Brooklyn, New York rapper The Honorable Hannibal Stax rose up under the tutelage of the late Guru and DJ Premier, appearing on high profile projects from the likes of Gang Starr [“Itz a Set Up,” “Same Team, No Games”], Afu-Ra [“All That”], Baldhead Slick [“Stay Outta My Face”] and Big Shug [“Dirt“], before unveiling his very own debut solo LP, Seize The Day, produced entirely by Marco Polo, in May 2013.
First things first, last year (August 11th 2023 to be exact) marked the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop — What exactly does that mean to and for you?
I am Hip Hop, I was born 3/18/73. As far as I’m concerned, my birth sent out a frequency that can’t be compared to anything in existence…to me, it means everything. It’s my lifeline.
To quote the late, great The Notorious B.I.G., “You never thought that Hip Hop would take it this far!” — Was this something that you ever could’ve imagined?
Absolutely! It’s like the heartbeat of my nation, I can’t imagine existing without it. It’s more than just another genre of music.
What are some of your fondest, most stand-out moments / memories during your lengthy tenure in this thing called Hip Hop?
The ‘90’s…the culture really started to transition into an unstoppable force. It was like our only weapon against poverty and injustice in a corrupt system. Most of us were holding our position; touring, showcasing, collaborating…making a way from nothing.
That said, what are your future plans and / or goals throughout the remainder of 2024 and beyond?
For the remainder of 2024, I plan to continue writing and plotting my next move.
Switching gears here, what exactly do you want people to get from your music?
I want people to know this is more than just beats and rhymes for me. This is spiritual warfare. I am a spiritual warlord / warrior. I use the physical vessel you know as Hannibal Stax and the frequency you know as Hip Hop to free my tribe. All is Mind.
If you could collaborate with any one artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Tupac Shakur, I believe he understood the mission. Unfortunately, he got distracted like so many of us do.
If you could play any venue in the world, which one would you choose and why?
Barclays, it’s fairly new, so it’s still rough around the edges and it’s in my hometown…BROOKLYN!!
On a more serious note, are you happy with the current state of Hip Hop?
Absolutely Not! The Cowards that been caught on to us, they figured out we were healing each other, and growing stronger than any generation that came before us. So they conjured up ways to put an end to that, turned our own weapon against us.
What do you feel has and will continue to be the key to your longevity?
My authenticity, I’m a nonconformist. If you listen close enough, you can hear it in 9 out of 10 of my songs.
Do you have any other outside / additional (future) aspirations, maybe even completely away from entertainment?
Most definitely, but I’ve learned it’s best not to let the cat out of the bag prematurely. I’m a creative thinker, so anything is possible.
What’s an average day like for you?
Seeking different avenues of income, bonding with family.
Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans…
Social media; IG, FB, Email, etcetera…#HannibalStax
What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why?
My favorite part is the creative process, my least favorite is entertaining…as you might have noticed, I’m not really the dancing type.
What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
It’s okay to study my moves – wins & losses – but choose your own route. We all have to stand on our own square at the end of the day.
Looking ahead, say five or maybe even ten years from now, where do you see yourself?
Still Grindin’, studying, growing, setting an example…
Btw, what’s up with Shiggy Sha & Panch [NYG’z]?
Last I spoke to Panch, him & Sha super good.
Is there anything I left out or just plain forgot to mention?
Not sure, but if you got any more Questions in the future…Check in!
Any “parting” words for our readers?
Appreciate your gift, Know your purpose…Stay solid, whether they reward you for it or not.
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