Q: When did you first know you wanted to make music And how were you inspired?

A: I've always been the creative type, when I was young I used to draw and shit like that, so naturally when I first heard hip hop I had the urge to be creative in that realm. I originally got inspired by my older cousins who used to make tapes of them rhyming and beatboxing. This was in '84, I was real young then so I didn't actually start trying to rhyme myself until '92.

Q: How did you come up with your name?

A: I was just chillin with some friends and one of them thought it would be ill to be called "self titled", just like not having a name, like when albums don't have a particular title they are listed in music catalogs as 'self-titled'. This was in '96... at first I thought it was corny, then it just stuck and I changed the spelling of it to Celph Titled so that there would be no confusion when my records were to be categorized. Like in "The Smackdown" where I said "they call me Celph Titled cause no words describe me." My other alias, "The Rubix Cuban", just came to me one day when I was looking at a Rubik's cube and just brainstormed and thought it would be ill to flip it into the Rubix Cuban and niggas bugged out when I coined that.

Q: What was you first piece of music that you finished?

A: Man, I had countless wack demos. I would have to say the first ever professionally recorded and mixed joints I ever did was with my original group, Equilibrium, most of which have not seen the light of day and were recorded in 1996.

Q: What is your favorite hip-hop single of all time?

A: Big Daddy Kane - "Ain't No Half Steppin'"

Q: What element do you bring to hip-hop (emcee, producer, dj, writer, beat boxer)?

A: Emcee 100% and I make beats on the side.

Q: Do you think the internet plays such a huge role in the underground hip-hop scene?

A: Without it, most people would've never been exposed to a lot of underground artists. A lotta niggas try to front and act like they are so well-known outside of the internet, like if they did a city-to-city tour without any exposure from the internet they'd fill up clubs, but that ain't how it goes down. I mean, this music is not strictly limited to the internet, but it allowed a large number of hip hop fans to be exposed to otherwise unknown artists and spread worldwide. You can do a lot of promotion on the internet and not spend a dime. The internet is real, everyone peeps it... there's cats I know in the projects that got internet access. It ain't just computer nerds and rich white kids on this shit no more.

Q: Why are all the kids that you might see at shows and that you might talk to, use the internet?

A: Like I said, everyone peeps the internet. But don't get me wrong, there's a big difference between established independent artists and strictly "netcees" and whatnot. There's a lot of groups that their only outlet to be heard is through the internet, whether they have an MP3 site or they type lyrics on message boards. Then you have established artists like myself who have vinyl out, a large discography and a wide following worldwide. Shit that you can actually go to Europe or whatever and walk into a vinyl shop and pick my shitup. I ain't knockin muthafuckas that do their thing strictly on the net, I applaud anyone doing their thing to try to get their name out. Sometimes that may be the only hustle you have, especially if you live in Nebraska or some shit like that. Just have fun with the shit, niggas take hip hop too seriously now...

Q: Are you on signed to a label or are you an independent artist?

A: I'm strictly independent at this point, not looking to sign to any labels anytime soon. Maybe when my album is completed, I might holla at some labels but I'm shootin' for the sky. If I can't get the deal I want or niggas ain't feelin' me like that, watch how I handle my biz by myself... You'll see... Watch how daddy ball...

Q: In terms of releasing stuff, lately, what are some new projects your working on and how can we get a hold of them?

A: Currently, my 12" single is out in stores now and available at all online spots. The A-side, "Right Now", is produced by Mark the 45 King and then there's two other joints on the record, "It Ain't" and "Root Beers In Your Fridge" featuring my man Apathy. In April, the Demigodz EP is dropping on Ill Boogie Records on CD & double vinyl and that features everyone in the crew including me, half of which produced by myself and the other half produced by Apathy, with one joint produced by J.J. Brown. Other than that, you can look for new singles available now which I rhymed on or produced, check out Rise "BKNY" on Results Period/Fat Beats, Lexicon "Makin' Music (Remix)" w/ me and Ap on SpyTech/Landspeed, Lord Digga "Who You Rollin' With" b/w "All World" dropping at the end of February on Bronx Science. Also be on the lookout for solo singles from my Equilibrium brethren - DutchMassive & Majik Most. They both have 3-song singles dropping in the next couple of months, Dutch's single will be relased on UK-based Stonegroove Recordings and Majik's on Bronx Science. Both of them are heaters and hopefully those of you who remember Equilibrium and are fans will appreciate them greatly.

Q: Do you think Rawkus is still an underground label?

A: Personally, I don't give a fuck. I'm tired of shit being labeled. If it's hot, it's hot. But as far as business is concerned, Rawkus has always been a step above most independent labels, especially at one point having Priority backing all your distribution and getting records played on Hot 97 and BET. Now I hear MCA owns them, so they have gone up in the ranks, they are in the major label game which is where they should want to be. What people don't understand is that the purpose for owning a business is to make as much money as possible. If you run a label with intentions of profit, you are going to want it to be as big as possible. I can't believe muthafuckas be hatin' when niggas get paper. I just don't understand this whole "selling out" theory. If you are an artist, why would you NOT want your music to be heard by millions of people?

Q: What to you think about all this Jiggy hip-hop now a days what are your thoughts?

A: As far as the club friendly hip hop goes, I'm feeling it. For the most part, the production on those type of joints is real bangin' and while lyrically they ain't sayin much, the whole vibe of the joints should either put you in an amped mood or make you feel good. Who wouldn't like the type of song that would get a big booty bitch excited to put that thing on you in a club? Anything else would be uncivilized, my nizzle. There's wack "jiggy" songs just like there's wack "underground" joints. I like what I like I guess, no matter what label someone has slapped on it.

Q: So what do you think will happen to the underground hip-hop scene in the next 5 years? And where do you see yourself?

A: I only hope it will elevate and stop being so selective. I wish in 5 years most underground hip hop fans would have a more open mind and also not worry about what other people like. Stop wasting time trying to state proudly what artists you think are dope and what artists are wack, just listen to what you like and shut the fuck up. Where do I see myself? Hopefully with a lot more money and a lot more fans who appreciate what I do. I'm not trying to make any specific type of music, so I don't consider myself underground but it's just where I'm at now cause I ain't a superstar or on a major label. I just try to make music that I personally feel, which for the most part is just niggas talkin' shit over bangin' beats, plain and simple. Fuck anything else really, as far as I'm concerned.

Q: Last question, we ask this to everyone. What do you eat for breakfast?

A: Bullets and milk with the toast