Halifax, NS - Unique, creative, original; these are all words to describe Wordburglar. Coming from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Wordburglar has been described as a "hybrid of Beastie Boys, Fresh Prince, and Buck 65". With sense of humor intact, Wordburglar has released his 2nd full-length album, Burglaritis, under HandSolo records. With collaborations with LA Symphony and Quannam Projects member Pigeon John and much more on Burglaritis, Wordburglar engages in lyrical acrobatics about sex, video games, comic books and hometown pride. With an underground influence of Living Legends, MF Doom, and Rhymesayers (just to name a few), Wordburglar projects unique vibes that can be heard on not only Burglaritis (2006), but as well as on the Wordburglar vinyl EP (2005), Backburner-What have you done for Rap Lately? (2004) and SJ the Wordburglar (2003). Talking with Wordburglar, was definitely a new experience, refreshing and an overall good time! Wordburglar is entertaining and talented, not only lyrically but he is also a self-proclaimed comic book artist. Yes that's right, a comic book artist! Leave it to Wordburglar to be over the top with talent!

HHC: Tell me about yourself... where are you from and why did you enter the world of hip-hop?
I'm from a little place called Halifax, Nova Scotia. I entered the world of hip-hop because the Super Mario world was closed. Seriously though I fell in love with hip-hop when I was a kid and it's just always been a big part of my life.

HHC: Your influences range from Sixtoo to Notorious BIG. With a wide range of influences, who would you say would be the most influential? Not just musically. Let's say personally, business wise and overall accomplishments.
That is tough. I don't think one person got it all right, but the closest would have to be Kool Keith because the man has been rapping forever, done whatever the hell he's wanted to do, put out tons of albums internationally from major labels to Indies and he still makes some of the most entertaining music out there.

HHC: Your album Burglaritis is probably the most original material I've heard in a long time. How was the process of actually recording your first full-length album?
I can't lie, it was a lot of hard work and long hours but it was a lot of fun too. Anytime I'd be getting down or tired or whatever, because life gets in the way sometimes, my friends, who just also happen to be the people I was working with would just kick my ass and make the process that much better. I mean, I got to work with some crazy people. Kils is not only one of the most talented people I know, but he's also an insane party maniac. [Laughing] Beatmason makes some of the best beats in Canada and after we make tracks, we play video games until late in the AM. That's hard work right there! I really am crazy lucky to have worked with my family at Backburner though. Kils, Mason, Fes, Dex, and everyone else came through and just made Burglaritis that much doper. Everything from beats to cuts to recording to mixing to mastering sounds amazing. As far as the process goes, a lot of writing and editing went into it. I wrote at work, on the subway, in bed, at the club wherever…

HHC: You're not only a lyrical artist but also a cartoon artist and writer. Please tell me about Snakor's Pizza Super-Special Special. Where can we get a copy?
Well, I love comic books just as much as rap. I mean you have to read and look at pictures too. Snakor is about this guy who is the former leader of a sinister snake-based society of snake-inspired terrorists who now works at a pizza place. It's kind of based on an old school GI Joe comic book from when I was a kid and basically it's just me having a lot of fun. It's originally something that my buddy Mike Holmes and I came up with - he did that awesome artwork on Burglaritis and did some stuff in Snakor too. It's available through Strange Adventures in Halifax and Silver Snail in Toronto…so yeah, go get it and let me know what you think. Larry Hama likes it.

HHC: How was performing at CMW this past year? I know there has to be a crazy story that sticks out in your mind about performing in Toronto.
CMW was a good time. The show went really well and I got to meet some great artists. The only thing that was not so cool was that we showed up late for the Def Jux show and they wouldn't let anyone in, even the goddamn Wordburglar so El-P and them owe me a show. [Laughing]

HHC: Where do you see yourself in 3 years?
With at least 1 or 2 more releases under my belt and hopefully some kind of tour of the universe. Of course a lot of money; so much money that I'll be spending it on money.

HHC: When can we anticipate "The WordBurglar" video?
That one is pretty old at this point. I think HandSolo is putting it on their website and it's coming out on that Preserving Efforts DVD. I really want to make some videos for the new album though, and I'm looking for some good directors right now so if anyone out there is interested we can talk for sure.

HHC: How did you end up hooking up with Guru, Atmosphere, and the Living Legends on the internationally released Preserving Efforts #1 DVD?
Basically these guys from Australia got in touch with me and already had those guys lined up for it. It should be a cool release. A lot of people may not know, but Australians love their hip-hop,

HHC: Tell me about HandSolo Records... how did you come together?
Well I first heard about HandSolo years ago when they put out Bassments of Badmen Volume 1. It was a tight little album that featured a ton of Halifax hip-hop and pretty much gave a lot of those Haltown cats their first national exposure. A little while back I heard they were doing a second volume and submitted some tracks. They selected one and since then they've been releasing my stuff.

HHC: Is there any shout outs you want to give?
Yeah, I have to shout out everybody that made Burglaritis #1 - big props to Beatmason, Kils, Uncle Fes, Dexter Doolittle, Jorun, More or Les, Jay Bizzy, Pigeon John, Jesse Dangerously, Ghettosocks & Bix, Y-Rush, Thesis & Selfhelp, Cal, Mike Holmes, Ginzu, Toolshed, Manalive, Hardcore, all of Backburner & The Props Dept…Hand Solo and Troy Neilson for all their hard work. Of course props to HiphopCanada.com and Australia. Whattup Australia? I want to come see you, fly me over there!

  

Samantha Wong http://www.myspace.com/that_girl_sam Samantha Wong has been writing for HipHopCanada.com since mid-2006, and has just launched her new press company “Euphonic Music Entertainment”. Samantha is currently attending Wilfrid Laurier and studying fine arts and communication studies. Along with writing for HipHopCanada, Samantha also writes for TheSource.com and has currently become Writing Director for Players Magazine, a new urban magazine based out of Toronto. To get in contact with Samantha, check out http://www.YourGirlSam.com, or http://www.myspace.com/that_girl_sam.