Interview: Le1f Talks Pokemon, Wesleyan & Sasha Go Hard Collab at SXSW

The world’s first glimpse of up-and-coming rapper Le1f came early last year, with the music video to his well-received single, “Wut.” His eccentric get-up (short shorts and dyed purple hair) contrasted from his vocal technique: deep-voiced and extremely back-of-the-throat. But it worked: the song’s hook (and Le1f’s impressive twerking) catapulted the rapper to moderate recognition.

Fast forward to 2013 and the ex-Wesleyan rapper has released two mixtapes, performed multiple shows throughout the world and produced Das Racist’s (RIP) ode to fast-food restaurant duos, “Combination Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.”

RESPECT. spoke with Le1f about his first SXSW, Pokemon, majoring in dance at Wesleyan and being a part of the New York rap scene.

This year was your first time being a part of South By Southwest. What did you learn from the experience?

That I need to get into the mindset of being in a rock band, line-checking. My first show during SXSW was at Stubb’s and it was rough. It was fun though, I was able to watch the Yeah Yeah Yeahs perform once I was done performing. That was cool.

How did you go about choosing the producers you did for your latest mixtape, Fly Zone?

I basically went through SoundCloud and what people emailed me, to put something together that made sense to me conceptually. After Dark York, my first mixtape, dropped last year, I was just accumulating beats. Fly Zone took two months to make–10-to-15 studio sessions. I’m happy with it; it came out organically.

Did Dark York come out in a similar fashion?

No, not at all. Dark York was kind of an accumulation of everything I liked, ever. Some of the songs on Dark York were made two-to-three years before the mixtape came out. I definitely feel like I’ve developed as a rapper since Dark York, though.

What song off of Fly Zone would you say you enjoy the most?

It changes for me. When I first made Fly Zone I really liked “Coins,” but after I finished it I was like, “I could have done something different with it.” But I guess my favorite one is “Spa Day.” I rap the fastest I’ve ever rapped before, which was a challenge. And I like that the chorus kind of sounds like a Dipset song. I wanted to feel like Camron and Twista, and I think I did it. It’s also one of my favorite beats.

You attended Wesleyan University like other artists: Santigold, MGMT and Das Racist. Do they secretly breed specific people into musicians?

No, I wish! [Laughs] I dropped music theory like, three times at Wesleyan. I was going to be a music major but after that I was like, “I’m just going to be a rapper.” But Wesleyan is definitely an interesting place. It’s a cool school where you can easily travel to New York from. That’s kind of the reason why I went to Wesleyan. I was already friends with Santigold and the members of Das Racist, so it was cool to work with creative people and still play shows in New York.

As an avid Pokemon fan I was wondering if the use of Pikachu masks in the “Wut” video were intentional? Like a shout out to Pokemon?

Absolutely! I wanted the masks to be of Squirtle but I would’ve had to paper mache them, and they wouldn’t have looked as clean. I really wanted a water-type Pokemon! I am obsessed with Pokemon; I try to think of my music in Pokemon types instead of genres. Like Dark York was psychic and ground-type, and Fly Zone was flying-type. That’s the most honest way I feel I can make music. The song “Jelly Fish” [off of the Liquid EP] is about Starmie and Staryu.

From Dark York to Fly Zone–which Pokemon would you say you evolved to?

Well, Gengar is my spirit animal. I kind of look like him, and if I could do Pokemon moves they would be psychic-type. When I was a part of the seapunk scene I was obsessed with water-type Pokemon. Gym Leader Misty was my shit in 2011. These days, I feel more like Kadabra, Farfetch’d and Wigglytuff. Pokemon rap is where it’s at.

In college you wrote a thesis titled, “Subversion in Post-WWII Performance.” How did writing this thesis influence you as an artist, and is it available to read anywhere?

No. [Laughs] It’s not. It was one of my most poorly written pieces ever. I worked up until the deadline writing that essay. Majoring in dance at any liberal arts school is such a trite thing. College for me was more about exploring all of these things I already had interests in. Fluxus art, Butoh and voguing–those were my core interests for making anything. I’m extremely inspired by Claes Oldenburg, Matthew Barney, Min Tanaka and all of the former Butoh legends. People should look up Butoh because that shit is crazy.

Aside from rapping you’re also a producer. For future projects do you think you’ll do more producing?

Definitely. I did these mixtapes just to catch on, and get this up-and-coming look. For an LP I would want my process to be like the way M.I.A.’s process was for Kala. I just needed to gain confidence as a rapper first, before I went back to producing.

The current New York rap scene is so eclectic. Aside from yourself there’s the A$AP Mob, Flatbush Zombies, The Underachievers, Pro Era, Azealia Banks, Mykki Blanco. How does it feel to be a part of that scene?

I think it’s cool. It’s really cool to see people around me that are finally getting recognized. House of Ladosha has been one of my favorite rap acts since 2006. And Zebra Katz, I remember putting “Ima Read” on my Tumblr in 2006, and four years later that nigga is popping off. [Laughs] The whole queer rap thing kind of irked me but to be honest at least these are artists whose music I love. I’m happy that I’m vaguely a part of the New York scene, and I like where it is right now.

You collaborated with Sasha Go Hard on her Round 3 mixtape. How did that come about?

I DM’d her and I was like, “What’re you working on? Let me get on that.” So she sent me the song and it all happened really fast. I was obsessed with her and the girl rappers a part of the Chicago drill scene. Katie Got Bandz is legit too.

After SXSW what else do you have planned?

I’m playing Winter Music Conference, Culture Shock at SUNY Purchase. Aside from that just chilling in New York, smoking weed and making music.