heartbreak and hardship... I try to use language in a similar way, using both very descriptive language -- almost teetering on romantic at times -- with a more unpolished vernacular (how many times was that word dropped in a rap song? a hundred?)

How did you get the name soso and what does it mean to you and say about you?

Back when I fancied myself as a bit of a graffiti writer, I used to go by "sol." At some point I decided to abandon my stupid graff handle for something less rappy and perhaps more stupid... I came up with soso when we were sitting around the fire at a camping trip. The name fit my anti-posturing philosophy and I thought it would keep me modest. I remember you furious with the name change and swore you would never call me soso!

You have been receiving favourable reviews and charting quite well on campus radio. What does that mean for an artist like yourself?

It's great... as an artist working on the peripheral, in some ways it validates my practice and gives me something to brag to my mom about. It's encouraging to know that people are listening. It provides me with a tiny bit of leverage when I'm looking for distro or maybe a show or something. I'm not in a position to spend a lot money on advertising and promotion so radio play really helps get my album out there.

You have crafted your own unique style of hip hop how do you deal with the naysayers that say soso ain't hip hop?

If I was sixteen years old I'd probably front on me too. I love hip hop. I'm at a different stage of life. I'm more mature. I don't give a fuck about repping the elements anymore... this      

is not a "lifestyle" or a way of dressing. This is my life. I've invested everything into this music.

How have you grown as an artist and a person since Sour Suite?

I think getting a fine arts degree provided me with the tools to think critically about my music and gave me the opportunity to work and develop my craft. I think I've matured, I am more focused. I've improved my writing, delivery and production over the last 5 or 6 years... I still have a lot to learn.

What is your take on the Canadian Independent hip hop scene and where do you see yourself?

The Canadian indie scene is diverse... there's good energy right now. There are a lot of artists working hard and releasing good music. I think we are starting to develop the infrastructure needed to nurture a bigger scene... there are more venues, promoters, artists, radio shows, etc. I like to think that I'm contributing to the success of our scene through my work with the Clothes Horse Records and Phonographique.

Who would you like to work with in the future?

Leonard Cohen

What are you currently working on?

Killing myself slowly, making poor decisions and collecting new material for the next soso project. Other than that, I have a handful of beats I put together for some of my favourite rappers including Ira Lee, Yy and Thesis Sahib... hopefully by stating it in writing it will force me to work on that project. I also started working on a project with Satchil Paige -- he's the illest!