Identified as a pioneer in Phoenix Hip Hop amongst his peers, Pokafase is mentioned often when discussing the local scene. After a lifelong career, Pokafase is still as focused on rapping today as he was fifteen years ago, if not more-so.
Snoop, everyone that’s passed through the Southwest. If all goes well I’ll be opening for T.I. during All Star weekend on the 15th at the Celebrity Theater. I’m working on some things at The Icehouse with E-40 and Too Short on the 14th. What projects have you released since the group disbanded? I put out a few mixtapes – Dr. Speak Easy and Doesn’t Play Well with Others. I did a self-titled, short run of the Artist Direct record just for the fans. I stay working, I stay making music. It sounds like you’ve had a lot of ups and downs so far. Why do you continue making music? Music is what I do. There is no Plan B, it’s not a hobby for me. This is what I do so I just keep moving ‘cause stopping isn’t really an option. I’m trying to be the best at this, and until I reach that point I’ma just keep going.
What’s your background as a rapper? You’ve been doing your thing for a long time. I’ve been rapping for years out here in the AZ Hip Hop community, since about ’91 in the streets and about ’95 professionally. I started out battling and formed a group in ’95 called No Question. We were the first Hip Hop celebrities on a local level out here. We dropped an album, a couple hit singles. We did a lot of touring. We split in ’99. I did some more battling and linked up with Proof from D12 before he passed away. I signed a deal with Artist Direct Records in 2001. That was one of the best experiences of my life, but then the label shut down in 2003. Myself and a couple other artists at the label never saw the light of day.
You mentioned working on an album. What are your plans for releasing that? I haven’t titled it yet, but I got Dawn from Danity Kane on it, Mase is on a record or two, Royce Da 5’9, R.L., and Next, some Mario Wynans and Carlos Brody production, Dangerous LLC, my man 21 the producer. It’s a dope record. I’ve been steady working on that for the last year.
So what did you do after the label deal fell through? After that I went into radio. I was a radio personality on Power 98.3fm for about four and a half years. When I started, I think we were the 15th largest market in the nation. I did an underground show called Friday Night Flavas, as well as some weekends, overnights, and fill-ins.
What else do you have in the works? I’m in talks with 101.5 to start doing the on-air thing again. We’ll see how that goes. I’m about to shoot a pilot for a Hip Hop reality show where I’ll be hosting. I have a mixtape called Irrelevant which should be out by Spring Break. I did an independent film called Losing Touch. It hasn’t been released yet but it’s done. I play the bad guy.
And what happened with the radio show? To be honest, 101.5 moved into town and that took its toll on Power 98. There were a few factors. I’d been there for four years and I didn’t feel like I was at a point where I could advance to a full time position. Radio is all about waiting ‘til something opens up. And I was working on the record I’m doing now. I’d rather focus on the record as opposed to just staying the night and weekend jock at Power 98. It was just a real tumultuous time at the station.
How similar is the character you played in relation to your real life personality? Um, I’d say I’m a bad boy but not a bad guy. I try to keep it clean. I’m definitely wild, but not malicious.
Over the years I’m sure you’ve performed a lot. Who all have you opened up for or performed with? I’ve performed with everybody you can think of except T.I., Jeezy, and Pac – everyone from Notorious B.I.G. to Outkast to Eminem, D12, 34 // OZONE MAG
Do you have a website where people can see some of your work? Myspace.com/Pokafase