Middle Finger Recordz - Interviews: Sylent Interviewed by www.BeHeard.cjb.net

SYLENT
Interview Conducted By
www.BeHeard.cjb.net
(9/06/2003)

A Voice Against MTV Be Heard.
We're here with Sylent from Middle Finger Recordz. We're going to ask a few questions about the fact that there are no Chicano rappers or Mexicans in general on MTV or any other major networks.

Before we get started do you have anything to say about this issue?

First off, I just want to say it's about fucken time Latinos finally stand up against discrimination in the music business. From day one when hip hop was created, Latinos have never gotten their proper dues and respect.

How long have you been in the music business?

I'm still under the underground, Low-Budget-But-Fuck-It, so I'm not really in the music business completely. It's a hard business to get noticed in all together but when you're brown, it's like walking into a fancy hotel and you see all the white people move up against the walls with their eyes on you, afraid you're gonna take over the hotel or something. They're afraid we're gonna take over the music business.

How many albums do you have out?

I'm working on my first studio quality release right now but I released two full-length demo CDs that's been getting play on the calles lately.

What are the names of the albums?

Sylent "562" and Sylent "The Walk". I named them both after the area I rep just to give the love that I get right back.

What record label are you under?

Middle Finger Recordz.

Are all your songs gang related?

None of my songs are gang-related 'cause I'm not a gangster. They may be hardcore thug shit but that's only because that's the life I lived but never will you hear me say that I'm a gangster. I am what I am and my songs are what they are... Something for every Chicano to relate to.

Why do you think TV and radio don't want to play Mexican rap?

'Cause they know once they let us in, they won't be able to get rid of us. We're gonna take over the game. If they open that border, best believe we're gonna cross... And that's what they're afraid of. They don't want us breaking their stereotypes and actually showing the world what we really are and what we can do with ourselves.

Don't you think they should at least acknowledge it?

I don't think they should acknowledge it as "Latin Rap". If they acknowledge it as just "Latin Rap", then no changes are gonna be made. They need to acknowledge the brown as just rappers... The same as the rest of the rappers whose videos get played. You can't deny talent so give respect where respect is due. On the serio, there's a grip of firme Latin rappers but there's also a grip of lame Latin rappers. We need to filter that shit out right now if we want to be taken a little more seriously.

Do you have any videos?

Not yet. But I wouldn't mind seeing other Latinos videos as long as they don't look all low budget, filmed in their backyards and shit. If you're watching MTV and you want your video played, you better come with some real looking music video or don't cry about not getting played. Like Amanda Perez, her video "Angel" is one of the best videos I've seen and it got played on a daily rotation... So you can't really say that they're racist.

Would you tone down your music if you were asked to be on TV?

I will never tone down my music. If they don't like what I'm saying then they can have their editor go add beeps in it or something... Fuck it. That's what they pay their editors for anyways, right? Put their asses to work.

Would there be a problem if they played your music with Nortenos?

No. Bloods and Crips get their shit played one after the other, why would I trip? As long as my shit gets played and gets watched and respected, fuck the rest. I don't give a fuck what else they play as long as they play shit that deserves respect.

What do you think about major network channels not playing that type of music?

I think it's not just about discrimination... It's also about our own gente not supporting us. They got to play what makes money for their stations. If more Latinos would support Latin Rap and prove to the big time corporations that it is a profitable genre then maybe they'll get some more exposure. Being played once a week for an hour isn't enough to show the suits that this music is marketable. We all got to do our part and make sure it gets noticed. But from what I've seen, the brown ain't as proud as they claim they are.

If you could directly talk to a MTV representative, what would you say to them?

I wouldn't say shit. I would let the music, fans and sales do the talking 'cause in the end, that's what it's all about. The fucken sharks don't care about the brown... All they care about is the green.

Who was your biggest influence as you were growing up and also to get in the music business?

My biggest influence was my older brother Payaso. He was rapping all gangsta'd out long before Ice-T, NWA and Frost ever picked up a mic. He was my main inspiration to get into the game but he got fucked over by a known Chicano rapper early in the game and he gave up. That got my eyes focused on the business side of this game 'cause I'd be damned if I let a vato take me for a fool. I'm in this shit to finish what my brother started.

How do you feel about other rappers before you that have been in the music business for so long, but still have not made it on major networks?

I don't really feel anything. I'm not gonna sit around and cry about why Latino rappers aren't getting exposure. In the end, it's all about the gente supporting, petitioning like you people are doing and making sure their artists are getting the street buzz to catch the attention of these stations. If you gain enough street buzz around you, the stations will come looking for you... The Law too but that's another story, so just keep your nose clean.

What do you think we could do to change this?

The gente should try supporting the rappers before they hate them just because they come from a different area. They also need to stop treating these labels like fucken varrios... This guy from this label hates that guy from that label, now both labels hate each other... That shit's lame. A real man stands alone. Be responsible for what you say and don't expect the homies on your label to jump into your beef. They think battling verbally on wax with other rappers will get attention but it only scares the majors away 'cause they know Latinos don't play when we talk all thug'ed out. We come real with it and our world ain't about image and gimmicks. We need to learn how to conduct ourselves in a proper business manor in order to be taken more seriously.

Why do you think major network channels portray us as sitting around having lots of kids and being in and out of jail? For example, the bail bond commercial has a Mexican family going to bail bonds with lots of kids in the middle of the night to bail out their father who is in and out of jail.

We allow them to do that stereo-typing shit so they're gonna keep us down as long as they can. If these actors actually stopped and said, "I can't do this part because it's disrespectful to my people", the stations would have to look for another minority to single out and fill in the shoes. But other minorities stand up for themselves while we sit back and try to make next months rent so that just leaves us taking all the shit from the big corporations. Gente shouldn't be afraid to stand firmly on their beliefs. If that means speaking up to get respect, then you better speak up 'cause if you shut the fuck up... Then you get shut the fuck down.

They're gonna portray us as they see us and we're gonna portray them as we see them. I can name many Latin movies that make fun of blacks and whites. It's all a circle. Fuck it... Join the game and get your jokes in while they're watching. If my people are gonna be your punchlines... Best believe when we make a video or movie... Your people are gonna be our punchlines.

Do you have any comments?

I just want to say thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak on this fucked up situation. Hopefully more Latinos will finally take that corporate dick out their mouths and start speaking up on what's wrong in this fucked up industry.

Thank you very much, this is a big help. Hopefully, we'll be able to change this. Thanks again.

Thank you.