Interview to Reef The Lost Cauze / USA

 1. Almost everyone in Raptitud knows about you, your career, but for all of our latin american hiphoppers: Who's Reef the lost cauze and why "the lost cauze"?

I'm an MC reppin the city of Philly, been puttin out3 music since 2002, I'm also a memeber of legendary crew AOTP. Above that I'm just a man, a brother and a son. The Lost Cauze is a refrence to the true art of mcing and hiphop, I represent what many people would like to forget about hiphop, that its art and poetry and not just something to use to get paid, to most people that's a lost concept.

2. Now let's talk a little about your personal life, If it's possible to you, can you tell us who's Sharif Lacey in 16 bars (not Reef)?

I'm a man who keeps it true, Reef and Sharif no diffrence between the two, we both love to smoke weed and drink brews, we both rep our fam our hood and our crews, a man of purpose I teach the youth and hope they heard it, the words of my people can be found in every surface, on the table called my back its not a fable or a fact in any place I go I make friends and adapt, I'm quiet but outspoken I inspire the hopeless, I'm a dreamer so its hard for me to focus, me and moms is the closest, my sister is my heart as well hurt either one of them sharif lacey will send you all to hell, or my dogs as well it ain't hard to tell I love my life now sit back and spark a L

3. Today we have seen so many so-called MC's in the underground that have sold their principles, ideals and even their souls just to get the "power" of the mainstream, what's your opinion about this matter? and your advice to the new generation that comes new wihin the hiphop culture and are already receiving the wrong picture about this movement and also how do you see the hiphop scene within the USA if this trend continues?

I mean this is a business to most people. To suggest that this mindstate is at all new or will ever change is just silly. A lot of people just don't have in their heart to truly be an artist. But that doesn't make them wrong for knowing that people will accept them if they cater to them. I don't blame them, if I could do that, if I could make some black eyed peas pop shit I probably would but I don't have that in my heart, its not an act for me, I'm too connected to reality to recreate myself into that. But hey if another man does, if he can look in the mirror, god bless him. I just say to every artist the same thing new or old, be true to yourself and that's all that matters, no man can judge or begin to understand another mans reasoning for doin what they do.

4. There are songs like the sound of philadelphia where you try to show the social reality within Philly and why not within the USA, as we know, hiphop has served as defense mechanism to social problems for years, in this aspect, we would like to know which are your social/(political if applicable) concerns when you write a social song, what do you defend or what you try to enlighten people of with your lyrics?

That real people matter. I look at Mcing as being a voice for the voiceless, so I try and tell that story for those folks who don't have a way to get that message out. I just pull from real life and explain why things are the way they are, the real experince of life as I see it. That's all I can do, there is no blueprint for how I write it.

5. We asked this question a few months ago to thekeenone and now we ask you the same: Everyone knows about you as a casual marihuana consumer, What do you think about the legalization and also, are you involved or actively supporting any legalization movement like http://www.legalizationofmarijuana.com/?

I think its terrible! Haha what do you think? Its a fucking plant that does nothing but good. Seriously when's the last time you heard someone say something bad about weed? Everyone loves weed. They should legalize it worldwide. But hey even if they don't ill still be puffin.

6. Along this years (Since The high life in 2001, to King and the cauze, 2009) we have seen more than 140 songs talking about different topics from social stuff, to skills, to introspective matters, etc. What do you think you have not covered in your music at this time, any topic, situation??

Haha that's a damn good question. I honestly am at a crossroads where I don't want to start re-hasing stuff so it gets harder to think of new ideas, but that's why I take my time between albums and just listen and learn and let the ideas happen instead of forcing them. High Life was Recorded in 2001 and "released" in early 2002, Invsible Empire was almost 2 yrs later, feast 2 years later and Vicious Cycle was 3 years later. I allow my brain to recharge itself. So hopefully that will continue to happen haha.

7.We all have influences, can you name your top 5 MC's and producers that have been influential to your music?

Mcs would be Big Daddy Kane because he made me want to rap, Nas because he made me want to have knowdlege, Ice Cube because he made me want to be gully, Eminem because he made me want to elevate to another level and Biggie because he made me want to be the best. Beatwise I'm a huge fan of Primo, The Alchmist, Just Blaze, Kanye and from the early days Marley Mar and of course Dre (that's 6 but who's counting)

8. in 2008, 2009 we saw a very active Reef the lost cauze with a Vicious Cycle, Stress Files and King and the cauze with king magnetic, what can we expect on 2010 from you?

Well right now working on re-releasing Feast or Famine as well as getting Invisible Empire on Itunes and possibly even High Life. Also the offical King n The Cauze album, a few mixtapes and hopefully my album with producers@gunsnbutter "Fight Music" will be out sometime this summer.

9. Have you been able to listen to Latin American hiphop lately? if yes, what's your point of view about hiphop in Latin America?

I'm not up on too many artists in latin america forgive my ignorance but I'm always down to learn and here the stories of my people worldwide.

10. Is there any chance to see you performing somewhere in Latin America?

By the grace of god I hope to be performing there as soon as possible. Hook me up!!

11. Closing this interview, a question that we ask to everyone: What's your first impression when you hear the term RAPTITUD?