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Rapper Aztek Escobar
Joins Roc La Familia
6/23/05 - LatinRapper.com exclusive interview
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A buzz has been growing
about the latest addition to Roc La Familia, a Houston
rapper by the name of Aztek who not only gained attention
from a collaboration from Jay-Z, but was signed by Hova
himself. Not much was known outside of Texas
about the rapper, who has invested a great deal of faith
in his upcoming album "Colombian Necktie." |
LatinRapper spoke with Aztek about hopping on board the Roc,
his debut album, and what the future holds for him.
LatinRapper.com: Many
people, myself included, don't really know anything about you.
How long have you been rhyming, and where did you come up?
I grew up rhyming off five years, I'm from all over Houston. I
aint representing Northside, East Side, West Side, South Side.
I lived all over there, I just represent Houston.
Would you say you're well known in Houston?
Yeah, definitely, I had big buzz in Houston before any of
this. To the point where the DJs were playing my freestyles
during their mixshow on the radio. They were doing that for no
other artist.
Most people assume you're Mexican from your pseudonym, but
you're Colombian, correct?
Yeah, I'm Colombian . I got the name Aztek because I been real
strong with Mexican people, and a lot of Mexicans in Houston.
An OG Mexican had given me the name because he said I was a
warrior. And Aztec, an old tribe, they used some guerilla
tactics, I was always fighting so he called me Little Aztek.
When he passed away, I took that name as a real personal
thing. But I always had a real strong bond with the Mexican
people.
What artists do you listen to when driving through H-Town?
I listen to, believe it or not, Grupo Niche, a Colombian
group. But as far as hip hop, I listen to a lot of Jay-Z,
Eminem, I listen to all kinds of music, man.
Big Question: How does an up and coming MC from Houston end up
getting signed by Jay Z to the Roc?
Well, I cant speak for all the artist in Houston, but as far
as me, I never took no for an answer. I never doubted myself,
I knew who I was. I hustled, any means necessary, I did what I
had to do to get where I'm at. A lot of Houston people in
general have that hustler spirit in them, it's no surprise
that Houston is blowing up the way it is, its about time its
due.
So you've done at least one track with Jay-Z, what are some of
the other collaborations you've been involved with so far?
I aint really done no collaboration with anyone yet, to tell
the truth. I could do no collaborations the rest of my life,
the song with Jay-Z, I'd be completely satisfied [having done
only that]. There are a lot of artists id like to work with
Like Who?
Eminem. I want to something with Don Omar, Slim Thug. Anybody
who's considered a great, considered successful, I'd like to
work with.
What is your response to critics who say Hov only signed a
Latin rapper to appeal to Latino consumers?
I would say that's crazy.
Are you presently working on an album?
Yeah, we got a couple tracks done for the album.
Who can we expect as guest features, and who are some of the
producers handling beats for you?
Right now we still, as far as major producers, in the works on
that. Who we wanna work with, what direction to take the
album.
And the guest features?
We haven't decided that yet.
Unless I heard wrong, you supposedly made a claim that you
would sell a million albums in the first week you drop?
I'm gonna do real well, my first week album sales. Gonna do
great, the first week album sales. I'mma shock the world with
the first week album sales.
What kind numbers are we talking?
I don't wanna be specific about that, but you can kinda come
to a conclusion on that.
Is there added pressure from being a Latino with Jay-Z's
blessing, in other words, feeling like you have to work harder
to make sure Latinos get respect in the rap game?
I love my people, man, and every line and bar I say is for my
people. I don't see that as pressure, I see that as
motivation. I know who I am, I know what I am, what I'm
capable of. In my life I've never been pressured to do
anything, if I do this its out of the love for my people and
the love for the music.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Let the world know that we here, man. Hip hop is about to see
a new chapter now. I just wanna make good music that people
can identify with, and maybe speak for the people who don't
have a voice.
Aztek Escobar on Myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/aztekescobar
On Facebook:
facebook.com/pages/Aztek-Escobar/104813699551691
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