Texas emcee Doc Strange presents the Jeff Adair-directed video for "Angle", his new single produced by Tahiti, which will appear on Strange's forthcoming album Business Is My Only Pleasure, the latest release in a prolific discography featuring 2016's Sindrome which included a collaboration with Kool Keith (stream "Telekinesis" on Spotify), and Gorilla Broadcast released earlier this year (stream on Apple). Residing in Arlington but repping Dallas, Strange has also collaborated with Sadat X (stream "A Piece Of Raw" on Soundcloud) and Guilty Simpson (stream "Futuristic Handgun" on Spotify). “I believe an artist re-introduces himself with each release," Doc says about the new single. "I wanted to make an anthem for myself that the listener can relate and vibe with. I present what I am a fan of, which is wit, flavor and verbal jewels."
Your new single and video “Angle” is steeped in Dr. Strangelove references. What about that movie and character resonates with you and represents you?
The video is homage to not just “Dr. Strangelove”. It references a few Stanley Kubrick films I admire. You see some “2001”, “A Clockwork Orange”, a dash of “The Shining”. Stanley is part of my creative compass. His sense of color and lighting matches the inside of my brain. Whenever I need a visual fix, I watch his work. I know a lot about him.
What’s the situation like for lyrical underground artists such as yourself trying to come up in Texas?
Before the pandemic put the world on pause, it was great. On the mainstream lane we always got representation. On the underground we have several acts that have become social media savvy. The professional expertise is out here as far as promoters, venues and fans who desire something different. I was putting on a monthly beat/hip hop showcase with my comrades Tahiti and Ty Macklin out in Oak Cliff, TX. Via Bandcamp I had a nice pace of music dropping. Then the Earth stopped. I won’t dramatize it. I will say that the human spirit is tuned in to adaptation. We move and pivot for survival. But for sure, the small business and independent realm was crushed. It will never be the same after Covid.
What’s your feeling on the state of the country right now?
Like Sun Ra said so many years ago, it’s after the end of the world. Don’t you know that yet? How do think people felt during the Stone Age? When they saw their first forest fire, volcanic eruption, earthquake, whatever cataclysm, I’m sure they thought it was a wrap on everything. Let’s talk about the Spanish Inquisition, The Jewish Holocaust, hell, the African Holocaust for that matter. The world as we know it keeps ending and beginning on a steady clip. You have to have purified, crystal clear focus on your needs and desires. Keeping them in the right compartments is key to maintaining and eventually thriving. If you look at your social media timeline and judge the world from that, you are mentally doomed for sure.
How about the state of hiphop?
It’s better than ever. You can literally make anything you want. You can make up a genre today and drop tomorrow. It’s a lush jungle. It’s the wild, Wild West. I love it. When I was a kid everything was separated by coasts. It was gangster, backpack or mainstream. That’s been a wrap for a while, thank God.
What can you tell us about your upcoming releases?
“Business is My Only Pleasure “is up next, hopefully by end of winter. Conceptually it’s the handbook for the modern man’s survival in a cold, cynical world. Sonically it has beats I selected from my man Tahiti that go in a blacker, more vivid direction than “Sindrome”. It is very necessary for the audio gourmet. After that, expect another “Gorilla Braudcast” album. I will be following that up with another “AAA” record and assorted beat tapes going into 2021. “STRANGE is the Name Vol. 2” is in my back pocket, burning a hole in it. Trust me, entertainment will be provided in generous amounts.
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