BEBE BOOHGZ BREAKS DOWN BEING FROM "845"

BEBE BOOHGZ

The cloud of dust is settling amongst the battle field; and as the warriors struggle to gain clarity of vision. They feel the earth shake and gaze in the distance at the silhouette of a massive figure and four words utter in the distance! "Fee Fi Fo Fum!" BeBe Boohgz is a giant that feels "the competition is nothing, I'm stepping on every muthaf*ka under the sun." His aggressive beats that embody that of an epic blockbuster movie and the sharp lyrics that this mc spews will rip your eardrums to shreds and you'll not only enjoy every moment, but you'll be left begging for more. Wipe your mouth you’re drooling. It’s not his tall statuesque that make him a giant, but his musical genius that mesmerizes his audience when he steps on stage and napalms the microphone. I was fortunate enough to attend the Elegant Hoodness showcase April 20, 2011 at Club Pyramid and all I’m going to say is "wow." His ability to grasp the audience attention and slay them with lyrical content is a testament that this young brother is ready! Fee Fi Fo Fum...

E.H.M.P: For those who don’t know briefly tell us who BeBe Boohgz is?

BB: Well 1st I want to say thank you for having me, it means a lot, and is greatly appreciated, and shouts out to you for that dope introduction. But BeBe Boohgz, is the guy that you hear on the tracks. I guess you can kind of say it’s my alter-ego. I only say that because, naturally the name BeBe Boohgz is my "Alias" (you know how us rappers do), but my real name is Arie Dixon. I have always found it weird to introduce myself to people as a name I gave myself, especially when my family and friends have called me Arie my whole life. But BeBe Boohgz, is the @$$Hole you hear all over the music, hahaha

E.H.M.P: You came in 1st place April 20 at The Elegant Hoodness Musical Program at club pyramid. Congrats. Talk to me about what you were feeling right before hitting the stage? What u were feeling when the entire audience chanted "845" along with during your performance? And how you felt when A.D. The General and the judges announced you the winner?

BB: Thank you, it was dope. I always get a little nervous before going on stage, but as soon as I step on it, I feel like Im home. There is always a sense of accomplishment when people start singing your songs back to you, especially when it’s there first time hearing it. Im just happy that people who have never seen me before, yet alone never hearing the music before, can identify and connect with what I am saying. When A.D. The General and the judges announced me the winner, of course it felt good. Im just happy that the judges and every liked the music, and received the performance well.

E.H.M.P.: How did you link up with A.D. The General & The Elegant Hoodness Musical Program?

BB: Well A.D. The General and I have met a few years ago, when I was in one of her previous showcases, and I was in a group. But we were reacquainted recently through twitter. I seen that she had a radio show, on Street Market Radio, and they were playing unsigned acts, helping us get our name and music out there. Then when she was putting on the Elegant Hoodness Musical Program, she reached out to all of us up and coming artists. When I saw that 1st place prizes were things, that can and will help with my career, I was in there.

EHMP: What was your life like growing up listening to music and when did u decide that music is something you wanted to partake in?

BB: Well growing up and listening to music, for me at least, was basically what molded me. Music has always been in the house hold. From my brothers putting me on to some Hip Hop, from their era, or my sister beat boxing, and creating beats with her hands and mouth on any service she can find. To my mother roller skating around the house playing all kinds of music, to my father constantly playing some alternative music like Hootie and the Blow Fish, and Counting Crows, to straight Tupac. I won’t even get into the music that my friends played, but I’ve been surrounded by all kinds of music, and it has always been the Universal Language for me growing up. Hip Hop has always been my foundation; any form of music is what intrigues me. Especially music that can make you feel and spark an emotion.

EHMP: The song 845 is a very interesting and aggressive song. Please tell us bout "the place where the people don’t care and the white girls say #$%& the police."

BB: 1st let me give you quick geography lesson of where the 845 is. The 845 is an area code which serves the Hudson Valley (New York) counties of Rockland, Putnam, Orange, most of Dutchess, Ulster, and Sullivan, plus parts of Delaware, Greene, and Columbia counties. But I’m from the Dutchess County, Beacon NY to be exact, but it’s all the same. It’s basically between Westchester and Albany. I love the 845; it was and still is an amazing place to grow up as a kid. The people are down to earth, home bodies, and extremely diverse. But it’s definitely the country. My road manager and childhood friend, Los and I were back home, shooting the video for "Arie Dixon is My Name" and we were reflecting about growing up in the 845, and he made a joke saying we are black rednecks, hahaha. Only because where we grew up is the country, and naturally growing up, doing and seeing normal country activities was the norm. For example there are farms and a bunch of wild animals, as well as complete silence and clear star filled skies at night. But if you really think about, the 845 is just like the majority of the United States. It’s a place that is ran, and held together by the middle class. Hard working people, that aren’t asking for much, they just want happiness and to see their community prosper, and evolve for the better. So Shout Out to the 845.

EHMP: When did you discover you were not only a mc but a producer as well? Its becoming more common to hear mc/producer (beat maker), what make Mr. Dixon different?

BB: Well I’ve always dabbled in making music since I was young. I started rapping in the 6th grade when my best friend Chris Mendes (R.I.P.) just randomly asked me if I wanted to rap during recess. Which was dope because we weren’t even trying to do anything but have fun with it. It was shortly after that when I started to venture off into trying to produce my own music. But the turning point that forced me to enhance my skills in producing was when I was in a group, in high school. We downloaded a free beat off of soundclick.com and recorded, what we thought could have been a smash hit single. In reality it was just a blueprint, and it needed a ton of work, but we contacted the producer to buy the beat, and he said that he already sold it. So from there on out, I told myself, im not going through that again, and I just taught myself how to create the music I heard in my head.

I don’t know what makes me different from other producers. But the one thing that makes me, ME, as far as being a producer, is that I am also an artist. So when producing a song, I love to add instruments, and sounds that will accent the feeling that I am trying to get across with each line. Not to mention I just love the creative process, its fun to me

EHMP: A simple enough question. Why do you rap?

BB: I rap for a few reasons. The biggest reason is that I made a promise to my best friend Chris Mendes, that people will know his name and how much he has changed my life. He's the reason why I even knew I had a voice. Another reason is that, I feel like I have something to say, and a story to tell. But it’s funny, because I have never been the guy who liked to jump into cypha’s, and do random freestyles to show off my skills, because Im not doing this to be the "nicest" or to show off my skills. I didn’t start this because of the benefits, it literally saved my life, and it’s my form of self expression. I do this because I love art, and this is my art. Not to mention I also just love it.

EHMP: How do you see yourself different from other rappers, mc's, musical artist, etc?

BB: Um, that’s a really good question. It’s funny because I never really analyzed myself, or compared myself to other artists because I believe that if you are 100% yourself, then there is no competition. But what makes me different I guess you can say is that I am extremely passionate, and I try to portray that through my music.

EHMP: Who did BeBe Booghz grow up listening to as a youngster?

BB: HAHAHAHA, hmm, well growing up, DMX (the, "its dark and hell is hot" - "And then there was X" dmx) Eminem, Jay Z, Tupac, Busta Rhymes, Lauren Hill and Method Man were my favorites as far as hip hop was concerned. But to branch off of hip hop for a second, I listened to Marilyn Manson, Jewel, The Cranberries, Alanis Morissette, Green Day, Sound Garden, Stone Temple Pilots, just to name a few. But it’s funny because I never indulged into the actual artists or bands. I just loved the songs they put out, and would play them until I played it out.

EHMP: In 2 years where do you see your musical endeavors taking you?

BB: At the rate, that my team and I are going, and the way they grind, in 2 years, I see my musical endeavors taking me to heights that will make me a house hold name. Not saying that in a cocky way, but my personal goals are set, and working to attain them. For example I’m going to move to Norway, have 3 farms in 3 different countries, and at least 2 businesses that are established over seas, one being in an independent country, and music being the catalyst to catapult it all. So since that is what I am after, in 2 years, I have no choice to be at least a household name. But doing it all the right way; enjoying life along the way and meeting dope new people.

WRITTEN BY: MAD SCIENTIST

COURTESY OF THE ELEGANT HOODNESS MUSICAL PROGRAM 2011