P.O.S.: Playing by his Own Rules

<b>P.O.S.</b> breaks the contemporary rap rulebook once again on latest album, <i>Never Better</i>. <b>David McNamara</b> catches up with the rapper at his Minneapolis home to discuss the pitfalls of hip-hop and the difficulties of being a musician trying to raise a child.

Feature by David McNamara | 22 Apr 2009

Rhymesayers Entertainment has built a solid reputation for being the definitive independent rap label, thanks to the cult following of label founders Atmosphere and their impeccable roster of artists. Stefon Alexander a.k.a. P.O.S. is easily one of the strongest weapons in their arsenal and the proof lies in his latest offering, Never Better.

Following on the success of the critically acclaimed Audition, the Minnesota wordsmith proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that his unique brand of hip-hop is nothing short of revolutionary. On that sophomore release, P.O.S. received lavish praise from critics and earned legions of fans due to his sharp wit and self-deprecating sense of humour. Alexander utilised his hardcore punk background to create a fiercely independent sound. Half Cocked Concepts became an instant underground anthem, voicing Alexander’s disdain for the bravado of mainstream hip-hop and the atmospheric love story of Bleeding Hearts Club became an underground classic.

Never Better sees P.O.S. produce a lot of the beats and play many of the instruments to create a truly innovative album. When discussing what he hopes to achieve with his latest effort, Alexander states, “With Audition I took a lot of risks as a musician and a rapper. A lot of people respected it for being different so I am just trying to keep it going.” He advises there is a recurring theme running through all of the songs on this album: “Never Better is about doing your own thing, being your own person and not falling victim to what other people think it cool.”

Like his previous two releases, Never Better crosses limitless musical boundaries. It is undeniably brilliant but pretty much impossible to categorise. At times the album is a flurry of distorted guitars and furious drum rhythms, especially on Drumroll and Terrorish, where Alexander combines urgent delivery with beats so intense they have the ability to loosen tooth fillings. At the other end of the spectrum, Goodbye is a bouncing call to arms that asserts the importance of staying positive throughout everyday struggles.

Alexander is aware that many people consider him a hybrid artist but asserts, “The music I make has got a lot of vibes to it but it is still rap music. When people ask me what kind of music I make I tell them I make hip hop.” On the latest single, Optimist, the Minnesota emcee shows a mellow, introspective side to his diverse repertoire and incorporates plastic cups to create a delicate beat.

When asked what inspired such a unique percussion choice, he says, “Alegra Oxborough is a friend of mine and one of the first P.O.S. fans. Backstage at one my shows she taught me a cup game with a couple of her friends. I loved the rhythm of it and knew I had to make a beat out of it.”

Perhaps what makes P.O.S. such an interesting hip-hop artist is the fact that he grew up immersed in hardcore punk culture. He was actually given the name Pissed Off Stefon whilst playing in a band called Om, and still performs in punk outfit Building Better Bombs. In the past he has been openly critical of mainstream rap, claiming, “Hip hop music has reduced itself to being either completely worthless or a guilty pleasure, and no one wants to be a guilty pleasure.” When asked about his punk background and the resentment he once held for the rap, the Minnesota rapper clarifies, “I didn’t hate rap music. I just couldn’t get behind some of it.” He continues, stating, “There’s rappers I like but I won’t sing along to some of the words because I don’t want to say that horrible shit.”

Never Better is the third P.O.S. release on Rhymesayers and breathes a little fresh air into a genre that has become infested with clones boasting about wealth and glorifying crime with the aid of a vocoder. Alexander highlights the absurdities of a world where people obsess over material possessions. Instead, he concerns himself with the importance of being a good person and a good father to his son, Jacob.

When asked about the difficulties of being a travelling musician and a father, Alexander asserts, “It’s the hardest part of my life. I want to be there for him but I have to go away all the time to provide for him. He’s been to my shows though so he understands what I do.”

P.O.S. will spend the summer on this year’s Warped Tour and plans to follow this up by promoting his album in Europe. When asked to provide specific details of the proposed tour dates, he cautiously states, “I am just waiting for the ink to dry on the contracts before I announce anything but I should be in Europe this year.”

Of course, if there was any justice, groundbreaking artists like P.O.S. would be making a good living from their craft whilst the gangster rap clichés that dominate the charts would be shown the trapdoor. However, Alexander lives in hope, summing it up best on Goodbye when he claims, “Giving up is like Latin: It’s dead.”

Never Better is released via Rhymesayers on 27 April

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