Moka Only

Clap Trap

BY Kevin JonesPublished Aug 23, 2008

Vancouver’s Moka Only may very well be the most prolific man in hip-hop, dropping so many releases on top of each other that every set should come with a recap just so fans know what they’ve missed. With next record Carrot and Eggs already waiting at chamber’s edge, Moka quickly fires off Clap Trap, a beat-driven scattershot of raw ideas spliced into two-minute segments that last just long enough to get you attuned to one sound before it’s on to the next. Tension and conflicted moods run throughout the producer/MC’s detailed creations, like the weighted piano, protruding bass line, creeping guitar wails and disconcerting effects of the frustrated "Time To Clean Up” or the ominous, meandering keys of "Bank On It.” The intricate, late night grooves that fill out the set offer just as much musical food for thought, and Moka goes out strong, his muted, distant voice echoing to noted effect on closing Beatles cover "And I Love Her.” Interested parties better get this one while it’s hot because, at this man’s pace, Clap Trap will undoubtedly be three albums old and gone by the end of the year.

Do you find your lyrics sometimes take a back seat to the music?
I do definitely cater to people that are more beat-oriented and that enjoy the music and not just lyrics, ’cause to tell you the truth, the only reason that I really do the raps is so that I have some icing on the cake. I’ll admit, I’m really not even saying all that much; I’m just vibing out — that’s all it is. I don’t have the answer to the universe and I don’t have the solution to political woes. All I’m trying to do is just make some moods and lighten things up a little bit for people.

Are fans generally able to keep up with all of your releases?
No, but that’s their problem, it’s not mine. I do it for me. And I don’t have any illusions about my status; I don’t wile-out thinking I’m this big star. I truly just do it, and it’s nice to be able to make a living off it and be able to eat off it. But fortunately I feel like the buzz is really coming back, and it’s opening a lot of new doors for me. It’s not like in the past when I did the stuff with Swollen Members. We had some lucky breaks and it blew up and I’m grateful for that but with this and me doing it only when I want to and not worrying about the commercial crowd, it’s taken a lot longer.
(Urbnet)

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