Birthplace Magazine is a sincere attempt to provide a journalistic home for New York area hip-hop, so it was with great interest I watched an interview with former XXL-EIC (and many other hip-hop-related editorial posts) and head of the upcoming RapRadar.com, Elliott Wilson. Wilson, aka YN, has long been someone I watched, read and admired, as I danced in and out of my own journalistic forays over the years, awaiting my own opportunity to combine my writing talent and knowledge and affection for hip-hop.
In the interview, conducted by The Hip Hop Chronicle, a UK-based site that I often visit, Wilson noted that despite the emergence of so many hip-hop related websites in recent years, opportunity still remains for strong-voiced, regionally-based sites (like this one). So, I became re-inspired when an undeniable veteran of the industry would seemingly be on the same page as I am. Birthplace Magazine is a monumental task, a huge vision for me, and one that I am working on pretty much single-handed, juggling it among several other of life’s obligations. In such a position, one looks for tidbits of inspiration whenever one can find them, and so I must say that I enjoyed the interview on several levels.
In any event, since EW/YN is as New York Hip-Hop as it gets, take a look at the interview on The Hip Hop Chronicle site (it’s a very good interview). You’ll also notice links below it, links to other interviews conducted while THHC visited NY, highlighting some artists that Birthplace Magazine have mentioned before, including Donny Goines and Tanya Morgan. Definitely worth seeing as well.
Thanks to The Hip Hop Chronicle for recognizing the ongoing significance that the New York City area has in hip-hop, and thanks especially to Elliott Wilson, for his past, present and future inspiration.