Choppin it up w/ I KNOW BRASCO.

Lilz: How did you get the name I Know Brasco?

I Know Brasco: Back when i was like 13 me n my rap squad all had italian rap names cuz being a MOBSTER was the cool thing to do..we was just picking names from movies..i had never seen Donnie Brasco but Brasco just sounded dope so my original name was Bobby Brasco. The I-Know came in from a promotion/mixtape i started on in 05. The most important thing isnt always who you know sometimes its about who knows you. So what better way to verify my street cred than by having the whole hood walking around with shirts on that say "I KNOW BRASCO" and after awhile people would just greet me that way so i just adapted and took it as my full rap name.

Lilz: How old were you when you started rapping & why?

I Know Brasco: I wrote my first rap when i was like 9. But i didnt start letting people hear me rap til i was about 13. I ran around doing ciphers and battles n mixtapes for fun all through hish school (CAPA) but it wasnt till i came home to philly after two years up at West Chester U that i started to really pursue it as a career. I really started rapping because it was fun and i didnt have anything to do. I continued with it because i have a love and a passion for it and a desire to get better at it.

Lilz: Who are your influences in music?

I Know Brasco: As far as my subject matter my influences are my Mom, sister, father, philly and all of my homies who go thru things on the daily but cant express them in words. They also have things they wanna say and they tell me all the time "sco somtimes i just feel like___" and it may spark a song idea. Something for them to relate to. i always say that my raps all come from 4 elements PAIN, LOVE, STRUGGLE, HOPE...as far as musically Jay-Z, Jadakiss, Joe Budden, Areosmith, Biggie, State Property, Kanye West.


Lilz: How would you describe what music means to you?

I Know Brasco: Music is my therapy. Its what i use to channel my emotions. if i am angry, happy, mad, frustrated, whatever the case may be it helps me to get those emotions out in a positive manner instead of flipping out on someone. It sounds super RAPPERISH to say but Music is my Life.. i love it.. i dedicate my time energy thoughts sweat n tears to it..if it had a vagina and could make a sandwhich i would marry music.

Lilz: How do you feel about the music out today?

I Know Brasco: I think there is a funny balance going on. There is alot of mainstream heat and some mainstream wackness and the same in the underground scene. I cant really hate..it is what it is. there are some artist who get on due to the grind and some because of the music but very few of both. But its an industry and all industries have positives and negatives to them.

Lilz: What do you have planned for the rest of this year?

I Know Brasco: I dropped my mixtape SAY NO MORE in May so i am going to continue to push that and i am now focusing on maximizing my internet presence, doing shows, networking with these djs and blogsites, shooting a few more videos for tracks off of SAY NO MORE and building up a stash of orignal songs.


Lilz: Who have you worked with & who would you like to work with?

I Know Brasco: I record mostly solo music or music with my team (187Gang) However recently i have done some collabos with different philly artist (Tone Trump, Chill Moody, Ryan RStar, KeyNotez, Scorp Da Boy) Who would i like to work with... some of my dream collabos are Jadakiss, Jim Jones, Joe Budden, Eminem, Jay-Z and i pray that one day i will be blessed to do such. For the time being. anybody that wants to collab HIT ME ON TWITTER @IKNOWBRASCO and we can get it done


Lilz: Where do you see yourself in 1Oyrs?

I Know Brasco: Married, 3 kids, Living in the burbs and having an established career in the music industry and if not that then i def see myself in the Radio profession.


Lilz: Who do you think is the best rapper in Philly right now?

I Know Brasco: BEST RAPPER?? LYRICALLY?? (THIS IS NOT A TYPICAL RAPPER ANSWER) i say myself. no disrespect to anyone in philly because there are ALOTTA DOPE RAPPERS in the city. some i have met n worked/performed with and some i just have heard but i feel like i can and have gone bar for bar song for song with the best the city can offer. so my answer is MYSELF but not on a cocky note. SHOUTOUT TO ALL THE HOT RAPPERZ IN PHILLY (Chris, Trump, Free, Sanman,) its too many to name, but i feel like i am right there wit them.

Lilz: How would you describe your style?

I Know Brasco: Reality rap. real talk. and that doesnt mean its always HARD TALK. Sometimes reality is being in love, sometimes its stressing about the bills, sometimes its heartbreak, sometimes its drug dealing. Wherever i am at that moment when i hear the music thats what i rap about. my style is just me and i cant explain me. I just feel like real regular people can feel me because i represent them because i am a real regular dude that just so happened to be blesssed with the gift to craft lyrics. Just get to Know me..hahaha..see how i did that..Know me...I KNOW BRASCO...hahaha