215HIPHOP.COM ~ Philly Hip Hop » Maylay Sparks Interview

November 2008
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Maylay Sparks Interview

Posted by jt215 in Interviews

Interview w/ Maylay Sparks
By: Justin Weleski

Back in the late 90’s there was this revolution of underground hip hop that was creating a huge buzz throughout the world. Philly just happened to be one of the biggest landmarks and homes for what many now call “indie hip hop.” Most of the names from Philly came out of this lil’ record shop off Market Street called Footwork. This is where artists such as Jedi Mind Tricks, Last Emperor, OuterSpace, Nuthouse, Chief Kamachi, and of course Rasheed & Ill Advised would go to network and master their craft. Rasheed, better known now as Maylay Sparks, released several 12-inch records, made features on major label albums and was featured on numerous legendary shows from New York for Bobbito and Stretch Armstrong to Cali on the Wake Up Show. Maylay Sparks now lives over in Copenhagen (Denmark) but is still reppin the 215 to the fullest with his new album… and he’s still giving you that same Philly attitude he crafted at Footwork.
To purchase the new album “Flaskworthy” Click HERE
And our apologies again for the bold text, so for a better read please Click HERE

215hiphop: Back in the 90’s you released a few songs under Rasheed & Ill Advised. For those who don’t know was that ever an official group? And why did you guys stop making music together?

Maylay Sparks: It was an official group and of course groundbreaking at that time (with the whole Eastern Conference thing.) Fact was that we were among those groups such as Dilated Peoples, Natural Elements, J5, Kardinal Official, Fondle ‘Em etc. that were doing they thing without the majors.

215: Would there ever be another Maylay & Ill Advised collab anytime in the near future?

Maylay: As a matter of fact I’m workin’ on a new collab wit my ol partner Baby Blak!! Shit is goin to be fresh and it feels good to be back together makin’ history after goin’ our separate ways for a minute. So much adversity and B.S. but I’m like “fuck it, shit happens, ya heard.”

215: Instead of riding off the fame of Rasheed and Ill Advised you changed your name to Maylay Sparks. Why the name change?

Maylay: As you said, first it was because of identity and the fact that I just signed a major deal wit Judgement Records (Joe Niccolo from Ruff House’s label). I wanted to be recognized for my own style and just start fresh. But Blak used to call me Rah Maylay all the time anyway (its on several of our tracks.)

215: Also in that time you were a part of the whole Footworks movement in Philly. Do you still credit this as an important launch of your career?

Maylay: Without a fuckin’ doubt! The whole Footwork thing here in Philly, and wit’ Bobbito in N.Y., was monumental. Bobby was the person to take me to Europe and put me on tours. Stef Tataz and Rich Medina always supported the culture to the fullest and that’s why the world knows me. People make their own assessments of what’s good and what’s not. If you lookin’ through that ceiling, either it was bad planning that you never recovered from, or just bullsh!t music.

215: Shortly after that you moved to Copenhagen Denmark. So why the full time move?

Maylay: Fell in love with the culture man. It was like going to a big hip hop Disney World! The people reminded me of a Philly past and the women are totally beautiful and approachable. Everyone from doctors to lawyers, and so forth, love hip hop and talk to guys like me! This don’t happen too often in my profession. When I first moved out here I used to be like “damn I’m boning models and doctors, etc…damn I love hip hop.” That just don’t happen in the States man.

215: Some say that no matter where you are, overseas or in the states, if your around too much you start to become unappreciated. That’s evident in Philly, but is it the same in Copenhagen or overseas in general?

Maylay: I’m still doin my thing and people see me as a honorary Dane. I’m respected, and hated at times, and now just a local celeb. I have family here now…children an all that. I’ve known people now for 10 yrs out here, just like friends at home (in the states) and they don’t get tired of me. (laughs)

215: While overseas your name was dropped a few times over “The Jaguar”/Jared Heller murder case from being associated with Illadelph Records. During that time did you feel any negative backlash from that while being overseas?

Maylay: At that time me and Jared had just finished the Cult Status tour with Last Emperor and Kamachi and dropped “The ill collabo” record on Sony/Bmg/Hotshit…so of course things went awry. But for the most part it didn’t stop my progress. I just never commented on things I didn’t know about to the press etc.

215: You released two albums overseas - one solo and one with the group Masked Avengers. How did they do?

Maylay: They did exactly what we expected. They were great for the representation of a true Philly MC. Sales weren’t so bad neither. I basically live off major label features here in Europe wit 2 gold records, Sony Playstation games etc. They did me damn good in that sense.

215: With the expensive price of imports for these releases do you find that these are more financial lucrative for you? And if possible please break down the science of getting money on labels overseas compared to the states?

Maylay: Basically with the digi-revolution the vinyl and CD markets are dead. We sell hella merch on tour with the CDs and things now but not the numbers that we used to with cd/vinyl. Publishing is everything these days and that’s where you make ya money in Europe or in any market. Sales here don’t have to be crazy high for you to get payed. The radio and artist showcase (performance royalties) pays out a lot because their major artist may only sell a few thousand units. Also, now we sell to the distributors since they wont pay to press but are more interested in taking no risk. But that more money for you! That’s how we always wanted it to be.

215: The new album has a beautiful amount of DJ cuts and we all know the DJ culture is more appreciated over there. But how is the turntablist battle scene over there?

Maylay: It has never changed. They have DJ competitions all the time in big arenas and shit. DJs get the love they used to at home when the culture began. You got DMC, international battles in turntablism, beatboxing, breakin and graff all the time for cash money. These guys are getting paid doing galleries and shit like Donde wit Fab 5 Freddie!

215: So how did you link up with both Wildchild and C-Rayz Walz for the new album?

Maylay: We have all worked together from the days of way back…the Specialist (Apani B, C Rayz, me, Buds Dist) and Loot Pack!

215: Are there any good MCs from Copenhagen? What producers over there do you work with?

Maylay: There are a lot of great MCs here (Clemens, Street Mass, Noble Tjes Boogie, MFS.) Definitely some dope DJs and producers like DJ Noize, Tue Track (who are on the LP) and Elite Fleet from Sweden, Context (Claimin Respect etc..)…all of whom I’ve done classic and monumental work wit’.

215: What do you miss most about Philly?

Maylay: Cheese steaks, just getting a six and a 8th, just walkin around old city. Fuckin bike cops arrested me the last time I was home on the first day back from Amsterdam…for a blue ribbon!! That I don’t miss. Nah, just bar hoppin’ and droppin’ in on everybody studio sessions. And of course my family and squad.

215: By visiting Philly every now and then what is the biggest difference you notice in both the city and the hip hop community?

Maylay: The hip hop community as we knew it almost doesn’t exist and that makes me sad. And all the violence over nothing. No positive movement. That’s what the culture made different in my day, positive vibes.

Also, that we are becoming a more major metropolitan upscale society with Northern Lib, etc. Thats great!

215: Do you have a tour in the works for the new album?

Maylay: Nah just planning the spot dates for the fall and summer. Some shows here and there across the world but no tour in the way i know; 27 shows straight and all that. I’m too old for that sh!t these days. It’s fun up to the 10th show and then everybody is like fuck this. When ya new its a wild ride but after like ten tours ya like, “man ..how many more we got…damn?!” Feel me?

215: Shout outs?

Maylay: 215 for shedding light on the new LP. All those that respect the culture of hip hop. Still
Illadelph Rec., Jose and Zac, Drac, Philly 215, Dev Rocka, Omne, Cas from Ready Rock, the whole Remedy ol school staff, Lady B, DST, Stricktly Skillz, DJ Cash Money, Tat, Scholly D, Lightborn, Digs Darklighter, DJ Jolah and Yikes..last but not least Ill Advised, Quake City (Newt and Zuri) and Ready Rock Records, Bob Whiting, my Uncle Charles Overton and Mister Choen (Newt’s pop who supported and funded our Quake City endeavors who just passed)…very influential people in my life who wont be forgotten for this!!