CK: You trace your talents in MC writing back to an interest in writing poetry, which you got into in the 6th grade. Thats pretty young. How do you feel now about the poems you wrote when you were 12 years old? What kind of things did you write about? Can you share one these poems or a line you remember from poems you wrote in 6th grade?
Chris Da Great: Poetry was an opportunity I took advantage of as a young middle school student. I would speak of topics such as girls, love, violence and the death of my stepfather. Poetry was my way of venting. I thought I knew what love was but being 20 years old now and looking at old poems, I had no idea. My favorite line from my early rhymes was "I cant believe one man can have three titles. Son, Brother, and Father to a boy now leaning to his mother."

CK: While you have spent a lot of time performing as a solo artist or as half of a team, you've also tried to hold together larger crews, functioning as a producer as well as a rapper. How did your experiences with B.E.O Entertainment and Chaos Co affect your vision for where you see yourself in the next ten years? Are you leaning towards the business or production side of music or have you fallen in love being on the stage?
Chris Da Great: B.E.O & Chaos Co taught me alot of things about music, commitment, and trust. B.E.O ended because I ended up moving to New York and the rest of the group ended up going solo. Chaos Co was where I learned trust in music. To do music with other people you need to trust and remember to keep business in the business and pleasure for later, but as a group we couldn't learn that early. We were 16-18 and girls were looking good and unfortunately some of us went for the same ones. Because of that (experience) I am a solo artist but I do have a partner, Pwn, who I basically do some music with but we just grind together and help each other. In ten years, my name will be around the world--but independently; the music industry is a joke these days. Independently you can get your music out and have a good living. People really don't need (major) labels any more, but I would like to sign to an independent label. When it comes to music, I am a rapper and performer. I love the stage. I love rocking the spot and getting the crowd crazy. I like making beats. I love rocking stages.

CK: Hows your upcoming mixtape "Tell Your Mom Cook For Me" coming along?
Chris Da Great: My mixtape "Tell Your Mom Cook For Me" is going very well. I have recorded about 90% of the material and I booked my mixtape release party at Jerky's for December 9th. I have collaborated with artists like: Plan B, Dirty Durdie, Jahpan of Fedd Hill, Flizz of  Who Dem, Fiyah of  Who Dem, Nick Pro, Pwn, J-Profane, YV, & Secret Weapon. It is honestly really good; I surprised myself with the lyrics I wrote for this mixtape and I feel that it's going to rise me in the ranks of Rhode Island's hip hop scene. The mixtape will be free; people can download it online or just ask me and I'll give out the official copies with the glossy case and all that.

CK: Are there any advantages to Providence's local hip hop scene?
Chris Da Great: The advantage of being an artist in Providence is that the city is small; every one knows everyone so the word-of-mouth marketing is a real big help in this city. Another thing is that all the artists, no matter what their sound is, support each other. Some of the "cocky" rappers don't, but the real rappers all show love for all and get love back.

CK: What's good on the radio these day?
Chris Da Great: The REAL question is whats good in Newbury Comics? I barely hear the radio because rap is a joke now--all the Auto-Tune and weird sounds. Forget all that. There are no real songs on the radio anymore. So when one of my favorite artists, like Nas for example, comes out with an album, I'm going to get it. CDs are my radio now.

CK: If you could have any animal as a pet and it would never turn around and maul you, which would you choose?
Chris Da Great: I would have a lion because lions are the kings of the jungle and I'm trying to be a king. Lions show power, and respect. That is what I work for, the money comes after.

CK: Cool, lions are rad, I wouldn't mind a pet wolverine or a bear myself....
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*Chris Da Great *performs tonight at AS220 with Big Rush, Skematics, and KrisKash. The show starts at 9pm! Just 6 bucks!