Hey guys, hope you had a lovely memorial day (that’s what it was , right?). It was just another monday to me but with a hangover.
So, listen, I need you help. I was just looking at my question pile and it’s getting somewhat thin. I need you guys to ask me stuff. Anything. Ask me multiple questions. Basically, I need content for this page and that doesn’t work unless you guys ask me stuff. So, please, go nuts. Try and keep it interesting but, hey, beggars can’t be choosers. Either leave the question in the comment section below or email them to me at: phatfriendblog@gmail.com
It’s always anonymous and there is no shame here.
I also need some “Ask Dr. Tony” questions as well so, if you need advice about anything, don’t be afraid to ask me.
Okay?!? Help me help you , while you’re helping me.

How often do you engage in casual conversation with strangers?
I’m not quite sure what this is asking. I mean, I’m a pretty friendly person and will always respond kindly when someone asks me something (which is common walking around NYC) but I’m also not out here chatting up motherfuckers like I’m the town sheriff in the 1950’s.
I don’t try to create conversations where there are none. Like, if I’m in an elevator with someone, I’m standing quietly. People who feel the need to fill every waking moment of their lives with talking are deranged and/or lonely. Basically, I live by the “speak when spoken to” rule.
I will say that I must have a trust worthy face or something cause I get asked directions on the street all the time. People will literally stop me while I’m listening to my headphones and ask me for directions at least 2 or 3 times a week. No clue what that’s all about.

When was the first time you told a girl you loved her? (Excluding that story from the rogglecast with the long-distance relationship, the phone…and the cat haha)
Well, that phone call was probably the first time I did say that…and it no doubt scarred me.
Shit…I’m the worst with that phrase. I hate saying it and I honestly haven’t said it much in my entire life , even when I felt that way. It’s not something I’ve ever thrown around casually with girlfriends and I still have trouble getting it out of my mouth (much to the dismay of my gf).
I think the first time I said it was probably in my mid 20’s to a girl I was breaking up with. Man…that’s fucked up now that I write it but it’s the truth. Prior to that, I had had a few girlfriends but none that I would say I was in love with or ones that I would have even humored by saying those words to them.
I feel as though , to some people, there’s an urgency to say that phrase. Like they need to be heard and they can’t contain it. Whether or not they truly feel that way or not. Being that I’m an emotionally dead/stable person, I don’t have that part of me that forces me to say that or really requires me to say it. So it never feels natural coming out of my mouth. Sad but true.

Do you have an opinion on the so-called loudness war? Is taking care of dynamic range any different when working with samples?
Is there a war on loudness? Or is things being too loud what we are fighting? Either way, I’m clearly not aware of it.
Since I have no idea what this is all about I’ll just take this time to say that the volume in which people play music at venues is fucking stupid. It’s too loud. I realize I sound like your grandfather complaining about that but, on this last tour I did, I routinely found myself holding my ears in pain cause I simply walked by a speaker. What the fuck is wrong with people? I understand needing to listen to the music they like loud so they can “feel it” but there’s got to be a happy medium where it doesn’t deafen you by simply being in the room. Not sure who to blame here. Sound guys? The audience? the Performers?
Just for the record, if my shows are ever too loud, it’s not my fault. I always ask them to keep the gain at a reasonable level. Some sound guys are just maniacs.

Unrelated to this current blog piece but Yesterday while looking for some Asa Akira porn your blog came up in the google search. That website name looks familar I thought. How did your interview with her come to light? In person , over the phone or email? Nice work!

I did an interview with Kristina Rose first. I know her in real life and she was nice enough to humor me. That went over so well that I figured it would be cool to do another porn star interview. Asa Akira had recently followed me on twitter so I figured it was worth a shot to ask. She kindly obliged and we did the whole thing over email. I pretty much just sent her a one shot questionnaire. I’ve never met her or anything and , honestly, I think I got her to do it in the nick of time cause she really blew up shortly after that. It’s still the most read thing on my blog on most days. The comments people leave on it make me very sad for humanity.

Did you voice an opinion on the east coast west coast beef in the 90s? Seemed like the east bred better lyricists
Being an east coast guy, I obviously rode for NYC in that but I was also a guy who loved a lot of west coast rap. I didn’t care THAT much about the beef. All I knew was that I liked biggie and thought Tupac was overrated. I still feel that way. But it really wasn’t that serious to me. At the time, I was listening to weird underground rap anyway so the whole beef wasn’t really something that was on my mind much when it was going on.
It’s funny cause I definitely knew a few people who took it all very much to heart. Like they would get passionate just talking about the beef as if they were somehow involved in it. Suffice to say, those people were morons.

How many times do you think you’ve touched your own dick in your whole life? And how many times do you think you’ve touched your dick today?

(I don’t about you but I love this question. Guys and their dicks! ha ha ha….)

In my whole life? There is no way I could ever know that number. That staggeringly high number. A million? a billion? Does jerking off count as one touch or is it a series of thousands of touches? Today might be easier as I woke up a half hour ago. Probably like 10 times today so far…but the day is young and I’m definitely gonna put some milage on this thing before it ends.
I’m casually touching it right now, as I proof read these very words!

Hi guys. Welcome to another stirring edition of “Answers for questions”. I’m always in need of new questions so don’t be a shy #sadboy. Send me shit! Either email me at phatfriendblog@gmail.com or leave the questions in the comment section below.
Also, I got the final 4 dates of my tour this coming week. Hitting Vancouver, Seattle, Portland and Bellingham. For more info: http://blockheadmusic.com/. Come on out cause I probably won’t be hitting the road much for the rest of the year. Time to make music again!

I’ve been listening to Spark Master Tape since you posted about him a couple years ago. You have addressed the importance of authenticity in hip hop a number of times. At is point, do you give a shit who he is, or is the music strong enough to stand on its own? Say his identity comes out and it’s clear that the character is 100% fabricated. Is there a scenario in which you could no longer listen to him, based on who he is?

I think, in his case, the music is bigger to me than the authenticity. As far as I can tell, he’s playing a character on some level. That’s fine with me. His creativity is what drew me to his music. He can rap very well, he uses crazy beats and has his own style of how he puts songs together. I actually have an idea of who he is. Not specifically but I’ve gotten some info here and there that has pointed me to a likely answer. From what I’ve gathered (most info came from one particular internet sleuth who seems to have cracked the code), SMT is a dude who was an underground rapper for years who simply wasn’t getting shine. He made SMT and , all of a sudden, people took notice. I’ve also heard he’s not from the US and , race-wise, he’s neither white or black. Possibly of Arabic descent or maybe latino. My guess has always been he’s canadian cause his production crew is from there. So, that’s all I really have on him but, to be honest, I don’t care. I just want more music by him. He’s awesome.

Do you consider yourself a feminist?
Hmm…I never have thought that. I mean, I’m all for equality on every level for everyone but a card carrying feminist? Nah. I’m way too apathetic about everything to really ever get involved with a cause that deeply.
My approach to most things in the vein is “OBVIOUSLY we should all be treated equally”. It’s a given to me. But I’m also not a person who protests or takes strong public stands. It’s just not in my nature.

I recently got approved for SSI and will be getting around $10,000 back pay that I’m required to “spend down” in 9 months to stay eligible for monthly SSI checks. I know SSI isn’t a lot of money and I’m pretty much going to be poor anywhere I choose to live. I sort of see this as an opportunity to pick up and move myself somewhere in the United States. As someone who has toured and traveled quite a lot I’m wondering where you would go to if you could pick up and live anywhere and be assured an income. I currently live in a state with a long hard winter and would preferably move away from snow. I’m mostly into art, computers, and keeping to myself.

If you’re into computers and keeping to yourself, the world is your oyster. You can live anywhere and be happy. The art part is a little trickier but it also depends on what kind of art. Fine art? Like you wanna be around museums? Or do you mean just artsy people?
I think Portland, OR could be a decent spot. Asheville, NC is somewhat cheap and has all those things. If weather is something of that concerns you, California. There are tons of town in southern cali that I’m sure are affordable and offer and mellow life. Honestly, if you’re a person who doesn’t leave the house much anyway, you might as well live in a suburb. Save your money. Spending money on a location that you don’t plan on using seems like a waste. Sounds like you need to just get out of the north for the winters.

As we get older, our close and long-standing friendships tend to become more important and valuable to us. Do you ever tell your friends that you love them?

You mean like my male friends? Good lord no. I don’t really have those kinda relationships. Not that I don’t love my friends but I’m not one of those expressive type of guys. Most my buddies and I are too busy busting each others balls to say “I love you, bro” to one another as a focused statement. In fact, it would be both hilarious and weird if we did. With girl friends (not my actual girlfriend) that phrase can come up but, even then, it’s thrown around pretty meaninglessly. Like casually saying “Okay, later, I love you” as we get off the phone. Even then, it’s a very particular type of friend that would initiate that with me.
Clearly, I’m a man who’s not comfortable with expressing my emotions but, at the same time, I don’t walk around with an overwhelming urge to express my love to the people close to me. I’m content with that. As far as I can tell, we’re all good.

Do you think that San Fran seems kinda like the “new New York” in some ways? (In that, rental prices have experienced an exponential increase in a short period of time). This is from a non-american on the outside looking in, so forgive my naivete!

Kinda but not really. Yes, they’re both awesome cities that are expensive and being overrun by rich assholes. Outside of that, they’re really nothing a like. As far as cities and how they run, they’re worlds apart. They are my two favorite cities though. Sucks that they’re both so damn unaffordable!

I think you are pretty well known among underground hip-hop cirlces, but lets say you were ever to blowup and become more well known, at least to mainstream America. Would you accept an invitation to play in the NBA’s Celebrity game? How do you think you would do if you played? I have never payed the game much attention so im not sure who participates now days but do you think you could give guys like terrell owens, bieber, timberlake, michael rappaport work? anyone you would gladly throw an elbow at?

ohhhh….good question. It depends. I’m definitely a type who would get nervous on that big stage. I’d mostly likely pass a lot and hit the boards. That’s kinda what I do when I know I’m not a main scoring option. I’d take open shots and all but I wouldn’t be forcing my offense.
Skill wise, I’m pretty confident I could hang with most of the celebrities that play in those games. A dude like Common looks like he’s actually pretty good might be tough for me to guard but most of those guys are my level or worse. The athletes? No way. Terrell owens would obliterate me. They may be professionals in other sports but an athlete is an athlete. But those other guys? I’d be fine. I’ve actually played with Rappaport once before at a park. He was decent but kind of a ball hog. Fitting though cause he’s an actor.
I wouldn’t throw an elbow at anyone cause I don’t play dirty like that but I would be gunning to swat some shots. Sending a Bieber shot into the stands would feel amazing.

Have you ever had a really good idea that had either been done before or someone else beat you to it?

Sure, all the time. That’s how music goes. More often than not, I’ll flip a sample and it will be sitting on the shelf and someone else will drop a song with that same sample in it. That’s infuriating. Especially if I liked the beat I made. I can’t say I’ve ever had some grandiose concept album idea that got used before I could do it. I don’t really work that way though. And , being that I make beats, there’s only so far my ideas can go. It’s not like I’d think “Man, i should sample some steel drums!” then someone else does it and I’m like “Oh man, forget that idea!”. It’s all how you execute your ideas. Two people can think of the same shit and the end result will be completely different.