At the height of Wu Tang Clan’s rise to popularity and success, Black_Hart! began pursuing the life of an artist. Wishing to find his own success without following a path of negativity and destruction, Black_Hart! enlisted in the US Navy.

This allowed him to hone his creativity, travel the world, and eventually develop a super group of his own which includes as many as 14 artists working collectively toward a common goal. This group is called Dark Empire.

In the interview below, Black_Hart! discusses negativity in music, creating as a super group, and what’s next for his music and career.

Let readers know who you are, where you are from, and how hard it is being a positive force in a Hip Hop world which glorifies self-destructive behaviors?

I go by the name of Black_Hart! because I am bluntly honest with my insight and because of this I am considered cold or “black hearted” by those who find my point of view offensive. It’s extremely difficult to project positivity because the world as a whole not just hip hop has learned to capitalize off of negativity. Commercial hip hop has set the standard for materialism and negative stereotypes that new artist pattern themselves after. As I was coming up you had your Wu Tangs your Gangstarrs Tribe Called Quest Quest and even Ice Cube. Gangster or not each of them injected positive insight in their message. Today none of that is exhibited in mainstream hip hop. The message is left on the cutting room floor. I personally refuse to make music without some type of point or message.

Tell us more about Dark Empire and the Japanese affiliation. How fun or difficult can it be creating with as many as 14 in a group?

The Japan years were the best times. I came up with the name Dark Empire because I saw the “mainstream industry” as some sort of enemy to my views, so as silly as it may sound I saw myself succeeding in this business by overthrowing the current model and since I was extremely against their methods (materialism) I(we) would have to infiltrate like a dark empire lol. The name has become so much more since it was initially envisioned. For the military in Japan it’s like taking a few people from all the major cities in U.S. And putting them in one neighborhood. Although we were stationed outside of Tokyo we as Americans normally congregated in our own community. So if you were a dope dancer, everyone in your community knew you danced. In my case it didn’t take much for the word to get out I was a rapper. Once I made it known all the other rappers came around and before you knew it we had a group big enough to fill a stage. Also because we were Americans producing hip hop, the Japanese hip scene welcomed us with open arms because we were real life examples of the culture they love. The best part of being in a group that big was the creativity. We would come up with some wild ideas musically, the downside is literally controlling 15 different personalities and trying to maintain collective focus. Kudos to Rza for doing that for 20 plus years lol. But alas even the best teams eventually part ways.

[Tweet “I personally refuse to make music without some type of point or message. -@DESOVERIEGNNATI”]

What can listeners expect on this new project? How is it different than all your previous ones?

Book of Marlon is me, on this one I didn’t attempt to mirror or emulate today’s popular sound, yet I didn’t force myself to go against it either. It’s a happy medium, a mature resolution between mainstream and underground. I got songs about my personal life, I got songs that though may be anti mainstream in the message they fit the blueprint for commercial songs( meaning they have catchy hooks and a beat to dance to) most importantly I get really deep and at times spiritual

Who or what influences you and what motivates you to continue creating music?

I lost a cousin to violence back in 1994. Before his passing I looked up to him like a big brother. I’ve been writing poetry and raps most my life but he inspired me to consider taking it serious. He was the best rapper I’ve ever met personally and sadly his life ended before he had a shot to make it big. Since his death I’ve vowed to succeed at becoming a famous rapper since he couldn’t, and I won’t stop until I join him in heaven.

What was the last song you listened to?

Lol P.I.M.P. By 50 Cent

What’s next? Where do you want to be in 5…10 years?

Lol I know I said I’m going to keep rapping until I die but realistically my end game is creating my own comic book universe. I got a comic in works now just need a team of serious artists to draw it out for me.

Where can we connect with you online? Stream your music?

You can find me on soundcloud: Darkempirerecordings
Reverbnation :Blackhartofficialpage
And I’m on iTunes Amazon and Google Play: Black_Hart!

Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom?

You can’t miss what you never had
You can’t love what you don’t know
You can’t fear what you don’t believe
And you can never EVER stop DE