M.E.D. aka Medaphoar is a veteran of the Stones Throw collective. Growing up in Oxnard, California, this city shrouded in legends which has simply produced a bit too much of musical talent, it was only a matter of time for Medaphoar to redefine independent Hip Hop alongside artists as Madlib, Oh Nos and the entire Lootpack surrounding. After his celebrated but late debut Push Comes To Shove in 2005, his probably long awaited album Classic hits the stores these days.

What was your very first release?
M.E.D.: The first time that I was out on record I might have been 15 or 16 years old. That was on Crate Diggas Palace Records, which was Madlib’s and Oh No’s dad’s record label. We’ve known each other for over 16 years.

How was the Oxnard Hip Hop scene back then?
M.E.D.: There had always been a Hip Hop scene, but I think maybe our crew, CDP crew, Lootpack and all those people made it to more of a global thing. Now people all over the world know where Oxnard is. Our generation just did heir music, grew, got more business orientated and probably moved to different locations. Oxnard is a good place to live but everybody is probably better off moving to LA. However, Oh No, Wildchild and DJ Romes still live here.

Can you explain how you have had such a succesful histroy with Stones Throw over such a long period of time?
M.E.D.: I have to say: if I had a different mind set everything in my career might have moved on a little better. It is dope to be on Stones Throw for the simple fact that I’ve known Peanut Butter Wolf for so long and I know a lot of things about him personal as we’ve been dealing with each other since 1998 when he signed Lootpack. A lot of artists have disagreements with their record labels but me and Stones Throw always pretty much patched up the holes.

»I have to say: if I had a different mind set everything in my career might have moved on a little better.«

Medaphoar

What excactly is this mind set you were talking about?
M.E.D.: I was always more of a studio head. I just wanted to do music. I did a lot of recording and sitting around, waiting for Wolf to pick up a song and put it out. Which wasn’t the case, cause he is an independent record label owner with a lot of artists. I think if I would have been too cocky in my career I probably would have left Stones Throw. But at the same time I also think I was a little bit too easy going and that’s why a couple of projects took a while to come out. I’m happy where I’m at today. Now there won’t be a huge gap between another M.E.D. release. I will drop another †žBang Your Head†œ, I got an album with Blu coming up, me and Madlib got a †žMedicine Show†œ and I got an album with Georgie Anne Muldrow.

Let’s talk about you working with Madlib. Everybody has heard those story of when Strong Arm Steady put their album out. He gives out floppy disks, doesn’t use the internet. How was your working process for the __Classic album?
M.E.D.: When I first started working with Madlib, I was a local rapper looking for beats. I met Madlib at his dad’s house and we was always in the studio together. Nowadays you can’t blame Otis for not being in the studio with Strong Arm Steady, M.E.D. or even Blackstar. You have to see he dropped twelve albums in one year. He definitely does give out the floppy disks, you pick your beats and than you go through your connections to find out who got what beat. Luckily I hang out with Madlib probably the most out of everybody, so I get to talk to him more on a hand to hand basis.

Another feature on your album is Hodgy Beats from Odd Future. How did this come together? Did you have contact before their big hype started?
M.E.D.: Odd Future had went to the Stones Throw office, Hogdy Beats and Leftbrain are fans of the whole Stones Throw music. Wolf came up with the idea of having Hogdy on my album. He’s a lyrical cat and Odd Future definitely is the future. There’s a lot of young cats in the group and a lot of talent.

Did you hear if Peanutbutter Wolf had any plans on signing the crew to Stones Throw?
M.E.D.: No, I don’t know. Odd Future got a good set up going on right now. They have turned down major labels, so personally I don’t think they should sign to Stones Throw. They have such a strong movement right now, they should be able to take more of their careers into their own hands and drop shit through their own label.