Assassination.de: Hi MCE, your name has been mentioned for a long time, but for some reason you haven't been visible in the public eye. Could you tell us what you've been up to and who you are for those who don't know you?

MCE: I was born in Urla, İzmir in 1977. I grew up here, within the borders of this district and İzmir. I started listening to rap in 1989, made my first rap recordings at home with my own resources in 1996, and then entered a studio for the first time in 1998 to make a professional recording in İzmir. And from then on, everything developed step by step, leading me completely into this music industry. Although I'm not very visible in the market, I'm fully active in this sector.

Assassination.de: We know you worked with Kuva-i-zmir. How many years did you work there and what did you do?

MCE: MCE did not undertake any rap work or specific project related to rap culture with Kuva-i-Zmir, but constantly
My name was associated with this family (or crew). Because back then, I thought Yener and I could do something together in the name of rap. But I was wrong. Selfishness brings everything to an end. He dug his own grave. As soon as I realized I was wrong and had done something wrong, I immediately isolated myself from this CREW and withdrew. That's why Kuva-i-zmir never had any concrete work. There's a point I want rap listeners to pay attention to: how many songs does Kuva-i-zmir have? Where were these songs released? And the fact that the artists who made the songs covered their own personal expenses from their own pockets is being attributed to Kuva-i-zmir. This is fraud in my eyes.

Assassination.de: We last heard from DENGE and IZMIR CRISIS MANAGEMENT. Any news?

MCE: Of course! As long as the world keeps turning and I live, whether behind the scenes or on stage, I will always work to do something for this culture. I am one of those who will never lose this spirit. It's such a thing that the popularity of rap is completely unimportant to me. Even if I don't make a sound, know that this kid will definitely influence or help in some way. In short, my work continues at full speed.)

Suikast.de: Do you have an album in mind? If so, when will it be released? Will there be any collaborations on the album? If so, who are they? How many tracks are there? Can you tell us a little about the album? Can you talk about your future plans?

MCE: YES, I definitely have plans for one or more albums. I don't know the exact date, but I'm working to finish it quickly. There will be features, of course, that's inevitable, but I'm thinking of keeping the features to a minimum (in the first album). Because I believe an MC should first prove himself as a solo artist before making an album with many features. SALDIRGAN – MADDKAVE – ROU – DJ ÇAĞDAŞ – VOLKAN – HAKANMC – their raps will add color to my album. We're also planning to release a mini underground album soon, compiled from the old works of our group LAB168…

Suikast.de: Can you tell us about the rap scene in İzmir?

MCE: I don't have a very large social circle. Because of that, I don't have a very extensive network. However, the truth is, my entire network consists of LABORATORY 168 and Cash Flow Rec... we can sit down and discuss anything freely, yell at each other, and rap – there's nothing better than that. I've shared a lot with this Cash Flow Rec family, and they'll achieve great things in the future.

Suikast.de: Can I get your opinions on Turkish rap?

MCE: Turkish rap, yes, Turkish rap. For some, it's a huge, passionate whim, just "we're making Turkish rap, we're rappers," etc. I see many groups and MCs who don't take this seriously. The songs should be taken more seriously, and people should spend some money on this. I observe that the support base is decreasing day by day. I see that people who started with enthusiasm are giving up on this music, their opinions are changing. I see those who prefer consuming to producing. BUT, I also see those who are quite radical and fearless in pursuing this. Those who do this will win, but those who don't take this seriously and only see it as a youthful fad will lose. We have a bumpy road ahead, and I don't believe Turkish rap will become very popular. First, we'll explode in Europe, then Türkiye will realize it.

Assassination.de: Which Turkish rappers do you like?

MCE: My favorite rappers are VOLKAN and DJ ÇAĞDAŞ because these two talented vocalists don't shy away from any technical investment to make their rap good, and I'm absolutely sure they'll see the rewards very soon. Also, SALDIRGAN is very important to me; his lyrics have always impressed me. I see a very bright future for him too.

Assassination.de: Who do you listen to?

MCE: West Coast and Southern rap attract me the most. Years of experience honing my vast knowledge of rap has greatly helped me decide which genre is right for me. I'm most drawn to GETO BOYS (aaaa yeah), EA-SKI (one word: 'wow'), DJ SQUEEKY (amazing), MC REN (our big brother), East Coast rap, TIM DOG, etc. The list goes on, but these are the ones that come to mind and have deeply affected me.

Suikast.de: What advice would you give to friends who are new to rap?

MCE: That's a great question, thank you very much. For beginners, I recommend learning what rhyme means and what refrains are first. Then, they should grab a pen and paper, and a blank notebook… and start writing rhymes. They should create their own rhyme dictionary. This way, they will see how they can broaden their horizons and record rap songs with fluent wordplay. Remember, the foundation of rap is rhyme. Because these are our future.

Assassination.de: What are your thoughts on our website?

MCE: I definitely make sure to visit your site at least twice a week. It's a great site for me to get the latest news, discover new groups, and see and evaluate developments in the community. I wish you continued success.

Assassination.de: The Last Word is Yours.

MCE: Finally, I have a request for my fellow reporters and those who own rap-related websites. My name is spelled MCE. I would be very pleased if they didn't spell it any other way. Let's see what surprises await our rap music in 2004. I hope the best happens, and I wish for many surprises.
PEACE