Music Spotlight: Sabotaj – Powers To Be Legendary (Video + Interview)

Hailing from Los Angeles, California, hip hop artist Sabatoj is set to take the world by storm with his upcoming album “The Legend That Never Was” which will be released on October 31 on all digital platforms.

Sabatoj shared the his the video “Powers to be Legendary” for his new single from the upcoming album and spoke with us for our Music Spotlight Series. The song gives props to legendary hip hop artists that paved the way for artist like Sabatoj to make a name for themselves and aim to be legendary.

Your name has a unique meaning. Can you tell us about that?

Sabotaj is my stage name. That’s spelled S-A-B-O-T-A-J which each letter stands for S = Supernatural, A = Ability, B = Beyond, O = Only, T = Take, A = Allah’s (God), J = Journey. SABOTAJ!

Describe your music for those who have never heard it.

My music is original period! It’s pure raw and uncut real Hip Hop. I have what I call a 3Dimensional wicked flow. I’m very lyrical and my style is ancient. I am the Wizard of Rhymes! Words are powerful enough to cast spells when I bless tracks it’s in a magical form. I’m also known as The Magical One among many other names. Hearing the music is true understanding. I like the music to speak for it self. Without getting too deep throughout the years of time I’ve learned how to shallow my music down at times without jeopardizing being SABOTAJ. I’ve learned to cater to a much larger audience other than those that truly want that SABOTAJ sound. This has helped me maintain my fans but also bring new ones in. The actual tracks I love rhyming to are anything from soulful to jazzy to sounds of ancient wickedness! When I say wicked that can mean a shallow more ancient exotic sound of beauty to a hardcore hip hop head banger. My dimensions are very wide and can travel very deep. I’m extremely diverse in my style and the different types of songs I have mastered. I’m very conceptual as well. Many of my songs paint pictures and can be a whole movie of music. My new album, of course, displays a lot of these qualities.

Tell us about your new single “Powers To Be Legendary

“Powers To Be Legendary” is exactly that! Sabotaj “The Legend That Never Was” has arrived to the world with his 1st single & video in years “Powers To Be Legendary” A fatal blow of a HIP HOP CLASSIC! This song pays homage & salutes the legends before me and in a lyrical display of high powered excellence shows why Sabotaj has the “Powers To Be Legendary” A must have for your listening pleasure!

What inspired you to pursue music?

I’ve been heavily influenced by music since a young kid. My mom played a lot of The Supremes, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Ashforditselfand Simpson, Donna Summers The Miracles, Smokey Robinson, the whole Motown vibe, Earth Wind & Fire and so many more. My dad played a lot of Rick James, Teena Marie, Parliament (all funk from that era), Marvin Gaye, the whole Motown vibe and many others. My mom sent me to the YMCA in Torrance during the summer so between 10 and 14yrs old I went to camp with white kids and learned all the hits of the late 70’s & music of the 80’s that they listen too. I learned The Police, Sting, Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Toto, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Mr. Mister and some many others. Being that I was from the hood living in South Central L.A. this experience added more to my musical horizons. I enjoyed many genres of music and lived through many eras growing up. There’s a formula brewing in me that I didn’t even know it’s called music and artistry. 

As an artist my lyrical Hip Hop influences are Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, and N.W.A. Ice Cube is of the best ever to me. The Golden era of Hip Hop helped to create SABOTAJ. I was always me in life so being original as an artist was easy. KRS-One said “you got to have style and learn to be original” My Philosophy is the song 1988. That song is the perfect breakdown of the music industry and will teach how to be a real MC. Clearly, KRS-One is a favorite of mines as well. I live as an artist to this day by the guidelines of that song a CLASSIC must I mention.

What has been your greatest career accomplishment so far?

In 1999 and early 2000’s I was part owner of a record label and we put out a 12″ side A was a song called “Rhymes Adventurous” for radio and side B was for my pure hip hop heads a song called “Supreme Soloist” We sold nearly 10,000 copies on our own over seas in Japan. We also created a huge street buzz and a bit of radio play in the Los Angeles market. Stations 105.9 and 100.3 the beat which was originally 92.3 the beat. This was a great push at that time. I’m also proud of myself and my music partner / rhyme partner Haph Breed for the fact that we continued recording for years and years and have a high quality of music in the vault ready to share with the world! Our time is NOW!

What has been your biggest challenge?

Finding time to stay true to my music. All my life I’ve worked fulltime jobs, have two daughters and had to put feeding the family 1st. camping make it in the music industry partner/rhyme you have to put in a great deal of work on your craft! Once you have perfected your artistry you have to find time to shop it or put it out there to the world. This has never been no where near simple. Years ago the challenge was getting a major label to love and except your music without trying to make you into the guy that’s hot on the radio at that moment. Rather understand that your originality can make you that very artist they want but without jeopardizing your artistry. It’s a tricky business. I always aim to stay inspired! Sometimes that’s not easy either you got to be strong and believe! Fight for your dreams!

What is your music goal for the year?

To release 2 singles and videos for the album “The Legend That Never Was” dropping October 31st  2018. The 3rd single and video will most likely drop Jan or Feb 2019 but the album for sure will be available on all music platforms in Oct of 2018. The bigger picture is to make the world understand I’m here and been existing for years! I’ve been overseas music forever, time to sit at the table with the TRUE Legends of Hip Hop. This is why my album is called “The Legend That Never Was” this will explain to the world what I’m worthy of and the cloth I’m cut from and how I bleed Hip Hop. The fans will place me in my rightful position and the music will speak for itself.

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