A Man Named Keness.

Location : El Tamarindo Resturant on Florida Ave in the Adams Morgan section of DC
People : Mr. Keness , Mr. Piff and Myself.
So basically just the background of this blog is that of this : We all decided to head into the city to get some grub and finally get down to business. The conversation / interview had a lot of detail but this is what made it into the post. He is wordsmith in a sense and a dude that's been going strong and surely will continue into the following year.

Full name? Or Nickname , which do you prefer to go by?

Arcieri Keness. That's good.

How long have you been rapping?

Rapping since 96' , yo.

How long have you been making music?

Damn , Ive been recording songs since about 97' making beats to myself , and then recording back over that , while then rapping back over them.

What is your opinion of the rap world in this point in time?
Right now , I think hip-hop is like a chair on three legs. Basically unstable. Me and Wade had a conversation about Cuban Linx and we've realized that everyone is biting. (wade.) Nothing is original any more. (wade) Pharrel did the iced out G-shock for more corporate America , put diamonds around his digital watch. Young Joc claimed "Ive got an iced out G-shock" and now Bow Wow is claiming to be the originator of it all. "Point is , biters suck" (me) True , You gotta give respect when respect is due. (me)
The food was actually quite good as you can see in these pictures here:

Listening to music nowadays , do you just sometimes want to say "FUCK IT" , or continue in hopes that music will somewhat improve?

Nah yo , you cant ever say F it. It's like , I don't know. F IT YO. I'm out this rap game , I'm done. Ima put down my pad and my pen , gimme some nachos and a taco. I'm becoming the rap version of Ron Jeremy. Nah , I honestly love it too much to ever say F it. I can wake up and go to sleep doing it , it just comes naturally. I couldn't ever say F it , its just something I'm good at.

+ Wade ( Brad Piff ) got me riding a bike again +

So , we've been friends for a little bit of time and Ima always support you. Have you seen anyone jump onto the Arcieri Keness bandwagon because your music is getting out to the mass public a little bit more?

(me) Not asking for names. Heh. Don't drop any names , oh god ..... here he goes. (me) Damn where do I start , Ricky Martin , Denzel Washington. Nah , ain't nobody stealing my style. (wade) Nah, he's low-key. (wade) Nah , I'm boring. No this interview is over..... (pushes all the plates and drinks off the table ) : smiles : I don't allow people onto my bandwagon , its a one seater.

Fashion-wise , whats your favorite thing going on at the present moment?
The only thing I like right now in fashion is denim and porn. I like porn because I'm so disappointed in fashion. They are not clothed... (me) point noted (me) Everyone in fashion is boring. Kanye West , take him .... he's like the pokemon master of hype beasts. They're gonna hate me when I get big , I'm not going to be like every other entertainer. I'm just going to answer questions honestly and exactly how I feel. (wade) So you're not going to be like the Paul Money of whatever your doing? (wade) Yea , I'm going to be the Paul Money of hip-hop. Life is so short , why censor it? If you call yourself a man then you have a pair of balls , no man should ever take your freedom of speech away from you.You gotta be constructive with it (wade) You gotta be real with it too .. (wade) If you lie to your audience , you lie to yourself.
What describes your style?

(wade ) Yaaawn in big letters. (wade) (me) laughs (me)Honest , no filler. I'm not rapping the same stories that you've heard. I'm not saying I've killed anybody , I don't even own a handgun.

Whats the most meaningful song you've made thus far?

Hmmm. I don't even know yet. I would have to say "Cindy". That song was actually made to a friend of mine , that song was honest and about a female friend of mine from the Baltimore area that had to sell drugs to get out of a situation. Cindy should be about 27 , ( raps a few bars ) ...

Being from Baltimore things are going to be a little bit different then say , NY or DC ... Whats one thing in Baltimore that you hate to the full potential?

Baltimore...I don't hate the fact that it is , but Baltimore is a club music city. It seems like its really hard for rappers to be taken seriously.(wade) especially with 92 Q (wade) I think that there are good rappers in Baltimore , but they get overlooked due to club music.

On a dessert island , One song you have to listen to over and over , what and why?

This song by the Comsat Angels , "Falling" . Its from Real Genius with Val Kilmer , Its an 80's movie. Good movie , the Comsat angels did a cover song for the movie and it plays throughout the whole movie. I can play that song , over and over , and over.... (wade) I got one better then that , Depeche Mode "People are people" .. you can just listen to the words... (wade): food arrives...stuffs food into face: The message is deep , and Real Genius is one of my favorite movies..and it just fits.
What describes the thought process you tend to have when making songs?

I just smoke a little dope...nah. For real , every time I do a song. I like to put on headphones when I rap and just close my eyes and imagine ... being an only child is a great gift. Someone can play a movie and you just turn it into verbal , turn it into text so you can just project it to the world so they can get a mental picture.

What "inspires" you?

Honestly , the stuff that inspires me to write is movies and stuff. I was watching purple rain the other day , every day I watch purple rain . It makes me want to write. It's about what people do in real life. It's about making it. Prince was so far ahead of his time , it was crazy. Purple rain , Vanilla Sky.
Now , you're pretty lyrical in the sense of wordplay. Whats the idea you'd like to capture with people listening to your music?

Keep em interested. People like pop up books , people like images , so you just have to constantly keep it interesting. (wade) Beats keep people interested.. (wade) It's funny , that's why I didn't want to have that many hooks in my project , I just wanted people to hear me out and say my piece. I didn't want people to get bored with my hooks.
Hate to do this , But Top 5 (Dead or Alive)( Not in order )

1.Common

2.Andre 3000
3.Jean Grae Damn......... : thinks :
4.Nas

5.Lupe Fiasco

I think all of them , their lyrical content is just insane. They all just keep getting better. (me) You heard the album she did with 9th wonder? (me) Shes just ridiculous.
When you're writing , whats the place that gives you the most inspiration?

My mind. Just my mind , in my mind I can be anywhere I want to be.

Terrorist Do Coke <--- Could be self explanatory but please explain more on the title.
Wade prolly wants to know that to. So many meanings behind it ... I feel that terrorists have to do coke to do some of the crazy stuff that they do. What makes them want to get up in the morning , scratch their balls , and say I want to blow this up? It seems that coke could have used them as an advertisement. It became so commercialized. I'm not even talking on that type of view. Because we have terrorists like corporate people , a lot of them do coke , a lot of them do drugs. Sort of American terrorists. So many reasons behind the name , I cant just give you one.

Listening to "For Diamonds" I've noticed that you're right. Everyone seems to be fascinated by these objects , and would take them over intellect. Why?

Because that's how America is , they replace the barter system. It doesnt work like that. I guess western folk' eyes got bigger with diamonds. What the diamond does is it makes people kind of aware of status. A status of accomplishment. "You know what , I'm accomplished , instead of a sign around my neck" Just like a Mercedes. I know people who own a Mercedes and are living in the projects.

What do you want from life?

Everything as long as its good. That's what I want from life , everything as long as its good.
Women? Cant live with them , cant live without them. Why?

Wow. Wade might have to answer that one for me (wade) No I don't. (wade ) Women just are..... I don't know man. I don't think a perfect woman does exist , and I don't think the perfect man can exist. I say that because I don't want anyone to think I'm woman bashing , as long as we are human .. you're not going to get along with everyone.
So I see that you indeed do wear your glasses in the dark like Corey Hart , you think you're cool?

Hah. I just got a brand new pair of supers. That's all I got to say. I got them from Palace 5 from DC. $125.
Alright , when can you expect your next project to come out?

Nevuary 31st. Nah , my mix tape FRANK should be released sometime in 09' . Early. It will still be cold outside.

Any closing thoughts of ideas?

Thank you for coming out. God bless , good night. No , I cant say that ..... Russel Simmons will sue me. No my closing thoughts in all honesty is that everyone needs a couple days to themselves. Whether it be a special movie , or vibing to an album and getting those chills. Its finding out who are you and where you want to me and just reflect , because life is short. And I'm saying this at 26. And thanks for the free food. Its been fun , a great interview.... I'm sleepy and I'm going back to Baltimore.

Well thank you good sir. Peace be w/ you.

Contact Mr.Keness at:

http://www.myspace.com/arcierikeness

arcierikeness.blogspot.com