Propaganda Talks ‘Crimson Cord’ Project & Spoken Word

Humble Beast emcee and spoken word artist Propaganda recently caught up with Pawz One of UnderGroundHipHopBlog.com at “Project Blowed 19th Year Anniversary Show”. The excellent-crafter spoke on the art of Spoken word, his upcoming project Crimson Cord, and his affiliation with Humble Beast and Tunnel Rats, among other things.

Pawz One of UGHHB asked Propaganda if he could give fellow spoken word artists advice on how to advance in their craft.

“I would say first of all, understand that it’s not rap,” Prop says in an UnderGroundHipHopBlog.com interview. “It’s not the same but a lot of the principals apply of like delivery, style and just like time spent. In the same way we found with Hip Hop, you find an open mic and you rap. It’s the same with poetry man. You find a poetry event, you get on the list. Be a local. Be there every week. Sharpen your pen. Have something new to say every time and the more you do it, the more comfortable you get, the more you’re challenged, the more you’re around other people that you feel like are much better writers than you and just challenge yourself, rather than staying comfortable or staying in a place where people pat you on the back and be like ‘O baby, that was good. That was good.’ Na, go to where it’s kind of hostile, where you got to keep up. I think for me that was probably like the best thing that ever happened to me. Just like with Hip Hop, some of the hardest cyphers in America you’re going to find here (Los Angeles). It was the same with poetry, some of the highest caliber poets you’re going to find in LA. So I was like, I’m going to try to swing swords with them and if I can keep up, then I feel like I can make it anywhere. That’s kind of how it happened man.”

The Los Angeles, California-based lyricist detailed his affiliation with the Humble Beast and Tunnel Rats crews.

“Odd Thomas was probably one of the first friends I made, being at spots like this,” says the G.O.S.P.E.L.-poet in his interview with Pawz One at “Project Blowed 19th Year Anniversary Show”. “If ya’ll familiar with him, he is this white boy who can spit his tail off. We had a lot of the same philosophies, a lot of the same views of God, of faith, and stuff like that. It’s kind of the same thing with my affiliation with Tunnel Rats. Just kind of like the same world view to where it’s like we B-boys, we have our beliefs, having said that you pound the mic. We really struck up a friendship. Thomas and I have been connected for like 17 years now. Maybe 4 years back, I actually just wanted him to produce an album for me. I was like ‘Yo, let’s start from scratch, me and you, let’s do it.’ It kind of developed into what Humble Beast is now. So our label with other brothers, other homies from up north, Braille is a part of it. Just different dudes that we just met along the way, who are kind of like-minded, and had the same work ethic and just understanding of what Hip Hop was. We kind of just gathered and we just kind of been running ever since.”

The Humble Beast artist speaks on his forthcoming project Crimson Cord.

“Yea man, Crimson Cord, same thing, half poetry half rap. It’s going to come out probably late March or early March. It’s a lot of narratives about this, about coming from this scene and what that taught me as a man of faith and just as an emcee. Kind of just getting out there and pounding it. Yea, this ain’t a church. You can’t treat it like such. We try to rock where we know. I’m just kind of telling how all that developed on this album. It’s the Crimson Cord man.”