Pharoahe Monch: The Dark Side of Desire.
By: Brian Sachson

It’s been a long time since “Simon Says”, the club anthem that put Pharoahe Monch on the map back in 1999. And its been a long time since his debut and only album Internal Affairs. Yet hip-hop fans have still been eagerly anticipating the release of his sophomore effort Desire, which hits stores June 26th. And with good reason.

Since his emergence on the scene, Pharoahe Monch has been placed in the upper echelon of MCs for his complex flows and deadly rhyme schemes. After Internal Affairs was pulled off the shelves by Rawkus for sampling problems, Pharoahe popped up all over the map with his signature style, smashing verses with everybody from Mos Def to Canibus, Nate Dogg to Linkin Park. Yet his only appearances seemed to be guest appearances, and his second album never saw the light of day. Until now.

“Here it is...finally,” proclaims Pharoahe. “It’s just a pure reflection of what I am. What I tried to do...the darkness, the soul, the spirit...I’m just really trying to express who I am through my music to the people, which is very important for me this time in terms of the times. The social and political, my darkness, my soul...it’s all in there.”

The biggest question, obviously, is about the hiatus. Which, to hear him explain it, isn’t really a hiatus at all. The music business today, particularly the hip-hop business, has become so obsessed with churning out hits and albums in a rapid fashion that when an artist takes the necessary amount of time he needs to finish his work listeners begin to scratch their heads. For Mr. Monch, it was simply a matter of getting it right.

“It’s about just not willing to conform,” he explains. “Obviously, I had deals. It’s not like I got rap juice on me. My last record was at 300,000 before it was pulled off the shelves. Most of the stuff in between was pretty well received. Kinda seems like a hiatus but I think I left off a good space since “Simon Says”. I’m not worried about that aspect of the game because for those that do remember I left in a nice area and for those that don’t remember I’m not trying to use past accolades. There are no parts of this album with references to getting back in the game. I hate those songs.”

One of the songs off Desire that fans don’t seem to hate, however, is the controversial “Gun Draws”. Already stirring up talk with its graphic music video, the song features Pharoahe Monch spitting his verses from a bullet’s point of view. It is a dark commentary on violence in America, and it led Pharoahe and other supporters to get involved with the national college speaking tour Guns 4 Cameras, a program that encourages youths to trade their firearms in for video cameras.

“We really went hard with the video to make it provocative because it is a serious issue, and we tied it into the Guns 4 Cameras program. We’ve been touring colleges and doing speaking engagements trying to give the kids a little more awareness.” Although the prolific video and tour are elements that Pharoahe feels is necessary given the current social conditions in America, he feels that there are fewer and fewer artists creating works of substance like it. The reason, he feels, is simple.

“First of all, I don’t think they can,” he explains. “I think there are only a handful of writers capable of taking it there. To be quite honest with you, I’m proud to say that I’m one of the writers that’s brave enough to do it, or has the awareness to do it. I think that’s what separates Pharoahe from the rest of the game. Not to sound braggadocious, but I don’t care to make a snap record.”

Alongside the release of Desire, the Queens native is filling up the rest of his time touring, planning to hit NYC this month at the Highline Ballroom and later next month at the Rock the Bells festival alongside such acts as Wu-Tang, Cypress Hill, The Roots, and Rage Against the Machine. He has stepped up the ante by incorporating a live band into his set, an element that he feels is necessary given the sound of his new album.

“I think that the way this record was put together it was a natural progression,” says Monch. “It’s great that I’m getting the coverage and the press that I’m getting, so people can start the guess work and I can talk to them...it’s a gift and a curse. I think this record is going to be exceptionally impactful because it’s going to be crisp to the ears when you hear it. The band is just incredible. Young, talented musicians who are at the top of their game. Makes me want to pick up an instrument. We got Alicia Keys’ music director that put the band together, and it definitely takes the show to a whole other level.”

With the new album, music videos, speaking engagements, and touring schedule, Pharoahe Monch is ready to blast hip-hop fans in the face with his own style of music that made him popular almost a decade ago. He has put in the work, and now it seems like it’s only up to the listeners to make the next decision. But for Monch, all it comes down to is the music. The music is what he hopes history will judge him on.

“In particular it’s about good music and I think I just tried to make an album not really considering what’s trendy. I just tried to make a good album that you can listen to ten years from now and I think a lot of artists don’t do that. And that’s why hip-hop now has a short shelf life.”