Black Panther (2007)

Gut Ding will Weile haben, heißt es. Im Falle von Black Panther’s Zweitalbum sind es immerhin 4 Jahre Wartezeit geworden. Jetzt ist “My Eternal Winter” endlich erhältlich – und die Reaktionen sind gespalten. Fakt ist, dass es anders ist als “The Darkest Night Ever”. Nicht einmal so sehr, was die Prominenz der Gäste angeht, nein, Black Panther selbst scheint seinen Produktionsstil grundüberholt zu haben. Der neue Sound ist harmonischer, erdiger – angepasster vielleicht? Dafür würde sprechen, dass der sampelfreudige Beatmacher seine Bandbreite neuerdings auch auf reine Gesangtracks ausgedehnt und mit Maya Azucena und Meredith Dimenna gleich zwei Goldkehlchen auf sein Album geholt hat. Wie Black Panther selbst über “My Eternal Winter” denkt, verrät er in unserem Interview.

What’s up Black Panther, it’s been a while since our last interview…how you doin’?

I’m doing good, enjoying the hot summer weather out here in New York.

First things first: your second album “My Eternal Winter” has been released a few weeks ago. Are you satisfied with the feedback so far?

I’m very satisfied with the feedback to “My Eternal Winter”. The reviews have been mixed because a lot of people were expecting me to do another album like “The Darkest Night Ever”. The new album is a more mature album and I took more risk with this project from the music to the business aspect of it. The fan support has been great, and I’ve caught the ear’s of some Industry insiders with this one.

Your seem to have a faible for “dark” album titles – what’s the clue behind that?

Well, if there is any clue it is that I love having a little play on words with my album titles, and a lot of the concept comes from poems I have written. All my album have epic and memorable titles.

Your search for a label wasn’t succesful – what happened?

When I started the work on new album I wanted to have more of a say in how my record was pushed and presented. This era in music right now with the internet and sites like myspace and the success of companies like Koch and the industry down sizing I felt that it was time for me to be my own man, and take what I’ve learned over the years in the industry and try to make it work for me.

Will you stick to your own label Manekineko Pro now? Could you imagine to expand?

I’m always looking to expand, I’m not lock myself into only doing things with just my company, But I’m looking to progress the label and bring you new and interesting projects. I have a few things that I’m working on.

Let’s get a bit deeper into the new album. What’s different compared to “The Darkest Night Ever”?

Well the differences is that I’ve incorporated other genres of music in my new record. The first album I didn’t work with a vocalist. I felt that it took away from the music in some aspects. But I’ve grown as a producer and expanded my musically vision. Maya Azucena worked on this new record with me a lot. She is a very accomplished singer who has won a Grammy in Croatia for her music. And working with a singer was a whole new challenge for me. I was more involved in the studio with this album than the first album. And “My Eternal Winter ” is not as much a dark album as “The Darkest Night Ever”!

Which one of the featured artists was the hardest one to get in the studio?

It would have to be J Treds , not because he’s difficult person in anyway, Actually it was the first time ever worked with him and he was a really cool and down to earth person. It was I schedules kept conflicting and it took a while the get the track he wanted and then to finally lay it down. It was that last track recorded for the album and it was a real late night session but the outcome was well worth it.

Do you anticipate a basic lyrical concept that the featured artists have to follow?

Yeah I’m coming up with the theme of the album and format to work in, but I want the artist to be creative and give me there take on the concept situation. I feel it keeps it interesting for all the parties involved.

It’s obvious that you love to work with movie samples and references – which films have you used for “Eternal Winter”?

I’m influenced and find samples from everywhere, but I say there is a little “Dirty Dancing” in there somewhere. And the song “Hustle and Flow”, I loved the movie and that’s what I named that beat and we kind of never named the song so I just left it. Thats’ what happened on the first album with the song with L.I.F.E. Long called “Damned” also the name of the track when I made it

Will you have the chance to get some beats on the featured artist’s solo projects?

I have been busy cooking some stuff up in the meantime. I produced a song for Respect The God from the Perverted Monks feat. Afu Ra and PF Cutting , I produced a couple of songs for Maya Azucena’s new record and a song feat Mr. Cheeks and Joint for Metro from SA Smash on Def Jux just to name a few.

Do you already have any other projects in mind you would like to get started working at?

The next project is an album I’m working on with Oktober Zero under the name “Black Oktober” The album will be called “The Hood Bible”. We’re already deep into the recording of that album.

Alright, thank you for taking the time. Anything else to say?

Yes, I just want to make sure everyone goes out and picks up the new album. “My Eternal Winter” is out now on my label Manekineko Pro (HBD/Koch). The single from the album “All Falls Down” is out with a bonus track not on the album feat. Invincible called “Eulogy”. I just re-released “The Darkest Night Ever” digitally and I’m working on a CD re-release of “The Darkest Night Ever” with some bonus song and alternative cover. Like I said, the “Black Oktober” album is coming and “The Bible is being written!