Voice Of The Metro

Poetry. Hip-Hop. It’s all the same, right? The placing of lyrics in a rhythmic or artistic pattern to make a unique mixture of words. That must be why Pages does both so well…there’s no black and white in his mental’s gray area of creativity. A young African in the U.S., he brings the poet’s mind to the rapper’s beats. His name, P.A.G.E.S., standing for “Possessing Artistic Gifts Eloquently Spoken”, further stamps what he’s in this rap game to do. VOTM speaks with Pages about his upcoming project and witnesses the longest shoutout so far made my an artist on this site. (LOL just jokin’ with you, homie!)

VOTM: Introduce yourself to the people, joe.

Pages: Aight, this is ya young boy, PAGES. P-A-G-E to da S, YESSIR! Comin’ straight out of the DMV, representing Da Movement Poetz and Da AXS Squad.

VOTM: Aight, so tell me…how did you get into hip-hop?

Pages: I just got into hip-hop round the age of 16. I’ve been listening to it, but I really got into it around that age after watching so many other hip hop artists from around my way and I was just like “Damn…I wanna be like them.” So yeah, that was
that. So from starting with poetry, I started watching dudes freestyling and I loved how raw and powerful cats were expressing themselves. It felt just like poetry all
over but with a bit more “umph” to it in a sense, yah dig? So then I started practicing myself, listening to the greats like Nas, Biggie, Jay-Z, Luda, and others…

VOTM: After hearing your lyrics, you’re definitely looked at as more of a “conscious/poetic” MC…does having a label on your style bother you? Or do you feel it just fits you?

Pages: Nah it doesn’t bother me at all. I love it because that’s what I’m aiming for. I don’t like the commercial rap and ringtone hip-hop going on right now. I want to put a deep message in my writing that will help open and refine the minds of all those tuning in, ya feel? So yeah, it’s all good

VOTM: So you’ve been killing the open mic circuit, you’ve been doing the Adolescent Expressway internet radio shows on im4radio.com every Friday…are there any mixtapes or albums in the process?

Pages: Yes there are. I know I’ve been disappointing the people with the 2nd mixtape I’ve promised to put out, but I’ve been focusing lately a lot on school. But I’ve got an EP and one poetry and one hip-hop/rap double LP in the works, so stay tuned because Pages and DMP are bout to bring that fire in the ‘08! Also, be on the lookout for my first book entitled “Composition Book”, which is a composition of short stories and poetry. So yeah, I’ve been a real busy dude, but probably by mid-February, it will all be out. SO BE PATIENT Y’ALL LOL!

VOTM: Will any labels be behind the music or strictly on your own?

Pages: I’ll be under The Phoenix Medina Project & my own camp, Da Movement Poetz, with a few collabs from other labels, but most of the production will be done strictly from my end.

VOTM: True. Now i already know you hear this…a young lyrical African MC who dresses fresh as shit…do you get the “aw, another Wale!” comments? LOL

Pages: LMAO! Nah, I get more Kanye comments, but I have gotten a few Wale comments, which is a compliment. I respect Wale as an artist and I’m so happy to see someone with true lyrical talent finally pulling up for the DMV. But yeah, I’ve gotten a few of those lol.

VOTM: So now we get the segment that everyone goes through…favorite go-go band?

Pages: A tie between CCB and New Impressions.

VOTM: Favorite carry-out?

Pages: Hmmm…Zhing’s all day on Riverdale Rd. Their mambo sauce is a KILLLLLEEEER.

VOTM: Favorite DMV rapper, other than yourself?

Pages: LOL I’m not my favorite rapper. I never consider myself that. But I would say…Lyriciss. He is ill, and undoubtedly a serious inspiration and someone I absolutely look up to as an artist, a lyricist, and a hip-hop pioneer. Then Wale, this cat named R.E.U.B., watch out for him definitely. And finally Rhyme Cypher…be defintely on the look out for them.

VOTM: any last words for the people and/or shout outs?

Pages: Shout out to Deo Djossou aka Da Boss. Shout out 2 R.E.I.L., my partner in rhyme. Shout out to the whole H/H Global. To Phoenix, my manager. To DJ Flexx of 95.5 for giving me an opportunity and Jackson. And finally, the whole AXS Squad and the entire DMV hip-hop movement. ‘06 was the time 4 sleeping and dreaming. ‘07 was the time for thinking. ‘08 is the time for action and moving. And we about to get it in ASAP YAH DIG? WITH A SHOVEL!!! Love to my fam and fans and true friends for all y’all support. God bless and stay up everyone. Hit me up on the MySpace, http://www.myspace.com/damovementpoetz or by e-mail, Da_Movement_Poetz@yahoo.com
And catch me every Friday on my radio show, im4radio.com’s “Adolescent Expressway” with the AXS Squad, 6-8 PM. GET AT ME!!! Peeeeeeeeaaaace!!! Ooooh, and of course, thank you, Lyriciss, for this wonderful opportunity I see you man. A’ite, lemme stop rapping, it’s P-A-G-E to the S! YESSIR! I’m out..