Halifax, NS - Classified can be easily proclaimed as the voice of the East Coast hip-hop community. With his newest single "The Maritimes" off his latest album Boy-Cott In The Industry, Class hits the nail right on the head with a song easily suitable for the title of East Coast Anthem. Classified is known within the hip-hop community as a leader with a proven track record of consistency, an impressive catalogue of videos and a growing list of production credits. He started his own production label, Half Life Records and released his first full length LP called Times Up way back in 1995 but let's fast forward for a minute. That's 10 years in the game already, in a genre of music where many word argue that you are only as hot as your next single. Classified has maintained his status within hip-hop and grows strong with each album he releases.

Classified is not one to waste time and quickly followed up with an album in 1997 called Information, and with this release "Touch of Class" was nominated for Urban Recording of the Year at the 2000 East Coast Music Awards. To date Classified has released ten albums between the periods of 1995 to 2005. As a DJ, I really started to notice his growing success around 2000 when he dropped the album Unpredictable and followed even stronger in 2003 with the release of Trial & Error. I knew this kid wasn't your average East Coast rapper. Between 2003 and 2004 Classified released four music videos including "Just the Way It Is" and "Unexpected". I remember you could not turn on Much Music without seeing the "Gossip" video at that point I had realized Halifax's own Classified was playing in Canada's big leagues. He easily showed us all that someone from the East can make it. Classified also recently opened up for the new West coast king The Game in St. John earlier this year and proceeded to come through at the Moncton round of the DMC contest and closed the night with his performance.

On March 08, 2005 Classified released his tenth album entitled Boy-Cott In The Industry and the leadoff single "5th Element" that received a great amount of attention. With his newest single "The Maritimes" he shows no sign at all of slowing down.

I recently had the chance to holla at Class and discuss his career and his opinions on some issues within the urban community.

HHC: So Class do you feel that Canadian urban music and our artists get the proper respect and support as United States artists do in their country?
No, no I don't because we have no industry yet. I think we get respect on a hip hop level, like the hip hop scene in Canada is really dope and there is allot of good artists making great music, but our industry is somewhat of a joke. So no one is getting respect on a business level in urban music.

HHC: So why do you think it is so hard for Canadian rappers to cross over into the US markets?
Cause most Canadian artists are carbon copy's of American artists. Why would an American fan buy a hip-hop record from a Canadian that sounds like something they can get that where they live and they'd rather get the original artist then a cheesy American rip off. I think that's the reason why Swollen Members and K-os are the only ones that sold records up here in the last 5 years; they don't sound like the average American rapper does.

HHC: What rappers inspired you to start rapping and what rappers today are you feeling Canadian or American?
Dr. Dre, Treach from Naughty by Nature and Snoop Dogg... that was the shit I started listening to in like 1991 but now a days though I like Kanye West and Common's new album is really dope. I don't like certain rappers anymore. I like some shit but hate some of their other shit. I like songs nowadays I think because every artist got good shit but then they got wack shit as well

HHC: Where do you see Classified in 5 Years?
No fucking clue… hopefully producing and making music still.

HHC: Who would you love to work with in terms of artists?
Honestly... there are a million emcees I'd like to work with.

HHC: If you could work with any producer in the game whom would you like to work with?
Man... Dr. Dre, Premo and Saukrates.

HHC: What are some of the achievements that make you the most proud for all of your hard work you have put in over the last 10 years?
Just being able to support myself with this music shit and not having to work a day job… everybody always talks about "Class when do you think you're going to blow up and make it etc.?" I feel that I have made it now as long as I don't have to work a job… I'm good.

HHC: What other Canadian Artists are you feeling right now?
Rochester has some great tracks, ummm… Empire, D-Shade, the whole Halifax scene just a bunch of people I could list artists for days…

HHC: With your hit "The Maritimes"… what was your reason for doing that particular song? Was it to show where you are from, or just to show our way of living in the East coast?
Basically, I had the beat for about 6 months. I was in the studio with some people drinking and fucking around and I put on the beat and the chorus just came to me. The next day I wrote all the lyrics and recorded the shit. It was the fastest and easiest song to make on my whole album. Just representing where I'm from and what's going on here.

HHC: Why have you chosen the indie route instead of signing with a major label like Warner Music or Universal Music for example?
Cause I was never offered a deal worth taking from any majors…!

HHC: Why did you not submit for an ECMA award this year?
Oh this old topic… well. It just didn't matter to me. I didn't feel like spending the 70 bucks and sending in my application honestly...

HHC: Everyone knows about my issues with the ECMA and that whole issue of what they consider urban music. How do you feel about Pimp T winning the ECMA and representing the East Coast as a hip-hop artist who according to the ECMA association is the best submitted artist and was chosen as a winner?
The only people that believe Pimp-T is the best hip hop artist in the Maritimes are people who don't know shit about hip-hop and I could care less what they think anyway. Big Up to Pimp t though he is definitely not the best hip-hop artists down here but he won the award. He's showing the rest of the scene down here what this music industry is about. Which is BUSINESS... if people are gonna complain about him winning the award now; get out of the business cause that's what it's all about. Not who has the best flow or the best song etc. but who handles their shit and that's why the Canadian hip-hop industry is a joke, no one is handling their biz!

HHC: Any upcoming shows we should know about?
Yeah... you can catch me August 12th in Moncton, NB at an all ages show at the Beaver Curling Club and the weekend of August 27th in Antigonish at the Evolve Music festival

HHC: Also before I let you go what else is Class doing right now?
Right now I'm working on a number of albums, producing for other people. I got a Mike Boyd album on the way, a White Mic album on the way, Quakes album is coming together and just producing a lot of solo tracks for certain artists. Also be on the lookout at Much Music for Maestro's new single "Criminal Mind" Produced by Classified.

HHC: That's about it Class, Thanks again!
Peace man

Editor's Note: Would you like to WIN an Autograph copy of Classified newest album Boy-Cott In The Industry? Send DJ Maz an e-mail with the name of all 10 12"/CD releases from Classified. The winner will be chosen through e-mail and notified by e-mail 30 days after this interview's publishing date. Please include the answers, your complete mailing address and e-mail Maz at scottmazerall@hotmail.com. Contest Closes September 17th at AM. Only correct answers will qualify for the contest more information on Classified can be found at http://www.urbnet.com/classified/main.asp

Click the link to purchase Classified's "Boy-Cott In The Industry" [product page]