QUEENS BOROUGH: THOROUGH

QUEENS, NEW YORK | THOROUGH

INTERVIEW TERRELL “REALIFE” BLACK PHOTO Al “Ace” Nuñez

Queens borough rapper Thorough, recently (February 2020) pulled the trigger on his new 11 track project, “King Articulate”. The project includes features from seasoned New York emcees Illa Ghee on “Felony Crack” and Sadat X on “Sallute”. Let’s not forget the co-sign from legendary hip hop producers Pete Rock and Dj Premier. Thorough has a story to tell and vividly paints his narrative verbally. Determined to leave behind a timeless body of work he says, “I’m really focused on building a catalog that stands the test of time. Not just quantity but quality too. I’m out here trying to leave my mark and I feel I’ve started off right.” Validated spoke with the Queens native to discuss his early hip hop influences, receiving support from legends in hip hop, his latest music release, “King Articulate” and more.

“I’M FROM THE CAFETERIA ERA, IT WAS ALL ABOUT SAYING THE ILLEST SHIT AT LUNCH AND HAVING EVERYBODY REACT SO LOUD YOU CAN’T EVEN FINISH YOUR VERSE.” - THOROUGH

VALIDATED: BEING FROM JAMAICA, QUEENS, NEW YORK, WHAT’S YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF HIP HOP CULTURE?

THOROUGH: MY EARLIEST MEMORY OF HIP HOP CULTURE IS THE LL COOL J POSTER MY POPS HAD ON HIS WALL. IT WAS ALWAYS THERE SO I AIN’T KNOW WHO HE WAS AT FIRST. I WAS TOO LITTLE BUT I FOUND OUT WHEN I GOT A LITTLE OLDER. YES, LL WITH A BLUE KANGOL AND ROPE CHAINS, WORD. GROWING UP IN NYC HIP HOP WAS EVERYWHERE AND EVERYTHING. IT WAS LITERALLY LIFE BUT AS FAR AS WHEN I SEEN IT AND GOT INSPIRED, I’D HAVE TO SAY A TRIBE CALLED QUEST AND ONYX STARTED IT FOR ME. THE “SCENARIO” VIDEO MADE US WANNA RAP AND THE “CHECK THE RHIME” VIDEO BLEW MY MIND AS A KID ‘CAUSE IT’S SHOT DOWN THE BLOCK FROM WHERE I GREW UP. I WAS A LITTLE KID BUT I REMEMBER BEING VERY INSPIRED WITH EYES GLUED TO THE TUBE.

VALIDATED: WHAT’S HIP HOP MEAN TO YOU?

THOROUGH: IT’S EVERYTHING! I DON’T KNOW A WORLD WITHOUT HIP HOP AND COMING FROM A PLACE WITH SUCH A RICH RAP HISTORY LIKE QUEENS, HIP HOP WAS EVERYWHERE. THE RAPPING ASPECT OF HIP HOP IS ALSO THERAPEUTIC FOR ME, BUT TO ME HIP HOP IS DOING THINGS THAT YOU THINK ARE DOPE AND NOT CARING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK. YOU THINK KIDS IN THE BX IN THE 80’S CARED WHAT YOU THOUGHT OF THEM WEARING ADIDAS WITH NO SHOE LACES? NAH, THEY DIDN’T CAUSE THEY KNEW IT WAS ILL AND THAT’S ALL THAT MATTERED. THAT’S HIP HOP TO ME. HIP HOP MUSIC IS THAT SAME ATTITUDE APPLIED TO MAKING VERSES, HOOKS AND SONGS... AND BITING WILL ALWAYS BE A SIN.

VALIDATED: IS IT TRUE YOU STARTED WRITING RHYMES AS EARLY AS SIX YEARS OF AGE? WHAT LED YOU TO WRITING INITIALLY?

THOROUGH: YEAH, ME AND MY COUSINS WOULD WRITE RHYMES AT THAT AGE... IT WAS DOPE. MY OLDER COUSIN WOULD WRITE FOR MY YOUNGER COUSIN BUT I WROTE MY OWN RHYMES. WE WAS LIKE A MORE HOOD VERSION OF “ANOTHER BAD CREATION”. LOL I WAS ALWAYS GOOD AT WRITING. I WAS IN T.A.G (TALENTED AND GIFTED) IN MY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL P.S. 147 AND I WAS ALWAYS GOOD IN CREATIVE WRITING CLASS. AS FAR AS WHAT LED ME I’D SAY IT WAS THE ENERGY OF RAP. WATCHING JUKEBOX AND AND VIDEO MUSIC BOX AND SEEING THESE VIDEOS THAT WERE SO RAW, I JUST KNEW THAT’S WHAT I WANTED TO DO. RAP AT THAT TIME WAS REAL REBELLIOUS SO KIDS LIKE ME LOVED IT. NOW THERE’S RAP SONGS YOUR GRANDMOTHER LISTENS TO, RAP IS NOT THE OUTSIDER ANYMORE. IT’S THE HIGHEST SELLING MUSIC SO IT’S NOT THAT SAME REBELLIOUS ENERGY LIKE IT ONCE WAS. I WILL NEVER FORGET SEEING C. DELORES TUCKER PROTESTING AGAINST SNOOP AND CRUSHING HIS CDS WITH HER FEET.. THAT MADE SNOOP A LEGEND TO US FOREVER. IT MADE KIDS WHO HAD THE ALBUM WANT TO HEAR IT MORE AND KIDS WHO NEVER HEARD IT NOW HAD TO HAVE IT. C. DELORES TUCKER HELPED DRE BECOME A BILLIONAIRE AND SNOOP BECOME THE MOST FAMOUS LIVING RAPPER IN THE WORLD TODAY.

VALIDATED: DESPITE YOUR OBVIOUS TALENT FOR WRITING, YOU DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL IN THE EIGHT GRADE, WHAT LED TO YOU DROPPING OUT?

THOROUGH: I AIN’T HAVE NO GEAR LOL SO I WAS LIKE “NAH, I’M GOOD.” I WAS JUST AT A POINT LIKE “WHY AM I HERE?” BUT I’M NOT PROUD OF IT THOUGH... I GOT MY GED WHEN I WAS LIKE 15 CAUSE MY MOMS MADE ME BUT I’M MAD GRATEFUL SHE DID. SHE KNEW I WOULD NEED THAT LATER IN LIFE AND I DID. STAY IN SCHOOL KIDS! 

VALIDATED: YOU STARTED WRITING RAP LYRICS FULL-TIME AT AGE 14, WHAT WAS YOUR GAME PLAN AT THE TIME?

THOROUGH: MY GAME PLAN WAS JUST TO BE THE NICEST HONESTLY. I’M FROM THE CAFETERIA ERA, IT WAS ALL ABOUT SAYING THE ILLEST SHIT AT LUNCH AND HAVING EVERYBODY REACT SO LOUD YOU CAN’T EVEN FINISH YOUR VERSE. I WASN’T TRYING TO “GET ON” AT 14, I WAS JUST TRYING TO BE THE BEST AT RAPPING. I WROTE MAD RHYMES THOSE YEARS OF MY LIFE, LIKE MAD RHYMES. I MOST DEFINITELY COMPLETED MY “HAMBURG CRUCIBLE”.

VALIDATED: FAST FORWARD TO 2015, YOU DROPPED YOUR FIRST WIDELY RELEASED MIXTAPE, “DEFINITION OF THOROUGH” AS A BEST OF COMPILATION. WHAT WAS THE RESPONSE TO THE MIXTAPE?

THOROUGH: THE RESPONSE WAS DOPE FOR ME. I MET A LOT OF GOOD PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THAT MIXTAPE. I HAD PUT OUT THINGS LOCALLY BEFORE BUT THIS WAS LIKE “THE START” OF WHAT’S GOING ON NOW. STARTED DOING A FEW SHOWS INCLUDING THE BUSHWICK COLLECTIVE. JIM JONES, STYLES P, MEYHEM LAUREN WAS ALL THERE. IT WAS A DOPE EXPERIENCE FOR ME TO BE PERFORMING AT THE SAME VENUE AS THOSE ARTISTS. EVERY SHOW I DO I’M TEARING IT DOWN NO MATTER THE VENUE OR THE SIZE. ALSO THE ENERGY YOU PUT OUT YOU GET BACK SO ME PUTTING OUT MUSIC THAT WAS A REFLECTION OF ME AS A PERSON LED TO ME MEETING UP WITH PEOPLE WHO SAW MUSIC SOMEWHAT THE SAME AND THAT WAS KEY IN ALL OF THIS.

VALIDATED: LATER YOU DROPPED YOUR FIRST ALBUM “THOROUGH RHYMES AND CRAZY BEATS”, IT RECEIVED AIRPLAY ON “THE RAP IS OUTTA CONTROL” SHOW HOSTED BY DJ ECLIPSE AND DJ RIZ ON SHADE45, ONLINE RADIO STATION WRAP.FM, DJ PREMIER’S SHOW “LIVE FROM HEADQUARTERZ” AS WELL AS “SWAY IN THE MORNING”. WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION TO THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT RECEIVED FOR THE PROJECT?

THOROUGH: YOU KNOW THE EMOJI WHERE THE DUDES HEAD IS BLOWING UP? THAT WAS MY REACTION. IT WAS JUST CRAZY AND IT HAPPENED FAST. SHOUTOUT TO MY MAN DEE JAY KNS FOR SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT ME. SHOUTOUT TO DJ ECLIPSE AND DJ RIZ FOR BEING THE FIRST TO PLAY MY MUSIC ON SHADE45 AND INVITING ME UP THERE TO DO THE “RAP IS OUTTA CONTROL” SHOW. IT WAS ILL!THEN ONE NIGHT KNS CALLED ME LIKE “YO PREMIER PLAYING YA SONG ON SHADE45 RIGHT NOW!” I WAS LIKE “WHICH DJ PREMIER?” LOL SHOUT OUT TO THE WHOLE SHADE45 MAN FROM SWAY TO TONY TOUCH TO PREEM, ECLIPSE AND RIZ, TO EVERYBODY WHO PLAYED MY MUSIC. SHADE45 IS TO ME WHAT HOT97 WAS TO THE RAPPERS BEFORE ME, IT’S OUR OUTLET TO GET HEARD AND I APPRECIATE IT... PLUS THEY LET YOU CURSE. THANK YOU!

VALIDATED: THE ALBUMS BUZZ BROUGHT ATTENTION FROM THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DID IT CREATE?

THOROUGH: A LOT OF NETWORKING AND MEETING LIKE MINDED INDIVIDUALS WHO LOOK AT MUSIC THE SAME WAY AS YOU DO. EVERYBODY AND THEY GRANDMOTHER RAP BUT EVERYONE DOESN’T DO THE SAME TYPE OF RAP OR UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR VISION FOR YOURSELF IS. SO ME PUTTING OUT MY MUSIC KINDA BROUGHT PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THAT SAME VIBE TO ME AND THAT WAS ILL. I’M REALLY FOCUSED ON BUILDING A CATALOG THAT STANDS THE TEST OF TIME. NOT JUST QUANTITY BUT QUALITY TOO. I’M OUT HERE TRYING TO LEAVE MY MARK AND I FEEL I’VE STARTED OFF RIGHT.

VALIDATED: LAST YEAR YOU RELEASED “CASSETTE TAPE MALFUNCTION”, LEGENDARY PRODUCER PETE ROCK HEARD “BAT OUT OF HELL”, A TRACK FROM THE ALBUM, REPOSTED IT ON INSTAGRAM. WHAT WAS YOUR INITIAL REACTION TO THE STAMP OF APPROVAL FROM PETE ROCK?

THOROUGH: I WAS JUST HUMBLED. THAT’S A LEGEND OF THE HIGHEST LEVEL, SOMEONE WHO I GREW UP LISTENING TO THEIR MUSIC SO TO SEE THAT HE WAS FEELING WHAT ME AND MY MAN CRAZYBEATSP WAS DOING WAS CRAZY FOR REAL. PETE IS HIGHLY RESPECTED BY EVERYBODY. AFTER HE POSTED IT I GOT LIKE 600 NEW FOLLOWERS IN LESS THAN A DAY. LOL THAT’S HOW RESPECTED HIS OPINION IS ON RAP, PEOPLE WAS HITTING ME UP LIKE “I SAW YOU ON PETE’S PAGE, I JUST HEARD THE ALBUM. YO YOU GOT A NEW FAN.” THAT RECORD “BAT OUT OF HELL” THAT’S A SPECIAL ONE. MY MAN P CALLED IT WHEN WE MADE IT, HE WAS LIKE “YO THAT’S GONNA BE YOUR TRIUMPH.” AND AS YOU CAN SEE THAT SHIT DROPPED LIKE A BOMB... AN ATOMIC BOMB... IT BOMBED ATOMICALLY.

VALIDATED: IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR YOU RELEASED “KING ARTICULATE” WHICH RECEIVED CRITICAL ACCLAIM FROM LEGENDS INCLUDING DJ PREMIER AND PETE ROCK. THE PROJECT FEATURES PRODUCTION FROM YOUR REGULAR PARTNER CRAZYBEATP ALONG WITH PETE ROCK, SEAN LO, DEE JAY KNS, ARCHITECT, DJ PROOF AND JIMMY DUKES. AS AN ARTIST WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF SUPPORT?

THOROUGH: IT MEANS EVERYTHING. I JUST FEEL BLESSED THAT PEOPLE ARE ENJOYING THE SOUND AND WANNA WORK WITH ME AND MAKE MUSIC. ALSO I’M JUST APPRECIATIVE OF ANYTHING ANYONE DOES FOR ME. COMING UP TRYING TO RHYME AND GET ON YOU MEET MAD PEOPLE, MOST FAKE, VERY FEW GENUINE SO WHEN YOU CONNECT WITH DUDES THAT’S JUST FANS OF THE PRODUCT AND JUST WANNA SEE YOU PUT OUT MUSIC AND SHOWCASE YOUR SKILL IT’S RARE. YOU GOTTA LOVE IT.

VALIDATED: “HIPHOPGOLDENAGE.COM” LISTED THE ALBUM AS ONE OF THE BEST HIP HOP ALBUMS OF 2020 AND STATED, “THE ONLY REAL COMPLAINT IS THAT AT 32 MINUTES “KING ARTICULATE” IS JUST TOO SHORT.” WHAT’S YOUR RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST FOR MORE MUSIC?

THOROUGH: MY RESPONSE IS I GOT Y’ALL. I GOT A FEW THINGS COMING UP REAL SOON. NEW MUSIC IS ALWAYS ON DECK WITH ME. I’M TRYING TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING. “KING ARTICULATE” GOT A GREAT RESPONSE. IT WAS MY FIRST PROJECT WITH DIFFERENT PRODUCERS, I WANTED TO SWITCH UP ON ‘EM REAL QUICK. I LIKE TO KEEP THEM GUESSING ‘BOUT MY NEXT MOVE. ME AND P ARE WORKING ON NEW PROJECTS AS WE SPEAK... I GOT OTHER THINGS COOKING TOO, YOU’LL JUST HAVE TO STAY TUNED.

VALIDATED: WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM YOU FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2020?

THOROUGH: MORE MUSIC AND MORE VISUALS. MORE ILL BEATS WITH ARTICULATE RHYMES. MORE OF ME POPPING UP IN PLACES YOU NEVER THOUGHT YOU’D SEE ME, WORD. I REALLY DO THIS, I LOVE MAKING MUSIC. I FEEL 90 PERCENT OF RAPPERS DON’T LOVE RAPPING, THEY LOVE THE LIFESTYLE RAPPING CAN PROVIDE FOR THEM OR AT LEAST THINK IT CAN PROVIDE FOR THEM. NAH, I LOVE RAPPING! THE BOOKS, THE BARS, THE BEATS, GOING TO THE STUDIO PUTTING IT TOGETHER, TWEAKING SHIT TILL IT’S PERFECT IN YOUR HEAD... THE WHOLE PROCESS. IF YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO YOU’LL KEEP AT IT. I AIN’T GOING NOWHERE, Y’ALL GOTTA DEAL WITH ME.

VALIDATED: WHAT’S YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CONTACTS?

THOROUGH: INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER: THOROUGHTMG