Session with Martinez

By Falice Chin

Josh Martinez is one of the most charismatic abstract hip-hop acts, always leaving listeners stunned with his sublime cloud of words. His music, characterized by sharp intelligence, clever rhymes, and unpredictable improvisations, is slowly heading in the opposite direction of hip-hop norm. The Halifax native wants to represent Canadian hip-hop, hoping to spread his personal message to the open-minded. Many consider him the new-school poet-emcee, but he discards that title for something more down-to-earth.

“I consider myself a writer and an editor,” says Martinez. “I write words in nice ways and try to address issues in a phonically pleasing way. I’m not going to claim I’m a poet on some intellectual superiority business. I just write about life and make it rhyme. I guess I think of myself more as a rapper.”

Martinez’s songs cover a wide variety of topics, and many consist of his personal opinions and reflections. He talks about everything from marijuana decriminalization, to religion, to humourous outlooks, while even touching on such serious matters as the Holocaust. The emcee delivers his messages through quirky raps interlaced with random moments of singing and experimental changes of style. Hip-hop is an ambitious way of expressing his views, and he wants to take a hold of that.

“Think for yourself,” says Martinez. “You’ve got to find humour in everything, and have fun–a lot of fun.”

Many of Martinez’s songs are packed with raw emotion, but the emcee has yet to come off as an ignorant angry post-teen musician. In fact, he is known to be political, analytical, and a bit of an oddball. In his shows, he often tells his audience to disconnect the Internet and turn off the television. At his recent Calgary show, he even brought up issues of the Albertan press.

“I’m pretty cynically radical,” he reflects. “I’ve got a Bachelor’s degree in History, so I know when the government and media are lying and misconstruing the facts in order to push an agenda. I’m also the son of a pinko journalist whose views always pissed off my orthodontists and doctors. I’m not dogmatic but I think there are a lot of stupid people who make real change next to impossible. I’m entirely anti-war, anti-American nationalism, and pro-‘chill the fuck out.’”

Josh Martinez’s musical approach is unique, and his influence is rising within the underground hip-hop scene, especially among younger emcees.

“I think I’m being heard and people are interpreting my message in their own way–which is important because no one wants to hear their music cloned,” says Martinez. “I try to bring out an honesty because when I make songs, I make them about what I do, the way I see things. I apparently see things a little differently on occasion–or maybe most of the time.”

Many Canadian musicians, especially those who are underground, are told at one point or another that pushing a strong agenda may be a bit far-fetched. Josh Martinez thinks otherwise.

“The underground scene is bursting at the seams and influencing things everywhere. All the places I go, I keep meeting people saying things like ‘I only listen to Canadian hip-hop now,’ and they live in [the U.S.]. Then you’ve got Moka Only and Swollen Members who went platinum in Canada and I’ve got to admire what those guys have been able to do with those shitty songs. However, Buck 65’s deal with Warner Brothers shows that you can make quirky, eccentric rap music and have full creative control over it at the same time as being on a major label. I want everyone in Canada to do well at the business of rap. We’ve all been paying our dues long enough.”