Enfield, NS - Deep in the country of Enfield, Nova Scotia resides a highly talented but extremely humble artist. Growing up with utmost influence of an older brother, Classified, Mic Boyd was able to evolve into the proficient artist he is today. Formerly known for his EP back in 2003, The Ten Bux, he is now making noise across the nation with his debut album Lost in the Woods.

Flushed with tracks relating to his personal life, the album is definitely one worth listening to if you’re looking for meaningful lyrics with a comedic touch. An effortless flow and sociable personality make Mic Boyd a definite artist to look out for with plenty up his sleeve. He lets it be known that he is not only great at what he does, but has the time of his life doing it. Ladies and gentlemen, I present you Mic Boyd:

HipHopCanada: So, why the title Lost in the Woods?

Mic Boyd: Basically, just because I live in the woods and just the last five years or so I’ve been kind of lost, trying to figure out what to do in life, you know, all that crap that everyone goes through.

HipHopCanada: The woods referring to Nova Scotia?

Mic Boyd: Not Nova Scotia just Enfield, where I’m from, out in the woods.

HipHopCanada: All of your songs on the album seem to have a link between them, how did you choose what tracks to put on and what to omit?

Mic Boyd: They were just all the tracks I had done, really. I didn’t cut anything. The way we work is we don’t record a song unless we’re going to use it right... it all came together within the last six months.

HipHopCanada: Classified produced the whole album, correct?

Mic Boyd: Yep.

HipHopCanada: How was it working with your brother on the whole album — were there any advantages or disadvantages to that?

Mic Boyd: It was good. It’s just the way I’ve always done everything — with him. I don’t do nothing without him, really, so I’m used to it. But, yeah, we have great chemistry when it comes to doing music together so we feed off each other a lot. I probably wouldn’t be rapping if wasn’t for him.

HipHopCanada: Did you consider other producers for the album?

Mic Boyd: Not really. Just because I get the beats free, so I’m not going to pay another guy to do it, right?

HipHopCanada: That makes sense.

Mic Boyd: Yeah, I find he’s pretty versatile when it comes to beat making.

HipHopCanada: Are you satisfied with the public’s response to the album so far?

Mic Boyd: Yeah, most people, like my friends, I know they’re not going to shit on it but we got a couple reviews in magazines and on the internet that were done and they’re all good, yeah. So, good ratings so far.

HipHopCanada: Definitely. So, the album as a whole, for example the intro and interlude, has a very humorous appeal — why did you choose to go about making the album in that way?

Mic Boyd: Just ‘cause. I love comedy and half my style of rap is just whatever you get from me when you listen to me… I’m just fooling around. I don’t try to make it too serious, you know, talking about gun violence and all that. I like to joke around and keep it, I don’t know, in a happy place [Laughing].

HipHopCanada: It also gives it a more personal appeal.

Mic Boyd: Yeah.

HipHopCanada: Is that what you were going for?

Mic Boyd: Oh yeah, I try to let my personality out in my music as much as possible. I’m not into that hard rap; I guess you [could] call it. I just like to joke around and have a good time.

HipHopCanada: And do any of your personal experiences contribute to your music?

Mic Boyd: Oh, yeah. Pretty much the whole album just relates to me. Just a guy living out in the woods, trying to move out of his parents’ house and that kind of crap. Trying to get a real job, music career, going to college, student loans and all that crap that pretty much every person goes through…

HipHopCanada: So do you feel making music has ever interfered with your schooling?

Mic Boyd: Not really and that’s another reason why the album sounds like I’m joking around ‘cause I’m really concentrating on life, right. This is really just a hobby… overall, I’m never going to try to say raps my main job and this is what I do.

HipHopCanada: Did it start as a side thing?

Mic Boyd: Oh yeah… I haven’t done a school presentation since... in my life, I don’t think [Laughing] I didn’t even attempt to fool around at it ‘til after high school... my brother’s been doing it my whole life in front of me and I never once tried to even talk into the microphone [Laughing].

HipHopCanada: [Laughing] Wow. So, do you like doing shows now?

Mic Boyd: I do, now, yeah, but that’s the thing, the first two years I even rapped I’d just joke around recording at Luke’s [Classified] and he’s like, “Oh, you’re good but if you want to do it you’ve got to get up in front of people or I’m going to stop recording it. You can’t fool around anymore.” [Laughing] He pretty much made me get up on stage.

HipHopCanada: That’s a great coincidental skill to have — being able to rap — because a lot of people try to make it in the industry and can’t. To be ‘just fooling around’ is pretty nice for you!

Mic Boyd: Yeah, takes the pressure off.

HipHopCanada: You have collaborations with certain artists on your album — how did you choose who you collaborated with for the project?

Mic Boyd: Really, that was, the one with Kaleigh Cole, that came ‘cause I said we have to just get a video track out for that song so we’re going to be shooting a video for that. How that came about was it was a sample from an old 70’s group or some girl group. Really, I’d heard of one person in Enfield who sings [Laughing] so I called her up. She’s actually my friend’s younger sister and she was in the school play and I heard she was good so I said, “Hey can you sing this over?” Then the other one, with Jordan Croucher and Luke [Classified]. He’s on two songs, [are] just the people I hangout with really...

HipHopCanada: You mentioned you’re releasing a video for True Love with Kaleigh Cole. Do you have an idea as to the other videos you’ll be doing?

Mic Boyd: We like to fool around and make our own music videos, so we’re probably going to make another one of those this weekend. For the last video, "Guess Who’s Back", we were just messing around on YouTube and it got good responses and so we’re probably going to make another one of those. And that’s about it, hopefully a lot of videos after that in the future.

HipHopCanada: You’ve shared the stage with some pretty big names in hip-hop. What do you like about performing — is there any way you prepare for a show?

Mic Boyd: Really, what I like about it is just being up there, having a good time. When you’ve got a good vibe and everyone’s happy, you know. It’s more of a party atmosphere, just like having a good time at a party except everyone’s looking at me. [Laughing] We’ll just go over [the show], sit and pre-drink. We go to the bar or something and just listen to the CD and practice it. That’s about the only preparation.

HipHopCanada: So how would you describe your style: musically and your choice in attire?

Mic Boyd: I don’t know [Laughing]. Baggy clothes, but I wouldn’t call it ‘super hip-hop,’ ‘cause, really, I just wear a T-shirt and jeans and a hat. That’s my style. I’m not rocking’ chains or nothing [like that]. I don’t know what you call it — “thugged out”. I’m just not that kind of guy, right, ‘cause I live in the country. Musically, I’d like to say I’ve got my own style. I’ve been getting a lot of comments that I’ve got a cartoonish voice lately… [Laughing].

HipHopCanada: Any last words?

Mic Boyd: Check the videos out... new video we’re shooting. Album in stores.

Editor’s note: Check out more information on Mic Boyd at http://www.halfliferecords.ca/micboyd and http://www.myspace.com/themicboyd.

  

Chantle Beeso Although only 16 years old, Chantle has had a passion for writing ever since she can remember. Currently at Oakwood Collegiate and a part of the Remix Project, she is working diligently toward a career in journalism. Whether hard at work or just having fun, she is known for her enthusiasm and wit which have carried her through life. Chantle is looking to leave her mark in the industry and knows that starting young will do her no wrong. Her versatile interest in music, fashion, sports and entertainment allow her to do work in many different fields. Chantle is now a part of the HipHopCanada writing team.