On July 1st 2004, Therapy, one of the longest-running Deep House nights in Montreal celebrated it's 5th anniversary as part of the 1st edition of the Funk 'n Soul Festival, manned by DJ Jojoflores and Bic Flores. Lots of people showed up at the Jello Bar for that momentous night (one of the best parties this city has seen in years), which featured Glenn Underground as guest on the wheels of steel, and none other than Colonel Abrams performing some new songs and old classics, all live. While we were busy enjoying the vibe, we managed to catch up with lots of people and ask them a few questions. In our first interview of this series, we feature none other than Chicago's Very Own, Glenn Underground.

D/V: Firstly, where were you born & raised?

Glenn Underground: Born & raised in Chicago, Illinois. I come from a family of musicians.

D/V: Do you have any children?

GU: I have a daughter who's 11 years old. That's my baby. Her name is Ebony

D/V: Besides house music, what other forms of music do you listen to?

GU: Jazz, classic jazz, some rock, some heavy stuff. I like Metallica! Asian rhythms, latin rhythms

D/V: What is the hottest thing bumping in you ride right now?

GU: The hottest thing bumpin in my ride would be Soul Heights. A new joint off of my album, coming up on Life Line, Cisco Music, Shelter Records.

D/V: Speaking of Shelter & Life Line, when will Mental Black Resurrection (MBR) be officially released?

GU: In September 2004 (on the album).

D/V: I had to resort to downloading my version of MBR from Limewire. I'm sorry! I needed it. Granted, when the album comes out, I will definitely be purchasing it. What are your thoughts on piracy?

GU: I think that shit needs to stop. It's very illegal.

D/V: But, what about someone like myself. I'm a DJ, I need this song badly and it's not available anywhere. Meanwhile I've been hearing other jocks play it for well over a year. So, I see it on Limewire...it's very tempting. Granted I will be purchasing it when it does come out, but in the meantime I need to get my fix!! Do you find that in such a situation, downloading a song is more acceptable, or more appropriate?

GU: I can use myself as an example. I've asked producers for their music, and if they say yes, then it's cool, and if they say no, then it's cool too. But, the best thing to do is ask someone.

D/V: So is it cool that I did it?

GU: (chuckling) no, it's not cool!

D/V: Can I have it?

GU: Uhmmmm...we'll talk about that later. I'm here 'til Saturday (laughing).

D/V: Tell me about some of the most exotic places that you have visited as a DJ?

GU: Exotic??? hmmm? that's a deep word..... Japan! Japan is the shit! Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Fukuoka, Kagoshima....great places!!!!!!!! EUROPE!!!!, all over Europe. Soon to be touring all of Asia.

D/V: Have you been to Greece?

GU: On my way there in a month...But, North America is like the best exotic place.!!!! Top to bottom.

D/V: Talk to us about your label, Nite Life Collective (NLC).

GU: Actually, NLC is not my label. It never was. No disrespect, and I want people to know this and listen to me without prejudice. I'm not disrespecting, but I was just a face for the black community of NLC.

D/V: OK, that clears that up. Do you have your own label?

GU: Yes, actually me, Craig (Alexander), and a couple of more people gonna start the Urban Heirs label. And then a friend of mine & I will start a subdivision called Misty Vinyl. All of this will happen very soon, perhaps even October maybe (2004). And that's maybe!! I want to do it right. I don't want to be like the old Chicago & New York labels. I want to be legit, like a major (label)...

D/V: I discovered you during your Cajual Records years, and have been following your work ever since, right up to your present Shelter Records era. I'm certain that there was a time when most Shelter heads didn't give your records the time of day. Now, you're one of the hottest artists on that label. How does that make you feel?

GU: Actually,...they were into it, but I guess the sound was probably too cool for them, but now they're awake.

D/V: What about the Love & Hurt LP (on NLC). How come we never saw that album?

GU: Actually, the Love & Hurt LP won't ever be coming out. The reasons for it is because we had problems. He (?) breached his contract, and there was a lot of good stuff on that album. But, I completed that album five years ago, and.............I'm going through a progression not to be progressive, but moreso a transition in my sound, and it's maturing. Alot of that stuff (from Love & Hurt) was basically just me....five years ago! But a few of the songs will actually be on the Life Line album. The good stuff!!

D/V: A couple of those songs from The Love & Hurt LP were recently released on Eargasmic Records, no?

GU: Actually, that's my boy Darryl Cura. Cool guy, great friend. And we linked up, he dug them, and we put them out. The songs on that EP are Tribute to Larry (Heard), Stringin Me, and Hard Tymes. Eargasmic is a good, up & coming label.

D/V: So then, Love & Hurt only came out as a promo, correct?

GU: Well, we just passed them out to alot of people, so they're now collector's items. So when I die, whoever has it can make alot of money!! (chuckling)

D/V: What happened at Summerstage 2003? I drove 6 hours from Montreal to see you, amongst a flurry of other quality jocks. But, I didn't see you. What happened? How come you did not spin at Shelter?

GU: Oh, I need to hold the mic on this one!!! (grabs the mic) Now, New York heads, Chicago heads, and especially the DeepHousePage....I know that you all may hear this, so please read this without prejudice. Club Shelter is one of the greatest house spots to me. Timmy Regisford is a great DJ. Timmy is my friend! But as a friend, I have to be honest.......Timmy already has it. And he needs to know that he has it. But I know, just from the situation, that he doesn't like competition, and...I'm not competing with him because I'm working with him on their label, so it's not a competition. And alot of people know, and I'm not boasting, but I had 2 of the hottest releases to have ever come out on Shelter Records, besides the classic Blaze stuff. And I'm sorry, but I've been DJing for 22 years, and when it comes down to me playing with what's supposed to be my family now, you don't throw me on at 11 o'clock when no one is at a party. And then, everybody who's not on the label is playing at 3, 4 or 5 am. It's not a pride thing. But, once he told me, I turned the party down. But, my name was still on the flyer anyways.
People were mad at me. People were mad at Timmy, and people were mad at Shelter. But, I mean, everything is cool now. We're obviously still doing wok together. i mean the business is good, and Freddy Sanon is one of my good friends. He's actually becoming one of my best friends. He's a good guy.

D/V: He's world class!

GU: Yeah! World class. Top-flight guy. Timmy is a top-flight guy. For those who think he's arrogant, you should get to know him. Timmy is a cool, stand-up guy too. But as far as that whole night went, it's behind me, and it's behind them, but it was bullshit. But, I'm not mad, and they're not mad, and hopefully they won't get mad when they read this, but I am an adult, and I have to be honest, just like I would expect someone to be honest against me if I'm on some BS or if I'm on some shady business. I mean shade is shade, no matter who it's coming from. But we have a good business relationship, and the album will be coming out on Life Line, and everywhere else on Shelter Records. And Timmy has been breaking the Glenn Underground sound in NYC for the past few years, and that's good, and I thank him for it. Finally!!! really...finally! Louie Vega also. that's my guy.

D/V: Where were you on 9/11?

GU: At home, looking at the TV. Thought I was watching a monster movie or something. But, it turned out to be reality. God be with those who lost their lives. Thankl God that I was in Chicago. But it was crazy at that time, and I had to fly the week after, so y'all know that I was spooked, cause I hate flying anyways.

D/V: Who would you like to collaborate with?

GU: Brian Jackson, George Clinton, George Duke, Roy Ayers, ...Roy is a cool guy..we met in Chicago, and he gave me much respect! Also, Gil Scott-Heron, if he can stay out of jail. No disrespect, but the man is one of the super-talents and he needs to see it!

D/V: What's your favourite Glenn Underground song?

GU: Mental Black Resurrection.

D/V: Favourite comedian?

GU: David Chappelle (we break out laughing). That's it. Nobody's funnier!

D/V: Critique yourself as a DJ.

GU: That's a helluva question, because I'm my own worst critic. I don't get into Greek mythology or bullshit like that, or zodiac signs, but because I was born in September, I'm a perfectionist. I think I sound better in a club than I do at home, and that's kind of backwards. But, i'm my own worst critic, so everything I do is shitty to me.

D/V: Most influential rap artist?

GU: That's a deep question. Since we're using the word influence, i'd have to say Rakim. Can nobody do it better. The most influential producer is Dr. Dre from the West Coast!! (chuckling)

D/V: Talk to me about your relationship with God?

GU: Actually, that's a question that nobody can really answer, because we all mess up and make mistakes. My spirit is with God, and I'm trying to get that correct. I'm just like any other man, but I'm not gonna use that because humans tend to use that as an excuse: "we're only human". But, we can do it right, and I'm trying to do it right. I want to live forever.

D/V: If you had 3 wishes, what would they be?

GU: That nobody die, everybody makes it into the Kingdom, and everybody keeps the commandments of God.

D/V:
Finally, i'll give you a name,and you tell me the first word that comes to your head.

Chuck D: the man
Prince: the man
Montreal: the shit
Chicago: The home of house music.
I don't care what anybody says. They know the truth.
Larry Levan:True pioneer. True inspiration
Boo Williams: He's my man. He's my brother. I love him.
One of the best DJ's in the world.
Fidel Castro: I'll be glad when they break this thing between America & Cuba, so I can go to Cuba from America, instead of having to come North to go there.
Michael Moore: Which one? the boxer?
D/V: the movie-maker...
GU: oh, he's the shit!
Barry Bonds: He's the shit
Larry Heard: The true godfather of house music
David Beckham: Who the hell is that?
Jack Kevorkian aka Dr Death.. he was also a jazz artist: (chuckling) I guess he's the man if he was a jazz artist!


Related Links:

Urban Heirs Entertainment
The unofficial Glenn Underground site



Interview by Michael Terzian sinister@deepvibes.org
Intro and photo by Yannick B yannick@deepvibes.org

Copyright 2004. All rights reserved.
Reproduction without express written consent is strictly prohibited.

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