How did you get the name Megaciph? What have reactions to it been?
In high school I gave myself the name C-Stylez, with a "Z". The "C" was for Crazy and the "Z" was so people wouldn't sleep on my style. Hilarious, now that I look back at that, but I was feeling it and I had a little crew. We made beats on a Casio keyboard and a 4 track recorder. A couple years later when I was in the Marines and a more experienced emcee began showing me the craft I was blessed with the name Ciph because he said I was always looking to crush my competition. Ciph was Crushing Individuals Playing Hard. Then, as I grew in the culture and developed my style my life was changing and the Eastern arts of TaI ChI and Yoga became central in my self healing process; this life change was reflected in my writing and approach to the art. Naturally, my name had to show these changes, so I added the "Mega" to make Ciph into a bigger better version of himself. Now we have Mental energies gather and circulate in positive harmony. As for reactions to it, most people love it once they know the meaning. Most of the time people pronounce it wrong if they never heard it said before. It sounds like "Eye" or just think of the freestyle cypher, cuz that's where it comes from, just spelled different.
What made you decide to become a rapper?
I don't know that I ever decided, it's just what I've always done. I have been writing poetry and rapping in lunchroom battles since I was 14 or 15. My first time on a stage was in the Marines, with my mentor, "IQ". He was a native of Jacksonville, NC where I was based and he had a local following since before he'd enlisted. He brought me on stage to perform one verse in front of a packed house and I knew at that moment that I was addicted to the lights, the attention and most importantly the adrenaline rush. To this day, every time I get on a stage I get that same feeling. I suppose when that feeling goes away I'll stop doing it. One of my tag lines is, "Megaciph: Writer, Emcee, Poet, Teacher"
What’s the first rap song you ever heard? Describe the moment.
The first album I ever owned was Kool Moe Dee, "Knowledge is King." I played that cassette until it was worn out and warped. I had been into heavy metal until I was 14 or 15, then I heard "I Go To Work." Actually I saw it on TV, probably Video Music Box, salute to Uncle Ralph!! I changed overnight. I was blown away to see the image of that strong, positive Black male role model type that Kool Moe Dee came as. I grew up in a single mother household and only saw that type of man in her life once, as she dated and tried to find a husband for herself, or a father for me. And I have always loved both sides of this rap game, now there are so many sides to it. But I'd have to say my biggest influences are: Chuck D, Ice Cube, Posdnous, Slick Rick and Kool Moe Dee.
How did “All Dreams Anyway” come together?
All Dreams Anyway is a blessing of a beat from Official Stichel with its deep bass sound and driving Biggie sample. When I heard the beat I knew it was for my story of what the Marine Corps had produced, I wrote this song in a few hours once I sat down to it. The hook came first then the verses, all in one writing session. Even the recording of this record was spiritual; improvised, one take adlibs and happy accidents that gave the recording session a satisfying feeling. The video was shot on a few different cameras, over the course of 4 months. The space for the video was donated to me by the owner of Meridian 23 because he liked the concept, and with one week's notice and a small budget I got two cameras, ig:@Shillzzz the Henna artist and a room full of my friends to come help bring the vision to life. Ashe!!
What are your predictions personally and globally for 2016?
Personally I predict 2016 will be my best year to date in this music business thing, whatever that is. I already have a 6 song EP with Ron Solero of Ghetto Transcends Potential written and some rough recordings completed. I'm about to begin writing my next solo project, and have two year plans for a massive mix tape project I want to bring together. I am planning on releasing three more videos over the next 6 months for my CIVILiAM album. Beyond that I am working on a project with Veterans For Peace dot Org that will have an ongoing, huge positive impact in our culture and society. I'm also working with World Can't Wait dot Net to offer our youth alternatives to joining the military, from the perspective of a veteran. Both of these last two projects are incredibly rewarding and sources of continued inspiration for me as I look at our future as a species. My global predictions are simple: If Hilary gets elected it'll be business as usual; or a slow decline into global depression and WWIII. If Trump gets elected it will not be business as usual, and it will be a fast decline into global depression and WWIII. If Bernie gets elected it will have been a miracle and we will experience a slow global upswing that will increase in speed over the course of his 8 years in office, and as a human civilization we will avoid WWIII and perhaps make the leap to a resource based economy that focuses more on education and self awareness than material wealth and possession acquisition.