Some people swear that this is a great time to be an independent artist with the emergence of so many new ways of doing things in the music business. There’s obviously the internet and the groundwork that indie artists do reaches people on a more personal level, one, which a major label could never reach.

There are those whoever that believe more money always equals more success and that major backing is the only way to go. The fact is it’s not easy to be an inidie artist with conscious lyrics. Charon Don fits that profile and has one more strike against him. He happens to be from Pittsburgh, PA, a state, which experienced it’s first hip-hop hit record just earlier this year with Wiz Khalifa’s “Say Yeah”.

Despite all that’s stacked against him however, Charon Don has managed to make great music and build a loyal following of fans. Sixshot.Com caught up with the talented MC Charon Don to discuss coming up in Pittsburgh, how he feels about today’s hip-hop, and his sophomore album.

Sixshot.Com: What's good man?

Charon Don: Peace. Life is love man. Maintaining.

Sixshot.Com: So you're one of the few dudes to make some noise out of Pittsburgh, what was it like growing up there?

Charon Don: Growing up in P-town (Pittsburgh, Pa) was cool. It’s big enough to get into just about anything you would wanna get into, but small enough that just about everyone knows you or someone in your camp or family (laughs), it's crazy like that. I dig it though, I mean I feel there could be more culture and things going on for minorities but it seems within the last five years things are looking better as far as the culture, hip-hop scene, business and city in general.

Sixshot.Com: When did you get into rapping?

Charon Don: I started rhyming back in "97"-"98", but really start building in 1999. I had always been writing thoughts thru poetry, but not until the late nineties did I start meditating to beats.

Sixshot.Com: When did you and Huggy start working together?

Charon Don: Huggy and I basically started working with the music around the same time. We went to the same high school and had the same friends so the bond was tight since day one. We were always scheduling time on the phone to get up and see what we could create once we both had the time. We always seemed to create history once we got up. Huggy was spinning a lot back then and I really got into how he scratched and sampled the most rare and unexpected sounds and drums in his production.

We were in about three groups together with him always as deejay and myself as the "battle cat" who wanted a piece of anyone who stepped in our way. Those were the days yo. Free styling, battling, recording in the damp basement, etc. it was a good time and period of my life that shaped and formed who we are today.

Sixshot.Com: Who are some of your musical influences?

Charon Don: My influences in the music range from jazz musicians to rock, from R&B to soul and from gospel to reggae, from old school hip-hop, to new. From what some heads call "underground" to what others label "commercial, I really have no limitations on who and what I listen to. Through the years I have got to the point where I try to learn something from every single artist that I hear, whether I enjoy them or not. Therefore I feel I stay at a peak of creativeness and inspiration, it's like the music feeds me to want to add on wherever that artist or group left off.

Sixshot.Com: You've been in the game for a while, do you feel hip-hop has changed?

Charon Don: I feel Hip-hop has changed just as much as the times and people have changed. At times I feel good about the change at other times I feel depressed. It's hard to call because there always was and always will be quality music and music that is not as meaningful or creative. It's just up to the artist and fans to take and maintain control over what they want or need to listen to freely without being program and/or controlled by media and/or industry.

Sixshot.Com: Art of Life was crazy, what was the creative process like?

Charon Don: I treated this project as an introduction of who I am and much of what I can do. I kept it open enough to write whatever I was feeling at that moment and asked Huggy to do the same on the production tip. Huggy laced me with many of the beats before hand and I just fed from the vibe. We were actually performing two different sets none of which had any songs from the album, while simultaneously recording here and there tracks for Art of Life.

It was cool, because it kept the material exclusive and helped us to shape better how we wanted to present much of our work. It was a very natural and free flowing project that we both added to thru the years lyric wise as well as instrument wise that aged with time. We would not allow it to be rushed. It was our first baby we had to be careful in it's delivery to the world.

Sixshot.Com: Do you get involved in the production or do you leave it up to Huggy?

Charon Don: For the most part production is Huggy's side of the workroom while emceeing and recording is mine. We respect each other's talents and passion therefore beyond an idea or two; we create separately and add on to each other’s craft afterwards until they perfectly blend. I mean, what would you tell someone who is genius in what they do? (laughs). Huggy is the man. Hands down.

Sixshot.Com: Are you happy with your situation at Good Hands?

Charon Don: Yeah Good Hands is fam. as an artist it's hard to always get exactly what you may want from a label who doesn't quite have the means, but I respect the fam for all they have done in the past for us. It is what it is and regardless of any label situation we have to continue to create and promote so that heads are checking for us. I just want the project to get its proper representation as well as justice because it is a complete, passionate and "real" album. It means a lot to me.

Sixshot.Com: You're considered a real lyrical dude; do you feel that's something that's missing today?

Charon Don: I believe lyrical cats are out there and will continue to be, it's just sad that there are less in the spotlight where they deserve to be! I mean when I was coming up you turned on the TV and radio and heard Rakim, 2 Pac, Biggie, Wu-tang, Big Pun, Kool G Rap, Fugees, etc. That's my era. Those are some of the heads that made us want to rhyme. Nowadays the youth are watching and listening even more, but they do not have the same inspirational/creative artist to look up to therefore their craft is suffering and immature in comparison to the older generation

Sixshot.Com: How different are performing spoken word and rapping?

Charon Don: Not different at all. They’re one in the same, the only difference is swag or style in which you are using while performing. To be truthful art as well as life has a lot more similarity than it has difference; it's all how we look at it.

Sixshot.Com: What's good with the JuJu Mob?

Charon Don: Juju Mob is continually grinding. I love the Mob, Reef, Mach and State store are true brothers and I respect their grind as well as talents as individuals as well as fam. It's good to see State Store reppin' Philly to the death as well as Mach and Reef ripping down stages overseas on continuous tours. I mean check them out on Youtube, they're spreading the word and it's all love and relevant to what we represent, raw, uncut truth thru Hip-Hop. I can't wait to build on the second joint, and maybe even a tour.

Sixshot.Com: You've collaborated with a lot of artists, any in particular that you just have great chemistry with?

Charon Don: I can't remember a time when my chemistry was off with an artist that I’ve worked with. I don't think that's possible at the level, which I’m making musically because if I honestly felt that the chemistry was an issue I wouldn’t even build with the artist! I feel every artist brings a different vibe, which I feed off of naturally by way of relating and common thought or idea. It's one love and cause. All chemistry is driven by passion and need; therefore collaborating with all artists is love.

Sixshot.Com: What projects can we expect to see from you in the future?

Charon Don: Well my homie Will Feagins (Rampage, aka Phate) from HighImpact Design is helping Hands Down release a dvd/mixtape box set. The DVD and mixtape is full of new and exclusive footage from the crew as well as our extended family in and outside of the city and states. We will be distributing the box set through my myspace page as well as www.handsdownmusic.com.

From exclusive unreleased music videos, to freestyles, to live footage we have documented our works for those who want to check how and why we do what we do. Oh yeah plus I’ve been in the lab working on the sophomore project. Whoa I just hope yall ready for this one.

Sixshot.Com: Anything you'd like to say to the fans at Sixshot.Com?

Charon Don: Yeah I want tot say thanks for the love and support. We appreciate it and do it all for you, feel free to contact us for any shout outs, performance, tour, or recording opportunity. One love one life. Peace.
 
http://www.myspace.com/charondon