Sean Kirtland: What have you been
working on; where have you been?
Midwest Miles: I have been
laying low, putting this music
together. I’m still watching,
from the distance. I’m trying
to put together a project that’s
just me. I’m doing the type of
music that I wanted to make. I’ve
been writing and getting back to
recording. I have one project done
that’s waiting on the OK. Also, a
mixtape.
Sean: What inspired you to start
battling?
Miles: X-Factor was the one who
made me want to battle. Back in
the day, it was a way to go against
the best rappers in the city.
Marvwon and them are older than
me, so watching them sparked my
interest. Also, to get mentioned in
music, that was the best way to do
it in Detroit.
Sean: What does battle rap mean to
you today?
Miles: It’s an expression, an art
form. It’s the most complicated
part of hip-hop. When you take
out the politics, it’s [about]
entertaining people with no music
and it’s all performance. It’s what
you say that excites people. To be
honest, I don’t like where it’s at
right now [creatively]. That’s one
reason that I’m a fan of Daylyt.
I am a big fan of his because he
doesn’t sound like anyone else. A
lot of things are being recycled.
There’s nothing coming out
that’s original. Daylyt brings
originality; even with antics,
you know he’s going to give you
something to leave you talking
after the battle. He’s one of my
favorites right now. He has so
many different angles.
Sean: What’s the definition of a
true battle emcee?
Miles: I have to say that it’s [a
battler that battles] for the love.
Most people do it for the money.
A lot of battlers today do it for
exposure. The people who do it
even if it wasn’t popular have that
love. Even with music in general,
it’s something you can never get
away from. You can’t get away
from that feeling; even at times
when you want to quit, it will
never leave you. It’s something
you’re born with as an emcee.
Sean: In the beginning, artist
development happened on camera
as improvised battles. Do you feel
that battle emcees of today having
blueprints to study gives them an
advantage?
Miles: I feel like you never know.
It’s easy to watch someone on
camera and think that way, but
until you’re standing in front of
that person, it’s different. I may
look a certain way on camera, but
when you stand in front of me it’s
going to be another experience.
Whether or not you watch the
blueprints, you haven’t been in
the ring with that person. Just
midwest miles
DONT SLEEP
like boxing, you have to get a feel
for the opponent.
Sean: How did you link up with
Smack and get into recorded
battling?
Miles: Man, I tell that story all
the time. We used go to New York
— Fight Klub and stuff like that.
Rex was my first battle in that
recorded format. Lux was only
my second battle in that “8 Mile”
type of format. I wrote my rap on
the plane. [When] I got the call
from Smack, I thought we had
time to prepare. We had to leave
that morning and battle at 7 p.m.
that night. Ever since then, it’s
been a close relationship. I have
always reached out to him. Much
love.
Sean: When you battled in your
first footage what were expecting to
happen?
Miles: I’d never seen it at this level.
I knew it was special, because of
the reaction. Now it’s worldwide;
England, The Philippines,
everywhere. I never thought it
would be this successful. Not in a
million years.
Sean: Do you feel like Midwest
emcees are at a disadvantage going
to compete on the East coast?
Miles: People don’t understand
what we went through when
we first started. Before we even
opened our mouth, they were
calling us “country” and saying
we couldn’t rap. It has gotten
better. It’s not just the East, but
anywhere you travel. Fans are
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