In the Bible, there is a story of three wise men who followed the light of the North Star to witness the birth of Christ. Upon their arrival, they would present to baby Jesus, gifts of myrrh, frankincense, and gold.
Similarly, there would be three men who would travel of out Brooklyn’s East New York section to become one of the most anticipated independent artists of the year. These three wise men named after significant symbols in the bible: Izreal, Arkitect, and Psalmz would recognize that their words are their gifts to the world. They realize that words are powerful forces that not only affect your body, but your soul. It is for this reason that they are Defiant Entertainment’s own T-Weaponz (Tomorrow’s Weaponz).
T-Weaponz hard work has paid off. Their EP ”Blackout” has pushed over 10, 000 units internationally without major distribution. They have collaborated and/or performed with some of the biggest names in the world of Hip- Hop including: Flipmode Squad, The Roots, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Common, the Alchemist, Pitbull, Akon, Big Pun, and Latin Grammy Award winners Sindicato Del Hip-Hop Argentina, Mexicano 777, Enemigo, and others.
AHH unleashes tomorrow’s weapons today.
AllHipHop.com: Your names are taken from specific aspects of the Bible. What are your reasons for selecting those specific names? How do you embody the meaning those names?
Izreal: My name is Izreal, and it is pronounced as Is Real. I chose this name, because I have been known to keep it real.
Arkitect: I go by Ark, but the name is the Arkitecht. I am for laying down a strong foundation in everything I set out to do.
Psalmz: I chose Psalmz, because it is a book in the Bible that is looked upon as the chapter in the bible that provides strength for people. I am strong. We are strong. We chose the names because we are all spiritual, and we use the names as puns to make people think outside of the box.
AllHipHop.com: What artists have you looked to for inspiration?
Arkitect: Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G. Rap.
Izreal: Marvin Gaye, Jay-Z, Nas, Rubin Blades, Concious Salsa. All of these artists were the truth to me, and made people want to dance.
Psalmz: I love all Old School Rap music. I look to Big Pun, Wu-Tang Clan, and good music, period.
AllHipHop.com: How long has T-Weaponz been a group? What was the motivation for the formation of the group?
Izreal: We have been together for ten years. We formed because we thought we have the potential to accomplish a lot in the music industry. There were not many Latinos at the time, and felt that we could make an impact on the market.
AllHipHop.com: You mention the lack of Latino presence in the Hip-Hop scene. Do you feel that that you are placed at a disadvantage or advantage?
Psalmz: I feel that it is an advantage to be Spanish in the game. I feel that we can use our heritage to capitalize off of the corporate world. We can flip the stereotypes of minorities in general. This will also allow us the chance to give more exposure to our proud culture to the world.
Izreal: There is no disadvantage to me. There is no discrimination in Hip-Hop, because if you have lyrical skills, you have lyrical skills. People will recognize your talent.
Arkitect: We are from Brooklyn. We come from a borough known for bringing forth some phenomenal talent in the Hip-Hop game. We grew up understanding that regardless of our cultural differences, we shared one thing in common: struggle. Struggle makes you stronger, tougher, and more motivated. It also makes you appreciate the success so much more.
AllHipHop.com: How would you describe your sound? What sets T-Weaponz apart from other groups?
Psalmz: We are versatile. We believe in making music that not only makes you dance, but makes people think. We change our flows, and have a firm handle of vocabulary.
Arkitect: Yes, we have a strong vocabulary, and barely curse. Hip-Hop has gotten a bad name by some people as they assume that all rappers do is curse, so we wanted to be more thought provoking. We wanted to let people know that we can be articulate, and still love the music.
Izreal: We have a distinguishable sound. We understand the impact of music on people, and we want to use it as a tool to teach. We want to make thought provoking music that appeals to everyone.
AllHipHop.com: The road to success is one paved with many cobblestones, detours, and distractions. What inspires T-Weaponz to continue on the path towards a career in the business?
Arkitect: My family is my inspiration. They have sacrificed and supported me so much.
Psalmz: We have many people supporting us. Our community and our families have been there for us, and this is our opportunity to show them that we appreciate everything.
Izreal: This is our chance to make a big impact on the world. Words are powerful, and we want to actually use them to say something important.
AllHipHop.com: What is your definition of success?
Izreal: Success is not financial. Success is when you are able to influence people to think. Success is when you can provide for your family, and handle your responsibility.
Arkitect: Success is establishing longevity, and letting your presence on earth be felt by others. It is creating a long life of happiness. Happiness is being successful to me.
Psalmz: Success is being remembered for influencing other people to think. It is reaching a goal that you set for yourself, and daring to dream. It is allowing you to see the infinite possibilities that life has to offer.
Success is something that should not be measured the amount of material wealth that one has, but should be measured by the impact one has made upon another person. It is beyond a shadow of a doubt that T-Weaponz will be group that will have success, because they are a combination of three deadly weapons: wisdom, humility, and determination.
For more information on check out www.tweaponz.com.
