HHS: Since this is your first interview with the site, why don’t you introduce yourself and give a little bit of background.

John Robinson – Peace, this is John Robinson, some know me as Lil’ Sci from Scienz of Life. Definitely been in tune with HipHopSite for many years and been doing hip-hop for many years, in many shapes and forms all around the globe. I started out in 1996 with Scienz of Life on Fondle’Em Records [with the track] “Powers of Nine Ether”. That really started the journey into what I call the golden era,when vinyl was still relevant.

HHS:With that said, how do you feel about this whole digital era, with vinyl disappearing a bit as far as sales and everything transitioning more to the digital side.

John Robinson: It’s like everything. It’s kind of a gift and a curse,ya know? It’s one of those things where there are pros and crucial cons that come with it as well. Some of the pros are that it allows independent artists to further grasp and control their own destinies.With the right resources and information,they can be on a level of conducting business with music all over the world like never before. But on the flip side of that,it also promotes a lot of piracy that takes away from sales and artists.A lot of people nowadays have the mindset that music is free (laughs). Especially with the internet. They feel like Hey, I don’t need to buy it, it’s free. But when you corner your market and can easily communicate the record to your fan base and all over the world,that’s when you’re able to exist and live well in the digital music age. Speaking on the vinyl era and when I said when vinyl was still relevant ,I meant more around these parts.In the US.The vinyl stores,the mom and pop stores,they’re dying here in the US.It’s not the same as it was.I don’t have a fully negative view on the digital music age because I’m in it and I’m benefiting from it just like some of my peers and comrades are.But at the same time, I feel the difference.

HHS:There’s been some recent discussion about music being leaked and the positives and negatives of that.Do you see that a positive as far as getting your music out?

John Robinson: It depends on the person. I remember when Phonte of Little Brother leaked their [Getback] album. I didn’t understand why.But then two weeks later, I was doing a Scienz of Life show with Little Brother.It was two weeks after the album had been leaked and everyone in the crowd knew the words and was very in tune with the album before it was even formally circulated.So for a group like LB that’s known and tours the globe,it works.But for artists that don’t tour as much, it probably doesn’t work as well.It really depends on how much the artist is able to tour and move around.So if you’re able to give the album away and it balances out as far as touring,I think that’s okay.And really 9 times out of 10,the people that downloaded may buy it from you at the show.

HHS:True

John Robinson:But it also messes up the psychology of the listener.I remember when we could buy,for instance,Midnight Marauders and bump it for a year and be okay(laughs).But now it’s like a month tops.It’s like the great,classic records that come out now have a months shelf life and playback value.Technology is almost eating up the appetite of the listener.

HHS:It probably contributes to people being more fickle nowadays.Albums come out so fast now, people can’t digest them like they used to.Let’s get into your past a little bit.As you said, you were part of Scienz Of Life. You also did an album with J Rawls. The Jay Are album, right?

John Robinson:Yeah, I did The Jay Are album with J Rawls.Also did an album with my peeps Carlos Nino out in Cali, who’s doing the whole Suite For Ma Dukes orchestra thing now.I also did an album with Doom back in 2004, which was circulated on a limited level.But yeah, if you’re not in tune with what I’ve been doing, check out thejohnrobinsonproject.com.

HHS:Let’s get into your new project with Lewis Parker, International Summers. Talk a little about that and what we can expect from that.

John Robinson:Yeah, International Summers is a collaboration record with new peeps Lewis Parker.We met while doing business in Germany with the label, Project Mooncircle. Lewis Parker is a brilliant producer from the UK. He started off in ’95 in the underground of the UK and did a couple tracks for Ghostface in 2005 on the Fishscale and More Fish albums. That brought him over to the New York side. So we linked through the label and put out a couple records and from there decided to put out a full length album. It’s also a great opportunity, we’ll be touring in July and August throughout Europe.

HHS:Dope. Describe working with Lewis.

John Robinson-Lewis Parker’s vibe is straight analog. SP1200 drum machine. Jazzy and rugged chops.The music has a warm feeling that certain listeners have been yearning for a long time. We took it there on this record. We pulled out the SP1200, the  s950 sampler,going through the board, dumping on to reel to reel and then going to Pro Tools from there.It’s definitely going to feel different, but the listeners will be able to embrace it. The album has a vintage feel but with very updated formulas.There’s a lot of story telling and a lot of family vibes. No super duper we paid for the feature, features, but fam. We’ve known everyone on the record for years and have some kind of connection to them. I like it that way.

HHS:We understand that.

John Robinson: But yeah, International Summers is definitely a celebration of that warm feeling that we’ve been missing. It’s the golden era feeling with an updated formula. Most of the classic albums are done by one producer or one team of producers and that’s what I wanted to do. Most of my releases are like that and are going to continue being like that. It helps the cohesiveness of the album. With me and Lewis, it’s like two cats from different parts of the world meeting through the music. So in that way, I think it’s pure and we piece the album together like a puzzle.

HHS:What’s the next step after the album drops?

John Robinson: I’m always in the lab man (laughs). For artists out there, have your own space to create. Have your headquarters. This has been my career for many years and I had to structure it like a regular job to be able to stay disciplined and motivated. So when one project is finished and there’s the lag time between when it’s done and when it drops, I try to stay ahead of the game. As far as touring, we’re going to tour a lot in Europe; the UK, Germany, Switzerland and France. Once we’re out in Europe, we’ll figure out the dates for the US tour which will probably be in the fall. I had a pretty life-changing scenario this year, being able to go to Capetown and Johannesburg in South Africa. They really embraced the culture and this artform.

HHS: Any last words?

John Robinson: Big ups to Lewis Parker. Big ups to all of our friends and comrades that come through for International Summers. Big up’s to Project Mooncircle, Beat Vision and Dusty Vinyl. Just stay in tune. International Summers drops July 2nd and will be available on 2LP, CD, digital, etc.Check us out on projectmooncircle.com and thejohnrobinsonproject.com.

Check out John Robinson at: http://www.projectmooncircle.com/artists/48 and peep the album sampler for International Summers

Peep the cover art and tracklist info for emcee John Robinson and producer Lewis Parker’s forthcoming LP International Summers.The duo’s LP drops July 2010.The album sampler is available below.Be on the lookout for our recent interview with John Robinson, coming soon.

Track list:

01.Summer Begins
02.International Summers
03.Planes Trains Automobiles Feat. staHHr – Cymarshall Law – 4RCE
04.Holiday Songs Feat. Renee Neufville
05.Harlem River Drive Feat. Angelz INC.
06.Warrior Princess
07.Godz ILLA Feat. East Koast, Tah Born, I.D. 4 Windz & Dynas
08.Dues Paid
09.Ebony Godfathers
10.Views and perspectives in sound Feat. I.D. 4 Windz & Dynas
11.Enter the Cosmos
12.Dangerous Love Affair
13.Summer Ends