Interview w/iCON The Mic King
by: Justin Rizzio

For those fortunate enough to have seen an iCon the Mic King’s live show, you’re already aware that this is a man that takes his craft very serious. iCon made his way into the industry as a hungry battle rapper. Well, his hunger is paying off. His career so far, has earned him several winning mc battle titles, and allowed him to tour throughout the U.S. and Europe. Most recently, iCon along with producer Chum the Skrilla Gorilla, have just completed the Mike and The Fatman LP. Fresh off his new release, we caught up with the North Philly mc to find out more about the man who’s bio describes as; “twice as arrogant as Kanye West”. You be the judge.

Purchase Mike & The Fatman HERE

215hiphop: The new album, Mike and the Fat Man, features you on the mic and Chum the Skrilla Gorilla on production. How did this collaboration come about?

iCON the Mic King: I knew Chum from back when I used to battle in NYC a lot. I hit him up one day when I was bored in CT chillin at my mom’s crib, to listen to some beats. He had a lot of beats that a lot of known heads were sleeping on, so we started working on stuff. After awhile he just became my go to guy for beats and all that hangin’ out, and gettin’ drunk, and actin’ ignorant in the mean streets of Connecticut turned into us having an album.

215: Chum also handled most of the production on Apathy’s album. What do you think of Apathy?

iCON: Not my cup of tea. Much success to him though.

215: Assume I never heard of you. Convince me to buy your new record.

iCON: Just come to a show or go to my MySpace. I’m not so much into bragging about how nice I am with a pencil and paper, or how ill my flow is anymore. My greatness is the type of thing that should be witnessed. Check out the music it speaks for itself. www.myspace.com/iconthemicking

215: You seem to spend allot of time on the road. How do you manage to tour so frequently?

iCON: I think it’s because I put on a good show and I bring something to the table that you can’t get from any average rapper. I don’t just stand there and scream and do arm motions. I put on a show. I have a lot of energy and I do things that no one else does. I’m also not a baby about touring. Most rappers expect a lot of amenities to get on the road and they cry about how uncomfortable they are in their tour van. Touring is the only vehicle left that separates those that make it, from those that won’t, so I just make it happen.

215: You’ve been known to have some unorthodox ways to travel. Tell us about Greyhound.

iCON: I’m banned from Greyhound for touring for 10 months on it with counterfeit bus passes of my own creation. It’s the worst way to travel in North America. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemies. However there were some tours I was on where that was the best part, because you might not get the right loot or a hotel for a show. But you always knew that your air conditioned devil’s chariot would be there somewhere around the time the schedule said it would be.

215: You have also toured Europe. What were some of the main differences between there and the U.S.?

iCON: The main difference is they can still appreciate hip-hop. My best guess is that it’s because the market isn’t so saturated out there, and the music is still in such a pure form. People out there truly LOVE hip-hop in the way I did as a child. People out there still know how to be fans and enjoy it. They wild out at the shows, they don’t stand there with their arms folded like they do here in Philly. I can’t wait to go back honestly.

215: Would you say you are as cocky and arrogant as some might say, or is it just jealousy?

iCON: I’m confident because I put in the effort to write better rhymes than other rappers. Anytime I didn’t deliver I can admit that, and learn from it, and improve. This process is what makes me confident. My confidence breeds insecurity in others. My confidence and ability threatens their positions. Eventually the fans are going to realize you suck and I have the skills you rap about having. Inferior rappers react to this by lashing out at me because they can’t defeat me in the creative realm, so essentially you’re right, it is jealousy. It’s funny because people always want to fight over it. That’s fine with me but after that fight whether you win or I win, I’m still the better rapper. Why don’t you just sit down and study my methods so you can really understand where your insecurity is coming from, and you can get better at your craft. I have never had a problem with a person being arrogant or cocky; in fact I enjoy that shit because humility is fake. If you’re good, you know you’re good, and if you’re being “humble” you’re worried about whether people like you or not.

215: Your name sometimes gets associated with some controversy. Everyone by now knows all about the Copywrite incident. Any others rappers you would like to punch in the face?

iCON: Ehhhh….I’m not concerned. I have real world problems with real world people. None of these inferior, insecure, self-image problem-having, I need to learn how to dress ass rappers matter to me anymore. I’m just trying to live decently off my music and see the world. They can all keep bringing me up in their interviews and such because I have an album out, thanks for sharing your press with me. Cheers, faggots! Mike and the Fatman in stores everywhere!

215: Did you read the Reef the Lost Cauze interview on Gorilla Movement.com? If so, what did you think about what he said?

iCON: Yeah I saw it. It’s funny because I saw that kid at Beats & Rhymes a week before that interview came out and congratulated him on his success. I told him I was happy he’s doing good. If he wasn’t such a cornball he shoulda addressed it right then and there, but wait that’s right he’s scared I’d call the cops, I have a long history of that! But really at the end of the day, I’m a self-made man; I’m a boss what I look like responding to Vinnie Paz’s and Kamachi’s son? I did laugh at that “mighty hands of thunder” thing though, he’d prolly be good if he said stuff like that in his raps. Lost Cauze since I know you reading, why don’t you post that video of you shouting at me on Youtube. I can use the promotion. Mike and the Fatman in stores now!

215: Anyone that has seen you perform knows that your live show is ill. Do you find it difficult giving people that same live energy on a record?

iCON: Thanks for noticing, I truly appreciate that. As far as the energy on a record….definitely. In the past my voice has been is my only Achilles heel. Well, it’s not so much that the energy wasn’t there; it’s more that the passion didn’t get captured as well in the booth. However I’ve found that by using a more exact flow, it allows me to capture it better so the newer music showcases a higher level of mastery of the emotive character of my voice.

215: What is in your cd player right now?

iCON: Beats, Mike and the Fatman, John Legend, Musiq Soulchild, Oneself, Ghostface, Pharoahe Monch.

215: Nas “Hip Hop is Dead” or KRS “Hip Hop Lives”? What’s your perspective?

iCON: Neither. Hiphop is just boring and I’m about to help bring it back to life. The Renaissance is coming in 2008.

215: What can we look forward to in the future from iCON the Mic King?

iCON: I’m working on new records and just trying to tour a whole lot more. I’m going back on the road with Souls of Mischief in July, then after that I’m doing something in the Fall, not quite sure what it’s gonna be yet. If all goes well I’ll be on a huge tour, if not I’ll be on a medium sized tour. After that Dos-Noun and I are going back to Europe again. I’m hustling hard to get 3 more releases out before the end of the year. I’m trying to buy a house this year, so I’m just trying to build and keep progressing with this music shit so I can chill. Other than that my purpose is leading the hip hop’s Third Renaissance.

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