Izm

FUTURE:
Aight Izm, what’s poppin? First tell us who is Izm? Where did that name originate from?

IZM:
Originally it came in high school back at Clarkson Secondary. But I did the knowledge on what it actually means. The name itself means “A specific theory, practice, or doctrine...”. So to me that’s just the nature of man. Any given day it’s a different way of doing things. So one day its vandalism, next it’s socialism talking about real issues,etc. the nature of humanity. So essentially I do music on all levels

FUTURE:
True, speaking of names, I see something very interesting in your aliases. The names Nat Turner & The runaway slave, what made you choose those names?

IZM:
Well growing up I was always into my history and the history of black people. So I came across the story of Nat Turner and the resurgence. Now basically Nat Turner was a slave in the early stages of slavery. One day he had a vision, and from that vision he interpreted that he had to free himself and his people. So he gathered others who believed in him and for the next few days they went on a rampage. They went around and slaughtered all the masters and their families. Eventually he was caught and hung. But what I got from that is that me being an artist, I don’t conform. Not to one idea of what an artist should be that is. And while I don’t condone the massacre of the families, he did what he had to do. I sorta feel like that with the rap game up here. I feel like I can start a musical revolt if you will feel me? So that’s why I call myself Nat Turner

FUTURE:
Ok that explains it. So let’s talk about Izm’s origins. You grew up in the GTA’s west end, Mississauga. Many would consider Sauga-city as a typical suburb. How did your experience in Sauga differ from that of the typical ‘burbs life?

IZM:
See the thing is I grew up in Lakeshore, real poor area at the time. It’s still kinda grimy. A lot of buckets and all, but it’s kinda nicer now. But the thing about Sauga is it’s not what it seems. A lot of shit goes down that the news WILL NOT report (laughs) It’s a bit of everything down here. You got 5&10 (Hurontario & Dundas), a lot of Jamaicans, Indians, Filipinos, etc. You got Ridgeway areas, housing projects. I had a few episodes there! (laughs). Acorn areas is full of different cultures, a lot of black people. Bristol, Meadowvale, One of the dudes I knew recently got stabbed to death Jermaine Malcolm. BLESS THE DEAD. R.I.P. So shit happens. A lot of people get it twisted. It’s not the grimiest but...

FUTURE:
Grimy is all relative. Anyways moving on, back to you as an artist. I see you started out being the pulse of the party; freestyling and MCing. What made you make the transition to full time MC?

IZM:
Well it’s the same ol’ story that a lot of dj’s, producers, etc. always do; Start out with this and go towards that. It’s a natural progression really. ‘Cause if you are absorbed in a culture like I was with hip-hop that’s gonna happen. Plus I realized I’m really good at spittin’ and my mout got tired of beat-boxin’ in dem ciphers (laughs). I built myself off those days though for real. The Tru School.

FUTURE:
So I guess you got your love affair with the stage came from the same school. What do you feel when clutching the mic in front of a crowd? And do you think you would be rapping if that element wasn’t a factor?

IZM:
Well for anybody who’s never felt the feeling of being in front of a crowd...I can’t explain the rush, especially when you rock it!! The shit’s electric!! That element of the art is one my favourite parts (stage show), but I would still be recording these bangers, I still would be shopping my single “ITIZWATITIZ”, and I still would be in these streets pushing my product cause that’s an integral part of the game too. I am Yard-Hop so regardless the people dem gotta get it!

FUTURE:
Yard-Hop? What’s that?

IZM:
Well I coined the phrase Yard-Hop because up here in the GTA a lot of us are third, forth, generation Jamaicans, Trinis, Guyanese, etc. So growin’ up listening to hip-hop from the States we take that in but when we spit it back out you can here the Caribbean in us cause that’s our culture (Kardi, Rochester, Nafarius, etc.) So what I’m trying to do is bring that style, that culture to the forefront cause it’s been here forever. And I feel I’ve mastered it without sounding blatant you know what I mean? Cause you don’t wanna sound extra wit it. (laughs) I am not a clone! (laugh).

FUTURE:
(laughs) I’m showin you doggie, too much rap DNA is being spliced nowadays.

IZM:
Too much. The game is oversaturated with clones or maybe it’s just me. I don’t know.

FUTURE:
Its not just you, trust me.

IZM:
(Laughs)

FUTURE:
So I can bet the project “Look what you made me do” will be pushing Yard -Hop strong. Tell us about the project.

IZM:
Well not so much strong Yard-Hop cause remember I don’t like to conform or be in one lane too long. But ya, the project is gonna be some - The Chronicles Magazine

FUTURE:
Aight Izm, what’s poppin? First tell us who is Izm? Where did that name originate from?

IZM:
Originally it came in high school back at Clarkson Secondary. But I did the knowledge on what it actually means. The name itself means “A specific theory, practice, or doctrine...”. So to me that’s just the nature of man. Any given day it’s a different way of doing things. So one day its vandalism, next it’s socialism talking about real issues,etc. the nature of humanity. So essentially I do music on all levels

FUTURE:
True, speaking of names, I see something very interesting in your aliases. The names Nat Turner & The runaway slave, what made you choose those names?

IZM:
Well growing up I was always into my history and the history of black people. So I came across the story of Nat Turner and the resurgence. Now basically Nat Turner was a slave in the early stages of slavery. One day he had a vision, and from that vision he interpreted that he had to free himself and his people. So he gathered others who believed in him and for the next few days they went on a rampage. They went around and slaughtered all the masters and their families. Eventually he was caught and hung. But what I got from that is that me being an artist, I don’t conform. Not to one idea of what an artist should be that is. And while I don’t condone the massacre of the families, he did what he had to do. I sorta feel like that with the rap game up here. I feel like I can start a musical revolt if you will feel me? So that’s why I call myself Nat Turner

FUTURE:
Ok that explains it. So let’s talk about Izm’s origins. You grew up in the GTA’s west end, Mississauga. Many would consider Sauga-city as a typical suburb. How did your experience in Sauga differ from that of the typical ‘burbs life?

IZM:
See the thing is I grew up in Lakeshore, real poor area at the time. It’s still kinda grimy. A lot of buckets and all, but it’s kinda nicer now. But the thing about Sauga is it’s not what it seems. A lot of shit goes down that the news WILL NOT report (laughs) It’s a bit of everything down here. You got 5&10 (Hurontario & Dundas), a lot of Jamaicans, Indians, Filipinos, etc. You got Ridgeway areas, housing projects. I had a few episodes there! (laughs). Acorn areas is full of different cultures, a lot of black people. Bristol, Meadowvale, One of the dudes I knew recently got stabbed to death Jermaine Malcolm. BLESS THE DEAD. R.I.P. So shit happens. A lot of people get it twisted. It’s not the grimiest but...

FUTURE:
Grimy is all relative. Anyways moving on, back to you as an artist. I see you started out being the pulse of the party; freestyling and MCing. What made you make the transition to full time MC?

IZM:
Well it’s the same ol’ story that a lot of dj’s, producers, etc. always do; Start out with this and go towards that. It’s a natural progression really. ‘Cause if you are absorbed in a culture like I was with hip-hop that’s gonna happen. Plus I realized I’m really good at spittin’ and my mout got tired of beat-boxin’ in dem ciphers (laughs). I built myself off those days though for real. The Tru School.

FUTURE:
So I guess you got your love affair with the stage came from the same school. What do you feel when clutching the mic in front of a crowd? And do you think you would be rapping if that element wasn’t a factor?

IZM:
Well for anybody who’s never felt the feeling of being in front of a crowd...I can’t explain the rush, especially when you rock it!! The shit’s electric!! That element of the art is one my favourite parts (stage show), but I would still be recording these bangers, I still would be shopping my single “ITIZWATITIZ”, and I still would be in these streets pushing my product cause that’s an integral part of the game too. I am Yard-Hop so regardless the people dem gotta get it!

FUTURE:
Yard-Hop? What’s that?

IZM:
Well I coined the phrase Yard-Hop because up here in the GTA a lot of us are third, forth, generation Jamaicans, Trinis, Guyanese, etc. So growin’ up listening to hip-hop from the States we take that in but when we spit it back out you can here the Caribbean in us cause that’s our culture (Kardi, Rochester, Nafarius, etc.) So what I’m trying to do is bring that style, that culture to the forefront cause it’s been here forever. And I feel I’ve mastered it without sounding blatant you know what I mean? Cause you don’t wanna sound extra wit it. (laughs) I am not a clone! (laugh).

FUTURE:
(laughs) I’m showin you doggie, too much rap DNA is being spliced nowadays.

IZM:
Too much. The game is oversaturated with clones or maybe it’s just me. I don’t know.

FUTURE:
Its not just you, trust me.

IZM:
(Laughs)

FUTURE:
So I can bet the project “Look what you made me do” will be pushing Yard -Hop strong. Tell us about the project.

IZM:
Well not so much strong Yard-Hop cause remember I don’t like to conform or be in one lane too long. But ya, the project is gonna be some - The Chronicles Magazine