Pigeon John interview
I interview Pigeon John in the latest issue of GhettoBlaster.
Interview below
For those who don’t know Pigeon John is an emcee based out of Los Angeles. Including a slew of earlier appearances, for more than two decades he has been an artist that consistently puts out playful and unique music. His new album Encino Man just dropped and after listening a few times, I am pleased to say it is everything I have grown to expect from a Pigeon John record. Pushing the boundaries of hip-hop and putting a smile on your face at the same time.
I started out our conversation by asking what it was like to grow up in the Midwest, not knowing that he moved away at a very young age and in characteristic Pigeon John form he replies, “Oh man it was perfect. You’re formed really in the first three years of life. (laughs) I was surrounded by corn, country, beer drinking uncles and pregnant aunts who smoked on porches. The wide open spaces and thick weather smashed against the streets of Los Angeles easily.”
John always struck me as a guy that didn’t take himself too seriously. Certainly someone you could sit down and have a beer with. I am always curious about an artist’s thought process and perception of the world, so my suspicions were confirmed with his answer. “It’s just me laughing at my jokes in the mirror. I laugh at myself every day. It’s never a plan to stand out,” he says. “You learn that laughing after crying really hard is actually a strong move. God moves in laughter and tears. Never in a prideful stance. God laughs at us when we’re in that prideful stance. Usually the greatest stories have humor in them. It makes it human.”
John has went through a rough patch with a recent divorce. Certainly personal problems take an extra toll when you live on the road most of the time already. Some artist compartmentalize this and some use it as fuel for their writing. “Everything has affected my writing and life really. My mistakes, regrets and good moves play a part in me and I write what I know so it comes out. You realize how fragile you are and you write it down. I have talks with God in my songs. I have talks with my ex wife in my songs. You change in life and so does your writings.”
It seems that one thing that makes anyone crazy enough to want to have their art broadcasted for all of the world to see is a healthy ego. This can be a positive creative force in an artist’s life. Finding the inner fire to keep going on such a difficult path can be tough, and that ego can keep the fire burning. That being said when unchecked it can make an artist almost insufferable to those around them. John’s work doesn’t give that impression, but I ask how he was able to stay humble when you constantly need to self promote and when hip-hop lends itself to such bravado.
“Well, I’ve been humbled. I’ve been forced to kneel, forced into a cop car, forced to eat my shit, if you will,” John says with a laugh. “My favorite writers write about other people. They write out instead of in. They write up instead of down. It’s harder to do it that way. It’s a healthy challenge not to brag or beat your self down in a song. I look around see what everyone else is doing and then do the opposite.”
It is always very interesting to see how an artist evolves over time, to see their growth both musically and personally. This new album Encino Man seems very honest, even more so than any of John’s previous work. When asked about growth and the new album, he simply replies “I focused in the flaws of my voice as an instrument. I wanted be as naked as possible in my writing. Honesty is the most punk rock thing you could ever do. Oh and I wanted the music to quietly shine like a block in the midst of circles.” Its refreshing to hear so much honesty in hip-hop as opposed to the “thug in the club” dominating the airwaves.
In my attempt at cracking a joke I end our interview by referencing his song, “She Cooks Me Oatmeal!” from Pigeon John Sings the Blues! and ask if almost ten years later does she still cook his oatmeal. “[laughs] Yes, she sure does!”