Continued from part one of the LA2DAY exclusive interview with Austin based hip-hop artist Bavu (pronounced bah-voo) Blakes ...

JK:  Name some integral points in your personal history that shaped the man we see today: 

BB: Moving from DC to suburban Dallas at 8 years old provided the foundation for being a pretty well rounded kid; and growing up outside the family unit – I didn’t grow up with everyone else in my family.  And college, of course – I always wanted to make something of myself.  At the end of my senior year I got busy with music and developing a career in the music industry.  There was an entire decade (‘96-‘06) that I struggled to reconcile some differences.  I was a decorated Journalism student that basically gave my journalism career the middle finger and abandoned it for music.  I isolated myself from family because of the guilt – and all of this conflict has just recently resolved by securing a career in broadcasting (METV), and still maintaining a very active career in music.

JK: What were some principles that were instilled in you early on which contribute to the character you have today?

BB: Don’t be a loser.  Don’t be what society wants you to be – an idiotic waste of a good Black man.  Educate yourself and never forget your family.

JK: At what point did you develop your love for words and literature?

BB:  As far back as I can remember.  According to the lore, I was reading and writing at three, and at five, I was competing in makeshift spelling bees against high school kids.

JK:  As a statesman of Texas music, where do you think hip-hop and music in general is headed? 

BB: I honestly don't know, but it seems that audiences are getting more defined into separate niches. I consider myself a niche artist, which sounds discouraging, but not really: it doesn’t mean your niche won’t include a million fans - you just have to find them. And there are experts everywhere these days.  Through the internet everyone is a music critic.  Everyone seems to be really into the music business, but not everyone is into music.  I think its going back to where you really have to be into your music, or you won’t last long enough to catch on. In the end, innovation will prevail, and the more varied you are with your experience as an artist, the more valuable you will be.

JK: The modern artist is very dependant on the live show.  Those who don’t draw a regular live audience are struggling much more than the artist who can gain revenue through live performance and merchandise.  Your live show has been a focus of yours from the get go, did you see this trend coming?

BB: I think this has always been the trend.  It’s time tested.  You’ve gotta have your crowd, your niche, to do business.  A CD never turned a profit like a tee shirt.

JK: Any plans on building upon an already great live set (which includes live bass, guitar, drums, horn section, and backing vocals)?  

BB:  Take it on the road!  Put the pressure on and perform for new faces.

JK: Some highlights of Mr. Blakes’ agenda for the near future…

BB:  I wanna go on tour!

And I want to see Bavu Blakes here in Cali, so please cosign with me and push for a Blakes show in LA.  Hit me up (jmkuryak@gmail.com) and we’ll start a petition!   

Please allow Bavu Blakes, and the movement he has inspired, to renew the passion for whatever you do in life, as he has for me.  For any lover of the culture, this is definitely an artist you need to know.

I encourage you to further your education and stay in tune with Channel One here:

www.bahvoo.com

www.myspace.com/bavu

www.08issogreat.com

Works of note:

Create & Hustle, 2002

Nobody Leavin b/w Who Knows and Play the Role, 2005

Hydroponic Sound System, Hard Work EP, 2007

World Trade, Channel One, coming soon

Extra Plair EP, 2008

Too Selfish, coming soon

By Jeff Kuryak

Click here for part one!