The Koreatown Oddity represents everything that is good about Los Angeles. His creativity on multiple fronts (he wrote and starred in the feature film Driving While Black, raps, and produces music), his optimism, openness to the world of cultures that make up this microcosmic city, and his utterly unique approach to life make him a favorite at Low End Theory, underground parties, and in the back of your favorite taco spot. We caught up with the man himself, Dominique Purdy, to discuss a few items of interest...
What's your favorite taco?
I dnt really have a fav taco spot but i do fuck wit cactus #1 & #2 . Also a few random trucks throughout the city the dont really have names. And i dnt eat meat so a place tht does a great potato taco is a plus. I still think about this one sweet potato taco i ate at the Taco Madness Event yall did. Shit was amazin. I fuck wit burritos heavyyyyy too on another note.
Where did you grow up and how did it shape who you are?
I grew up in ktown of course. St. Andrews & 5th , Hobart & 7th , Harvard & 7th. Moms said before i was born it wasnt called koreatown tho. Just like mid city wilshire or some shit. Growing up it was black & hispanic and some korean kids. Though alot of businesses were korean owned. Man shit i was in the riots when i was 8 years old in ktown and ridin through the whole city, so ive seen alotta thangs happen there. I remember when they put the first subway station on wilshire & western. Me and homies as kids used ride tht shit for free. It only went to dwntown then. I saw alotta property get torn down i been hit by cars all type jazz in ktown.
When did you start wearing a mask, and where is the mask from?
The ceremonial headress was a decorative thing i would bring when i did sets to have on the table along with my operation brain surgery toy. Id bring my turntable a stack of records , my mpc, and a cool lil table cloth. Ive had the headress since i was in highschool. I dnt think its from anything specific. But it tells you alot about me and music because its not attractive to look it but you feel my vibe. Im inspired by Graff bombers wit how i operate.
Favorite all-time MC? Producer?
Of you know Kool Keith is my shit but man there are so many emcees that laid it dwn in the culture tht inspired and influenced me tht this paragraph would be waaay too long. Same goes with producers. Obviously i love all the OG greats! And alotta dope heads tht came after. Too many to write dwn. I aint tryna get carpal tunnel. You know phrases from emcees or certain songs just inspire u. Producers too. Certain beats they did or how they flipped samples inspire you to stay ill and get iller. This is a question you gotta ask in person i can go on & on. I dnt name a bunch a people and forget somebody.
You're an actor and a rapper and producer. Which of those is your true calling, which do you love the most?
All the things i do in this life expressing my creativity is my calling. Dnt really consider myself an actor tho. Like spike lee he can pull of parts he feels a connection to but i dnt do shit i dnt feel. All these things i do film and music have been around me since i was kid. Growing up in the hip hop culture inspired all the shit i do today and how i do it.
How would you describe Koreatown to someone who's never been there?
To describe koreatown to someone whos never been here i would first say wilshire & western is the center of the city so we have every type of person in the city pass thru. Theres alot of buildings tht have been here since the 70s and 80s. Its black, hispanic, and now the biggest population of koreans outside if seoul korea. Theres some more white folks sprinkled in now too lol.The nightlife is poppin. There all kinds of good food. And although there is alot of gentrifrication happening here there are OG people from koreatown tht are developing things to keep it dope and bring new life. This shit got alot of history and i been here since the 80s so i seen hella shit. Man we just need a dope ass record store here now for all my loop diggers. Shit maybe i will be the one to do it.
What keeps you in LA? What would make you leave?
LA has everything i need. Theres so many cultures from Ethiopian, to Indian, Greek, etc. I mean every fuckin thing. The music scene, arts, nightlife theres always some shit to do. Comedy spots beautiful landmarks and history , murals. Just interesting lookin old people. Obviously being born & raised here i have a deep connection with the city . I have memories scattered across the entire city. Im never living anywhere else. And after i become a supercentinarian im gonna die here.
When and where were you most happy?
Thats a tough question because when i happy im happy so the MOST happy kinda dnt exist. But i will say tht when me & all the peeps i fuck wit are living comfortably paper wise as we do the shit we love and we all breakin bread and giving back to the community while doin it and my parents dnt have wrk thats when i will be MOST happy.
How have you changed as a performer in the past couple of years?
Everytime i perform i want people to feel some shit. Something tht relieves stress and or inspires them in whatever they are trying to do. I feel every performance im more in tune with tht energy i wanna give. I start seeing waves floating in the room.
Got any shoutouts?
Shout to Yall first off. Appreciate the support. And shout to everybody who fucks wit me you know who you are. If we smoked weed together, i slept on ur couch, we rolled on a mission somewhere, we ate lunch dinner or breakfast together, you bought my shit, or we created some shit together, or you put snaps on the petro when i had a whip, or you put me up on game wit some knowledge. If you fuck wit me i appreciate it cuz i wrk hard as fuck G.
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