How did your passion for rapping start? How did you become so interested in it?

Rapper LC: I remember I was listening to rap on the radio when I was in first grade, and I just heard a lot of inappropriate statements–stuff about girls, drugs, and money–which I thought were making rap garbage. I really wanted to change that, so I started writing music about positive stuff.

DurAAcell: I started listening to a lot of Eminem in 8th grade, and I played around with the idea of freestyling.  From then on, it evolved in itself  after I performed at someone’s birthday party.  After that, I realized I had a natural talent for it, so I started putting up videos and it evolved from there.

2. Which artists have inspired/influenced you the most?

Rapper LC: Tupac, Wu-Tang Clan, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg. Nowadays, for what they’re trying to do with music, I appreciate people like Will.i.am, Macklemore, and Kendrick Lamar.

DurAAcell: Eminem, Tupac, and the old Lil’ Wayne in the Carter 1 and 2 days.  Each has their own influential style that inspires many rappers to be who they are today.  They’ve created a new era of rap

3. How do you get lyric ideas to flow into your head?

Rapper LC: Everything has to be for a reason. If I just had a bad day, instead of complaining about it, I just write about it. I channel my energy to my pencil and I write about it. I also write song without music, but I do better when I have something to backflow it.

DurAAcell:  I often just think of something that has happened to me that day, and I build on that in my mind, and let it flow.  It hits me, then I write a little bit, maybe do some research.  It’s like a brain blast.I often just think of something that has happened to me that day, and I build on that in my mind, and let it flow.  It hits me, then I write a little bit, maybe do some research.  It’s like a brain blast.

4. What do you respect most about the other rapper?

 Rapper LC: I like DurAAcell. My dad, who helps me with recording, said it would be fun to feature somebody else. He asked if there was anyone, and I said Duraacell. I really appreciated him in the studio. We also changed it up a bit with tone and rhythm to make it more interesting. I liked how he was understanding and patient.

 DurAAcell: I respect the work [Rapper LC] puts in.  Even if someone tells him a song isn’t good, he rises above that, and he just does his own thing.  He doesn’t let people get to him, and he just does his own thing, which is cool.

5. How far do you aspire to take your rapping passion?

 Rapper LC: Writing is my passion, rapping is a hobby. I think rapping will help with my future though. I aspire to be a politician, and that takes a lot of confidence in crowds.

DurAAcell: I’ll take it as far as I can, as far as it gets me.  I’ll continue to release stuff in college, play around with it, maybe major in music and make it big one day.  But I have to put in a lot of work.

6. Any other big interests besides rapping?

 Rapper LC: I like writing poetry.

DurAAcell: Having friends, being true to yourself, doing what you want to do.  I like to play tennis, Xbox, squash racquetball, and I might play water polo in the fall.  I also dabble in film-making a little bit.

7. Favorite Bay Area sports team?

Rapper LC: I like all of them. But because my dad is from New Orleans, I like the Saints for football. But I also like the A’s, Giants, Raiders, Warriors, etc.

 DurAAcell: I have to go with the Giants.

8. Who is your biggest supporter?

Rapper LC: My mom.

 DurAAcell: My biggest supporters are my fans at PHS who just listen to, watch, and download my music.

9. What are your future plans/projects?

 Rapper LC: I am currently working on a new single, and it will be featuring another artist at this school. But I won’t say who it is yet…

 DurAAcell: Our tennis season just ended, and I had this idea of making a rap dedicated to the team.  I’ll give a few shoutouts to some of the people on the team, so that will probably come out this weekend.