Subtex
Subtex is a seasoned underground Hip Hop emcee who hails from the United States Of America. A father, emcee, mental health worker and activist, Subtex has built a strong cult following due to his good music catalogue including his ground breaking collaborative work with Sela Ninja from Tanzania, “Hatuwalambi Miguu”.
Karibu sana Micshariki Africa brother Subtex. How is your Swahili coming along? I hope Sela Nnja is upto the task ensuring you are leaning Swahili?
I am learning some, but I could be learning more to be honest. I can repeat a lot of what Sela says in his verses and my pronunciation is good, but I would like to learn more. I will ask Sela for some more lessons.
For the next record we do, I would like to do a song where I rap in Swahili and he raps in English. I think that would be great.
Introductions first, who is Subtex, where are you from and what do you do?
My government name is Zeke Kreitzer and I am from America. I am originally from Long Island, New York and I grew up in the state of Vermont. I lived 10 years in Boston Massachusetts and 10 years in Brooklyn, New York as part of the Hip Hop group Grey Sky Appeal. I began making solo music in 2017 and started releasing "The Book of Ezekiel' series. I have since released three installments of BOE and live back in Vermont now, where I raise my 3-year-old daughter.
You came to my radar while I was listening to Sela Ninja's countless projects with emcees from outside Tanzania. How did you people link up?
I believe he reached out to me online. I started to dig into his music and I was very impressed. I think 'Mazabe' was the first song we did together. We could tell right off that there was chemistry between us and it was unique. We continued making track after track, each on sounding better and better, eventually leading up to the release of our full length record, ‘Hatuwalambi Miguu.'
Before we delve into the projects that you did with Sela Ninja, let us go back in time to where it all began for you. Kindly let the readers know when and when you were born. How many were you in your family and how was your childhood growing up?
I was born in Manhasset, New York in 1980. My family moved to Vermont in 1981 and I grew up there with my brother who is 3 years younger. I lived with my mom, dad and brother where music was a big part of our family, as my dad's past was rooted in music. My dad played a large part in my early love for music.
At the age of 21 I moved to Boston MA, spent 10 years there, then moved to Brooklyn for another 10, where I had a mighty run with the Hip Hop group Grey Sky Appeal.
My solo run began in 2017 and continues strong to this day.
How did this music thing begin for you? How did you discover and nurture the talent that you had until this point? Was your family supportive?
My family was supportive growing up and still are. My father was my musical inspiration and I began playing the bass and joining bands as a teenager. I have been on stage in different settings for a while now. Its second nature and I love performing. Hip Hop became an interest and I began writing lyrics. I matured and nurtured my craft, and continue to do so to this day.
What attracted you into the Hip Hop Kulture and how has it influenced your life?
Lyrics and expressionism through words.
This being the 50th year of Hip Hop what are some of the notable milestones personally for you that make you proud to be part of the Culture?
Releasing the third installment of “The Book of Ezekiel 3” last year, was an astronomically large accomplishment for me. I put my heart and soul into those records and I find that number 3 is my best work yet.
Take us back to your first time to hit the studios, what was the experience like to the younger you, what song did you record and how did it guys receive your music?
I was in many home studios as a teenager with friends making music. The first real song I recorded was called 'I Love Wrestling' lol. I was maybe 12 years old and it goes without saying, I loved wrestling. I am talking WWF old school, Jake The Snake, Andre...those dudes.
I remember the hook going, "I love wrestling, I know it's fake, I love wrestling, Jake The Snake."
I was proud of that song lol.
As time went on I began recording more serious songs and putting them into record form. In 2003, I put out a record called “Vital Nerve” that shadows my adolescent years. It has been all uphill since then.
Are you also into music production and if so how do you juggle between being an emcee and a music producer?
I am actually not a producer. I have made some beats over the years, but that was just for fun. I prefer to focus solely on the lyrics.
How is the music scene over there? Is the underground Hip Hop scene still alive and kicking?
The music scene in America is still alive and kicking. Ups and down and ever changing sounds within Hip Hop, but on the whole as the underground scene goes, it will always be strong.
There is a mutual respect within the underground Hip Hop community. For instance, I just met Freddie Black and Tash last week in Vermont at a show, which I was also on the bill. They let me join them at their next show in Boston a few days later for another set, I was honored. Its stuff like that which proves to me Hip Hop will never crack because of the types of artists it attracts within the circuits I know.
Let us delve into your catalogue, what full projects have you dropped so far be it eps, mixtapes or albums? Name of project and year of release?
As far as my solo career, I have released The Book of Ezekiel 1, 2 and 3. (2017, 2020 and 2023)
Hatuwalambi Miguu with Sela Ninja (2023)
Prior to 2017 my catalog consists of records with Grey Sky Appeal.
Moon Balloon with Esh (2016)
Occams Razor with Qwel (2014)
Hunt And Gather (2012)
Du Er Smuk (GOTM054) with Zatoichi's Ears (2024)
Back to you and Sela Ninja. "Hatuwalambi Miguu", how did this project come about? What was the overall theme, concept or message from the project?
Sela and I had met online and started recording a few tracks together. They came out really nice and kept improving. We were creating a unique sound and did not want to stop. We eventually brought the project to 20 tracks and released it in 2023.
I am very happy with how this project came together and the like-minded-ness of Sela and I. We worked very well together and were bouncing back idea and creating up to 3 songs per day. They just kept flowing, and they still do as we work on our second record together.
Hatuwalambi Miguu speaks for itself in its rawness. It brought artists together from all over the World. Combined with different cultures and languages it represents the universal love of Hip Hop, no matter where you are from.
Who came up with tiltle of the album and how does the album title go hand in hand with the album cover when it comes to conveying your thoughts to the listener? Who came up with the album cover?
Sela came up with the title of the album and an artist I know from Greece drew the design. The title of the record would translate to "we don't bow down" or "we don't kiss their feet".
To be honest, Vivi said I could use the art years before I met Sela, but never had the right project for it.
It felt right for this record and the imagery on the cover to me represented the chaos of life and the juggling act of surviving. On the back cover, there is a bird and a broken shell on top of a turtle. To me that represents the balance of man.
How important was the project you did with Sela Ninja important when it comes to breaking cultural and language barriers in Hip Hop?
It's a powerful record. I cannot think of another record that had English and Swahili rappers on it. Sela and I make a good team and work together very naturally. We have a similar process when it comes making music. It happens very naturally.
The lead single from "Hatuwalambi Miguu" was B.I.B.L.E which featured emcees from both Kenya and Tanzania... should we expect an East African tour soon?
I would love to come to Africa to perform and meet everyone I have been working with in person. That definitely needs to happen.
Where to from here...I see you dropped an EP, "Book Of Ezekiel 3" What are these series of EP all about?
The Book of Ezekiel series began in 2017 and were my first venture into my solo career. The first installment was very successful and gained attention from the underground Hip Hop scene.
In 2020, after the birth of my daughter, I released the second installment, which also had a great impact. The music continuously got better. Late last year I released the third installment and I consider my best work yet. That is the trilogy, exactly how I envisioned it. There is 3 records are the core of my life's work...but there will be more…
With the advent of DSPs how has this influenced how you present music to your listeners and and benefit financially from the same?
It changed things for sure and have made music before the internet ages. It watered down a lot of the industry and made it easier for people with zero skill to succeed.
On a more positive note, it made music easier to distribute for underground artists and made it more possible to succeed as an independent rapper. Music can reach the masses much easier.
To benefit financially you need to get creative. Experiment with different types of merchandise and touring to new cities, national and international.
Are you into music full time or you have a side job that assists you to sustain yourself?
I balance my music with working within the mental health industry. I work with patients of trauma who live in a residential home.
As we wind wind up what would you like us to know about Subtex that we might not have asked you?
Just that I have got a lot of new music coming. Sela and I are working on a new full-length record for 2024. Beyond that, I have got three other records completed. My next release will be in July of 2024 and is titled 'Du Er Smuk.' It's produced by Zatoichi's Ears (London) and will be released by UK record label, Gold On The Mixer.
Beyond that, I have a full-length album with UKs Ill informed and a full length album with producer Rico James of Man Bites Dog Records. I am excited to release all this music.
Where can our readers get in touch with you on social media and where can they find your music?
I am most active on;
Instagram: @_subtex
You can find my music on my;
Bandcamp: https://thebookwaswritten.bandcamp.com/music
and all digtal platforms.
Boomplay: https://www.boomplay.com/albums/80217689?from=search&srModel=COPYLINK&srList=WEB
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4DtFulxlK1vJEwMLtz1pp3?si=-VPjbM_2Shu4B8VSxlj4EQ
Asante sana for your time kaka Subtex. All the best.
Thank you, I really appreciate your time and questions. Thank you so much for your support.
