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Loaded Lux: New York State of Mind
Interview by Kenny Rodriguez
 “New York, New York – The city so nice, they had to name it twice.” As the birthplace of hip-hop culture, if an MC can make it in this city he can make it anywhere.
The rap industry’s recent fascination with Southern pimps and Midwest ballers, however, has many questioning whether NYC’s vintage, gritty sound still stands a chance in these crunk-crazed times. If Harlem-bred rapper Loaded Lux has anything to say about it, the crown will return to the Big Apple soon enough.
After appearing on numerous mixtapes and on a recent Smack DVD battle, Lux has acquired enough buzz to release “Locked & Loaded” – a collection of tracks and freestyles showcasing his talent on the mic. As the Harlem newcomer transitions from neighborhood battles to full-time studio sessions, Lux hopes to follow the footsteps of former battlers-turned-mainstream artists such as Jay-Z, DMX, and Lloyd Banks. But can his battle skills translate into record sales? In the words of Harlem’s own Mason Betha: “No need to stand up, Harlem, because we never sat down.”
NobodySmiling : Speak about your history, where you’re from, and how you first got into MCing.
Loaded Lux : I grew up on 141st, 8th Avenue. I started freestyling like at 8 or 9. Around 12, 13 I was hearing Mase and all this other shit. And you know, I liked rap. I ain’t no hip-hop pioneer or no shit like that, or deep into it like that, like that. But you know, I caught on when I caught on. I got really serious around 12 or 13, like really writing with a pen and pad and all that. My man in my ‘hood where I grew up at, he put me on and pulled me to the side. The way he brought it to me, it was like the gritty stuff. I’m hearing Mase, and he was doing what he was doing it -- this is before, Murder [Mase] and all that. He was in my ‘hood man, that was my influence. So all around the board, my environment - I’m a product of it.
NBS : At what point did the battling aspect come in, competing with people around your way?
Loaded Lux : Ever since I started rhyming. It was probably six months after niggas knew I was serious there’s been competition. Like, that’s what I feed on. You need that. That’s what hip-hop is, the competition. They caught me at a later stage of my life, as far as the battling shit. From 13 to like 17? Oh my goodness, I’ve been serious at this. This is hard body out here. Harlem? This is like the mecca of that battling shit. I mean, they got them Fight Klubs in arenas and shit like that. But I’m talking about before the Showtime battles, we was doing it. At the parties or whatever, setting it up. Just going at it. Niggas coming for money. It was no bullshit. Niggas coming from Brooklyn would meet up. That shit was popping. 135th and 7th, man. They caught me when I didn’t really care about the shit like that. I did it, I knew I had it, and I could do this. My shit now is making music though. But I love it though, I feed off that stuff. You know, people love me for it so I’ll never forget that.
NBS : A lot of times when people get a rep for battling, they get typecast as strictly “battle MCs.” Ruff Ryder’s Jin is a perfect example of that. Being that you’re expanding from battling to hitting the studio, have you ever had people try to hold you back as just a battle rapper?
Loaded Lux : I mean, people knowing me for the battling? That’s as far as the streets go. I’ve been running into labels with songs. Nobody ever knew, lyrically, I was doing what I was doing. It’s a whole different game as far as making songs. As far as my group, the ACES, that’s my crew, that’s my clique. We started as a group, it just so happened that people took a liking to me. And it makes sense like, we’re gonna follow the blueprint. Like I’ma go out, let me get ‘em, and then I’ma bring it back home. But people been knew me as far as songs. It was never just on some battling shit. It’s funny, ‘til this day I don’t feel people look at me like that. I mean they see Lux, they see Lux. So I ain’t even worried about that; I know I got songs. I’m not worried about niggas. That’s why I put out the tapes and all that; that’s why that “Locked & Loaded” is out. They can go to stores, get it, and know what I’m talking about. That’s just part one. For those who ain’t believe me, for niggas I’ve battled -- know: I got songs. It happens a lot in this industry where they signing nothing but battle niggas, they get them in there to make a hit, and they feel stuck like, aww fuck. They ain’t got to take a chance with me, I’ma show and prove. I’m putting it out there anyway. I’m from Harlem, I’m doing me right now. I feel good. I gotta do it like that ‘cause I know my work. They ain’t just gonna give me anything.
NBS : Coming from Harlem, who are some MCs who have influenced you to pursue this?
Loaded Lux : I absorb a little bit of everything, but like I said man, my environment. There’s not too much of the rappers in the game, but just the rappers around my way. Like, the niggas who ain’t get to make it, you know what I mean? That’s what inspires me, to be honest. Mase is from the ‘hood. We used to see Mase come through before, when he was Murder. Mase used to be on my block and shit. 142nd, 141st and 8th. Niggas know. A lot of shit went down over there. Alpo and all that other shit, but that’s another story. Niggas been seeing all that shit. In my ‘hood though, those are the rappers who inspire me. Mase turned me to it when he got put on and was doing it, but niggas in the ‘hood, that’s it. Ain’t too many rappers in the game right now. That shit is over for everybody, if you ask me. In New York? Especially for New York. I gotta bring it back home a little bit. I’m really about that. Word.
NBS : Now when people mention Brooklyn, they could name dozens of Brooklyn MCs. The same goes for Queens and the Bronx. But in Harlem, it seems like there’s a limited number of big-name MCs, relatively speaking. Aside from a few cats -- Mase, Big L, Dipset -- Harlem isn’t really known for raising a lot of notable rappers. Do you hope to bring Harlem to the map as far as rapping is concerned, or are you repping New York in general?
Loaded Lux : New York! See how ATL got it? I want New York to have it like that. Let’s bring this shit together. I mean, it’s hard though. I mean this is the city, you heard me? But if you ask me, it’s outta the loop right now. People are doing it in the Midwest, Down South -- and this is where it started at! That’s where I’m coming from. I want all of that, I want all of that. It’s only right, it’s like damn. It’s like the Knicks: they've always been a good team, and there should be no reason why niggas ain’t running this shit. To me, it started here before it got to all them other regions. I mean, everybody’s gonna get their chance and all that, but I feel that it should come back around already. But in New York, niggas is not together. I’m fighting for it. Where I’m from, a lot of people need to eat. If people piggyback it’s like: you eat, I eat. I’m where I’m at right now, I gotta work before I get to that point, for my voice to be really powerful like that. I’m still working, but I’m telling people now that’s what I’m about. I’m about this New York shit. Everything is innate; this is me. I’m a product of my environment, man.
NBS : I’ve heard that argument before, that a lot of New York MCs don’t even sound like they’re from New York anymore. Their album might be full of West Coast producers, or they might just be jumping on the crunk bandwagon.
Loaded Lux : Exactly! Exactly! Like, I don’t see New York’s identity right now. I can’t see it, that shit is gone! New York is on that Down South slang; that shit be killing me. What the fuck, you know what I’m saying? Where are you from!? I’m just about this shit, man. That’s just me. And if they ain’t gonna talk about it man, I’ma put it out there. It is what it is.
NBS : So in regards to this industry, what are your goals? Where do you see yourself in five years?
Loaded Lux : I got a lot of goals, man. My goal right now might not be the same in a year or two from now, you know what I’m saying? But as far as now? Just spreading out my fan base. I’m taking it step-by-step, day-by-day. And that’s how you gotta work. ‘Cause when they see you coming up slowly but surely, it’s like they walk that road with you, they feel a little bit more closer to you. That’s the best way to do it, man. When people feel like they can’t touch you, it’s like damn, that’s how we live, especially when you relating to ‘em in your music. That’s my goal right now, just spreading this fan base. Letting more people know about Lux. And I got ACES, that’s the clique. ACES stands for “Anything Can Equal Success.” That’s what I’m about, man.
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