There comes a point where you see a different way to do things, a different way to live and a different way to make a living. As music fans and critics, we often think to ourselves how we would approach things and how we would make our album sound. In the sports world this is often referred to as a weekend quarterback, those who rarely played a lick but swear they know the right thing to do. Termanology is a rare breed, he is an absolute hip hop fan but he is also at the top of his craft giving himself a rare insight to pump out that music we love. Join us as we catch up with Term before a show in Philly to see what’s good.

Scheme: What’s good? Let’s get right into it, what was your first introduction to hip hop?

Termanology: I can’t even remember for real but I can tell you when I first started rapping, I was nine.

Scheme: Okay, so what lead to that at such a young age?

Termanology: I mean I was always around it, in the hood rapping is just part of everyday life. The dudes on the block would rap and battle and have fun with it so I would just start rapping. One person who really influenced me was Free, he was my mother’s boyfriend and was into rap. I wrote my first rap at age 9 and stuck with it for like 3 years and then at that point I was writing new rhymes and in the studio by age 14. I was in and out of a few different crews and probably had about 10 albums worth of songs between age 14 and 18. Around age 18 I started to do shows and put out albums every six months or so.

Scheme: So this has been a constant thing in your life. You mentioned you were in and out of a few different crews. Are you still cool with them or is there any animosity since you’ve been getting a lot of shine in the rap game?

Termanology: I mean, there is beef and there is hate but we are grown men now. We are at a point where we want to take care of business, make our money and provide for our families, beef doesn’t make you money because you fall off your grind when that happens, real beef not this fake rap beef.

Scheme: So tell us about where you’re from.

Termanology: I’m from Lawrence, MA and it’s basically the hood. I can’t say it’s any different from any other hood, the same sh*t happens around the whole country. It’s a little bugged because it’s probably 98% Hispanic. If you go a few minutes away your in Roxbury which is probably 98% black and then on the other end is Andover which is 98% white so the separation is a bit bugged. Other than that, Lawrence is the Hood but it’s really small.

Scheme: So what’s it like when you go home and back to the hood?

Termanology: It feels good because that’s where my family is. I have a huge family, somewhere around 200 in Lawrence alone so you can’t help but to feel at home. I walk in and I see the environment I came from and we trade stories. I’ll tell them I was just at a party and doing a record with Premier and they tell me they just robbed someone earlier in the day. It keeps me humble knowing that this is what I come from and that I am able to see more in life.

“If I’m gonna make it and put Lawrence on the map I need to be in New York. It’s hard at times but it’s an understanding. I don’t sh*t on my people and act like I’m better it’s just that I have responsibilities I need to take care of.”

Scheme: That brings to mind, the song you did with Lil Fame “ Squeeze Ya Ratchet”. I can’t recite it word for word but you had a verse to the effect that you have a younger cousin that’s still messing around in the streets and dealing with guns and you hope he gets out of it but at the same time there is not much you can do. What type of affect does your improved life have on how you view those types of situations. What do you say to your friends and family?

Termanology: I just try to tell them that there is something else and try to guide them but I don’t preach to them, you can’t. I was the same way before and you just have to learn on your own. Of course I want to just tell them what to do but instead I just try to give them guidance and hope everything turns out right.

Scheme: So do you feel pressure when your family and your clique are still doing some things and your trying to go in another direction, does it cause friction or have you started to think about what that will be like?

Termanology: Well it’s already taken place, I live in the Bronx now. It had to happen that way and my people understand. If I’m gonna make it and put Lawrence on the map I need to be in New York. It’s hard at times but it’s an understanding. I don’t sh*t on my people and act like I’m better it’s just that I have responsibilities I need to take care of.

Scheme: A lot of people get it confused and think that rappers live a glamorous life and just have fun. What’s your day to day grind like?

Termanology: Do you want me to give you my last week and a half?

Scheme: Yeah, that works.

Termanology: Monday I was in Mass doing shows. Tuesday I was in New York recording. The next five days I was in LA doing work, Thursday I was back in NY recording and Friday(yesterday) I got here (Philly) and performed with Statik Selectah and now I’m here with you and getting ready to perform at 12:30 on next to no sleep.

Scheme: I see your grind! There is nothing easy about that schedule you just read off. So with a schedule like that, what do you like to do with your down time? What is your other passion besides your music?

Termanology: Being with my daughter, with my schedule I don’t get to see her much. I have partial legal custody of her so I only get to see her once in a while as it is so when ever I get a chance, that’s what I love to do.

“People might say I’m contradicting myself but I’m human. The best have done it, Nas, Pac, sh*t even KRS you feel me?”

Scheme: That’s what’s up, how old is your daughter?

Termanology: Three and a half.

Scheme: Does she ever hear your music, what’s her reaction?

Termanology: No, I try not to let her hear my music. My lyrics can be very harsh and are written depending on my moods. If I’m in a really bad mood I might write a rhyme about a lot of killing or violence, but If I’m in a good mood I write something fun. People might say I’m contradicting myself but I’m human. The best have done it, Nas, Pac, sh*t even KRS you feel me?

Scheme: So eventually there will come a time when your daughter will hear your music and you can’t hide it from her, have you thought about how to handle that?

Termanology: That’s crazy because I was just thinking about that the other day and I’m not sure. I can’t lie about my lyrics because they are what they are and they reflect me and my life but I just need to let her know I’m still a good dude.

Scheme: So what is the worst thing about your position right now?

Termanology: The business side of this industry is nuts. Bringing that politics into it really makes it bad some times.

“I love the fact that you can put me on a track with anybody and I will rip it. I might not have the best verse on the song but I will not get bodied on the track no matter who is on it. I will get off on any track and just knowing that I have that ability is a great feeling.”

Scheme: What’s the worst part about having the business side introduced?

Termanology: For me it’s being around so long and still not having my official album drop. It’s hard because I’ve had albums out since I was 14 so to be sitting on the shelf for so long and it’s purely because of the politics.

Scheme: Okay, so with those types of politics, what keeps you going each day with the rap game?

Termanology: A few things, first and foremost I want to be able to provide for my daughter, know what I mean? I want to give her a better life. I also like to stay humble because doing this keeps me out of jail and off of the streets. One of the best reasons is that I keep getting better. I love the fact that you can put me on a track with anybody and I will rip it. I might not have the best verse on the song but I will not get bodied on the track no matter who is on it. I will get off on any track and just knowing that I have that ability is a great feeling. I have yet to write my best verse and that is the best feeling knowing that I still have my best verses to come, know what I mean?

Scheme: I noticed in your video, the Preemo produced “Watch How it Go Down” you seemed to touch on a lot of elements of Hip Hop and show love to a lot of the pioneers. Are you into anything else aside from the MCing element?

Termanology: Yeah, I actually used to be into graffiti pretty hard until I got arrested and harassed by the cops. They caught me and threw me in Jail on a Friday, they kept me over the weekend and I wouldn’t be seen until Tuesday because of a holiday. They hit me with a$5,000 bail and figured with this type of pressure I would crack and start talking. They would harass me, brag to each other near my cell about going home and keep asking me if I knew anything. Hell no I didn’t talk but I didn’t want to keep wasting days away because of Graffiti. It was my fault anyway, we all know we are not supposed to use our real names when tagging but one time I decided to tag “Term” and I couldn’t deny it, so I had to leave that alone. I was also a break-dancer and I could really get down but I just sorta grew out of it. It’s not that I’m old or out of shape but I watch the dancers now and I can’t even think about doing those flips and sh*t, it’s crazy. I’m not a DJ but I do collect vinyl, I’m just a true fan of hip hop dawg.

Scheme: So hearing that you collect vinyl, how do you feel about technology? I know when Napster and the internet buzz first changed the game it had a lot of people mad but now artist seem to be embracing it more. How do you feel about it?

Termanology: For real, Myspace saved my life. It’s crazy to say but Myspace has helped us to make money. It gives us exposure; we sell mixtapes through it, book shows, release new tracks and really stay in touch with the fans. It keeps money in the pockets because it’s hard to make money in this game just off the music.

Scheme: Okay, so what should we look for from Termanology? What’s your Scheme for the rest of 2007?

Termanology: Well first off we are working on finishing the album and the line up is sick. We got DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Alchemist, Large Professor, Buckwild and possibly a few other great producers but I don’t want to mention them yet. Each producer is giving me straight classics dawg! I’m also working on an album with Lil Fame from M.O.P. He’s producing it and really working to get his name out there as a producer. Check out “Squeeze Ya Ratchet” and you’ll see the type of heat that we are bringing.

Scheme: Damn, that is arguably the best producer line up I’ve heard since Illmatic, whew! Okay, so we’ll be on the look out for that. Any last words?

Termanology: Thanks to all the fans, love you all! Holla at me on myspace and look for the album. Showoff records, ST is the squad!!!!