Hey Nobs, first of all, unravel the mystery behind the name. Is it really just "Nobody Special" or did you hide another meaning in it?

I really don't know where that meaning came from. I guess on the intro to my Musicide album I said “ sincerely yours , nobody special” and maybe people thought “hey that's what it means”. It actually stems from my huge knuckles. They look like ET fingers. My friend actually spelled the “knobs” wrong and it kinda stuck. Ive also been told it means “NO BullShit” “No One But Self” and in England a nob is slang for penis. Im not too proud of that one

Your Solo-LP "Workin'" is out since a couple of months. Did you sell big time? What kind of replies did you get from listeners?

You didn't hear I went platinum? Its selling pretty well actually. Without major backing and major distribution ive sold quite a few copies. Ive never really gotten a negative comment from a listener who purchased the album. A few bad reviews here and there…some negative criticism, but ive gained a bunch of new fanbase with it….especially over in Europe….the response from there has been incredible

Who produced on the lp?

Losaka did “Go Drown”, Hippo did “You Wont Be Here Again”, “Gridlock in Paradise”, an interlude and co produced “Radio”. My drums on “Radio” originally sucked. I had an off beat sample and I was like “fuck this…Hippo do the drums” and he did it. I paid him in beer.

On "Workin'" you sound distincly different than on your older works, I recognized stronger accentuation and more power in your voice. Natural progress or done with intention?

Natural progress. Ive been rhyming since I was in 7 th grade, but I never really stepped inside a vocal booth until “Musicide”. When looking back, the results were kinda ehhh….i didn't do much experimenting…I hadnt found my voice yet…I basically just said “hey let me try to do this as fast as I can”. Some people seemed to like the sound on that album. But it was definitely just lack of experience. A bit amateurish

The overall sound reminds me of the Beastie Boys and Def Jux, a bit of both but without sounding plagiarizing. And it`s got that typical NY flair. Did the city influence your work? Because a lot of musicians state that they got their inspiration from the city they live in and "Workin'" definitely got that big city touch.

Well if anything, the city I live by pissed me off…and I guess that inspired me to shit on it. NYC is a melting pot of rappers and overinflated egos. I rarely ever work with an artist from NY. Theres a few exceptions. Most ive met are not down to earth at all. Ive been contemplating moving actually. The NY flair as you call it is most likely just a natural thing. I try to distance myself from the bright lights of the city. It kinda depresses me. There was a time we couldn't get a show there…a time when no stores wanted our releases…actually those times still exist. Its oversaturated. Im just trying to do something different, but I guess its like shaking a regional accent off….its hard.

Let`s talk about Fingerprint Records. When did the whole thing start?

Well, basically I met up with the Fingerprint cats when I was trying to book a show. Brad Hamers was working on material for a new album and I was trying to get shows to promote “Musicide”. I stumbled upon Losakas “Duck the Norm” on the now deceased Hip Hop Infinity site, gave it a listen as was like “this guy is from my area?” I wasn't happy with any of the music in my surrounding community and when I heard Losaka it was like a breath of fresh air. I told myself “this is who I wanna try and do a show with”…just so happens he enjoyed my music….THENNN I realize theres 3 more of them on the label…yadda yadda…I became friends with them and we would just sit around and experiment with music. Eventually, I asked if they wanted to do an EP with me. They agreed and “Typical Hip Hop Shit” is what came out.

Who founded it and who is on it?

Fingerprint Records was founded by Eibol, Losaka and Hippo…then I joined the team…then Erosadis….so now it's a 5 man lineup…there are a shitload of affiliates and branch offs and what not but those are the solid five

How did you met Brad Hamers and the other guys from 3SC?

Well, I had a friend Brook. I used to freestyle with him and just shoot the shit. He tells me “you gotta get up with Brad”. I had no clue who this kid was, but supposedly he was this spoken word poet dude. I was kinda reluctant at first but I was like “maybe hes cool”. I was at the final Company Flow show in NYC and I ran into him with Brook, we started talking and he told me of this show he was having with an open mic. I went to the open mic and did this little poetry piece thing..i fucked up badly too…but from what he heard he liked it and he told me he was gonna have another one the following week at the school he was attending. I went to that too….i battled some herb….i won…he was laughing…it was the same day the Cannibal OX CD dropped and I was like “you wanna go get it”. So we drove to the store and talked and read eachother shit…from that day on weve been best friends. Slomoshun was his roomate at the time…we all did albums…those years of my life are probably the most fun ive had… I look at Brad like a brother…weve been through some shit…we came up in the same breath….we both solidified our craft with one another…helped eachother out…to this day we still do and I think its great

Thinking about such strong and emotional lyrics like Brad's and the great diversity of creative music coming from Fingerprint, what, in general, is the first thing you pay attention to when listening to new vocal music? The lyrics or the music itself?

First I listen as a whole…try to take it all in…I usually notice the beat first and the vocals last…the soundscape is the most important part to me…it starts the song out…so its song as a whole…beat…lyrics…atleast that's the order I like to notice it in haha

When did you start with writing lyrics?

I started writing in probably 6 th grade
“im smacking bats and gats on your cranium…slaying them…theres so many heads in my crew you cant be naming em”….that's how long ive been writing haha

When you get beats from any of the Fingerprint producers, do you have the lines already done or do you need the mood of the certain beat to fit your lyrics to?

Usually I think of a theme. Ill tell Los, Eibol or Hippo that theme and have them try and work around it I like beats with a lot of variation…hard drums…usually if they come to me with something im enjoying I start molding my lyrics around it…I usually never write full sets of vocals without a beat…maybe just some ideas.

What do you think about the hip hop culture nowadays? Do you feel like there is something missing that was essential throughout the 90's? Of course there are a lot of people claiming that hip hop is dying and how all was better in the early days and bla bla. But what is your subjective feeling without thinking long about it?

I just miss the way it used to sound…I don't understand how people cant make albums like they used to. WHAT IS STOPPING THEM? I have such high expectations from artists…I hate to use this as an example but I have to…obviously we all know Illmatic was one of the best…if not THE BEST hip hop album to come out…Why hasn't Nas done something like that again? Every single off a newer album of his leads me to believe the whole album will be the same…it never is….i think people look at it and say “I want to stay with the times”..but I think theres nothing wrong with going back…I miss old school beats, breaks, classic rhymes…either people try to hard or they don't try enough….i want some more Diamond D and less of Lil Wayne

Where do you think would Nobs be today if there wasn't the internet? I know we didn`t used to have it until the late 90's and we still survived but would the scene be this connected without it?

Definitely not….without the internet id be one lonesome person…it has helped greatly….i came into this at a time when the internet is what gave u a jump…but then again anyone can promote their stuff with the internet…even if its bad…I would have sex with my modem if I could

Talking about the good old days, what was the first song you ever recorded? Still remember that?

“August Snow”…I have it..do you want it…its horrible…but you can see how I started off and how I havent changed much…my voice is horrible…flow is bad…lyrics are ok…beat is silly….but it's the past….i wouldn't erase it from my memory if I could

Looking into the future, what are your plans? Are you going to show up at Scribble Jam again? Maybe even participate? Is there some work in the making?

I was actually supposed to perform at Scribble Jam this last year…yet, there was a conflict that stopped me from doing so….this year I am 99% sure ill be performing….i wil go back regardless…it's a great even for networking…a lot of my close artist friends attend it and the response each year gets better and better…I just hate driving through Pennsylvania…..

Last but not least, where can the people contact you or gather some more information?

You can hit us up on www.fingerprint-records.com or email me at nobs@fingerprint-records.com

If you wanna book us there is some information on the Fingerprint site that will let u know what to do….Speaking of which I might see you in Germany this upcoming summer with Brad Hamers…lets keep our fingers crossed ok?

I`ll defintively do that. Thank you very much for the interview.

NO THANK YOUUUU