GUESS WHO'S BACK: Knoc-Turn'al Answers Fans' Questions, Talks Upcoming Album "The Book of Knoc", His Work on 2001, His Career Since Then

[Arkan al-Turani]

Raptalk.Net: I thought it would be fitting to start this series off like this. BloodMoney2008 asks, “where the fuck have you been at Knoc?”


Knoc-Turn’Al: That’s a good fucking question. I ghostwrote for everybody on the west coast. Well BloodMoney2008, where I’ve been at is in the motherfucking bat cave doing what I do to put a whole new group together called the MathMadix and call everything and every favor I ask to come back to the public and give them what they need.


Raptalk.Net: There we go! The second question comes from D~Nice and he wants to know, “How did you come up with the name Knoc-Turn’Al?”


Knoc-Turn’Al: Oh shit, that’s a good question. My original rap name was Nature Boy. I got it tattooed on my chest. Nas came out with somebody named Nature Boy so I had to change my rap name. I was in the penitentiary and I had a night job on the back docks. What ended up happening was everybody kept calling me Knoc-Turn’Al like, “you Nocturnal, you don’t have no problems staying up at night.” So what ended up happening was they started calling me Knoc-Turn’Al so that sunk in while I was in the penitentiary…and they can check my records and see that I’ve been to the penitentiary. But one thing for sure to tell D~Nice is that my name came from when I was in the penitentiary. My original rap name was Nature Boy but Nas came out with somebody first called Nature Boy so I had to change my rap name.


Raptalk.Net: There we go. The third question comes from Dubsmith_Az, and he asks, “What was your personal highlight from working on “2001?”


Knoc-Turn’Al: Getting drunk (laughs). Dr. Dre used to have cases and cases of Hennessey in the studio. I used to tell him, “You need more gas? Get the fuel and let’s go.” Nah, that getting drunk thing is just a joke. The thing was the highlight really of “2001” was Dr. Dre paying attention to my talent with me being a ghostwriter. We came up with some really good stuff. I didn’t expect to be in the situation that I was in. What ended up happening was “Bad Intentions” came out after and I was on “Bang Bang”, “Light Speed”, I did a lot of songs with Dr. Dre. What ended happening was I didn’t know it was that easy to get paid off rap. That was the best thing for me. It turned my life around while I was on parole and everything else. I felt like I was somebody again. I could actually get back into the world and function as a human being.


Raptalk.Net: That’s a great answer right there. The fourth question comes from Hazzard and he wants to know, “What is your take on the Crooked I-Snoop Dogg beef?”


Knoc-Turn’Al: That shit is stupid. They’re both from Long Beach, why are y’all beefing? It doesn’t make any sense. I’m from Long Beach. To me, why would you beef with somebody from your own city? I know they may not be in the same age bracket but the whole point is, they know somebody in their family that grew up in the same age bracket, so why are you even tripping? Why would you even trip off somebody that is your own kind? You know what I mean? They wouldn’t have got as far as they got if they had been tripping on each other (Laughs).


Raptalk.Net: I like that right there. The last question comes from Laconic. I know you Knoc; you’re funny and creative as well so we’re also going to have a little fun with this series. The question is, “what do you prefer on your dinner table, Chicken or Ribs?”


Knoc-Turn’Al: I want both on my dinner table! If I had to pick one, I would like the ribs. Everybody needs some good beef in their life; put some meat on the bones, I’m already skinny. I don’t need to be skinnier; I need to put some meat in my life.


Raptalk.Net: We’re back with Knoc-Turn’al and Raptalk.Net is quickly becoming Knoc-turn’al Mondays. We’re going to start it off with this one. Booz asks, “What are your strengths and weaknesses as an artist?”


Knoc-Turn’Al: My strength is on that microphone. My weakness as an artist is my family. The quickest way to aggravate me or have me do something silly is through my family. That’s about it.


Raptalk.Net: That’s a great answer right there. Now many fans were disappointed with the (falsely) so-called last Knoc-Turn’Al album, “The Return of the Hustler.” I know this one gets to you Knoc, so we’re gonna’ get into this statement for you to respond to. The statement comes from Daniel and he says, “I hope “The Book of Knoc” is not like “The Return of the Hustler.” That album had shitty beats and no name guests. Scott Storch did “Ya Boy Is Back”, stick to big name producers because they bring out the best in you.”


Knoc-Turn’Al: I’d like to tell them thank you for noticing and paying attention to the way I do music. Because one thing for sure is, I had nothing to do with “The Return of the Hustler.” That was a bootleg album. Daniel, I’m sorry that you had to buy that damn album. “Return of the Hustler” was a bootleg album that I had nothing to do with. They cut and pasted my stuff and I appreciate you for being a real fan and noticing that I do real better music than that. Thank you.


Raptalk.Net: There you have it fans. Knoc-Turn’al has a track record which still remains flawless. We didn’t address any topics regarding your upcoming “Book of Knoc” album so I thought we’d give the fans and readers a little something this week. Episcop Swerving wants to know, “What can we expect from the album when it comes only to Knocks creativity?”


Knoc-Turn’Al: Well in the past I‘ve found myself giving my creativity to other people that I’ve ghostwrote for, no disrespect but it was some great stuff and people loved it. But this time around, I kind of counted myself into my own bat cave and just try to re-create myself and create a new style because I know people are tired of the same stuff. So on this album, I kind of ventured off a little bit but I didn’t get techno or kind of Kanye West, no disrespect because he’s doing his thing. One thing for sure is I just kept it west coast like I always have. I’m not going to disappoint the fans with this album but what I am going to do is let them know I’ve been doing this for a very long time.


Raptalk.Net: We all can’t wait to see what the album will bring to the table man. I want you to next up address a little rumor that even myself has seen pop up on the internet every now and then. Chad Vader asks, “What was the deal with “Bang Bang”? Is it true that you complained to Dre because he replaced your verse with MC Ren?”


Knoc-Turn’Al: That is not true at all. That is false. All I could do is say sorry if you’re an MC Ren fan. I hope you are becoming to be a Knoc-Turn’al fan. What I would like to do is send you some snippets of my music for you to see why Dr. Dre picked me over MC Ren. And MC Ren is a great rapper; I grew up off of him. All I ask you to do is take the time to listen to both verses. Thank you.


Raptalk.Net: There you have it Chad, rumor addressed. Barrack Obama was recently sworn in as the new President of USA, I thought it’d be appropriate to get your thoughts on that Knoc. Laconic wants to know, “Does “Knoc supports Obama and if so gives a good reason besides he's black and his campaign slogan was change?


Knoc-Turn’Al: I don’t know yet. He hasn’t done anything. I wanna’ know what bills he’ll start to pass before I could answer that question. I’m sorry that I have to be abrupt but ask me that again in about a month.



Stay tuned as Knoc will continue to address questions from fans exactly a week from now, next Monday.

Courtesy of Lunatic @ Raptalk.net