A Look into the Dark Side

An Interview with D-Mentd
Interviewd by : Craig Harrison

Craig: Who is D-Mentd and where are you from?

D-Mentd: D-Mentd is my stage character built up from hate and rage of things I have seen in my life.  We're from that Darkside (heh) North Carolina.

Craig: How long have you been in this rap game?

D-Mentd: Well, I was rappin throughout most of high school.  I haven't been in HS since '96, but I actually got serious about it in 99.

Craig: You're from North Carolina, how is the rap scene up there?

D-Mentd: It sucks, we have a few rappers, no horrorcore though, most of the shit you see and hear here is 70's Rock and Beach Music, and alot of that stuff they call "country music" or something like that.

Craig: Horrorcore? explain this.

D-Mentd: HorrorCore? Well, you take a rap beat, through some guitars and wicked sounds, mix it with "cheesy horror movie content from slasher films" for lyrics and add it all together.  Basically an underground style.

Craig: You started rapping in 1996, who are your influences?

D-Mentd: Everything from Public Enemy, to NWA. I started off tryin to spit gangsta rap, but it just didn't fit my style.  Then I heard GraveDiggaz and FlatLinerz, and it was off the hook.  I base my style on OLD SKOOL horrorcore, because the new stuff is just ICP rip offs, people are scared to try their own style.

Craig: What projects, or artist have you worked with since you've been in this rap game?

D-Mentd: Well, I did the Gathering Of The Juggalos in Novi last summer, and I have done a few projects with a few PassTheMic artists, one of my favorite is the colabo I did with C-raig, called Aint To Be Fucked With.  It was versatile and I believe we fed off each other's flows nicely to make the song smooth and hard hitting.

Craig: White rappers are always looked apon as the NEXT Eminem, how do you feel about being compard to an artist before anyone hears a song?

D-Mentd: Well for one, Eminem has alot of talent but I don't like him.  I think he whines too much. And I know all about people stereo-typing, I just tell them "Hear it before you diss it, my music will change your mind."

Craig: In the rap game there are alot of "haters".  Have you gotten your own taste of the hate yet?

D-Mentd: Actually I haven't.  Not to my face anyway.  There's no reason to hate on me, anyone that knows me...knows I am not a bragging or boasting person, and willing to do anything for "fans".  I am sure someone will hate on me sooner or later, but I won't let them waste my time.  It is known by me that a "label" talked some shit about me, however they did not do this publicly or openly.  I recieved some bad emails, and I deleted them.  They do infuriate me, but they just give me the extra log on the fire to keep my shit burning.  The more they talk shit, the better I will try to be on my next song.

Craig: So, you use the negative feedback as your inspiration for future recordings?

D-Mentd: Yeah.  I just look at negative feedback as constructive critism.  I know I have talent.  So, I just want to do my best to use this talent to entertain to the fullest extent possible.

Craig: A lot of rap music these days tells stories of killing, raping, ect.  What image do people get from your lyrics?

D-Mentd: Well the only thing we rap about is entertainment.  Whether it be a cheap B rated horror movie, or some shit like you see on the news, REAL SHIT, we are just telling a story that you have already heard before.... the only image you should get is everyday life, movies, TV, things you see and hear everything.  Or perhaps some things you even think about when you're mad. Maybe you felt some of these murderous things in your head, and you know you wouldn't act on it, but it's still there.  So I feel that only the reflection of everyday life is the image my music gives.

Craig: Do you have any last words?

D-Mentd: (That's my Line!) Heh Well I just want to say this... PTM is doing a good thing here exposing artists.  It's the lack of resources that hold people back most often.  So keep doing what you are doing and helping get the voice of the underground to be heard by the above ground,and thanks to you C-raig for being such a good friend. I'm out!