Mr. P Chill Interview - 20 Years In The Game, Touring, and the Sactown Scene

Let's break the ice. Who are you? Where are you from? What style of music do you create?

My name is Mr. P Chill and I am an emcee from Sacramento, CA. I create what I like to call socially conscious, true school hip hop.

How long have you been working as an independent artist? Is it everything you thought it would be when you first started this journey?

I have been doing this for over 20 years. Honestly, when I started, I was in my late teens and had visions of grandeur, now, I look at things more realistically. When all is said and done, so far, my career has been an amazing journey and I would not change any of it!

I heard a story that you once turned down a deal worth several tens of thousands of dollars... why did you pass on that opportunity?

Yea, early in my career, probably about 1993 or 1994, I was in a group and through another artist that we were producing music for, we were offered a record deal with a large indie label down south. There was a pretty significant catch; change our name to “Bass Junkies” and do strictly Miami style booty bass. I declined, although the money sounded good, I did not want to make music that I do not believe in. I figure if we had signed the deal, my career would have been done by 1996 at the latest. I’m glad it is 2013 and I am still at it!

Editor's note: In classic music biz fashion, the label did find willing individuals to become the Bass Junkies. They released a 12" in 1994 and two records in 1995 titled, "Addicted to Bass" and "". That was the extent of their career.... wise choice Mr. P Chill. You called it!! Who or what influences your writing and production? Have your tastes changed with time?

I am influenced for my production by life itself. I try to create a feeling with my music, not just mimic a style or flavor of hip hop. As far as writing goes, I am influenced mainly by old school cats that I listened to coming up like Big Daddy Kane, Heavy D, Public Enemy, Ice-T, you know, cats who had skills and something say were the ones I always gravitated towards the most. As far as current cats go, I really get inspired by listening to Brother Ali, Atmosphere, Lupe Fiasco, and Action Bronson.

What was the last song you listened to?

A Roller Skating Jam Called Saturday by De La Soul was just on in my car

What is the indie hip hop scene like in Sactown? I always felt like Sacramento's scene was either clumped into the Bay Area (even though its in the valley) or overshadowed by it...

Sacramento has a very unique scene, two of them in fact. There is a lot of hard edged rap from Sacramento and has been for over 20 years. I have come to find out in recent years that that scene is very well respected on a global scale. We also have a very strong underground hip hop scene here too that is equally as old as the gangsta scene and is rooted in the whole backpack movement of the 1990’s. A lot of great acts who make amazing music come from here. Also, since you said hip hop, and I feel that it is not just the art of rapping, I have to mention that there are a ton of amazing turntablists, b-boys and graffiti writers who are from or base themselves in Sacramento.

Brotha Lynch Hung is from Sacramento and was blowing up around the time you first hit the scene (circa 1992)... have you ever met or worked with him?

I have met Lynch several times. Back in the mid 1990’s, an independent record label that I was co-founder of, had distribution with Lynch’s label, Black Market Records. From this business arrangement, I spent a great deal of time at their old offices and met him originally back then. Over the years we have crossed paths every now and then at the Sacramento Area Music Awards (SAMMIES) or at a show he is at and it is always good to see that dude. He is a true success story from Sacramento and somebody that I can say truly put Sac on the map.

What other artists/producers/musicians do you work with in the Sac area?

Quite a few, Mike Colossal, J.Smo (Sac transplant from TN), Max Bundles, Supanova, Forward, Hennessey, Light-Skinned Creole, Task1ne, DJ Nocturnal, DJ Uppercuts, Nick Bianco, M-Theory, honestly, the list could go a while!

Where can people connect with you online?

Any last thoughts? Shout outs?

Shout outs to J.Smo for interviewing me!