Steve Sxaks Interview

Check out our exclusive interview with Steve Sxaks.

I2G is here with Steve Sxaks—how’s it going?

Aye, what’s going on? It’s all gravy over here!

Tell me a little bit about how you got your start in music and who some of your musical influences are.

I got my start in punk rock. Picked up a bass guitar and never looked back. It led me to touring the world, being on the cover of magazines—just living a life I never thought was possible. At the time, I was really into bands like Gorilla Biscuits, Minor Threat, Black Flag, and Chain of Strength.

Then one day I discovered this guy Nick Cave, which really broadened my musical horizons. It let me know it was okay to blend genres and make “weird” music. I was also super into Nina Simone, Tracy Chapman, Prince, and Michael Jackson. I started blending a lot of genres into what I was doing.

When I was about 14, I really got into hip-hop. I used to buy records out of catalogs, but there was no way to hear the music before buying it, so I’d pick records based on the cover. I was ordering from the Epitaph Records catalog, and they had a record called A Healthy Distrust by Sage Francis. I ordered it, and when it came and the needle touched the vinyl and the beat started playing, my mind was blown. It was very politically charged hip-hop. In my mind, it was punk rock lyrics over beats. It really set everything I do into motion.

I went straight to Tower Records and grabbed It’s Dark and Hell Is Hot by DMX on cassette, and that just expanded my obsession even further. From there, I deep-dived—Dead Prez, Mobb Deep, Big L, Kool G Rap, Public Enemy, Rage Against the Machine. I was copping everything.

Then I started digging into the Philadelphia scene and found The Roots, Schoolly D, Jedi Mind Tricks, and The Tuff Crew. After getting into all that, I saw Jedi Mind Tricks had a show at the Troc in Chinatown with Sean Price and Reef the Lost Cauze. I went to that as a young teenager and haven’t looked back since. I bought every Sean P album and still have the Jesus Price poster hanging up. Sitting and talking to Reef at that show really made me feel like I’d be welcomed in the scene.

So yeah—that was kind of my humble beginning. My influences span every genre, from punk and hip-hop to jazz, soul, and R&B.

Tell me a little bit about your new EP, Goblin Town, with Skinny Bonez and how it came together.

Skinny Bonez has been a friend for many years. He produced a cypher for the Marsten House Cyphers—a video cypher series I’ve been hosting for 15 years—and we hit it off immediately. He’s since produced several more and has worked with a bunch of artists we linked him with. He also hosted one of my artists, YOUWIN, in Amsterdam and is his tour DJ on an upcoming European tour.

Last year we did a Marsten House x Skinny Bonez collaboration, and we felt like it was time to really do something together. I plan on heading over there later this year for a couple shows and to finally shake that man’s hand in person.

Do you have any more upcoming videos or singles?

I’m dropping all year! Every month this year I have a release. Coming February 28th, Tray Digga and I are dropping our Sharkfu album. It’s got some hardcore hip-hop, some reggae, some pop tunes—it’s all over the place, but it’s a fun record.

In March, I have The Heroes League Presents: Steve Sxaks. So yeah, you’re going to be hearing from me all year.

Do you have a full-length album in the works?

I actually have a couple full-lengths dropping this year—several group projects and a couple solo records in different genres. Sharkfu is a full-length. It does have a few previously released songs on it, but it’s still a 13-song project.

Then I’m dropping a folk project called Steve Sxaks Is Papa Bear. It’s a handful of songs I wrote when I was 15, but recorded as my capstone project while getting my master’s in Studio Technology. It’s very different from anything I’ve ever done, but I’m proud of it.

I also have another release at the end of the year—a remaster of my first solo hip-hop album from 2009, Legend.

What are your current thoughts on the music industry?

Right now, the music industry is both exciting and scary. It’s a lot different from anything I’ve seen in my 20 years in the business. But if you’re willing to adapt, you can still make a solid living. Streaming isn’t getting you rich unless you’re doing Drake numbers, but if you make good content, people will show interest and buy your merch.

I sell a ton of shirts and physical albums. I also wrote a book recently, so I keep copies on my merch table. I make sure I don’t go anywhere without merchandise.

What’s currently playing on your playlist?

Right now I’ve been super into Hit-Boy and The Alchemist. I’ve been bumping that kid from the South, JaYy Wick—Pork Chop Sammich was crazy. I’ve also been playing Boldy James and Ransom’s Salvation for the World. My bro OT the Real is on that record and he goes crazy!

Do you have any shows or tour dates coming up?

Yup! We’re heading out to Austin for SXSW, then doing Sakura Festival in Philly. I’ve got shows sprinkled throughout the year. The best place to find all that is my website and Instagram.

What’s your website?

www.letsgoguy.com
You can find tour dates, order the book, check out the music, grab merch—all of it right there.

Appreciate the interview—any last words or shout-outs?

Yeah—shout-out to the whole Marsten House family. This is our last year doing the cyphers—15 years strong—and we’re ending it with a documentary. Gotta shout-out my brother Rich Quick (RIP) and my Corfu fam. Big shout-out to It’s The League and the whole Heroes crew.

This is our year, boys!