By Alex Chapman
Pharoahe Monch exudes the prescence of a legend. Having been around the rap game for about ten years, Monch understands the importance of artistry, and exemplifies that in his music. Having worked with everyone from Sergio Mendes to Mos Def, Pharoahe has the unique power to appeal to any crowd, and although he humbly admits Pitchfork is a little bit of a challenge, today is no different. As Pharoahe closes out his set with the signature “Simon Says”, the crowd makes it very clear that they are in the palm of his hand.
URB: I wanted to ask first about like festivals. I know you did Rock The Bells last year and you’re doing Pitchfork today, and I wanted to know if there’s a difference in your performance when you’re performing at festivals instead of clubs or bars or venues. Do you feel more of an intensity, like more on your back since there’s just so many people or is it like, you give it your all no matter what?
PM: I pretty much give it my all no matter what. Yesterday we did a youth center show program and it was younger kids and it was not that many people and I think that’s the hardest we went in a long time. I think that after years of doing this you learn that it’s worse to give it half-speed, it’s like playing football at half-speed, you wind up getting hurt. I think you go full all the time, like whatever your full is. I think some days you pull back because of certain reasons- I’m asthmatic, or whatever have you, that may occur. But for most part, it’s sharpness all the time. And I know it’s cliché to use sports analogies, I remember Joe Dimaggio said that he goes hard everyday because there’s some kid in the stadium that’s there for the first time who’s father was like, We’re going to see Joe Dimaggio, the great Joe Dimaggio, and if he’s fucking being an asshole and goofing off in the field, this kid is gonna be like, This is fucking Joe Dimaggio? Are you serious? [laughs] And so, especially when you’re in my position and you’re still building- and I definitely haven’t reached out to everyone that could possibly be a fan. I think there’s so many people who if they heard Desire or Internal Affairs would still enjoy the music. I can’t really afford to half-ass.
URB: Well I definitely agree that your influence extends further than you think. If you’re gonna perform half-ass in front of some kids, one kid that thinks you’re an asshole turns into two kids turns into three, so I definitely can agree with that mission statement.
PM: And it resonates in the other direction like, if fucking 21 year old kids are like, That’s the greatest performance I’ve ever seen EVER! It was like 150 kids only, and it’s like why would you cheat them, you know? You’re getting paid or you’re there for a reason- and you learn that. You can’t take the stage and give a half-ass performance man, that’s just business. If there’s any discrepancy with management or promoters then don’t take the stage, but don’t take it out on the fans.
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