Interview: Psalm One

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 1, 2011 8:30PM

First Lady of Rhymesayers Entertainment Psalm One has been busy in 2011. When she hasn't been working to get her sophomore long-player ready for release, she's been traveling the country as part of the mentoring program for America Scores' ASCAP Songwriter Residency program.

Recently the rapper set up a Kickstarter project to help raise funds so she can finish the mixing of the upcoming album. (As of post time, the project has raised $1,150.)

We chatted with Psalm One over the Thanksgiving holiday about the Kickstarter project, how she became involved in America Scores, and what to expect with the new album when it finally drops.

Chicagoist: So what's the purpose of the Kickstarter project?

Psalm One: It's serving two purposes. First, I want to expedite the studio sessions so I can release my new album next year.

C: What's needs to be completed for that?

PO: We need to mix the album.

C: And the second purpose for the Kickstarter project?

PO: I also need help to abate my gear. All of it's beat up from touring and regular use.

What gear are you looking to replace?

PO: A Macbook pro; a MIDI controller; a camera (I want to update the lenses). We're doing songs and music videos with these kids across the country. In some cities we don't have a second video.

C: How did you become involved with involvement with America Scores and the mentoring program?

PO: I lived in San Francisco a few years back; the cost of living in the Bay Area made me more "starving artist" than working artist. Thanks to my chemistry degree, I was able to mentor kids, which was neat because some students and parents knew who I was. I was working at America Scores, which focuses on team building through poetry and soccer: they have to do both. One of my supervisors was aware of the residency and asked if her publishing was through ASCAP, which is a prerequisite to participate in the program. Since I started I've held workshops in in LA, Oakland and last year in Chicago. This year, we're doing residencies in nine cities. New York, Boston and Chicago are left.

C: How have the residencies gone so far?

PO: They're very enriching. I'm passionate about pop culture and how it influences youth. So this is an opportunity to see how hip hop has influenced the youth.

C: We know the media sometimes has preconceived notions of hip hop and its influence on inner city culture. Did you have your own?

PO: Growing up in Englewood, I knew what to expect. But I understand that it's more entertaining to read the negative things. Kids are out there thirsty for what is real, and for a little extra attention. I make a point to go deep into the cities where I do the residencies to reach out to these kids and get some idea of how they live every day.

A lot of them don't have incentive to let art and education influence them to go on a path to better things. Because I grew up in Englewood — I was an only child — I was overprotected. I had people looking out for me. That doesn't mean I was kind of wooed by anything. I knew if I stayed with my studies I could go to college and make a better way.

C: So your experiences in Englewood helped you better connect with these kids?

PO: Partly. Kids generally if you know how to talk to them. At times, it lets them know that I know where they're coming from. The hood doesn't really change. The length of my stays also helps, so I can have a sense of the community I'm in. At its core, these kids are starved for attention. They don't eat much. They're dealing with the same things I went through. It's pretty heavy stuff, sometimes.

C: What was the most difficult part in reaching out to these kids?

PO: Probably talking about fame They'll ask if I'm famous, if I've met famous people, but they seem confused that I'm not really famous. I tell them that, for me, fame was never the goal. People can be famous for the dumbest thing ever. I just want to be real with them, to encourage them to pursue their art.

Every third person now wants to be a rapper. These residencies have the kids writing and recording a song in three days. Giving back is one small aspect of the program

C: How has the response been to the program from the kids?
Some groups are more receptive than others. I don't give the kids too much to chew on. I'll help them write the hook or a chorus so that everyone's involved. I read their ideas for the song; there's a lot of good stuff there. There are some kids who dive in and others who take a step back. I try to make sure they know they're part of the song whether they have a solo part or not.