Interview With 004

You are now a recognized producer, rapper and arranger. How did you first start your musical career?

004: By dropping a verse on a demo tape for a friend of mine back in 1994. After that I started to develop my flow and rhymes, by rapping with friends. In 1996 I also developed some new beat box skills that took me to another level. Then in 2000, I started to discover my love for the music production side that I didn’t know, making good beats something I truly love.

Does your music draw from any other genres besides hip hop?

004: For sure. My love for music first started by listening a lot of different styles all day long [laughs], from classic, reggae, pop, funk, soul, jazz, rock and world music.

What does the 004 stand for and how did you come up with that name?

004: Big fan of James Bond 007, you know the action with the secret agent stuff? You gotta love it. But I wanted to make it my own. So by adding my hot sauce, I’m the last one of 4 kids making me “004”. I’ve always been on a mission and I got love for the action [laughs].

You were born in Ivory Coast West Africa, yet your mother decided to live in France. Why the move?

004: My mom decided to move back to France for the opportunities and good education.

What is your favorite thing about France?

004: The food [laughs] and it’s a beautiful country.

What are the type of venues do you perform at in France?

004: Local center and a couple of clubs in France and London.

Have you had any interesting experiences as a performer?

004: Yeah I have done an opening for Eminem twice and participated in an Akon music video (Living in The Ghetto).

You’ve got five songs on your Myspace page. Have you released an official EP yet? Or are you working on your first album?

004: I just finish my first album and I’m now looking to promote it.

In your song “Keep It Jiggy”, you rap “I keep it real, always hustlin”. What makes you different from any other hip hop artist today?

004: One thing’s for sure, we all got the same dream and passion but what will make me different will be my taste, vision, ideas and multi cultural background.

Anything to say to your fans out there?

004: What really keep’s me making beats is the passion and the pleasures that I get back from it. Most definitely it’s all love. I wish you [fans] all the best. Peace, “004”.

You can check out more about 004 here.