Xperience

When he's not out touring the world with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (like he's doing as we speak), Olympia MC Xperience (from Oldominion) is holding his own in the studio. The man just released The Durden Papers Vol. 1 on his website. I'm about half-way through it sounds like some pretty standard XP (a good thing): singing and rapping in his trademark pulpit tenor over some quality local and borrowed beats. His video for "60/40" - a highlight from the release is above. - Seattle Weekly

Tyler a.k.a Xperience hails from Olympia, Washington [presently Seattle]. He recently has been on the Living Legends I-5 tour where I caught him in the act of dropping some dope lines over tight ass beats. I sat down with Xperience at Club Kolbeh and we talked Underground Hip-Hop.

When did you first get into Hip-Hop?

I got into Hip-Hop when I was about 8 or 9, just listening to what I heard on the radio. My mom wouldn’t let me listen to too much stuff. I from the Midwest so I listened to a lot of Twista. It wasn’t until I moved to the west coast that I got into a lot of underground like Souls of Mischief. I’ve been listening to Hip-Hop since I was young.

What Crew are you apart of?

Oldominion.

Oldominon is a crew of over 20 emcees, artists and producers. Within their ranks are the Boom Bap Project, NORMAN, Grayskul and Sirens Echo. They collectively make up the Northwest sound of Hip-Hop, putting out numerous solo projects.

Have you guys been making music together?

Oh yeah, yeah. Constantly. If you ask one of us what we are doing, you know, we’re making music all of the time. There’s so many of us that we just collaborate in little sections, it’s easier for some people to collaborate. Me, JKF and Candidt we’ve been getting together working on a project. I ain’t gonna say too much right now, but its real dope. I’m real proud of it and I can’t wait for people to hear it.

Do you like being an underground artist?

I love being an underground artist. I’m trying to break out of that label, “underground artist”. I understand where it comes from. I used to not listen to anything that wasn’t underground, but you always got to respect somebody’s hustle and them trying to better themselves. You shouldn’t try to change who you are. I try not to place myself in like labels, like underground. I want to do music that everybody likes. I want people across the seas to listen to my shit. I think that underground feeling of underground has become so much bigger than the underground now, it’s something way more. I want us as a whole to always keep that feeling of what underground music is, but we can be so much more than that.

Where did you learn how to flow like that?

When I write something that’s how it comes out. I play the drums, so I’m really picky about the rhythm I’m rapping on. It’s not hella complicated, it depends on the beat and how I want to hit the beat back.

When you say drums and rhythm it makes me think of the rhythm section in Jazz. Do you listen to a lot of Jazz?

I started listening to a lot of jazz in High school, when I moved up here to Olympia. I had to take an elective so it was a class you just take so Jazz band was there. I don’t know how to read music and I’ve never been taught to play the drums or nuthin, but it was always something I was good at since I was like 5 and I played for my church. But when I moved up here I started playing in Jazz band and the teacher was kind of weary at first because I didn’t know how to read music. But he felt that I was good enough to do my own thing. We went to the Mt. Hood Jazz Festival and won first place. I love jazz and I love all music as well.

Do you ever use Jazz in Hip-Hop? Do you ever try to fuse the two?

Definatley.You know as far as making beats always trying to add a jazzy mood to my beats or laid back feel. That’s what jazz is laid back, you got wild jazz of course, but I like the jazz that’s laid back to where it’s pure emotion. I sing too. I definitely like soul music, but it’s definitely gospel influence I grew up in the church. But right after that would be jazz.

Who’s your favorite Hip-Hop Artist out right now?

I’ve been thinking about it. I think that Crooked Eye is just one of my favorite MC’s right now. Aesop Rock I think is ill. I feel so many rappers Andre 3000, Pharoahe Monch. I can’t even tell you who my favorite MC is.

When are you coming out with a new project?

New Project dropping in Olympia June 25th. - Thread Da Needle

Long time friend and collaborator, Xperience (XP), gets the show under way in true emcee fashion, brandishing phenomenal production, polished stage presence and the crowd control of a tour headliner. It was just a year ago that Xperience opened up for Macklemore with Champagne Champagne at San Diego’s intimate, all ages venue, The Epicentre. He was a solid act then, but since has gone from a good hip hop act to a well-rounded entertainer who commands the attention, energy and respect of all in attendance. The set that XP and his DJ put together was perfect for the tour and the performance was seamless. The production for the first track was RI DIC U LOUS! and definitely pulled the onlookers in. XP then took us on a buffet style journey through some of his catalogue, showing off lyrically, vocally (yeah, he sings well too), and he showed that he can touch on just about any topic while maintaining the integrity of real hip hop. If openers are something like appetizers, preparing the audience for the main course, then XP did his damn job – he undoubtedly made new fans and left all hungry for what was to come. - Soul Anchor Collective