Real fans still exist; we as artists just have that responsibility of putting out quality music, videos, and having a great show. If you take your craft serious, the fans will be devoted to you. I think what has helped me is that I have stuck to my ideals as far as making music. I've made it a point to stick to my message, but also learned to balance it out with new stuff I have learned along the way.

Darius: Has there ever been a time in your life where you thought about hanging up the mic and doing something else? If so what you brought you back to the microphone? What at the end of the day keeps your pursuing the life of an emcee?

Scheme: I think as artists, you always reach a point where you may wonder if what you're doing is right. Not always because of yourself, but those around you. In order to be an artist, in any form or fashion, you have to be selfish, and at times it's hard for your family, friends, and significant other to understand that. So at times, yeah I have wondered, if the sacrifice is bigger than the dream. But ultimately, this is my dream. I have to do what makes me feel accomplished and happy in life. I could be successful in whatever I choose to do in life, and this music is it for me. I'm an artist at the core, I can't just stop doing what I do.

Darius: As an emcee from Chicago obviously you have worked consistently with some of the most respected producers in the industry in the Molemen camp. Describe what it means or what it's like to have that type of chemistry when it comes to the emcee/producer relationship.

Scheme: The producer and MC relationship is very important in music making. I think you can definitely make good songs with random producers and make great stuff happen with them, but I don't think there's any comparison to working side by side with someone. If the producer understands where the MC is coming from and vice versa, I think that is when the best music is made.

Darius: How are you going to define success for your musical career and then in a broader sense life in general?

Scheme: Music wise, the day I can tour and consitently put out albums which are being sought after and purchased. As well as having a following that truly supports my music.

Life wise, the day I am able to support my family doing what I love to do. The day I am able to see my yet unborn children and tell them they can honestly be what they want to be in life and help them in whatever way possible to pursue their goals.

Darius: What verse, off of what song, from an artist other than yourself had you hittin' the rewind button most recently? Any bangers or artists that we should be made aware of that you are feeling?

Scheme: Honestly, the last song I had on repeat was Exhibit C. The third verse had me rewinding it.

Darius: You dropped The Manifesto EP in 2009, this month you have the mixtape, Same Rebel New Cause dropping. Is the second a continuation of where you left off with Manifesto or is this a different direction in your opinion? What can people expect when they listen to Same Rebel New Cause?

Scheme: Same Rebel, New Cause is actually 2 different projects. One is a mixtape mixed by DJ PNS from the Molemen, with original music as well as my takes on some of my favorite joints by others which will be available for free download. The 2nd is all the original music from the mixtape plus a couple other new songs which will be available on Itunes, etc. It was a culmination of songs I felt needed to be heard before I put out my LP in late 2010. As far as what people could expect from Same Rebel, New Cause; some great music. I feel I have some great songs on there. I definitely wanted people to hear these songs before I move on to the LP.

Darius: Aside from Same Rebel New Cause, what other projects can people expect to see you on this year?

Scheme: The homie Astonish and I started working on an album together. Hopefully if all goes well we will put this out this year. Besides that project, my LP should drop in the Fall of 2010.

Darius: Set aside music for a second, can you give us one thing about yourself that perhaps most people don't know about you? We talk about music and artist all day, but give folks a glimpse as to Scheme the man.

Scheme: Honestly, there isn't much that people don't know about me. I put it all in my music for the most part. I've been told sometimes, I'm a little too personal on the music haha. I'm a simple man homie. I received my Bachelors in 2009 and plan on one day going back for my Masters. Those were personal goals, more so done for my parents and the struggle they went through for my sisters and I. They don't understand the music aspect of my life too much, but I wanted to give something back to them for all they've done for us, so that was my gift to them. - LaborOfLoveMusic


"RH First Look: Scheme"

Ever since the rise of the blog in our music world, the rise of an artist has been in a cookie cutter format. It’s simple, you must get the blog hits, the track downloads, the links to your Myspace, and then you’re a phone call away from negotiations on single deals with a label. This is not the case for Scheme of Chicago’s legendary Hip Hop coalition, The Molemen. Molemen Records is one of the few reminders of where Hip Hop came from. With the grassroots elements and little major commercialization, Scheme is nothing short of this as he is one of their leading rookie Moles. With his second major release to date with The Manifesto, Scheme looks to capture the ears of the listeners rather than billboards of the consumers. RubyHornet got to sit down with the Chicago native to discuss his album, the buzzing scene of the windy city, and what really inspires his Latin born music. Read on to catch Scheme under the First Look Microscope.

RubyHornet: First off, I wanted to know if you’re gonna tell me that you’re “incredible and credible in this interview” [reference to line in “Respect the Art" on The Manifesto EP]...Don’t think I didn’t hear that one.

Scheme: (laughs) See that’s the thing, I had an Internet interview yesterday and they sent me some questions and that was part of it too. (laughs), So now I kind of see that people caught onto that, but I didn’t think they were going to (laughs). You know what man, I’ve always been seen more of an introspective kind of rapper and a little deeper. But I fell in love with this Hip Hop s**t because of the lyrics, delivery, the hard beats, and just the confidence you had to have to be a rapper. So I think people sometimes may have overlooked that as far as me because my whole thing when I started writing was, “I need to come with a message.” I wanted to be saying something, I didn’t want to just be out there just rapping. But I can’t front on the fact that my favorite rappers are those type of dudes, the Puns’, the G Raps’, the Big Ls’ like they were just snapping, and that’s a big part of Hip Hop. So for me, that “incredible” line was just that. It’s like 'f**k that, let me show these people that I got that aspect of me too.' The only reason I wasn’t showing it off the bat was because I wanted people to take me serious and I didn’t want them to think, 'aw, this is just some other dude rapping about bulls**t, he ain’t saying nothing.' So I came at it a different way, but at the same time, I didn’t want people to think that I can’t hold my own in this s**t. That’s where that comes, that “incredible” line (laughs).

RubyHornet: You have been known around Chicago for some years now, and you used to go by Rhyme Scheme, why did you shorten it to just Scheme?

Scheme: Well, it was just because everyone was calling me Scheme and stuff. They would always be like, 'what up Scheme, what up?' So it just kind of stuck and it rolled off the tongue a little bit easier. For some reason there was always some people that wouldn’t get the ‘rhyme’ part so I’d just be like, “Scheme” and keep it short. Also a couple misspells here and there because for some reason they thought I spelled it extra Hip Hop and I was just like, 'nah its just the way it’s spelled, Rhyme Scheme.' It was a quick little decision, me and Panik were just sitting around and I was like, 'yo, I’m just gonna keep the Scheme,' and he was like, 'okay word.'

RubyHornet.com: Speaking of Panik, what’s up with the Molemen right now? What is their major focus currently?

Scheme: Panik is good man, they’re working on the Vakill album, Armor of God. Predominantly that’s their focus right now. For the most part I think it’s done but I think they’re finalizing tweaks here and there, but that’s what they’re on.

RubyHornet: You’ve really come to fit in with them over the past years, but I wanted to know where you see yourself in the greater scheme of the city, no pun intended (laughs).

Scheme: Demographically, I don’t even look at it like that. Unfortunately that’s the way it seems sometimes. I just fall in the 'artist trying to make music and rep the city to the fullest.' I ain't repping north side or south side, I’m repping everything. To me, it's sad that it gets to that point where you have to rep [a side]. To me, those lines don’t exist...They do exist to a lot of people, but for me personally, I don’t see it as that. My whole thing is working on my craft, and making sure my delivery is on point, and making sure my lyrics are on point. I don’t ever want to be seen as a hit or miss rapper or someone who doesn’t give a f**k about what he does because I care about what I do, I spend time in what I create. That’s where I fall under. I'm the mother f**ker who respects the craft and what it means to be a rapper and who wants to put out some good music, so whatever niche that is then put me in that.

RubyHornet: I remember seeing a video where you clearly explained you were from the north side, but you wanted to make sure that they knew you were repping the whole city, is that a big thing for you – making sure these territorial walls are not high enough for music’s sake?

Scheme: Yeah, that’s what I’m saying. I’ve been born and raised on the north west side of Chicago. That’s just been home for me so but as a shorty, every weekend I went to the south side cause that’s where all the Mexican spots were at before it got up to the north side. So every weekend we were down there and that’s where my family would feel comfortable in, so to me the south side, that’s home because that’s the only place where you can go and see your people and your family. Like I said, those lines are cool for people who unfortunately want to see it like that, but I personally can't see it like that cause that’s one of the biggest issues in the city right now. It’s done by politics or whatever, but I don’t like seeing that s**t like that. The fact that people make it such a point to be from the side you represent, we have the segregation and the boundaries gang wise, but as far as music goes that s**t is messed up to me. I don’t think that should exist. How come dudes from the south side do not f**k with dudes from the north side or vice versa? To me, that’s stupid as hell, 'dude come on we’re making music.' I know it sometimes is instilled in us because of the gang s**t, and because of all the s**t we lived, so you kind of have those boundaries within yourself. But once you choose the lane to be an artist or a rapper – yeah obviously you’re gonna carry on some s**t with your personal life, but to grow as an artist you need to hit up everybody, you can't be just hitting up a certain crowd or hitting up certain people because you’re segregating a whole bunch of other people that you could have as fans and to me that’s dumb as hell. The point of being an artist is to expand.

RubyHornet: What about musically, where do you feel you fit in?

Scheme: When I was a shorty I listened to all the classic s**t, and once I started getting really into Hip Hop the first s**t I was introduced to was Molemen s**t, that was a mixtape one of my guys hit me up with. The first couple of joints I wrote were off of their instrumental tapes and it just happened the way it happened, but to me there’s been the good aspect of now where people are starting to believe in themselves that they can make something out of it and they can get bigger than just the city, which is dope because we’ve seen these past couple years that people do that. The negative of that is that now there’s too many motherf**kers trying to do that, and there are a lot of people that don’t belong and shouldn’t be doing it. I think Andrew Barber from Fake Shore Drive said something about it like he wasn’t good at DJing, he wasn’t good at dancing, but he found his lane and he did that. Hip Hop as far as our generation, you can’t escape it. If you’re in our generation you’re gonna be following Hip Hop. That doesn’t mean you have to be a rapper, that doesn’t mean you have to be a producer. When I was a shorty I wanted to make beats and I sucked so I stopped. I was like, 'you know what, I write better and I sound better rapping so I’m just gonna do that s**t.' Maybe one day I’ll go back to that, but it’s a learning process, and you need to put your work into that...That’s the positive: people are starting to believe in themselves and put more time into themselves and their product. Everybody’s not doing CD-R’s no more like everybody was at some point, which was dope because that started a lot of s**t, but people are putting more time and effort into their music. So that’s really dope, but the fans and listeners are confused because there’s so much s**t out there, and they don’t know who to believe in and who to follow and invest themselves in.

RubyHornet: How did you feel about your debut, For My People?

Scheme: A lot of people come to me and tell me that they enjoy that CD. It’s a little hard to listen to because for any artist it's hard to go back and listen to your earlier s**t because you’re always critical and you’ll always be like, 'well, I could of done this better and I could’ve done that better.' I like the fact that I put it out, and introduced myself to people. For the most part, it’s gotten me positive response and people go back and listen to it and appreciate it for what it is...They enjoyed it and they saw something in it. I hope as I put more product out people will go back to that and appreciate it for what it was. The difference between For My People and The Manifesto was that I just threw For My People together from tracks I had, but for The Manifesto I did it from beginning to end.

RubyHornet: Where do you think you have grown the most since your debut?

Scheme: Writing wise I haven’t changed, but I have learned to space out my flow a lot because I had always been a fan of Big Pun. I like the rapid flow, but it's hard to follow for a lot of people because it's hard to get every word. I’ve learned to balance that and to make sure that people understand everything I say. Musically, the structures of it, I’ve learned to write better songs and better hooks. It takes time as an artist because anybody can write a verse, but it's to put a song together and make it work that’s hard. Like the Jean Grae joint, she gave us the verse, but I didn’t want to just throw two verses together I wanted to make it sound like a song and I think we made it and brought it together to the point where everyone thought it was a dope joint. That’s been it man, that’s been the growth from now till then, my writing process and recording is just a little bit bigger than just doing a verse and a hook.

RubyHornet: The Sound Merchants have helped a lot in bringing that larger sound to your music. When did you decide to combine them with your sound?

Scheme: You know what, it’s been a natural progression. I met them when they were 17 or 19 when I was 19 too, and I liked what I was hearing from them from the samples they chose to their whole style. It was just dope. They were sticking to what they were doing and they weren’t following a trend or nothing. They just liked Hip Hop, and PNS and Panik helped them out. In the beginning it was like they threw me some beats and we worked on it for the For My People s**t and it worked out. This new one we kept cool throughout this whole time, but I hadn’t listened to their beats for awhile. One day they came through and they wanted to show me some beats, so I listened and we decided we wanted to knock out a project. They gave me a bunch of beats, and I went home and started writing joints. To me, that’s an element of music that’s missing right now. People don’t just link up and work out s**t, I mean there’s the positive of being able to email a bunch of beats. You know I got a project with this guy I'm working with in Brazil, and I would not have been able to make that connection if I wasn’t online and he’s emailing the beats, so it has its pros and its cons. The positives though of doing a project like this is that I get to chill with these dudes, and I can hear the samples and they can play me beats and I can have them tweak with no problem because I’m there and it's more hands on.

RubyHornet: I wanted to talk about “Chicano”. The video is very artistic, and the concept is something that isn’t seen a lot. Why did you feel the need to push that as the headline to the album?

Scheme: You know what man, the song took me a long time to write. The video was done by my cousins down in Laredo, Texas where most of my family is at, but one of my cousins there does short films and he had been wanting to do a video. We were just waiting for the right time and for everything to click up. I did “Chicano” and he thought that it was the perfect song for this, and it did make perfect sense. We flew down there and I was down there for 4-5 days and we shot all the footage. I was expecting them to do a nice job because I had seen their short films and stuff like that, and I even told them, 'use the short films and translate that to my video and it’ll be straight.' But man, when I saw the final thing I was like, 'dude, you guys really did a good job, you blew me out the water.' It was their first music video, so they didn’t know what to expect and I didn’t know what to expect, but I had confidence in them. My second thought on it was, 'man are people gonna get it?' It’s not your normal s**t, it’s not your normal Hip Hop video, not your normal song, none of that. So I was like, 'are people gonna f**k with this?' But I’ve always been the dude to not do the typical thing, and I don’t even consciously do that, that’s just who I am.

RubyHornet: Your grandma was in the video correct?

Scheme: Yeah she was, and it’s crazy because never would I have thought that my Hip Hop s**t in any way or form would have her in it. My grandma don’t even know what I do and when I was on the phone with her joking around like, 'grandma you’re getting famous and you don’t even know it!' I could watch that till the day that I die, that’s dope to me. No other time would I probably have asked her if I could film her for a video because it’s not appropriate, and that’s why I told my cousin, 'if you’re gonna film her you better knock this out in one shot because she ain’t gonna do it again.' It worked out really good and I got my nephew in there and my aunts, so it was a good family thing. Everyone loved that part too with my grandma because it’s a real Hispanic tradition that gets passed down. It really hits them and that’s dope to me and it means a lot.

RubyHornet: You’re very introspective to the point where it’d be interesting to know your outside influences. Do you have many or any?

Scheme: It’s more just the people that I'm surrounded by in my life and in different points whether it be the day-to-day people I interact with throughout my life, or everything that I’ve done or experienced. Besides my life, the other inspiration I have is music itself. That’s what motivates me. When I hear a good record I want to do something just as good, when I hear a bad record I want to make something better still. It’s music itself and there’s artists that I vibe with or click with, but it really is just music itself. Besides that, it's life in general and the s**t you go through, that really makes my music.

RubyHornet: If there has ever been a specific musical inspiration for yourself, I’m sure it has to be the legacy of the Molemen. You’ve been with them for a little while now but their history goes way back. What does their legacy mean to you?

Scheme: To me they’ve done the un-doable here in Chicago as far as being around for as long as they have. Without having a full stable of artists on the label, their beats and compilations have spoken volumes for them and that’s not doable, it's unheard for a lot of people. For Chicago Hip Hop and Hip Hop in general, it’s the fact that they’ve been around for so long and the consistency of their product and sticking to their guns that they’ve made an impact. They’ve stuck to what they believe in, and their mantra forever, and that’s why I respect them. Anybody who can do that and make something out of it I respect, because you’re sticking to what you believe in and that’s the same mentality as myself.

RubyHornet: You have a new tape coming out with PNS who is one of the heads over at the Molemen. How is that coming along?

Scheme: Yeah, its called Same Rebel New Cause, and it’s joints that didn’t make The Manifesto or joints that I had been writing in between For My People and The Manifesto. So it’s going to be all those joints put together and PNS is gonna be mixing it all. We’re actually doing another one after this tape, which is his idea and it will be samples that have already been flipped but he wants to flip them his way, and it will be all new songs. He’s still picking out samples though right now and he has his way of creating his music as well, so I’m giving him his room. My whole thing right now is staying consistent with my music that I put out because between For My People and Manifesto was a long way, and granted we did The Biz with Decay and Astonish but still as far as solo stuff I need to continue releasing music. Today with the way things are, if you’re not out there every week or on a monthly basis with songs or projects people just push you over. - Ruby Hornet


"Scheme: Chicago Chicano"

SCHEME: CHICAGO CHICANO

‘Not from here, not from there’, Scheme, ‘the son of immigrants just following a dream’, touches the issue of being a Chicano perfectly on his latest EP ‘Manifesto’. Introspective and cocky at the same time, this Molemen crew member does his thing and puts himself in the spotlight, respectin the art, manifesting, over a suited soundset created by the Sound Merchants.

The album sounds very cohesive and well-thought over, with a variety in production, you obviously tried to avoid a ‘compilation’, ‘some songs here and there from the archives’… How long did it take to put this EP together?

Thanks homie, that's exactly what we were aiming for. Well the EP actually was finished up somewhat quickly. I would say we probably started talking about doing the project mid 2008 and by November it was completed. We just held on to it for awhile because we wanted to make sure all the pieces were put together well. We knew we wanted to shoot a video for the project and make sure we had it available in different outlets for people to get it. The actual music making process took us about 5 months maybe.

The video for the ‘Chicano’ single was dope. That’s your grandmother in the beginning, right?

Yeah that was my grandmother. Man, you don't even know how much that means to me. When we started figuring out the whole video and playing with the idea of shooting a video out there it was a no brainer that I wanted her in it somehow. But having her actually give me my bendicion on camera is crazy to me. I was worried she wouldn't want to do it, I told my cousin Jeffrey from CineDeLaredo, who shot the video: ‘This is a one shot deal, if we don't get a good shot, she probably won't do it again’. (laughs) My grandma is one of the greatest and strongest woman I have ever been blessed with to have in my life. The life she has led is incredible. I could only wish to be able to do half of what she has done. Having her being a part of it was great, now I have that moment captured on video, I could play it back for as long as I live.

Where was it shot?

The video was shot in Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas (Mexico) by Jeff Castillo and Abel Alvarado for Cine De Laredo. There were shots at my grandma's house, shots of the house where my parents first met and where they lived when they got married. It all had some personal value to me.

What does being a ‘Chicano’ mean to you? When you say ‘soy Chicano’ you actually say…

When I was a shorty I saw being a ‘Chicano’ as a bad thing. This was when I was like 5 or 6. That was the first time I was referred to by that word, and I didn't quite understand it. I felt like, ‘No, I'm Mexican, not a Chicano’. My parents and all three of my sisters were born in Mexico, so I am the first generation of my family that was born in the US. So I felt more connected with being Mexican. But as time went on, I learned to accept being Mexican, but being born in America. It's the best of both worlds. Being a Chicano is something I am very proud of. Spanish was my first language and I learned English by listening to my sisters when I was younger. My life has always been filled with both cultures, it took time, and sometimes it still doesn't make sense, but I do understand how lucky I am to have influences from both sides.

‘You say it in any interview: I’m so incredible’, so go ahead…

‘I'm so incredible’. (laughs) ‘Spotlight’ was that MC joint. That ‘no one can do it better than me’-song. I always felt that people enjoyed my music, but saw me more as an introspective writer. But at the same time, the reason I fell in love with hip-hop was for the lyrics, the delivery, the hard beats. The aura of being a dope MC is like none other. So I needed people to know that side of me in this project as well. I have a lot to say about my life and life in general, but don't think I can't rock a crowd or deliver when it comes to this MC shit. I love hip-hop because of that. No other genre in music really has that, and that's dope to me.

Exactly, like you say ‘I tried being humble, humble gets you nowhere’ and then you’re actually humble in a song like ‘Chicano’. But don’t you miss that balance in rap these days? Like you can brag but you also have to be open to your listener, as for there is mostly bragging nowadays?

Two of the main things I told myself when I started writing and recording music was; 1) that any project I ever put was going to have some sort of a message, and 2) that I would always be honest with myself and to the listeners. I've learned that it's a must that you balance the cockiness and the honesty. You have to be cocky, that is a huge part of being a rapper. But, here's what's important about that, it must come natural. You must be confident in what you do and how you do it. A lot of people out here make up a facade. They put up a front, but all that shit eventually crumbles. You have to know your strengths and use those to your advantage. They make them up, because they won't stand the test of time. As for the honesty, again, it must come natural. That aspect of music making helps you connect with the listener. It helps them in relating with you, and creates a bond between artist and fan. No one should be ashamed of putting their life out there if they've led a respectable and honourable life. No one's perfect, and we all go through a lot of real and difficult shit in life. Why sugarcoat it and sweep it under the rug? That makes no sense to me. So being able to balance both is a must.

Why did you decide to put the EP also out for free?

Well, actually the original idea for this project was for it to just be a quick free-download-EP-type-of-thing. As we got deeper into creating the music, and investing time and money into it, we realized that it was becoming something a little bigger than we originally expected. So when we finished it, we figured ‘let's give people the option’. Our main focus is to get the music to the people. Now these days, with so much music coming out, good and bad, it's hard for people to decide who they should invest their time and money into. Which is completely understandable. Not a lot of people want to drop money on someone they don't know or on something they haven't heard. So we figured we'd put it out for free as well to let people hear the product first. We are confident in the music we made and feel that if the people like it, they will support it. There are still a lot of real fans out there, who are more than willing to show you their support, but we as artists have the responsibility of putting out good music.

How was working with the Sound Merchants different from for eg. working with the Snowgoons?How did you get with both of these production groups?

Well with the Snowgoons, they hit us up after hearing the song ‘Problems’ from ‘The Biz Vol. 1’ mixtape. They asked us to be part of their project, which we quickly agreed on and they sent us over some beats. Decay, Astonish, and I chose the one we liked and just knocked out the joint. Shout out to the Snowgoons by the way, thanks a lot for looking out; With the Sound Merchants, it's different because we’ve been cool for a minute now. I've known them for some years now and it's more of a ‘on hands collaboration’. I'll go over to their house and listen to beats, or they'll come through to my spot and lay some beats down for me. We'll discuss ideas and topics for the music. It's just more of a natural process in creating the music, which is an element that is missing a lot in music today, and makes a huge difference I think. We mutually respect what we each do and that's how this whole project went down.

We suppose you know the ‘Manifesto’ by Talib Kweli?

Of course I know the ‘Manifesto’ by Kweli. That was my joint in high school.

Ten points about being an MC...what does being an MC mean to you?

For me, being an MC is something great. It's being a poet, being able to rock a crowd, having a voice, having a message, speaking your mind, leading by example, unadulterated, uncensored. It's being a survivor, being honest, being truthful, being confident, being a rebel. An MC is something to be proud to be, but you must come with it or step aside.

You were used to be called ‘Rhyme Scheme’ but you dropped the ‘Rhyme’, how come?

Mostly everyone I encountered just called me Scheme, so I stuck with it. Nothing much more to it than that.

How would you say you have evolved since your previous full album towards now?

A lot. I've worked on my craft and tried becoming a better writer. I also learned how to space out my flow more so the people can catch everything I say. I’ve always been a fan of the rapid flow, but not everyone can catch on to certain things. So I've learned to balance it out. Subject matter wise I've also become more open minded and learned to just worry about making good music. Leave all the sub-genres and categories people tend to put you in, in the back of your mind. You can't control everything, except the music you make. So that's where I'm at with that.

How did you get with the Molemen crew?

I met Visual some years back, who is Panik's brother, but at the time I didn't know that. Visual told Panik about me and I met up with him one day. At the time I was just looking to see if I could buy some beats from him for a project I was working on at the time. He asked me to rhyme, which I did, and then he gave me a CD with a lot of beats. He asked me to come back when I wrote a couple joints. I went back like a day or 2 later with a couple new songs. Panik, pretty much just told me if I was interested in being part of the Molemen, and of course I agreed. I remember writing my first couple of actual songs to their instrumental tapes when I was in high school, and now I was being asked to be down with them. That shit was dope to me.

Any more production from them in the near future?

Yeah man, you'll definitely hear some Scheme/Molemen stuff coming soon. We have a good amount of songs already done. Just give us some time we'll definitely deliver the album.

How much of 'Chicago' is in 'Chicano' in your case?

Chicago is a huge part of my music. I love my city. As corrupt and messed up as a lot of the shit here is, I love it. It's my home. Born and raised in the grimiest of neighbourhoods, but have been fortunate to see the good in it all. I love the music we make here. I love the artists that stick to their style and go against the grain and make something of themselves. The weather sucks sometimes, (laughs) winter be taking a toll on all of us. But the summer makes it well worth it. There is nothing like summer in Chicago. So yeah man Chicago will forever hold a place in my heart and in my music.

Have you read the novel 'The House On Mango Street' by Sandra Cisneros?

Yeah, I read it when I was younger because one of my sisters was reading it and she passed it along to me. It's a real dope book. It's funny, the family in the book lived on the exact same streets me and my family lived on (Paulina and then on Keeler), but in earlier years.

Ruben Salazar mentioned 'A Chicano is a Mexican-American with a non-Anglo image of himself', agree?

Definitely. We can't relate to white America, because we truly do not see ourselves as part of that and they don't see us in that light either. Our skin colour, our style of talking, our culture as a whole’s different.
Who's the godfather of Chicano rap; Kid Frost or Mellow Man Ace?
That's a tough one, homie. Both definitely did their thing. I don't think I could choose one over the other.

What was the first rap album you bought?

Cypress Hill's first album in 1991. My sister convinced me to give her my 5 dollar allowance so we can buy the tape. I was 8 years old. That shit changed my life. (laughs) I never gave her the tape back, I would fall asleep listening to it everyday. I still have it somewhere in all my music stuff.

What was the last rap album you uploaded unto your iPod?

Eminem – ‘Relapse’, Cam'ron – ‘Crime Pays’ and Scarface – ‘The Fix’.

What’s next for Scheme?

Next up is a mixtape I am working on with PNS and it'll be brought to you by 2dopeboyz.com, which will be called ‘Same Rebel, New Cause’, that's going to come first. I also have this other album in the works with my homie Dario from Brazil. We got some joints done already, just need to finish putting the missing links together. And of course me and the Sound Merchants will begin working on the next project. And hopefully soon also start working with the Molemen on our project. Just trying to stay consistent and keep putting out this music.

Shout-outs?

To everyone and anyone who has taken their time to listen to my music, Thank you. To all the supporters and the people who hit me up: thank you! Shout out to 21 Grams and CB from the Sound Merchants, all my Molemen family, Visual, Vakill. To the homies Decay and Astonish. Wes Restless and Tone Pro for doing their thing on The Manifesto project. Thanks to all the blogs and sites showing love. We appreciate it. One

Thanks a lot! - Platform8470 (Belgium)


"Interview: Scheme"

Scheme von Molemen Inc. über seine gerade erschienene "The Manifesto" EP, den Videodreh in Mexiko und sein alltägliches Leben in der 'Windy City', Chicago. Wer die neuen Tracks noch nicht gehört hat, kann das jetzt nachholen: den Link zum kostenlosen Download findet ihr weiter unter im Text.


First of all: how did you get in touch with the Molemen?

I actually was performing at some show some years ago and met my homie Visual, who is Panik's brother. At the time I wasn't aware that they were brothers. Visual actually told Panik about me and I met up with him after that. We talked and I knocked out some songs over his beats and the relationship just built from there. He asked if I was interested in being down with the Molemen, and of course I said yes.


Have you been living in Chicago all your life?

Yeah I was born and raised all my life in the city of Chicago. Wouldn't change it for the world.


You recently released the "Manifesto EP". What do you offer on this one?

"The Manifesto" EP is a solid release from beginning to end. The Sound Merchants and I really worked on making a dope project and created some good music I think. We made sure every song had its place and focused on creating a cohesive piece of work homie. I am really proud of how it came out. I have Jean Grae on there. I have the homies, Astonish, Tone Pro, and Wes Restless on there as well. The homie Alo added scratches to some of the joints and the Sound Merchants handled all prodution. Everything just fit together perfectly on this project for us.


How did the song with Jean Grae come together?

21 Grams from the Sound Merchants actually handled that. I guess Jean had put something out there saying she was doing verses for collabs during the time we started working on the EP. We were trying to figure out who we should get as a feature on the album, so when this opportunity came along we went for it. 21 Grams knocked out the beat and sent it over to Jean. She hit us up with the verse the next day. Then I went ahead and laid my verses to it that same night. We had the ideas for the scractches already, and Alo killed it. He really did his thing on there. That brought the song together for me.


You also shot of video of the single "Chicano". How was shooting down there in Mexico?

It was great man. I would have never thought that I would have had the opportunity to do it like we did. Everything for this project has been a natural process and I think that really helped out the making of the music and the video. My cousin Jeffrey Castillo and his friend Abel Alvarado for Cine De Laredo shot the video for me. The experience was great from beginning to end. We had a fun time shooting and it felt great to have my grandma in the video and some of my other family as well. Just being able to bring both of my worlds together, Hip Hop and my ethnicity, made it real dope. The weather was nice and I was surrounded by family. Not much else you can ask for, homie.


What did your grandma say about being put in a rap video?

To be honest, she didn't really understand what we were recording her for *laughs* She knew it had to do with my music, and she gladly did it for me. My grandma is as far from rap music as anyone could be, so explaining to her what I do is a bit difficult. The generation and cultural differences are far too great for either of us to understand that aspect of my life, but she's real proud of me. She was happy to see the final video and I am really grateful to have had her be a part of it.


To me, this song is the highlight of the EP, you just come with the realness on this one. Lyrically you talk about being torn between american and mexican culture. Which one do you prefer? For which reasons?

Thanks homie, I'm really glad you like that joint. Honestly man, it's a tough question. That's why it's an on going battle. There are different aspects from both cultures that I appreciate and enjoy. I been born and raised in America, so obviously I am grateful for the lifestyle and certain opportunities I've been able to have because of being born in the US. Yet at the same time, both of my parents and my 3 sisters were born in Mexico. Our history is there. The connection I have with that part of me is always going to be there. It's who identify myself with and where my family came from. I enjoy the humility and the simple life people lead. I enjoy the connection I feel with where I came from.


It is also a song about everyday discrimination in the US - could you give an example?

The discrimination and racism in America is definitely an issue. You always get the funny looks, or the whispering behing your back from people who feel insecure or in danger because of how you look. Getting pulled over by the cops because of the color of your skin, or because you fit the "profile" of a gang member. I remember once I was chillin' with the homie Astonish right outside his crib just listening to some music and the cops pulled up alongside of us. They started questioning us and what not. The lady cop asked me what gang I was in, I said none. She was like "Yeah right?" I told her I wasn't and that I was actually in college and she laughed and said "Yeah your probably just gonna take your general classes and that's it" I was fuckin pissed. I told her that I was actually about to graduate. They talk down to you as if you can't defend yourself, or as if you weren't intelligent enough to hold your ground. I've always held pride in being able to defend myself no matter the situation. But it's whatever, I don't live with that chip on my shoulder. I live my life and treat everyone I come across as good as I feel they deserve, I don't let the ignorance get to me like that.


Sometimes I feel like the classical boom-bap is outdated. Nevertheless you stick to the good old sound - why didn't you try some new beats?

With this project we wanted to stick to a sound, we had a vision for this project and we stuck to it. I'm comfortable rapping over any kind of beat, it just depends on the direction of the project.


When can we expect a full length album from Scheme?

Soon homie. I'm working on a couple other things right now. But the full length is definitely coming soon.


Where can listeners from Germany buy your music?

You can get it on molemen.com, ughh.com, Itunes, Amazon.com or you can
visit my blog at schememusic.blogspot.com and buy it there. To those who haven't listened to The Manifesto EP yet you can download it here http://www.zshare.net/download/61432751ca540728/ ... and if you like it make sure you let your people know about it and show your support by buying it from one of the places I mentioned. Thanks a lot.
- UGRap.de (Germany)


"Q & A with Scheme"

Scheme of The Molemen just released the Same Rebel, New Cause mixtape, and it’s currently available for free download. The project is comprised of 21 tracks, and it features guest appearances from Mikkey Halsted, Astonish, and Visual.

Last year you released The Manifesto EP. Were you happy with the way that project was received?

Honestly man, it exceeded my expectations. I definitely knew we had a good project, and I was proud of the work we put into it. I was just glad the people seemed to have enjoyed it as well. I’m happy that we were able to do some videos for the project, and that MTV2 and MTV Tr3s are still looking to air the video for “Chicano”. It actually aired on MTV Jams already. The purpose of the EP was for me to be introduced to a lot of new people, and I think it really did serve its purpose.

Tell us about your new project, Same Rebel, New Cause (SRNC).

SRNC is split into 2 different projects. The mixtape, which already dropped and is available for free download at www.samerebelnewcause.com right now, and Selections from…Same Rebel, New Cause, which will be dropping soon. The second one will have all the original music from the mixtape, plus some new joints. That one is for those that don’t like the mixtape format and want some new exclusives as well. It has more of an album feel to it. That project will be out on iTunes, Amazon, and all digital download spots. These are all songs I felt I wanted to put out properly before I drop the LP later this year. Definitely some good music, and I hope it familiarizes people with what I do.

Based on the cover/title, is there somewhat of a political or socially conscious theme to the mixtape?

Not necessarily. I had thought of the title a while ago and really liked it. My music always has some social undertone to it. It’s just the kind of person I am. I’m aware of the world I live in, so it does seem to pass over into my music. But to me there has to be a balance in the music. You have to touch all bases in order to connect with the people. So while there’s definitely not a political theme, it’s just more of a personal agenda. Just putting myself on record, how I feel I want to be portrayed, and talking about what goes through my mind.

How did you link up with DJ Muggs and the Soul Assassins collective?

Man, that actually happened when the video for “Chicano” from The Manifesto EP dropped. The homie Mils over at Soul Assassins hit me up and told me whatever I needed, just to let him know. They were down with what I was doing. Since then we’ve kept that connection. I had this mixtape dropping, so I asked him what he thought about having Soul Assassins present it, and they were down for it. He actually got Muggs on the intro for me. Muggs also showed love by playing some of my music on his Shade 45 radio show. We’ll see where it goes from here man. Those are people I look up to, and any work done with them would be incredible.

Which producers did you work with on the new mixtape?

I worked with Panik, from my Molemen family of course. I also worked a lot with my homie Dario from out in Brazil; me and him have had good chemistry and have been knocking out a lot of records. I also worked with Phantem, J-Rell, GMJ, Renan Semam, Bump Bailey, and Evolve One. These were all producers who I’ve been working on and off with for some time now.

What’s going on with The Molemen these days?

Vakill is about ready to drop his Armor of God LP. Man, I’ve heard it and the shit’s insane. That’s really what they’ve been prepping this past year. The album is wrapped up and now they’re just getting some videos done and getting ready for the release.

How much has the music game changed since you released your debut LP back in 2006?

The internet is definitely running things right now in the music game. I mean, it was extremely prevalent in 2006 as well, but the music blogs took it to another level. You can now have major label artists being mentioned in the same posts as independent artists. The line is slowly diminishing, which is real dope in some ways. People are a lot more open to listening to new and different kinds of music, which is also great. Like anything else in life, there are some good changes and some bad, but you just need to learn to adjust and you’ll be fine.

What else do you have in store for 2010?

My LP is definitely in the works, as well as a possible album with my homie Astonish. We’ll see which one gets done first. But definitely expect a lot of features from me on other artists’ songs, and just more music from me. Stay updated with all that stuff by visiting my blog. Thanks for the support. - Elevator Hip Hop


"Scheme - The Manifesto EP (OKP Review) - 84"

For the past few years, the model of releasing LPs to the public has changed drastically. Mixtapes, “street” albums, and the like have become standard fare – mostly free of charge. Listeners are spoiled now, what with some artists releasing better free product than their retail outputs. Chicago’s Scheme adds on to this current trend but with a twist. His new release, The Manifesto EP, has been made available as a free download but has been released to several retail outlets. The strategy behind this is simple: enjoy the LP, support it by purchasing. The question remains if this is a smart ploy or a foolhardy venture.

The intro begins with a fierce, almost sinister track from CB of the Sound Merchants. Scheme’s dauntless rhymes soar right along with CB’s backing production – and thus set the course for the EP excellently. “Respect The Art” follows immediately and 21 Grams of Sound Merchants provides the amazing horn-laced groove. Scheme’s rhymes add depth to the track with his earnest delivery and lyrics that recount his career’s arc. “Spotlight,” featuring artist Wes Restless and production from CB, while the track isn’t terrible, the attempts at making the song epic just comes off as contrived and overproduced. Scheme and Wes don’t necessarily add any true depth to the track but don’t ruin it either.

“Let Me Do My Thing” featuring the amazing Jean Grae and production from 21 Grams is a return to form. Scheme is simply amazing and Jean Grae delivers more of her typically strong work – it could be easily considered the LP’s best track. The LP’s first single (which also has an accompanying video), ”Chicano,” features production from CB, is somber in tone and reflective in lyric. Scheme’s recanting of his Latino heritage and struggles that went along with that is easy to connect with. The last full song “Extravagant Lifestyle,” features the excellent MC talents of Tone Pro and Astonish along with fantastic production from 21 Grams. The song is a fitting salvo considering the themes already present on the release. Scheme has released a strong piece here and one should hope that he intends to expand his platform with an actual full release. For now, The Manifesto EP should hold listeners over for some time.

- D.L. Chandler - www.okayplayer.com


Discography

For My People - LP (2006)
This Is Now (Mixtape w/ Visual) (2006)
The Biz (Mixtape w/ Decay and Astonish) (2007)
The Manifesto EP (2009)
Same Rebel, New Cause (Mixtape) (2010)
Same Rebel, New Cause (Deluxe Edition) (2010)
Helluva Year (Mixtape) 2010

Photos

Bio

From within the inner city streets of Chicago, beyond the daily commute of the 9 to 5ers, and amongst the sound of the music blaring in the streets comes’ an artist with a brand new outlook on Hip Hop music; Scheme.

Scheme is a vivid writer with a story to tell and an uncanny talent to point out with precision the realities of life. In 2006, with the help of the Molemen, Scheme delivered his first full length album, For My People, which was received extremely well by the local Chicago scene, as well as worldwide. The album was infused with hard beats and heart-felt lyrics from the perspective of a young man from Chicago's inner city. With production by Panik, PNS, Memo, Mike Slugs, 21 Grams, and others, For My People became Scheme's entrance into Hip Hop. He followed it up with two mixtapes; one with Visual (This Is Now) and one with Astonish and Decay (The Biz Vol. 1). Both mixtapes were praised as great pieces of work, which helped Scheme catapult himself further into the Hip Hop scene.

In 2009, Scheme released The Manifesto EP which garnered a lot of praise from fans and critics. With an appearance from Jean Grae and production from the Sound Merchants, the EP reached the world and made an incredible impact on Scheme’s music career. The video for the song "Chicano" aired on MTV Jams and has gained Scheme a lot of attention on an international level.

Now, in the year 2010, Scheme has kept his momentum going by dropping yet another project; Same Rebel, New Cause (Mixtape) which was presented by Soul Assassins, Molemen, Ruby Hornet, and 2dopeboyz. He has also followed that release with; Same Rebel, New Cause (Deluxe Edition), which features new songs, and new collaborations with Mikkey Halsted, Emilio Rojas, Add-2, Astonish, and more. Also to put a stamp on the great year Scheme had in 2010 he released the Helluva Year (Mixtape) as a token of appreciation to all of those who helped make 2010 a Helluva year.

Now in 2011, Scheme is working on an EP entitled "Almighty Supreme" and an LP by the name of "La Vida Fina"

He's performed alongside; Lupe Fiasco (Atlantic Records), Crucial Conflict, Big KRIT (Def Jam), L.E.P., Vado (Diplomats), Vakill (Molemen Inc.), Cool Kids, Juice, RhymeFest, Naledge (Duck Down Records), Qwel (Galapagos 4), Glue (Fatbeats Records), DJ A-Trak (Kanye West DJ), Fat Lip (Pharcyde), Zion I, The Grouch, Mac Lethal (Rhymesayers Ent.), POS (Rhymesayers Ent.), Psalm One (Rhymesayers Ent.), MF Doom, and many more.

Everything is finally falling into place for Scheme. Hard work and talent is undeniable. Expect nothing less than greatness from this young artist.