Live from New York, it's 2ylite tha Titan... well not
really but that is him in New York, I do know that much
I've known 2ylite tha Titan back in high school when he was known by his birth name, Yasser Akkila. I knew from talking to him then that this man was a free thinker. He had his own beliefs and wouldn't change them even if you put a gun to his head. (Victor note- please don't put a gun to his head, that's not cool.) It wasn't until a few years later when we both worked night crew at a local grocery store that I found out about his hip hop life of 2ylite tha Titan. I purchased his CD, named Titanopolis and was very impressed with not only the smooth delivery of his music but also the messages in each song. The songs aren't like the mainstream that talk about product placement, making it rain in V.I.P. rooms, beating an ex-wife or some gang war. These lyrics were more faith based, almost as a way to get people to think outside of the mainstream box. He has performed at local venues, most notably Starlight nightclub in Waterloo. It is only fitting that as a man that is trying to get people to see things from a local perspective to interview a local artist who also wants to expand the knowledge of the masses. Ladies and Gentlemen, without further adieu, here is my interview with 2ylite tha Titan.
V- So Titan, what inspired you to get into the hip hop world?
T- I actually kind of fell into it, I had started writing poetry in my second year of high school and one day I found out a friend in my class was a rapper and he encouraged me to come to his basement and try it. The excitement was intense to say the least! After doing that song it got a real positive reaction from people so thats sort of what fueled me to keep going along with a feeling to want to express myself musically. I just love hip hop man.
V- That sounds pretty exciting. Do you remember what your first rhyme was about?
T- (laughing) Thats an excellent question and I think I do. It was formulated on one of my first poems actually, something about being in the darkness and stuff. I've since then gotten that electricity.
V- By darkness, what exactly do you mean?
T- Oh like metaphorically I guess man. I honestly don't remember the song that much. I think the song was about being an outcast and being alone, which I guess we all feel sometimes and it can be a dark place.
V- That is true, we can all experience what it's like to be alone and an outcast, especially in the society we live in today. I know you're a very insightful and spiritual guy so a quick question about the darkness. Do you feel that the feeling of being an outcast and alone is just a condition of humanity or is it driven through by the medias influence on society?
T- I think its due to many factors, primary a feeling that you can't relate to most people. It's not so much being alone but when you feel like you're alone in your thoughts and feelings about the world. When you feel you can't relate to others and vice versa. The media and environment we are brought up in plays a huge part in this based on how you are raised on you're gonna act differently than someone who is born to someone who was raised by tribal islanders for example. That plays a part in feelings of loneliness, when a person is taken out of thier environment and upbringing is faced to try to relate to a different school of thought than they are used to.
2ylite tha Titan tearing down the house, as the kids
used to say.
V- Very good point. It's hard for anyone who is being moved from one culture to another. So going back on topic, do you remember where you first performed in front of a live audience and how did you feel while doing it?
T- Oh wow man that was in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada and I forgot the name of the place. It felt alright. I had just wanted to see more people there I guess. When you're first starting out, you might expect huge things when you just have to build from the ground up first. I believe you should always set your sights high. I think my love for performing just grew as I did it more and now I love it a lot. I actually can't wait 'til my next show!
V- Agreed, the only way to succeed in this world is to set your sights high and grab your dreams! Where is your next show so these nice readers can go check it out?
T- (laughing) that is yet to be announced. More than likely it will be at Fanshawe College at the Outback Shack Pub and Grill sometime in February. I can definitley let you know again so you can announce it.
V- Please do man, we have to get the masses out for that! Speaking of your music, your songs really have a reflection of your faith in them. How does your faith inspire you to make your music?
T- I think to a large degree that's what my album Titanopolis and my previous projects reflected on at that time I was just reflecting what I was raised on which is Islam. I still hold true to a lot of my Islamic beliefs but I feel that the natural progression of a person is to absorb and learn as much as they can of the world around them, which is actually encouraged in islamic teachings. In order for a person to truly learn they must be or try to be open and a lot of schools of thought or knowledge tries to tell you "No this is the only way and if you deviate from it you will burn." However, being that we are intelligent beings, this choice should be made up on our own. Not due to what someone else has told us. I had always reflected what I felt in my previous projects was beneficial from my faith and I still hold true to those teachings. Teachings like equality and unity amongst people. I feel they are important to share with people, beyond it just being a religious duty. I feel everything you do has to come from your heart and you gotta believe it.
Is that the sun producing the glare or just the aura of
tha Titan? Yep, this is what happens when you can't
afford clever caption writers!
V- You brought up some great points there and honestly, most religions basic principles are what you are speaking of: Respect for other beings, exchange of knowledge, being true to your faith but most importantly, everything you do should come from your heart. These are pretty basic principles that most people learn while they are very young but seem to forget about it the older they get. Do you believe that and if so, why do you think that is?
T- That is an excellent question man. The reason for this is becuase the environment we are brought up in is in direct conflict with that type of mindstate of equality and union amongst all human beings. That is primarly money. The money system turns people against each other and makes people competitive when they don't need to be. This is also how the ones in control or on top stay there. The poor and middle class keep sqwabbling for crumbs and whatever is kicked down to them while the people ontop of the pyramid keep looking out for thier own. We are all one family, but now we only see ourselves, rather than the big picture.
V- As they say, money is the root of all evil
T- Certainly man, and really it isn't anyone's real fault. It's just the environment we were born into. I believe with enough knowledge and education we can have a much better world for all people.
V- For sure man. Getting back to your album Titanopolis, there is a song with the same name (Titanopolis). What is it about?
T- That song is basically talking about the theme of the album which is that it is a city that reflects my personality with every street and district being a different part of who I am as a person. The chorus speaks of this as well, when I go "My vision and my story unfolds, in the streets of my world."
2ylite tha Titan loitering around a parking garage. How
do I know this? Because I was the guy taking this
picture!
V- That is easily one of, if not, the most innovative ideas for a song in any genre. In fact, your music differs from virtually everyone when it comes to your beliefs in Islam to Titanopolis to your inspirational rhymes. My favourite thing that you have done so far is the eleven minute and eleven second marathon rhyme you posted on YouTube called 11:11. What inspired you to make an eleven plus minute track?
T- (laughing) Man that is so flattering bro, very kind words man. I appreciate it bro. Maybe a few things had inspired me for that track. I had seen that many artists that I like made a track or two at one point that was just a massive verse so that was part of it for sure. More than anything I felt I needed a new challenge. Something new to try, which I thrive on. I love tackling something that people might percieve as difficult or near impossible to prove that it isn't and to use that to inspire and come out a fuller person afterwards.
V- Very inspirational. How long did it take from coming up with the first rhyme to posting it on the internet?
T- It was a process, It took several months, around 4-6 months to finish writing it. Partly because I wouldn't settle for anything less than my concept of perfection for it. Also, I guess I deal with a lot of things in my life. I don't know if it is more or less than the average person but I deal with them nonetheless. The beautiful thing about that song is that through all of it, it was still done. It makes me really proud everytime I hear it, to me it just reflects me to a very high degree. It also proves that positive energy cannot be halted!
V- Nobody can stop positive energy. Speaking of ironic, it is funny how all that positive energy is based on a song that is called 11:11 and it is eleven minutes long and eleven seconds (laughing)
T- (laughing) Yeah man it's all meant to be. That's what I guess the whole energy and vibe of that song is. It's a message within a message infinitely.
V- For sure! Unfortunately we have to wrap this up, is there anyone you'd like to give a shout out to?
T- Whats up everybody and all the true hip hop heads! Much Love, Peace and Unity to all mankind. Love and care about each other! we are all ONE! Thank you to anyone who supports me and loves real music and thank you Victor for this opportunity! My new album drops this year! Stay tuned.
Feel free to like 2ylite tha Titan on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/2yLite-Tha-Titan/9589966249Also, check out 2ylite tha Titans Youtube Channel- http://www.youtube.com/user/2yLiteThaTitan/videos
You can check out 2ylite tha Titan on Myspace at- www.myspace.com/2ylitethatitan
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