Interviewed by I.S. Jones @isjonespoetry

With a mixtape in the works and off his recent win from the iSpitNYC “Smoke Da Mic” competition, Matthew Martinez, stage named Hookz Murdock is nothing short of fire on stage. The vivacity he brings to every song truly does makes every member of his audience a believer of his work. I was able to catch up with Hookz along with his fellow rap artist Enonomous from their collective 2G Entertainment. You can catch some of Hookz work here: https://soundcloud.com/hookzmurdock

I.S. Jones: State your name, where you’re from and your stage name

Matthew Martinez: Name’s Matthew Martinez, that’s my actual name. Stage’s name is Hookz Murdock, and I like to say I’m from Brooklyn / Shaolin. So basically what that means is I’m originally from Brooklyn, from Red Hook, Brooklyn. I went to school all my life in Brooklyn, except for when I went came to Hofstra. Always had friends in Brooklyn, so I was over there most of the time, but when I was nine years old, I moved to Staten Island. So I’ve been there back and forth from Brooklyn, Shaolin ever since, so I’m from Brooklyn.

Samuel Evans Jenkins: My name is Samuel Evans “the greatest person that ever lived” Jenkins.

Martinez: It’s on this birth certificate.

Jenkins: My stage name is Enonomous that’s e-no-no-mous. Do not spell it wrong. And where I’m from, I’m from Queens, New York.

Martinez: Yeah, [be]cause when you’re from Queens, like, you never really do much else except stay in Queens.

Jenkins: When you’re born in heaven, do you really wanna go anywhere else?

Jones: When did you fall in love with hip-hop?

Martinez: That’s crazy. It feels like I’m in in my favorite romantic comedy. I fell in love with hip-hop listening to the Black Album by Jay Z, listening to Get Rich or Die Trying by 50 Cent, and the College Dropout by Kayne West. Those three albums were kind of like staples for me, which I’m sure there are staples for a lot of people, but listening to those albums kind of gave me all ends of the hip-hop spectrum. I had listened to a lot of rap before that; my cousin put me on to a lot of it, but I would say I legitimately became a passionate hip-hop fan listening to those three. And then I went back and listened to everything before that. So I went back and listened to Illmatic, went back and listened to Reasonable Doubt. Ready to Die is another classic and the hidden gems in between them. Definitely those three albums—that was the start.

Jenkins: Nine years old, I knew exactly what I wanted to be, for the rest of my life, like that’s legit it. How I don’t know, but it just…you know when a spark comes to you? That’s what happened to me. I wanna say Ludacris did it for me. Not even frontin’, he was my first, and I talk about it in my song “Blue Sky”, the video out now on YouTube. But, yeah, that’s me, and I’m in love with music in general. But like, hip-hop is just the place where I can personally express myself to the best of my abilities.

Martinez: Hip-hop is like the home cooking, you know what I mean?

Jenkins: Yeah

Martinez: Everybody love food. You go to restaurants all the time, but ain’t nothing like home-cooking.

Jenkins: Ain’t nothing like mama’s meals

Jones: So I wanna say congratulations on your iSpitNYC win

Martinez: Thank you, thank you very much

Jones: It was funny because I was watching the judges, gaging their interest, and it wasn’t until you went on that all of them were unanimously forgot their phones, forgot whatever they were doing, and they were hooked on you.

Martinez: Wow

Jones: Since that win, have you noticed a boost in your following and in your career?

Martinez: I honestly have. It’s been…I don’t wanna say small boost, it hasn’t been a major boost, but I’ve gotten a lot more attention from people, people that I felt like I probably should have had respect from before that, but I guess everyone needs validation at some point. And I’ve gotten new Instagram followers, new Facebook likes, friends. So, it’s coming surely but surely, but I think the biggest way it helped most is just it’s an opportunity. Even sitting down here with you [doing this interview] that came from that show. I’ve gotten a bunch of show opportunities because of winning that. So that was an amazing moment. I didn’t think I was going to win to be honest, so basically when everything could have went wrong did go wrong I had a ‘back-against-the-wall’ mentality. I came off that stage feeling embarrassed, like I didn’t give my all. So for me to win, I felt that was God telling me “This is what you’re supposed to do”

Jenkins: Yeah, and if you didn’t say that, I was going to say that. Like that’s what that was, but you said it

Jones: I was looking at you but way of social media, and so your first mixtape “The Adventures of Matt Murdock” came out last year? Is that correct?

Martinez: Well, actually, that’s my upcoming tape.

Jones: Oh, so it’s coming out this year?

Martinez: Yeah, this year. I’m aiming for a July release.

Jenkins: Can we put this on record that he has bangers on this. He has bangers on that shit.

Martinez: Me and Enonomous actually hit the studio last week, and it was a great six hour session. I’ve been developing this project for about a year and a half. But it’s been a slow progress up until now. Now I’m like knee deep in the process of it. I’m actually freshly a solo artist. I’ve been a solo artist for two years, and I was in a group called Sha’ir. Sha’ir was me and my two other boys from high school. We actually met way before that and reconnected in high school. We just found a common love for music and we made two mixtapes and then unfortunately that didn’t work out for various reasons, but I still love them both. I support everything that they do, but now working on this solo project has been a whole different animal for me.

Jones: So when your mixtape does drop, where can the fans find it?

Martinez: I haven’t decided, but most likely it’s doing to be on Audiomack. I’m tired of using DatPiff. Rappers, don’t use DatPiff, it’s a terrible app, terrible website

Jenkins: Yes

Martinez: There are way better apps to throw your mixtape on: Audiomack, MixConnect, even throwing it on BandCamp and SoundCloud. I might put it on BacndCamp, but it’s probably going to be Audiomack or BandCamp. Definitely not DatPiff.

Jones: Where you were career-wise before the showcase? What were the big things you were doing leading up to the showcase?

Martinez: Before the showcase, I had released a record called Black Widow that can be found on BandCamp right now.

Jones:  I was listening to it actually before I got here and—

Martinez: Were you?

Jones: Yeah, good stuff.

Martinez: Awesome, thank you. Black Widow is a real personal track for me, and it just kind of goes along with the theme of what I’m trying to do with the tape, which is basically…I’m a superhero geek. I’m a comic book nerd, so like I’m trying to take that and apply that; because it’s actually had a big influence in my life so I’m trying to the take that and apply that to music, and basically I want to create an audio graphic novel based of my life. So Black Widow is a Marvel character, if you’ve ever seen the Avengers, which if you’ve been alive on this Earth in the past two years you probably have. Have you seen the Avengers?

Jenkins: Of course.

Martinez: Okay, gotta make sure you’ve seen it.

Jenkins:  Ask me if they’ve seen me

Martinez: Have the Avengers seen you?

Jenkins: They should have

Martinez: So basically Black Widow is an Avengers character. I took that character, and just created a motif out of that. So I dropped that record on Black Friday of last year, which was cool and I’ve been doing a lot of performances. When I graduated from Hofstra, I performed at their music festival at the end of the year. Me and Enonomous actually performed and it was an amazing experience, because you’re up there with these big speakers and these banners and on a big ass stage. It’s just so different from wobbly stages like Smoke Da Mic and small venues, but it’s a whole different type of animal. So doing that put me on a different path and I got to open up for SZA, Vic Mensa, Young the Giant, which was amazing. So that was great, and just basically doing a lot of shows, working on a lot of music on the low, and just developing this project. Pretty much my main goal is just to get this body of work out so I can kind of have that out there to put out to the masses and build off of that. That and trying to build our brand and our company 2G Entertainment, which Enonomous is also a part of—a very big part of that. Shout out to Rich Ryan. I feel now, since Smoke Da Mic, I feel more focused now than ever. Because, like I said, winning Smoke Da Mic under the circumstances that I won kind of reaffirmed for me that this is what I’m supposed to be doing. It just put everything in perspective, and I told myself “Listen, now you gotta get organized. You gotta get on the right path”. That’s what we’re trying to do—The Adventures of Matt Murdock coming out in July.

Jones: I’ll keep my eye open for that. So tell me about more about 2G, Enonomous, and how you all came together.

Martinez: So 2G was something that me and Rich Ryan, who’s my partner, not life partner; he’s like my business partner. He’s like my best friend, I’ve known him for years. We created this when we were freshmen in high school. And it just started off as a hobby, grew into the group Sha’ir that I told you about, and when I came to college we actually a whole bunch of dope, talented individuals and we decided to try and turn this into an indie label. Or tried to turn it into an indie label, I should say.

Jenkins: Trying

Martinez: Trying currently to turn it into an indie label. But back then we had a few artist and they didn’t work out for whatever reason. Really talented people just didn’t work out, so now 2G basically is kind of in a Renaissance Period. The brand, reinventing the image, and me, myself, and Enonomous are two of the leading artist from 2G. Enonomous is also working on a project. He has a project out called “B4 I Die”, his debut mixtape. He’s working on his second project right now called “God Made” and he should have that out by September. If you wanna talk about “God Made” real quick.

Jenkins: I have a mixtape out “B4 I Die” and it’s dope. Lyrically, I’m probably one of the best and that’s me being modest. I got a couple of videos out. We have a hit song called “Gotham City”. Google me and my name pops up everywhere. But right now I’m working on my second project “God Made”, and the reason why I say project is because a mixtape is…you get this connotation that the mixtape is the B level of the work that you produce. Like Kendrick Lamar said, “I bring my A game everywhere” so don’t ask me about expectations. I’m going to give you my best regardless of whether you receive it or not is your prerogative. I personally know I will give it my all.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FCF2Cv2UU8]

Martinez: So yeah, those are the two main projects coming up from 2G right now. We are also working with this artist called Keth-Wayne. He does a lot of video work; he actually shot the Gotham video, but he’s an artist as well. Really dope artist, just put out two mixtapes. He got mixtapes like Gucci Man; he put out mixtape and doesn’t even tell anybody. But yeah, so he has two mixtapes out: first one is called “Not for radio” and the second one is a freestyle mixtape. The entire tape is him freestyling off the dome. So we have a song together “Polanski’s House”, me and him which really dope, and it’s on Not for Radio. Then there’s other artist, I’ve known him since middle school, he’s actually the guy that influenced me to rap. It’s this dude called Jerry Milo; he’s working on some dope, dope shit, so hopefully he becomes a part of the collective. A lot of people ask “What does 2G stand for?” and there’s really no concrete interpretation of it. It’s kind of like the F in Wheezy F. Baby—it’s for a bunch of different shit. My interpretation of 2G is “God Given” because I feel like everything in life is God given. And us being here in this situation right now, in this time, is all in God’s plan, so that’s my interpretation of it. 2G can be whatever it means to you.

Jenkins: Now I have the same interpretation of it. Mainly because that’s what you told me it was, so there’s no reason for me to deviate from the path.

Martinez: 2G on the rise

Jenkins: 2G deadass taking over.

Jones: So every time you come to a show, I notice you and the homies roll deep. And I respect that you have a consistent follow-through of support. How do you have such a devoted fan-base?

Martinez: There’s a lot of us. 2G beyond being a musical collective is a family, first and foremost. We have a lot of friends, some of them aren’t directly involved in the music but we’re just a family. A lot of people that come to the shows are family and the people that aren’t family but [are] just good friends, acquaintances, or whatever you want to call it. I mean, I just try to give me a reason to believe in me. I try to give them a reason to come beyond us just being cool. I feel if you just doing something because it’s cool then you’re not really doing it. That’s kind of my aim when I’m performing; I always seek out people I’ve never met before or I haven’t really interacted with before and I try to rap to them. My goal during every performance is to make you a believer. I try to gain as many people as possible. I personally try to show a lot of love to other artists. And being in the same situation as them, they respect that. I think that’s when I come on stage at certain shows that you’ve been at, and they show a lot of love, it’s because I try to do the same, but yeah, 2G is a big family.

Jones: Which artists do you emulate?

Martinez: I take bits and pieces from everywhere and try to attack it in my own way. I’ve actually asked people this question recently “Who do I remind you of” and the answer that I most commonly get is J. Cole. Yeah, so I get J. Cole a lot, and I like that a lot because one I’m a huge J. Cole fan, I love his message and I love what he’s about, and I just think he’s a dope ass rapper. Two, I feel as though he and I had a similar situation where he and I went to college. He graduated from college, even though that wasn’t always the plan. He was coming to New York for the connections rather than for school, but you know, he came, graduated, and continued to follow his dreams regardless. That’s the same plan I’m trying to work out. He did a lot better in school than I did; he graduated honor roll and I didn’t, but it’s cool. My favorite rapper is Nas. I can never do what Nas does.

Jones: For artist that are trying to make hip-hop a serious career, what advice would you give them?

Martinez: Well, first and foremost, always believe in yourself because that is the most important. I know that sounds a little cliché, but you’re going always be your biggest critic and you’re always going be your strongest supporter. So if you don’t believe in yourself, how are you going to get others to believe in you? Have a good team of like-minded individuals around you that have the same goals. Keep the ‘yes man’ out of your circle because all they’re going to do is hurt you, and don’t be afraid to try things. Don’t be afraid to “go there” musically, or what extend beyond what’s acceptable in your hood, because the best artists are the diverse artists, and just be you.

Jenkins: Now by any means, don’t think we’ve made it yet. So we don’t know how to “make it” but this what I know how to do. Whatever you want to do in life, regardless of what is it, there’s one thing you need and one thing you need to take away; you need vision: what do you see yourself doing and what makes you happy. Because the only thing that matters in our lifespan is our own happiness. So if you’re going to do something for the money or because someone else said, eventually that will fall apart. Also eliminate fear, because that’s the only that can stop you is yourself. The moment you doubt yourself, is the moment the world doubts you, and the second the world doubts you is the second you can’t do anything. People always say “You’re so arrogant”, and no it’s not that. I already know I’m good and I don’t need to convince y’all that I’m good, I’m just saying what the truth is and what you guys need to know.

Martinez: One last thing I want add to that is never be afraid to ask for help. What you hear someone else might hear something completely different, and it could better your music. Someone else might see something in your look and tweak it and that’s all you need. Just never be afraid to ask for help because everybody needs somebody. There’s a lot of people who did it on their own and nobody did it by themselves.

Connect with Hookz Murdock
Twitter.com/HookzMurdock

Connect with Enonomous
Twitter.com/_enonomous