Get to Know: H.O.P.E.

In the world of Hip-Hop, the words hustlin' and grindin' are terms thrown around freely. Every up-and-coming rapper says they're 'doing their thing' or however they'd like to phrase it, all in the hopes of taking the throne and becoming the 'best rapper alive.' Yeah...a lot of them talk a big game. However, Compton native, H.O.P.E., can actually talk the talk, but with the skills to back it up. With a drive and determination that's simply unrivaled by his peers, and with an effortless 'leading man' capability, this guy is already on the track to becoming bigger than big. The 21-year-old, born Marquis Wright, sat down with The B.B. Rose Scenario and gave us an honest peek into the person behind the mic:



B.B. Rose: So the last time we talked, you were working on a few new tracks for your new album, and things were pretty 'stressful.' That was a couple weeks ago, so how's everything with that coming along now?

Right now everything is just how they should be, you know? All the stress comes from the fact that you're taking something that’s YOU and making it everyone else’s. It’s not the business that stresses me, it’s more so the creative side. But the project is coming along great; just imagine what I’mma say next.

Is it true that you're also working on a new mixtape?

‘Mixtape’ is a tainted name to me. 'Street Album'. That’s what the last one [“Fresh Hell”] was, so the same applies to this next one. I’m big on titles and names. I don’t even consider myself a ‘rapper’ a lot of the times. It’s embarrassing. Why would I put myself in the same category as a lot of these other dudes? It’s all low quality, so I titled this next project "Follow The Leader".

Right...so you obviously consider yourself a 'leader.' What qualifies you to be one? And what qualities are other up-and-comers lacking?

You tell me. Everyone raps, right? There’s over a million rappers in the city alone. And this is just L.A. Now multiply that. A lot of these other guys are just great mimics. Take that and put a backwards hat on them and there you go, "Rapper". But creatively, in my opinion, no one is doing it for me, with the exceptions of LITE and CIRE. Most of everyone else sucks if you ask me. Some of them get passes because I’m cool with them, but most of them are just bad rappers in general. But in their head they’re tight, they’re cutting edge. In my opinion, these other guys listen too much if you ask me.

True...so you've been apart of the indie Fresh 2 Def label basically since it began. Do you feel as though f2d has what it takes to get you to the level you want to eventually reach in the industry?

Yes, and we will. We have good chemistry over here. It’s a family.

The fact that f2d is a family is something you're quite vocal about, even made a song about it. But isn't it true that an artist recently left the label because of you getting 'better treatment' and being more favored than other artists on the label?

Okay, the REAL questions huh (Laugh). No, our roster is still the same unless you know something I don’t know. We’re all young, and some of us are more advanced than others, some have a more direct approach than others. But the support is still there. "Better treatment" sounds like jealousy, and we have none of that over here.

I feel you...so lets take a step back to your last street album 'Fresh Hell.'Your 'The Life' track has to be one of the most open and honest songs ever. In it, you talk about so much, and there's even talks of abortion....can you further explain what that's about and is that story personal to you?

Well that song just happened. At the time, I was given the beat, and when I heard it, all these feelings came to mind. I honestly went through at least seven different verses before I chose those three. They all needed to fit. First verse was about both a girl and how us rappers romanticize Hip-Hop and the "Game". That was the last verse I came up with actually. But the last one, of course, was the most heart felt one. Someone I knew just had an abortion and, I don’t know if you know what they do, but that shit is bonkers. So I wanted to tell that side of the story from my perspective. The anguish-- the hurt of such a hard decision. It makes you appreciate shit a little more.

I wrote that in the dark by the way (Laugh).

Yeah, well it definitely struck a chord. So, let's get personal. What was your childhood like?

Regular. I fell in love with everything as a kid, as a kid should.

Hold on, let me ask you a question. You heard ‘Fresh Hell’, it’s pretty advanced right? What do YOU think of it?

(Laugh) Ok...well yeah, I think it's pretty advanced. There’s some great beat selections...and lyrically, I feel like it's quite amazing.

Well thank you; I aim to please.

(Laugh) I'm sure you do. But back to what I was saying...so you had a 'regular' childhood. How was your relationship with your family?

Regular. Mom and Dad type stuff. Brothers, sisters, and cousins, and some more shit.

So you do have a good relationship with your pops?

We’re good.

Just good? Last time we spoke, you didn't know where he was...

He's alive. We're good.

We speak through people

I see...how long has your relationship been that way?

We’re still on good terms. I’m grown now. I’m on my own.

You're grown now...and in the past year or so, you've gotten into a bit of 'grown' trouble with the law. Can you tell me about that?

Well, I’m on probation now. I'll be all right. I went out my mind briefly but I’m back. When you jeopardize your freedom by your own doing, it makes you take a step back. I was right in the middle of recording ‘Fresh Hell’ too. And that place kills anything you have in you. But I'm straight now.

“That place” being jail, right?

CCU/Jail. We'll just call it "Jail"

Well, I guess you aren’t a great rapper until you have your run in with the law...

I guess so.

So 'Follow the Leader' is your new project...how do you think it will top 'Fresh Hell'?

‘Fresh Hell’ has nothing to do with this next project. ‘Follow the Leader’ is something new. New producers, new rhymes, and a new sound. I’ve been feeling stale since the last one came out. Plus, in my opinion, that void needs to be filled right now as far as us regionally. Some of these other guys misrepresent the city in so many ways it’s crazy.

Speaking of your sound...even though you represent Compton, when people hear you, they don't get that typical 'westcoast' style from you. Why do you think that is? And was that a deliberate decision on your part?

That’s funny, Kurupt is from Philly, and he's the most "westcoast" sounding MC out there to me. Snoop's whole family is from Mississippi and Pac was from everywhere. As a fan, the guys I listened to may come out from time to time too.
I’m big on ‘Blueprint’ and Pac.

Pac was the first rapper that caught my attention creatively.

So would you say that you’re heavily influenced by Pac?

Yes. Being a Compton kid, hell yeah.

I feel you...earlier when you said you're “big on Blueprint,” you were talking about the Hov album, right?

Yep. That’s the one that did it for me. Made me wanna rap. The people that knew me for rapping knew I was the best then. But hearing those 15 songs was the biggest inspiration boost ever.

I definitely feel you on that...but you were careful to say you're big on Blueprint instead of being big on Jay. Which is funny to me since some say you have a way with words like Jay. So how do you feel about him as an artist?

Jay is a great artist. He has the best musical catalogue in Hip-Hop, bar none. He has a dope mind.

Definitely...in a recent interview you did over at Urbansteez, you said that “hip-hop has conditioned its fans to have tunnel vision.” Further break that down for me.

Yeah it has. Like, I used to listen to both Big and Pac. I listen to Big and Nas. But now, Clipse fans don’t listen to Wayne, Jadakiss fans don’t listen to 50. It’s all different now. Everything is so segregated. Like, you even said I don’t sound like a traditional Cali rapper. I don’t know, most people feel it though. It’s hard to describe. And it’s been going on for so long now, that it’s normal. The fun is almost being taken out of the music kinda.

Yeah it is...but hopefully you're here to bring it back. What's your overall mission in this 'rap game'?

Good Music and Conquering All.

That was good...You have anything else you want to say?

I’m the best.



To hear some of H.O.P.E.'s music, to find out about upcoming shows, or to find out how to get a copy of his last mixtape, Fresh Hell, visit his MySpace page at: myspace.com/hopeizf2d.