Who Is (Qua)Train?!

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DinoAni: Okay lets get this started. Introduce yourself, For Those Who Haven't Heard of You..

Train: Ok, whats up everybody. I go by Train, short for (qua)train. former member of the freeBASEMENTality. I'm a young midwest boy trying to be the first major rapper from Indiana. whats gooood. I represent the new school of thought. trying to say the same ol in a new way

DinoAni: You Said Your A Former Member of The freeBASEMENTality, What Exactly Is That.?

Train: Well in the Hip-Hop desert and drought that has been unfolding recently, a few malcontents such as myself decided that we needed to do something. At Purdue University in Indiana, we all met through various channels and decided to get together and make some music. For about two years, me and two fellow Emcees as well as an authentic wax touching DJ would get together on Tuesday nights for a few hours. we started off freestyling just trying to subdue the beast within and making some seriously raw shit. after a year or so we decided we had something legitimate and figured we might as well hit the studio (Purdue had a multimillion dollar studio that we all had access to) and lay down some tracks. next step was some shows and local gigs. we feel we laid down some fun and interesting music. after which the remaining members moved on with their respective professional lives. I however remained stuck in the eternal youth which is my desire to make hiphop music. which leads us to now. I grew more and challeneged myself artistically more than i ever had with these individuals. And I am thankful for the experience to grow and perfect my craft FreeBASE!

DinoAni: Wow! Who Would've Thought This Kind Of Stuff goes down In Purdue Of All Places!

Train: Lol, honestly that would be the topic of many freestyles. like, "really? in redneck indiana?" lol don't get me wrong I am a hillbilly through and through, but it was a flame in the darkness, there wasn't much around. but the people who did contribute would come from the woodwork and make it an awesome experience, shout out to violent bass and Idealty, some of the people who made this time amazing.

DinoAni: So You Were The Only One Who Didn't Give Up on This Hop-Hop thing.. did you decide to quit pursuing your other options to dedicate yourself? Or Is this More On The Side?

Train: Well there is a lot happening for me. Its only the beginning, but I am in the full time music mode right now. I graduated college in Dec 2008 and immediately went looking for a job. Meanwhile I was preparing my "retirement" album of sorts lol. I have been making music for ten years now and during college there was some nice buzz so I thought I would continue to play with it and see what happened. Anyway I graduated and with mouths to fed, my main priority was immediate income. I was wrapping up "the End is Near Sighted" and dropped that. I had 4 jobs between january 2009 and now. I was laid off about a month ago and I decided fuck it. Nothing is permanent, I'm not pulling in huge money. I might as well make shit and do what I love. which leads us to now.

DinoAni: Understandable. Ten Years Is A Long Time To Be Doing Music, Have You Always Planned On Rapping, Or Did It Start Out As Just A Love For Hip-Hop.?

Train: I know you know. I don't remember the exact time I started but I always kept a journal, I always was a writer. And I've always had a big mouth so shit talking on beats became the next logical step. maybe just train logic lol. But it was never a planned thing. It started in the basements and the cold Indiana nights chillin in an alley. my boy was the son of a entertainer main, talented charasmatic dj. so he handled my beats, my go to beatbox. I was always freestylin as long as i can remember, and if you ask anyone who knows me about it, thats the main thing that comes to mind. like, " oh train, yeah he always rapping and shit". I dunno when it got so serious, after people started having responsibilities and shit, but I got to the point where I was like, main, somebody needs to hear this lol and the response I have been getting so far has been tremendous

DinoAni: Thats Gotta Feel Wonderful! Thats Why We're Here Now Doing This! I Agree It Needs To Be Heard. Being That You Came Up In Indiana, What Style Of Rap Did You listen to the most?

Train: Thank you. Midwest baby! through and through. you know people talk about how there are less and less glimmers of light in this hip-hop thing we love. but you look back over the genre's history and there are so many beautiful things to listen to. my thing is the midwest was always the melting of subgeneres. we got people who do southern shit, east, west, and live music. people doing anything they can to try and come up and in my opinion its some of the best stuff out there. I mean we have some of the highest grossing mainstream artists and I feel we have/had some of the most talented MC's overall. Obviously I want us to have our shine, but I don't think there will ever be a time where people are like "yeah that era was dominated by the midwest" were shapeshifters and were cold blooded main were in it to finish, though overall I loved it all, anything new, anything creative and digging in the classics, how i feel dictates what it is i want to hear right now

DinoAni: I Agree. The Midwest Doesn't Really Have A Pinned 'sound' associated with it, being that it incorporates so much. What MCs Would You Say, Influenced YOUR Sound The Most?

Train: I can't say, i wrote that to be like so n so but ill tell you what i listened to comin up. Outkast, man i remember kast being the first thing that made me start spittin. you know I love Eminem, one of the best. Kanye killa. right now im looking for Lupe and Cudi. I loved twista. E40. Dre. DMX was the shit when I was really getting momentum. Back to Kast, they are probably my favorite brand that hiphop had to offer me. I tried to be on what they had, always evolving, pushing limits, being downright weird, always banging and deep lyrics, still come hard. I like"quirk ass emcees" like Pharaoe Monch has recently said. nas of course. jay's blueprints was sick. main and say what you want no one could get the party started like the St Lunatics! I could go on and on with this you know! lol

DinoAni: lol.! Yes, I'm Sure! If You Could Work With ANYONE On A Track, Who Would You Want It To Be?

Train: Big Boi, Andre 3000, Lupe, Kanye. my legends. I'd say 3 stacks is my #1

DinoAni: Haha Random, But HONEST, Do You Like The New Direction Kanye Has Been Going With His Music, Better Than Old Kanye?

Train: no. I mean I am all for progress and happy for what kanye is doing, good luck to the guy, talent as all hell. but the question is will i bump 808's over college dropout. naw. but College Dropout is a classic so you need to compare it independently from what he is doing. but there are things I love that kanye is doing, it will be a feat to top that, one of the greatest things from this (almost this past) decade

DinoAni: THANK You! You Don't Know How Many People Fight Me On The College Dropout Vs 808's Thing My Dude. haha I Think It Says A Lot About A Person As Stupid As That May Sound.

Train: yeah like that should be a question on a psychotic evaluation. no don twist it though. i still bumped that mothafuka but i still own my original college dropout album and it is not allowed to be borrowed lol

DinoAni: So For Those Who Haven't Heard Them Yet, In Your Raps, What Topics Do You Most Touch On?

Train: well I try to pride myself on being able to talk about anything the brutal honesty is one of the things I'm battling with in my most current project. but I stay real to myself so my raps will relate to and discuss situations I've been through. being raised in the midwest, going to college , having kids, being broke than a motherfuka right now! tryin to piece together my life and exitence. I mean I can get deep and love using double and triple entendras and complicated metaphors but I also have a song that talks about my love for snowboarding, and college parties. my goal now is incorporating enough of both. so that i can speak on any subject and somebody will feel me but it is just average dude rap. I'm not dead poor (yet) and I got opportunities, but Im very much a blue collar boy and work hard for my piece.

DinoAni: I Loved That Track You Had about Snowboarding By The Way! lol Who Would've Known. (It Was Interesting To Me, Because I've never been personally.] But I Really Think People Will Like The Fact That Your An Average Guy.

Train: Thanks. you build careers around being relatable. I thought Fresh Powder (snowboarding trak) was hilarious. I used the beat cuz I wanted it to gangster as shit. then thugs are bumpin it like yeah and this kid starts rapping about snowboarding on this straight g shit. that to me is funny. but were shooting a video for that bad mofo this winter! I've got my boys at midwestsessions.com coming through and were supposed to get some heavyweights doing some sick tricks all over the ice! so it will be a combo snowboarding trick video and a entertaining music video. watch, it will get some serious play on the net. my first video shoot, i can't wait! snow already!

DinoAni: Exactly.! Real Clever Witt That My Dude. I Heard It, & I Was Feeling The Beat & Everything, then i heard it a second time to actually pay attention to your word game, & Realized you were spittin about Snowboarding. lol Ishh Was Dope.

Train: lol word. and thats what the shit is all about. Right now i love the music I'm making so well see and I'm having so much fun!

DinoAni: Can't Wait For The Video.!

Train: hey if you in the midwest within the next few weeks, michigan indiana area, get at me! make a cameo

DinoAni: Ohh For Sure. I'll Let You Know if I Am! When Can We Expect Your Next Project to drop?

Train: man, its up in the air right now. I'm planning on putting out an EP which will either be ready by summer or next christmas. hopefully two releases on both those dates but the next step for me is to get my stage game on point. If i plan to move to the next level I need to have both. right now I am writing my ass off just by default (i blame this most recent strain of kush) and I am getting more material and songs than i planned but there is alot of shows to do and a lot of people to meet. the music seems to happen by itself, but do not fret there will be plenty of giveaways along the way and lots to come from train in the near future.

DinoAni: Good! You Better Keep Me Posted. In The Meantime, Where Can People Find The Music You already have Out?

Train: the mixtape is available on our favorite mixtape provider http://www.datpiff.com/profile/QuaTrain I have myspace of course (myspace.com/elkhartatrain ) but until i get my website completly up and running, I really try and center around facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/quaTrain/122377491218?ref=mf man i need a website!

DinoAni: You Plan On Getting One Anytime Soon?

Train: yes mam, very soon, lots very soon

DinoAni: Okay! Any Last Words, Or Shout Outs You'd Like To Make Before We Rap This Up?

Train: is it over already? Well Strong Avenue Records is the label. (qua)train is the name. Good is the music. I (do not) guarentee that one spin will make a fan from anyone. shouts to FreeBase: Lord Illingworth, Fat Point Scheme, MC Plus+, you boys pushed me hard. My man Dub for giving me the stage to do me. and my HartCity boys for planting the seeds. Trip, Tree, Joey K, all them boys! Thanks for the support all yall. def to my boys Cadence, ARG and Lu. and of course WAKEYAGAMEUP.com right?

DinoAni: lol whoop whoop.! Waking Up Lames All Day Every Day! haha Thank You For Your Time Quatrain, Real Talk!

Train: word DinoAni, thanks to you and your movement, I appreciate the shine!