Von Pea of Tanya Morgan

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I received the opportunity to catch up with 1/3rd of Tanya Morgan aka the Bed-Stuy native Von Pea, whose group was considered by many including Okayplayer.com as one of the illest hip hop albums of 2006. Not only did we discuss what’s happening in 2007 for Tanya Morgan and Von Pea respectively but we talked about Sean Bell, the rappers who have 100 tracks but there album is still mediocre, and he even voiced his opinion regarding the Bush Administration’s plans to ship more troops to Iraq.

Scheme: How are things with you?

Von Pea: Cold!(laughs)

Scheme: What’s up next for Tanya Morgan?

Von Pea: Between Donwill, ilyas, and me, I’m producing Donwill’s solo album titled “re:iteration” and I’m working on my solo album “self untitled” also Donwill and ilyas were their own group before Tanya Morgan so they’re doing their album under the name “ilwil”.

Scheme: Now where are you originally from and how were you introduced to this thing called hip hop?

Von Pea: I’m born and raised in Brooklyn. I was born in Fort Greene and grew up in Bed-Stuy. Hip hop came to me because when I was born I was the baby in the family. Any of my relatives older than me are all in their 30’s so when they were young teens or whatever and I was a little kid I always heard Kane, Audio 2, RUN DMC, Tribe, 3rd bass, Biz Markie, etc. I remember being glued to the TV watching Yo! MTV Raps and video music box all the time so that’s how I got my first taste of hip hop.

Scheme: What’s the difference between that hip-hop and today’s hip-hop?

Von Pea: That hip hop was still new and fresh so there was a lot more of an appreciation for it from fans. Now its like people are so used to hip hop, not to mention everyone does it now, so it takes a lot more now just to get people to give your music a fair listen because….its like even if its good, people feel like they’ve seen and heard it all.

Scheme: Who still inspires you to make music or does it just come from within?

“That’s the hip hop version of an art exhibit, that artist’s past few months of work on display.”

Von Pea: I’m inspired by albums more than anything. I’m SUCH an album dude it’s not even funny. I can hear a great song or somebody’s beat tape and love it, but nothing will inspire me like listening to someone’s album. That’s the hip hop version of an art exhibit, that artist’s past few months of work on display.

“…all you need is 12-14 good songs and rappers claim they record so many songs in between albums, but out of those 100 songs you did THAT’S your best 12-14 joints?”

I love working on albums and I love listening to other people’s albums and if its wack, I’m inspired to go the other direction and if it’s good, I’m inspired to be just as good (laughs). It’s a lot harder to make a good album then it should be and that’s just so intriguing to me, all you need is 12-14 good songs and rappers claim they record so many songs in between albums, but out of those 100 songs you did THAT’S your best 12-14 joints? (Laughs)…it’s definitely where I get inspiration.

Scheme: (Laughs) I never thought about it like that…where do you see yourself and Tanya Morgan in the future?

“After a while being underground you’re only gonna be rapping to other rappers and its like going to a convention instead of your show.”

Von Pea: I see Tanya Morgan doing probably 2 more albums as time goes on, continuing to make music with each other, but not milking time for a bunch of albums. I’d like us to take our music as far as we can separate and together…staying underground is a lot of work to preach to the choir (laughs) the underground now is funny because there’s only like 20 percent of the underground that’s just listening for enjoyment and that’s on and off the internet, I truly believe that. I’m not saying change our sound or chase the money, but if were really out to make music for the fans then there has to be more fans. After a while being underground you’re only gonna be rapping to other rappers and its like going to a convention instead of your show.

Scheme: Yeah that’s interesting does it ever get on your nerves that you are preaching to the choir and the people that really need to hear it never do or will?

Von Pea: it only gets on my nerves when people obviously aren’t listening but want to give you props for a promotional move you made instead of a good song like for example someone will say “yo Tanya Morgan is doing it! I seen ya’ll in the source! How did ya’ll get in there?” but they wont say “yo “stay tuned” is my shit I love that song!” so it’ll be more about being impressed by our moves than our music because they want to know how they can make those moves for their music

Scheme: How did you react to the Sean Bell incident?

Von Pea: When I heard about Sean Bell I was hurt because its the absolute worst thing that could have happened…not only was he a young black man but he had a family and he was about to marry his girlfriend the next day and the cops let off 50 shots, during the start of the holiday season….how more extreme does it get? There doesn’t seem to me much anyone can do because the police keep finding ways to get away with sh!t like this. There’s good cops, but there’s also those cops that think they’re just apart of a legal gang and their, the problem until the people inside stop letting things like this happen it’s gonna continue on.

Scheme: How do you feel about the Bush Administration sending more troops back to Iraq?

Von Pea: Man at this point I don’t even know why there’s any over there at all. I’ll pay attention for a second them be annoyed and not pay attention. Whatever reform he’s trying to do in Iraq he needs to take care of the U.S.; what are they fighting for? Fighting who? What’s the threat? I think it’s unnecessary.

Scheme: Last question at the end of the day what do you want people to remember about Von Pea?

Von Pea: At the end of the day…15 years from now I want some new artist to say I’m his/her main influence and you can hear it in his or her music. I want people to talk about when “self untitled” came out and how they played it till they got sick of it, and how they’re looking for an original pressing of the first Tanya Morgan album (laughs).

For more info: www.myspace.com/tanyamorgan