Knowledge & The Cause

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Wednesday, 23 March 2011 22:56

Knowledge & The Cause The story starts in the Garden State. Although both parents born in the county of Passaic, in 1990 The Cause was born, in Bergen County. At 4 years old, his father left, and the problems started. Through poverty and family problems, among others, he starting writing rhymes around 8 years old. Now, along with partner Knowledge, he is a rising force in the genre of hip hop.

Having songs with legends like El Da Sensei under his belt, and being featured on mixtapes hosted by N.O.R.E., Killah Priest and Naughty By Nature among others, he is finally getting his due. The true story more than any bio, is found in his rhymes. Vivid stories of Jersey life, tales of the up's and down's of life, and a hard hitting style is something the game has not seen in a long time.

After dropping his realest mixtape yet (and often his slogan) "Truth Hurts", he is ready to prove himself to the world with his upcoming album "Other Side of the Hudson". Knowledge was born Anthony Carlo Lyons in Jacksonville, NC.

He moved to NJ when he was 3 and quickly bounced from school to school, town to to town. Moving to such different places and being a mixture of puerto rican, black and white, make him a rapper with a much different perspective. Knowledge story starts off not much different from most. Hustling at a young age, trouble with the law etc. The difference is he started younger then most and at the age of 16 turns his life around and raps for a positive cause. His interest in music was an escape after being locked up one too many times and getting kicked out his mothers house. Now after a many mixtapes and shows under his belt, he along with partner The Cause, is ready to take over hip hop. Knowledge aka Mr. Know It All's main focus is to bring the real life back into the music. "If I can change any one's life with this music then I done my job".

Ok ... what made you guys choose your rap names? (the meaning behind them etc)

The Cause: My cause in life is music..and with every cause..there is of course an effect.

Knowledge: I was and I guess I still am very stubborn. Everybody said I thought I knew everything so that's where I got my name. As well as Mr. Know It All. The definition of Knowledge is skills aquired by a person through experience. Most of the shit that I spit is experiences that I been through.

How did you two meet and start recording together?

The Cause: I met Knowledge when he was a youuuuung head. When he was called Anthony or "Big Boi". Young ass kid hustling. I met his brother first and then him. When he moved out of the Passaic/Bergen County area after a couple years he started hitting me up on myspace when that was still poppin. He would tell me he rap etc. trying to make something happen. At first I didnt think nothing of it. I just knew him as that little ass kid who sold weed at the time. Plus, it was off and on "I could rap" or "I got some joints". Finally, I heard one his joints after a minute and it blew me away. I couldn't believe it was the same kid ya'll. I thought immediatley I gotta put this kid to work and see what he can do. I never heard nobody before that I wanted him to be a part of what I was doing like that. Put him through a couple tests, seen he was ready and it's been nonstop from there.

Knowledge: I was young hustling he knew my older brother. After I had got locked up and moved with my pops, Cause started bringing me to the studio.

Follow The Cause:

Follow Knowledge:

We heard you guys use the group name "Jerzee Deep" over the past year and now all of a sudden you switched to a duo (The Cause and Knowledge), can you let us know why you don't use the team name of Jerzee Deep anymore?

The Cause: Because it was more people in the group than just me and him. But, we just wanted to go off on our own.The Jersey movement is still in full effect. One moment we can't forget as part of the group was on Smash Block TV.

Knowledge: Yeah, that was big.

Who was in the group before? and who is left?

Knowledge: It was me, Cause. DJ Relic and Jewelz.

The Cause: So I guess it's Relic and Jewelz now.

So is it safe to say you are a duo like Mobb Deep or two solo artists just collabing?

The Cause: You could say its like Mobb as far as the way we think. Every move is planned together. Whether it's a solo move or group move, it's still Cause and Knowledge. The best way to put it is we solo artists in a group.

Knowledge: Usually you see that kind of thing with bigger crews like Wu-tang, Slaughterhouse even L.O.X. But we do our solo thing and we do our group thing as well.

You guys rap on mainly gritty east coast foundations. What makes you wanna stick to the NJ sound rather then doing something like Mims did?

The Cause: For me it was never a choice. I rap the way I am and the way it come out happens to be the "NJ sound". I would never trap myself in a box where I can't rap another way, use another style of beat, or rap about different things. But this is how Jersey sounds feel me. Mims was trying to do something to attract what was hot at the time. A lot of rappers do that. My main focus is to not be hot for one time period but forever. Real art will live on whether it takes longer to catch on or not.

Knowledge: You can say I rap gritty but I really just inherited what I listen to and especially what I grew up on. They say I'm a mix between oldschool and newschool. "Back pack rapper with a flow like a old school hustler".

Cause did anyone ever tell you that you have a voice texture similar to Styles P? If so, do you like the comparison?

The Cause: Actually my boy was saying that the other day. A couple people have said that and I got no problem with it. Especially it being Styles that's my dude. A voice is one thing but my style will always be my own.

Back when you two were in your group ..did you feel like your artistry was being held back?

Knowledge: I wouldn't say that but more as we wasn't all on the same page.

What is the releast and deepest song you guys made to date? (plug the link for it aswell)

The Cause: I think it's "Ease My Pain" but ya'll gonna have to wait for Knowledge album "Knowledge Is Power" for that. Unless we put it out earlier. A lot of people tell us one of our realest songs is "All Of Me".

Knowledge: Yeah, people say that "All Of Me" is our toughest which is funny because it's not even our beat.

In the early and mid 90's New Jersey was at the forefront of making East Coast music popular... over the past decade East Coast music in general slowly dipped away from the mainstream. Is it a goal of yours to make New Jersey come back, or are you cool with shining on the underground scene?

Knowledge: Yeah it's crazy how much shit changed man. That's definitley a goal of mine we need more shine out here and we deserve it.

The Cause: Whether I'm a big or small part of it I wanna see Jersey hip hop get it's due. If I can say I been a part of that when I'm gone and helped bring the state together I'll be good.

Who were your influences to get into music?

The Cause: Everyone that was hot when I was a kid. Big, Pac, DMX, Kiss, Styles, Mase, Eminem, Jay, Nas, probobly even people I dont even fuck with nomore. Remember I started rhyming when I was around 8. But, I cant say my main influences because I took a little something from everyone when I was younger especially the oldschool. Once I turned 10 I wanted to know everything about everybody from Rakim to G Rap. A couple people that still keep me inspired are Joe Budden and Sha Stimuli just to name a couple. And of course my right hand man.

Knowledge: I listen to a lot of old school as well. When I was younger it was really about Big and Nas. As I grew older it was people like Ross and J. Cole. It's just good music all together. I listen to all genres so whatever inspires me.

After debuting some of your music to the masses on D.D.13 Hosted by N.O.R.E., Its clear to see you spit real gems. Is it harder to be respected in hiphop as a real rapper?

The Cause: Surprisingly so far..no. Even people you wouldn't think would fuck with it do. If you make good music people gonna like it regardless, but the real life we put into the music helps too. People relate to it.

Knowledge: It might be harder to be noticed as a "real" rapper but definitly not respected.

Any new projects coming out for you? Any features?

The Cause: The next project is The Jersey Shore EP from both of us together. That title is gonna shock a lot of people especially when they hear the exact opposite of the show. Then our solo's "Knowledge Is Power" and mine "Other Side of the Hudson". We already got the joint with the legendary El Da Sensei coming up. We got another O.G. my man Shawn Lov. Runt Dawg is working on a track for us and we are in talks with others such as D.U. from the Outsidaz and Mr. Green. So it's looking real good.

Other then music what The Cause and Knowledge do to make that paper?

The Cause: Graveyard shift! Where all I do is think about more rhymes and the next move.

Knowledge: Shit this rap thing got me staying out of trouble dog, I'm trying to get it any way I can but legally now you heard.

Here at HipHop.Org we like to ask our features some questions that really are out of the norm. We do this because it gives the fans a broader outlook on you. So lets get it cracking ....Fugees or Outlawz?

The Cause: Aw man, I gotta say Fugees. First off, I love everybody from Jersey. But, The Score is one of my favorite albums of all time.

Knowledge: Fugees.

Redman or Joe Budden?

Knowledge. Reggie Noble.

The Cause: Redman! Joey is my dude but Redman is a legend. That's the king of Jersey. Few can ever do what he's done on the mic.

Ransom or Joe Budden?

The Cause: Joey man but Ran should of blew up too. It's a shame he didn't.

Knowledge. Agreed.

Lords Of The Underground or Naughty By Nature?

The Cause: Now that one's hard. I can't chose man both.

Knowledge: Both legends..Both mean a lot to Jersey..I'm with Cause on that one, both.

Tell us about a hidden talent you guys have?

The Cause: Blowing up on the low haha.

Knowledge: Making money..that's kinda how I met Cause haha..

Back To The Norm.......Name 1 song you've done that will have the HipHop.org viewers hooked!?

The Cause: "I Used To Dream". The video coming out very soon we shot that already. But, for now ya'll gonna have to watch the in studio performance/interview with Hooks.

Thanks for hollering at us and in closing give any shoutouts....links to your sites....F.U.'S or whatever's clever.

The Cause: shout out to the whole Jersey, real hip hop heads and the whole fam ya'll know who ya'll are.

Knowledge: Let's keep shit moving my G's.