A couple months back, when we here at Womazing.com, held a freestyle contest, West Palm Beach emcee, Chris Morris, won 2nd place. The 2nd prize winner won a written out interview with Womazing, so here we are!
Chris Morris has been on my radar for almost a year, now. During our interview he admits he did spam me a bit trying to get my attention to listen to his music. Although, spamming is one of my biggest pet peeves, I decided to take a listen, and I was definitely blown away by his talent. He’s certainly a great artist, and one I believe a lot of people should lend their ear to. Read my interview with the young emcee below.
Q: For the people that aren’t aware who you are, please give them a little insight on who you are and what do you do?
A: Wad Up World?….Thanks For Having Me Kas… Well Who Is Chris Morris? Well To Lay It Out..I’m Brooklyn Born West Palm Raised…I Was blessed with the advantage of getting to know both the south and the north cultures of music…And Basically Imma Brother A Son An Entertainer And A Humble Soul All Wrapped In One…I Get Asked that question all the time “what do you do?” i like to be classified as an artist not just a typical rapper…my love for music is way more than just a pen and a pad… i produce at times even though i’m still at the starting stage..some of my joints tend to be wack at times lol… But i’m still pushing, i’m Also An engineer, I record And Mix All My Tracks
Q: When were you first introduced to hip-hop?
A: I remember it like it was yesterday…i was about 12 and i was visiting Ny for the summer and my Cousin had a old walkman with a tape that had only two songs on it Notorious B.I.G- “Juicy” and Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek- “The Blast”. I hope he doesn’t see this interview (laughs). Well anyways, I stole his walkman and I would bump those 2 songs back to back, for about 3 months straight, till the tape ended up breaking. But till this day both songs were life changing. So, I gotta give it up to my cousin, for my introduction to Hip-Hop. Sorry Cus (laughs).
Q: What made you want to become a rapper and when did you start making your own music?
A: Back in high school being one of those lost delinquents who used to skip class and fight all the time. I found music as a way to express myself…rather than finding myself in the back of a police car or even dead. It all started through lunch room cyphers and table beats. Just a bunch of youngin’s with nothing better to do. I Remember a lot of people I grew up with that I labeled as family would encourage me to start making complete tracks, telling me I had a talent. But I would just shrug em off because they were friends. To me they were there to hype you up to look good, for kids and the ladies. So, I took nothing of it… Until I found myself heading down the wrong road. The devil got real busy in my life. I began to get kicked out of schools, back to back, for fighting, and other disciplinary problems. Running into the law in and out of jail. Until one day I couldn’t see my mother hurting anymore, so I wised up and enrolled into a military school where I buckled down and did what I had to do to get that H.S. Diploma. Seeing the smile on my moms face made me push on in life. The funny thing is I’ve only been seriously making music and recording for a year and a half now, so I got a lot of work ahead of me (laughs).
Q: You remind me a lot of a younger version of J.Cole… Who are your biggest inspirations when it comes to music?
A: (laughs) – I know, I know. I think it might be the influences… Don’t get me wrong high 5 to J.Cole, man. He’s one of the illest out. My biggest inspirations range from Nas, 2 pac, Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Jay Z, Lupe, MF.Doom and a lot of old school music. Especially the Isley Brother’s and Sade.
Q: Your lyrics are very deep where people can relate to them. Tell us more about how you go about the writing process when it comes to your songs?
A: Yea life’s the way to go about it you can never run out of things to talk about. It’s such a refreshing topic. But for my writing process… I usually turn the beat on and allow it to marinate and speak to me. But really, no lie, within 10 seconds of hearing a beat I’ll know if that’s the beat, for me, it all comes natural. Once the beat starts flowing with me I usually start with my verse. The topic of my verse usually determines the rest of the track. I usually freestyle my hooks, then from there Pow a track is created. All a feel and approve process nothing too special.
Q: Nowadays blogs/twitter/etc have taken a toll on how an artist can be discovered, how has it benefited and/or hurt you?
A: You know, that’s a great question… Nowadays a lot of bloggers have their circle, so it’s pretty much hard to reach a lot of sites through Twitter or email. If you don’t personally know them. It took me a while to break a little success. It’s all about in person experiences. So, I try to hit events, where I could meet with the bloggers and other connects. If it wasn’t for Twitter, I wouldn’t of gotten a 9th Wonder cosign, which left me in the works of a couple tracks from Ka$h, from The Soul Council, so big up’s to the Jamla family. A true inspiration in my step to become great.
Q: What are your top 3 favorite albums of all time?
A: Nas- Illmatic 2. Jay z- Reasonable Doubt 3. Black Star- Black On Both Sides
Q: Which current artists are you listening to now? (Mainstream/Underground/Local)
A: I usually try to not listen to a lot of cats out now. Just so I won’t become influenced to switch up my style or anything. But to list a few…Black Hippy, Big Krit, 2 Chains (laughs), Fashawn, Phonte, and Nas…They get daily bumps.
Q: This is totally random question, but since Womazing is a comic book themed website, I though I should ask… Were you ever into comics as a kid? who was you favorite hero and why? (chuckles)
A: (laughs) Foreal I always wanted to be the Black Green Lantern. I always saw him as a hero to the black community, cause not to many super hero’s were from the black descent. So, I always thought that was pretty dope.
Q: Any last words?
A: Yes, Kas is dope. The whole Womazing staff is dope. So, remember folks always keep it funky and fresh, and be on the look out for my upcoming tape titled, Hip-Hop Fell In Love With Me.
