Here we have interviewed a Toronto artist that produces and raps. Nothing more can be said so we will go into the interview.

C.O.C: Can you introduce yourself to our cityonclouds readers?

Fundamental: Yessir. This is Fundamental. 1/2 of the group Good Company. I’m a producer/mc/song writer/engineer/marketing rep/a&r/call center representative. Like everyone else these days.

C.O.C: Nice, so before I ask anything else, why the name Fundamental, how did you get it, what is the meaning behind it?

Fundamental: Well when it comes to music I love to be as creative as possible. Even though I have a distinct style, I love to hear different shit. Stuff that stretches my ear. I like to put little tweaks in my music that people wouldn’t notice. With that being said, I wouldn’t be able to get to the point of where I can showcase that creativity with out having the fundamental’s and knowledge of different techniques to try something different. Therefore, Fundamental it is.

C.O.C: If someone was to ask you to describe your style of production or music, how would you describe it to them?

Fundamental: How I would describe it…is as simple as…It’s just my style. Hard drums. Very melodic and musical. It’s me in musical form. But how other’s have described it that made the most sense would be if you were to take the feeling of the golden era in hip hop and updated the creativity and sounds to 2012.

C.O.C: Sounds good to me, I have always liked your music, since the first time I heard it. This should have been the first question, but at what age and how did you know that music is what you wanted to do?

Fundamental: Haha word. Thanks man. Well my parents are musicians, so I was raised in the music environment. I was always passionate about my music, I started making beats when I was like 17, going into my senior year of High School. That entire year, I did not go to sleep before 5am ONCE. From then I knew music was it. Haven’t looked back yet.

C.O.C: Wow, having parents as musicians must have been great though, did they ever give input on your producing or rapping etc?

Fundamental: Yea…My dad was the one that really introduced me to music theory. He came up and heard this beat I had going and all I had was this melody…he was like “I can’t take this any more. You need to know what chords and harmony is”. He sat me down and showed all these chords. That took me to the next level right there. And my mom has actually played melodies on the violin on a few tracks too. So it’s been great.

C.O.C: Its always good to have someone in your family who is a musician. They can most definitely take you to the next level. But besides your parents who else has influenced your music? For example, has anyone in the music industry influenced your music?

Fundamental: Well firstly, my brother as well. Him being the older brother, he’d always be bringing new music for me to hear. He got me my first mixer as well.
As far as the music industry, Raphael Saadiq, Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Neptunes, Dilla. Those are my most influential producers MC’s and song writers I would have to go with Saukrates, AZ, Tribe Called Quest, De La, Kanye West,Musiq Soulchild. They all bring their own style. I’m forgetting too many. I’m a feel bad tommorow lol.

C.O.C: I like a couple of the artists in your list such as Kanye, Tribe Called Quest, Dilla most definitely. But I would like to discuss the group you are part of, called Good Company. Would you like to speak a bit on your group?

Fundamental: Yea for sure. Good Company is comprised of myself and MC, Ayatollah Jaxx of Pittsburgh. We teamed up a good 4 years ago. It started out as Jaxx on the mic and me behind the boards, but it’s really grown into a complete group really. Jaxx has given me the freedom to rhyme on tracks or help with hooks etc. I owe him everything when it comes to my songwriting because he allowed me the opportunity and gave the encouragement I needed to start rhyming. With Good Company you’re getting music with a great chemistry. Honest music. No matter the topic.

C.O.C: Its good to know that a group can come together and create good music. I watched your latest video with the both of you and I am pretty sure it was posted on the blog. But how did you guys meet, since he is from Pittsburgh and you are from Toronto?

Fundamental: Right, well he would actually travel here often before we met because he had some friends here. He heard my music through another Pittsburgh MC I was working with at the time named “Kid A”. So he hit me up online and we got to talking about music. Then he said he was coming up to the Dot. I told him to stay at my crib, and it was just real comfortable. Like we’re family. My parents love him etc lol. We’re friends first. Before any music shit. I go to Pittsburgh and I stay at his spot. It really is Good Company.

C.O.C: So speaking about Pittsburgh, I would assume you have been there a couple of times, where do you like it better, Pittsburgh or Toronto?

Fundamental: Well I do love Pittsburgh. Everyone there have been great to me. Shout out to Amie, Jaxx, Paul, Kid A. It’s a great city, and I love making the trip every few months. Son, you’ve never seen so many hills in your life lol. But there’s no place like home as far as Toronto. Toronto is my home, I’ll always rep it first and formost.

C.O.C: Looks like I might have to visit Pittsburgh one day! You might have seen this coming but, should we expect a collaboration with Wiz Khalifa some day?

Fundamental: Haha…Always willing to work. But you’d have to ask Wiz that question.

C.O.C: Will do! Lets hope we get an interview with him very soon.
Are there any artists out there that you cant wait to work with?

Fundamental: Lol word. Man this one first and foremost…GREG NICE. I have dreams of having Greg Nice on a hook lol. He got such an ill style and voice. I mean obviously I want to work with all the greats like Nas, Kanye, Jay, Busta, Tribe etc. As far as newer artists. I would love to work with Phil Ade, Big K.R.I.T., Rich Kidd, Phonte, Drake. There’s a lot of talented rappers and producers out there right now.

C.O.C: There most definitely are. I am surprised you mentioned Phil Ade, I have liked his music for quite some time, I have to get back into listening to it. But he most definitely is the next to shine. Any words of advice for up and coming producers?

Fundamental: Yea, I think his flow is so dope. I haven’t heard a lot from him, but what I have…I’m a fan. Yea, too much is never enough. I’m always gonna take quality over quantity, but if you’re not known too well and you’re trying to push beats, artists aren’t going to trust you to just make them a beat at first. You have to be able to show them a catalogue or a bunch of beats to prove yourself. I’m better at making a skeleton beat, getting the artist to do their thing, THEN adding to it. But you have to earn your props from the artist to do that. Which is why my best work is always with Ayatollah Jaxx and Elley Jeeze.

C.O.C: Hopefully producers will see this and take it in, because this is some good advice coming from you. Before I forget though, what websites do you use as a source of new music, news etc, for example blogs?

Fundamental: Word. well, cityonclouds of course lol. Also, hiphopdx, dx is the main one.

C.O.C: A couple more questions, what are the top 5 albums on your ipod?

Fundamental: Currently or all time?

C.O.C: Currently.

Fundamental: I was hoping you wouldn’t say that lol. Honestly, as far as current music, I listen to tracks at a time. There really isn’t a lot of ALBUMS out there you know, but I’ll try. Phonte – Charity Starts at Home, The Roots new joint, Common – Dreamer, The believer, 9th Wonder’s album. Oh and Talibs new joint. “Gutter Rainbows”.

C.O.C: I can agree with common, havent listened to the rest.
What are the top 5 clothing brands you prefer to wear?

Fundamental: Hmm. Brands don’t really mean that much to me. It’s more about what it looks like. Even with my sneakers. They just gotta be dope. Can’t go wrong with LRG though. I also been liking “Martial Artist” as well.

C.O.C: LRG is something I can most definitely agree with. Martial Artist I have never heard of. Where can cityonclouds readers find your material though?

Fundamental: Word, They make some interesting shit. You should definitely check them out. But I’m still on the lookout for your brand!If you want anything related to myself, go to http://www.TorontoBurgh.com/. That’s the home of myself, Ayatollah Jaxx, Good Company and Chim Beatz and of course my twitter is @fundamental10.

C.O.C: And any last words for our readers?

Fundamental: Yea. Make sure ya’ll check out me and Elley Jeeze brand video called “Trilogy”! There’s three songs in there off our upcoming album together. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWLnfW_5qbo
Got a huge year ahead of us. A bunch of Good Company releases. Me and Elley Jeeze. Please stay tuned, because there’s going to be so much quality coming your way.