Hailing from New York, Vast Aire along with Vorduual Mega ran the streets and along the way, ate up many emcees. The duo formed Cannibal Ox. Their album ‘The F Word’ received critical acclaim in undergroud hip hop. But since then, Vast has carved his own way.
In 2004, Vast released his solo debut album ‘Look Mom…No Hands. With guest spots from MF Doom, Aesop Rock, Sadat X and production by Madlib, Blueprint & Ayatollah, the album solidified Vast’s reinvention as a solo artist.
Now in 2008, Vast is gearing up for the release of his new album, Dueces Wild on June 24th. The Hip Hop Chronicle caught up with Vast Aire who told us about his influences, the new album and whether there will be another Cannibal Ox album
For those who arent aware of you, tell us about yourself?
WHATS GOOD PEOPLE, ITS THE ONE AND ONLY VAST AIRE, IM THE MAD SCIENTIST “THEODORE WAYNE” BY DAY…BUT AT NIGHT I TURN INTO A VAST-MAN THE HIP HOP SUPA-HERO! FOR MORE INFO HERES MY MYSPACE WEBSITE
http://www.myspace.com/vastaireofcanox
How did the name Vast Aire come about and what does it mean?
VAST AIRE HAS A LOT OF MEANINGS…ITS CONEECTED TO MY ZODIAC [AIR SIGN] AND MY INDIAN BLOOD LINES. THE “VAST” PART IS ABOUT BEING BIG BUT ALSO KNOWING A LOT….
WELL, I WAS A VERY SMART KID, AND I WAS ALWAYS BIG FOR MY SIZE…I CAN REMEBER BEING 5′10″ IN LIKE 5TH GRADE…LOL….AND THE “AIRE” PART….. IM AFRO-INDIAN, SO A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE [TYSON JONES] NICK NAMED ME “VAST” AND I ADDED THE “AIR”…..AS IN VAST AIR [MY MY PERSONAL STYLE INDIAN NAME.... LIKE WHITE CROW...OR ANGRY WOLF....LOL.....LATER IT BECAME VAST HEIR...AND SINCE 1999 ITS BEEN.... VAST AIRE
Vast Aire - Mecca And The Ox
What artists have influenced you?
WUTANG, TRIBE CALLED QUEST, BDP, EPMD, P.E., JAMES BROWN, PRINCE, BB KING, HALL AND OATES, CHAKA KHAN, JIMI HENDRIX, BJORK, OLD MO-TOWN, FUNK , 80'S MUSIC ETC.... I LOVE ALL MUSIC
Vast Aire - TV Land
On your upcoming album, you have worked with legendary New York producer Pete Rock, what was that like?
ITS ALL WAYS DOPE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE YOU LOVE AND RESPECT, PETE ROCK AND CL SMOOTH WERE A HUGE INFLUENCE ON ME...I WAS BORN IN MT VERNON [MONEY EARNIN'] SO I WAS HAPPY WE COULD A CLASSIC SONG DONE WITH CANNIBAL OX. AT THE TIME WHEN I RECORDED THE SONG PETE AND I HAD THE SAME MANAGERS AND WE HAVE TOURED TOGETHER SO THE VIBE WAS DOPE!
Vast Aire - The Infinity
What do you think of the state of East Coast Hip-Hop
I DONT THINK OF HIP HOP IN PARTS…LIKE WEST OR MIDWEST OR EAST….I THINK HIP HOP AS A WHOLE NEEDS TO RETURN TO ITS ROOTS AND RESPECT THE FOUNDATION!
I DONT CARE WHAT STATE YOU LIVE IN…GOOD MUSIC COMES FROM ALL OVER!!! I WILL SAY THE EAST COAST NEEDS TO STOP TRYING TO SOUND LIKE THEY ARE FROM ATLANTA OR L.A….THAT MEANS BE YOU!!!! BE TRUE!!!
What joints should we look out for on this album?
LOOK OUT FOR “THE DYNAMIC DUO” WITH CAMP LO .LOOK OUT FOR A JOINT CALLED “THE MAN WITHOUT FEAR” AND A JOINT CALLED “SHU THE GOD OF AIRE” AND “THE CRUSH.
THE WHOLE RECORD IS CRAZY!!!! I THINK ITS MY BEST MUSIC EVER!!!
COPYWRITE BLESSED ME, MY LXG FAM AND THE U B NATION OF GODS THIS
LP IS GOING TO SET A NEW STANDARD IN WHAT WE CALL “UNDERGROUND HIP HOP”.
Vast Aire - Taboo
DUDES ARE SO BUSY BEING WEIRD AND SO DEEP…THEY FORGOT HOW TO MAKE GOOD MUSIC BUT DUECES WILD IS GOING TO PUT AN END TO ALL THAT BULLSHIT. YOU CANT EVEN UNDERSTAND THESE MUMBLING FAKE RAPPERS.. LOL
Can we expect a Cannibal OX album in the near future?
MAYBE? WE ALWAYS TRY TO GET ON EACH OTHERS PROJECTS, BUT ITS REALLY UP TO VORDUL, CAN OX WAS A DOPE PROJECT BUT ME AND VORDUL WERE ALWAYS SOLO ARTIST. BUT ALL IT TAKES IS ME AND HIM TO MAKE THE PLAN.
Dueces Wild is out in stores June 24th