Check out our exclusive interview with Spectac and Amiri.
I2G is here with Spectac, how’s it going?
Big up Fam! Thanks for having me to represent the dynamic duo Spectac & Amiri! All is well!
Tell me a little bit about how you got your start in music and who are some of your musical influences out there coming up.
I started my love of the culture and art around 1983 and fell in love with Run DMC. Since that time the works by artists like Dana Dane,Juice Crew, Tribe, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Nas, Souls of Mischief, 9th Wonder, Little Brother, Fat Rat, Carolina Dirty, Monie Love, Langston Hughes III, I.K.E., Supasition, Sha Stimuli, J-Live, and J Cole to name a few are and have been an inspiration. Also, Strick, Allen Mask, and Part Time Cooks are some of the new music I rock with.
You just recently dropped your new single and video, Relax with Amiri. Very smooth and dope single Tell me a little bit about how the single came together for you.
The project was written during the pandemic and just because we were stuck at home with little to do except record and send tracks back and forth— if I am being totally honest. We did not see it as more than something to keep us in the spirit during such a sad time in our history— which is why you hear references to the pandemic and what was happening politically during that time in some of the joints we did.
Do you have any other Mixtapes or albums set to drop?
We have a dope 7 inch in queue and ready to drop! It’s also coming via Illadrenaline Records. Amiri has a solo ready to release and I’m working on an album with my high school friend and first producer Rod, it’s tentatively being called The Lost Demos!
Do you have any more upcoming videos or singles from the album?
We have another video, When We Do It, dropping with the album on December 13th and one more video for the first single Yea Yall in the chamber!
What are your current thoughts on the music industry?
It’s hip-hop man, ever evolving and ever inspiring the generation currently on deck. With the Beautiful Soul project we wanted to keep the rawness of what made us love the culture in our own youth while dropping gems to hopefully inspire the upcoming and coming generation.
What is currently playing on your playlist musically?
That hasn’t changed much over the years… I am a huge Tracy Chapman fan, Bob Marley, 80’s rock, and Motown. Of course I’m always checking the new underground music thanks to my partner Amiri who does a way better job keeping up with the trends than I do… haha haha!
Do you have any shows or tour dates?
Amiri works at BMW full time in the Upstate (South Carolina) and I’m a recovering school principal who now working full time in the ed tech industry… my tours these days usually consists of rocking the mic for a room full of educators. Hell, I literally just came off stage at a venue in Va Beach, VA doing just that— I love it!
What is your website information?
@drmervinjenkins (Spectac) and @vinylritch (Amiri)… on most social media platforms!
Appreciate the interview, any last words or shout outs?
20% of life is what happens to you and the other 80% is how you respond… let’s be good stewards of humanity until it’s time to meet our maker! Live and Love LIFE! Shout out to Benny and the team at Illadrenaline Records, Shadow Runnas (Hold ya Breath), and the family all over— especially my hometown of Eutawville (U-taw-ville), SC!
About The Author
Dopeeee interview with Spec!