UFO Fev has been dropping music at a relentless pace over the last 18 month, and this week has another new album on the way, Enigma of Dalí, a collaboration with producer Vanderslice. We talked to him about that, his connections to Fat Joe and Black Rob, and what its like to follow in the footsteps of Big Pun
You’ve had a busy year and a half, dropping Fresh Air, From El Barrio, With Love, The Ghost of Albizu, The Thrill, Magnum Opus and now Enigma of Dalí, all since February 2020, in the middle of a pandemic. Feels like your Covid lockdown time has been used very wisely?
Thank you for having me, first and foremost. I have been recording a lot of music since 2017. My work habit changed around then but I never had the time to put it together until now. I was planning on releasing all this music before I went on the road with Joe Crack in 2019/20, which took me into another world of understanding so I was always focused and ready to release music. Had to learn patience to receive the blessing of timing.
All of those projects mentioned have been single-producer albums (Statik Selektah, Termanology, Big Ghost, Frank The Butcher, Ster, Vanderslice). What is it about working with one sole producer each time that appeals to you, rather than having a bunch of different producers across an album?
All of those albums have been one producer projects because of a multitude of reasons, from business to energy. Most importantly the energy, I usually work better when a producer and I form an understanding of what it is I do, and what they do. The synchronicity happens organically, then in business it’s always easier to deal with someone direct so you can have an understanding of what both parties favor. I have a few projects with various producers coming as well.
Tell me about Enigma of Dalí, and how you and Vanderslice connected.
The Enigma Of Dalí was something again, that happened organically. I met Vanderslice in 2017 through a mutual party and he was cool enough to send me some beats so I can work on them and I spent no time getting them done. Within 48 hours, he loved the energy and lyricism of the records and we kept it going ever since.
The title is a reference to Salvador Dalí, who I know is someone you have studied. What is it about his art that attracts you, and what impact has it had on your writing and sound?
The thing that attracted me to Dalí while studying one day was an interview where he discussed the golden ratio and how it applies to almost everything in life. He was just going off on things I was so happening to be trying to understand at the time. From the perfect angle of a rhino’s horn to his face, to the ignorance of being young. He was so smart but the white men interviewing him kept undermining him as if he was slightly off. Maybe to them and others he was, but to me, in my world, maybe he is slightly on.
There are some major names championing your music, including Fat Joe. What’s your relationship with him and the rest of Terror Squad?
My relationship with Fat Joe, I can’t really put in layman’s terms because there’s nothing binding us together. We just got bulletproof respect and love, I can only learn from Crack. He has been kind enough to take me around the world and put money in my pocket as we do so. My dad once told me, any man providing an opportunity for you to feed your kids is a good man. That’s a gem.
You’ve also been known to fill in for the late, great Big Pun at live shows. Those are some large shoes to step into, especially with both of you having such strong Puerto Rican heritage. Is that intimidating?
Man, doing Big Pun’s rhymes on the road with Fat Joe is truly a humbling experience. The first time Joe threw the record I knew I was in the matrix lol. Usually I would watch Remy do Pun’s verse on “Deep Cover 98 (Twins)”. When it was my turn, I just imagined myself in my living room rapping as if no one was there. Except, Joe is really rapping next to me lol. Crazy.
Black Rob is another big name you were associated with. How did his death hit you?
R.I.P. Black Rob. His death hit me more than I expected. Honestly, I’m not surprised by the transition of life anymore but when Rob crossed over it was hard on my dad who was closer to Rob which in turn made me realize how close he was to us. Many of my earlier memories are with Rob from picking me up from grade school to calling me Fever. I pray for strength for his family.
Now that Enigma of Dalí is here, what can we expect to hear next?
Vanderslice and I have one more in the cut titled, The Most High. That’s coming, stay tuned!
***
Enigma of Dalí is out this Friday, July 16. Click here to pre-order from your preferred platform. Coalmine Records also have merch bundles available now – go here to cop something. Follow UFO Fev here: Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and Vanderslice here: Twitter, Instagram, Spotify. Interview by Grown Up Rap Editor Ben Pedroche.
BONUS BEATS: For those that would like to get familiar with Fev & Slice’s catalog, stream this playlist of discography highlights via Spotify, the appropriately titled The SurreaLIST.