P Knocka talks credits and new music with Hip Hop On Deck

Its rare to find the type of resume that Brooklyn Born MC P Knocka has on todays indie scene. A testament to his commitment to authenticity and his love for the Hip Hop culture and its music the Knetwork Ent rhyme-sayer continues to put his all into his music and strengthening of his brand. We recently caught up with him while hard at work on forthcoming projects to shed some light on his accomplishments to date and foreshadow what is to come. Check out our exclusive interview below:

Hip Hop On Deck: As one of the veteran MCs on the Indie Scene in NYC how do you feel about where the game is today in NYC on the underground ?P Knocka: I feel extremely positive and encouraged when I see underground Hip Hop in NYC today.  In my recent experiences out performing with my Knetwork Ent bro Duce Da Privilege,  I have come across some amazing talent and I'm sure I will see some of them emerge as today's representatives of the New York rap scene.  It lets me know that New York rap is alive and well, even as the sound of today continues to evolve and that's a beautiful thing.


Hip Hop On Deck: U have worked with some legendary individuals as a result of your time in the Immobilarie camp, take us back to that time and describe the vibe as well as what you learnedWell it was definitely one of the best periods of my life and I had some great experiences. During that period I was all over with my I-Mob family. It was kind of a different world with street promotion still playing a major role in a solid marketing plan.  We used to head out at 2 in the morning and kill the city with stickers, posters and banners. Once we hung a 90 ft. Banner on the Henry Hudson Pkwy. We had an artist spray paint a makeshift billboard on the Westside Highway that even had Angie Martinez talk about seeing it on her way in to work.  We even snuck into the after party of the 1998 Grammys but that's a long story lol.  We were in what you would call a reckless pursuit.  Between the labels that were bidding to sign us and working closely with Jaz O we found ourselves in some unique situations.  I learned a lot during that time but mostly I learned to never stop believing in yourself and to go the extra mile whenever possible if you're gonna get where you want to be.

Hip Hop On Deck: How was it working specifically with someone like DJ Premiere?P Knocka: That was an amazing experience for me. I came up listening to Premiere's work and I remember seeing a documentary about Nas where he discussed the first time he recorded with Premiere. At that point I would've never imagined that I would get to work with him but it was definitely an honor.  At the time it was one of those things where it felt like validation or confirmation that I was capable of performing at that level.

Hip Hop On Deck: You hold claim to major placements like soundtracks and such which is not too common on the scene today; how do u carry that success with you and stay committed to working hard on your craft and seeking progress today ?That's something I'm very proud of but as much as I remember those accomplishments I can't allow myself to get stuck in them. I just know that if I apply myself now I'm capable of success because I've tasted it before.  I'm always living in the now because that is the only thing that actually exists. The past is over, it no longer exists. The future also doesn't exist and when it does it will be now so that's all that matters.  I draw off the experience of the past but I know I can't live there and forget to live now where it really counts.

Hip Hop On Deck: How hard is it to stay in the Boom Bap lane, with the climate being more driven by the trap sound ?I just believe in staying true to myself. I'm not against trying new things and pushing my boundaries but it has to be authentic.  I won't sacrifice or compromise myself to fit in.  I can appreciate trap music and I recognize its popularity but I just think there should be room for a little more diversity.  Good music is good whether it's trap, boom bap, funk, or whatever other form of music you want to bring up.

Hip Hop On Deck: You recently dropped 99 Percenters; tell us about that record and the significance if there is any:P Knocka: Well 99 Percenters is a song that has significance in multiple ways.  It speaks to that quest for something greater, and the determination not to give up.  The title and concept was partly inspire by the 99 Percenter movement.  There aren't many of us that aren't striving for progress. But the song is not just about chasing the 1 percent it's about changing the dynamic through unity.  It's about changing it from the top 1 percent making 99 percent of the income to the top 5 percent or the top ten percent. It's about evening the odds.

Hip Hop On Deck: Can we expect a full project coming soon ?P Knocka: Definitely, be on the lookout for my new single I'm That featuring Chris Crown off my forthcoming EP Blue Collar and I have a mixtape dropping shortly after that titled The Golden Era so be on the lookout for a lot of work coming from me in the first quarter.

Hip Hop On Deck: Where can the public stay updated on your music and moves within your brand ?P Knocka: You can follow me on IG @knocka99 or on Twitter @knocka_99.