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Pigeon John has always been a bit of a cut apart, from his days growing in Los Angeles learning the rap craft from De La Soul and other innovators through his years with veteran crew LA Symphony (who are finally finding success in their own right after PJ's departure in 2003) and finally with three solo albums in the last three years. 2002's Pigeon John Is Clueless established him as a versatile emcee capable of writing tightly-wound tunes that by turns amused and built his rep; 2003's Pigeon John Is Dating Your Sister widened his repertoire by including songs like the fictional 'Emily', about a father returning to meet the daughter he'd abandoned at birth four years before, while still bringing the good times with singles like 'Identity Crisis'. Finally, this year has seen the arrival of Pigeon John Sings the Blues, his finest work and most varied; it seems he's determined to be his own emcee and push the envelope of what's perceived to 'hiphop' - it has to be heard to be comprehended. There's a lot more singing and styles ranging from blues to jazz to freeform - and still, on songs like 'Nothing Without You' and 'Draw Me Closer', rap in its purest form, with just beats and rhymes. Pigeon will catch flak, but hopefully the more openminded among us will embrace him for his willingness to experiment.
I've seen Pigeon John live twice here in Ottawa, most recently last April with California's Living Legends crew, and decided following a lost interview from 2003, we here at sd.com were gonna do it again. Here, now, some words with the best rapper you've likely never heard.
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sd: Have you always sung, or is that an innovation of recent years? What prompted you to start incorporating singing?
Pigeon John: Well, I don't know; it kinda has always been there since I started rhyming. My verses alway had a little melody in them. I've been a fan of melody since I was a kid.
sd: You mention in 'Nothing Without You' that you had an offer from [Swollen Members-owned] Battle Axe - a Canadian label. How did that come about? Are you familiar with the Swollen Members crew from before?
PJ: No, I've never met Swollen. A couple of years ago Battle hit a bunch of L.A. dudes about deals - me, LA Symphony, Peace of Freestyle Fellowship, etc, but it just didn't work out. They are a great label though.
sd: Who inspired you to rap in the beginning? Any particular MC, book, or movie?
PJ: Oh, it was De La Soul for sure. Their style and songs spoke to me. Their humor as well...the whole Native Tongue thing was my open door. None of the gangster stuff spoke to me at all.
sd: It seems to me that the 'Christian content' in your music seems far more genuine that a lot of what passes for such. Is that a deliberate effort on your part, or is that simply where your headspace is at? I'm thinking especially of 'Draw Me Closer'.
PJ: Yeah, I try to be completely honest in my songs. And that song was written from my heart, and in no way did I write that song to fill a stupid quota. But thanks for saying it was genuine, 'cause to me that's a song from me to God.
sd: How long have the three remixes on 'Sings the Blues' been around? Do you prefer them to the original material, or just wanted to get them out?
PJ: The remixes are all new, and I like them as much as the OG versions! J Boogie and Flynn really came with it for sure.
sd: In the liner notes it says 'Upside Down Rotten' was recorded here in Canada - whereabouts? How'd that happen?
PJ: Well, I was on tour in Canada with Ndidi Cascade and Eekwol, and Eekwol's little brother Mils hit me up for a compilation. I soon discovered that he was the bomb beatmaker and I did that song at a Holiday Inn that Mils and his girl was staying at. But due to all the travel, I've forgotten where and when exactly.
sd: What are your current wild obsessions? I read in Relevant mag that you're all over the new Stars record, for one.
PJ: I love the new Kanye West record! Love everything MF Doom touches. He is my favorite all around MC, recently speaking. Whenever I listen to him, I want to make music. He just frees me up. Good music, to me, does that.
sd: How come such a confessional tone is taken on songs like 'Emily' and 'Draw Me Closer'? How much of it is autobiographical (without getting into things that are none of my business)? Is it seeking catharsis on your part, the reason you write these songs?
PJ: I think so. 'Emily' is not a true story, but a very true and normal thing I grew up around. Dads leaving and a bunch of my homeys who don't know who their pops is. But it does help a little to write it down, I guess. I just wanna party, really. Maybe buy a Nissan or something.
sd: Is revealing your personal past something you wish more rappers/artists did?
PJ: I wish all artists, including me, would only be honest and personal, and let whatever OG thoughts in their minds out. I think that's why we love Stevie Wonder or the Beach Boys. They just sang what was on the hearts. Happy or sad. Corny or serious.
sd: If I said that 'Draw Me Closer' was your finest work to date, would you disagree in favour of another track?
PJ: Man, I don't know. I'm too close to the songs to know which ones are dope and which ones suck. I know Joey the Jerk thinks 'Sam the Goat' sucks. He told me that at my album release party! Dude tells the truth!
sd: What's with the freaky spoken-word bit at the end of 'Sings the Blues'?
PJ: That's only on your CD! No one else has heard it! I only put it on one...and you got it! PS: that was not me. It was Jesus.
sd: As an aside: the new Deepspace5 record is pure murder, and upon first seeing the album, a friend of mine was like, "Geez, look at all the white guys!" It just set me to thinking: have white folks co-opted hiphop like they co-opted rock and roll fifty years ago? What do you think? Or does it even matter?
PJ: Of course. It's the nature of music and culture, but it doesn't matter. Dope is dope. Eminem is the top MC out there right now. Grouch has always been a dope MC. As long as people speak honest and raw without fear, envy or meanness, I'm a fan! Plus, color only matters when the cops come, so we cool for now!
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The only and only Pigeon Juan is out on tour with Lyrics Born as you read this; check the website for details.