Many on the underground claim themselves as kings, however, who can really live like one? Question answered before thought; Musab will tell you about the shoes, clothes, and stores he bought. Co-founder of the Rhymesayer and international player, Musab is about his business; entertainment just happens to be the business. Ask anyone who has been to anyone of his shows to stand as a witness.

He declares himself an artist from Hip-Hop’s golden era, the 80’s. Musab has the music that has drawn in a legion of fans and continues to make crazy money. The process is far from over, because as an underground artist he’s made it, but, he still feels the need to conquer the national scene. It’s all to the good, because his success means more green for the team. Musab has evolved over the years from a punchline rapper to an entertainer. Outgrowing the name Beyond, Musab felt as though it was time to move on.

That is exactly what he has done, moved on from the battle hungry rampages and transformed into a premiere performer on different stages. Equipped with Prada shoes and Versace, Musab lives the life. But celebration is not the only thing on his mind; he knows the importance of staying on his grind. In addition, he has big plans for Minnesota as well.

You changed your name from Beyond to Musab, why?

Musab: “I outgrew the name; at first, I was rapping for other rappers, you know. I was trying to have all the punchlines and shit like that. It was about battling, being the best MC, that’s a young man’s goal. I became about making good music and that’s what the people wanna hear. I put more of me in the music. Macking and rapping is what I’m doing now.”

If you didn’t rap, what would you be doing?

Musab: “What I’m doing now. I’m chilling in Las Vegas. I do more than rap anyway. Everybody ask what I been doing since my last album; I’ve been building an empire. I’m trying to make that into something big.”

What can people expect from this album?

Musab: “Just pure rap music. The feeling has gone away from the music and we bringing it back. Back to my golden era of Hip-Hop, the late 80’s and early 90’s. When you could go a party and hear Slick Rick and NWA at the same party. You have so many different things going now and people don’t blend it like they used to. The album is made for everybody.”

What was the concept in starting the Rhymesayers?

Musab: “We was just a bunch of ambitious guys. We would rap with each other; go around battling cats calling ourshelves the headshots. Me and Ant had like 60 songs done and we decided to release it. Here are the Rhymesayers ten years later.”

Do you feel as though you’ve made it?

Musab: “It depends on the artist’s wants. As far as being musical, yeah. Every artist has their own goal. That’s the beauty of the Rhymesayers, as a underground rapper I’ve made it. Musab hasn’t made it to a national audience.”

I’ve heard the expression that the Rhymesayers don’t do shows; they throw staged parties. Explain that.

Musab: “Basically it’s like a gathering for Rhymsayers. We don’t just make it about rapping on stage; we make about the culture of Hip-Hop.”

What do you different that separates you from everyone else?

Musab: “I keep it real rugged, real street, that’s all I know. I’m just being myself and it just so happen to be that I come off different than everybody else.”

What can the people expect from a Musab show?

Musab: “Styling and wilding. A lot of rappers think you got to go into the show with a t-shirt on; not me, I’m going in with a designer fit on. I bring energy, clarity, and I’m a entertainer.”

You sound as though you have a Slick Rick vibe about you; did you take some of his showmanship?

Musab: “I consider myself an artist from that era. Rappers make a big deal about the chain wearing, Cristal poppin, car driving…They was doing that when Hip-Hop first started. You listen to the Sugar Hill Gang, what they talking bout? How much money they got, how many cars they got, and that’s the first Hip-Hop song put out. So that’s what Hip-Hop is about. I’ll tell em in a minute, I’m a underground rapper, but I wear Prada shoes; I wear Versace, man.”

The Minnesota Hip-Hop scene, what will it take to make A&R’s come as they would for Atlanta or Houston?

Musab: “That’ll probably never happen cause it’s not as vast musically. Plus, artists gotta start pushing units in Minnesota. Labels are vampires and vultures; Minnesota hasn’t given them anything to feed off of. We got to have support in the community.”

What about radio in Minnesota, do you get that support?

Musab: “Yeah, from what I hear we do. I really don’t listen to the radio too much and I’m cool with all the DJ’s. We got V96; they only go play top 40 anyway so I don’t count those guys.”

When the media blames Hip-Hop for the crime rate, how do you feel about that?

Musab: “They don’t care; they don’t realize that Hip-Hop is entertainment. I wanna start a channel with good news. What you see when you watch the regular news, someone getting killed, someone getting kidnapped, Iraq killings, etc. That’s what they good condition us to hear. Why don’t you talk about people winning money; so and so have a good vacation, or whatever. Clearchannel, Ted Turner makes his money off people’s misery.”

What’s up with the MN Slick project?

Musab: “Yeah, Minnesota Slick, I’m trying to establish-it’s already established on the street-eventually, I’m a drop a print mag called Slicks. I got big plans for Minnesota.”

What’s the best way for people to get at you?

Musab: “Myspace.com/Musab; people should get at through that.”

That’s a wrap on the interview; I just got this game called artist association; you down?

Musab: “Yeah.”

T.I.: “Pimpish.”

Lil’ Wanye: “The best.”

50 Cent: (long pause) “Hmmmm…I got a lot of words for him. I’m go say my favorite artist.”

Lupe Fiasco: “Brand new.”

Dem Franchise Boys: “One-hit wonders.”

Mike Jones: “Influential.”

D4L: “Timey, they won’t be around in a year or two, but I respect em though.”

Musab: “I wanna add on what I said about the Minnesota music scene. Originality, see Atlanta, New York, West Coast are original. Minnesota has to focus on that originality; you have guys that sound like they from down South, the East Coast, or wherever. People have to be original for the city to get behind us. It’ll make people take notice, that we got our own thing. We talk different, dress different. Kinda like Prince, he came out and did his own shit. He had everybody for a time period dressing like him. Minnesota niggas really got to rep what we do. I just wanted to throw that in there for the young cats.”

I’ll make sure it goes in. Thanks for your time.

Musab: “Ok, cool.”

--By Joseph "JayRich" Robinson