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 With years of writing, battling, and performing, Cleva is easily considered by many to be the real deal. He rhymes with the fury of his troubled life, genuine experiences, and mysterious past. He articulates his issues with the world, his fellow man, and himself over melodic tracks with true ingenuity and precision.";People thought I was gone. They thought I was burnt out, that I wouldn't be able to come back harder, wiser, more Cleva. I even believed it for a while. His life was too fucked up. Cleva won't make it nowhere, he can't stay out of county corrections. That made me want to bang even more."; With this new attitude Cleva hit the studio, hard. And within one summer, had an album he thought was ready. I walked in like, ";Either ya'll gonna listen to this or this is gonna escalate!";. . . They did. This is what led Cleva to be the first artist to be signed to It's Been One entertainment. And I can see why, he radiates this kind of light, the same thing that attracts us to the stars. Although Cleva may walk among us, he seems so much more.
HHC:With one word tell us who Cleva is?  HHC:What separates you from other MN artist? Cleva:I love Hip-Hop. I grew up listening to De La Soul, Jungle Brothers, Tribe, etc. But as I grew older, my life got harder. So the music I listened to got harder as well. I got into West Coast rap like Mc Eiht , Tupac, Outkast and Ice Cube... My music reflects this I think. My rhymes are lyrical but my style is harder, there is an edge to it. But I still have fun... I think the edge helps separate me from other artists. HHC:What artist have you worked with locally in MN or nationally? Cleva:I have worked with Moochy-C, Flawless, Kanser, Carnage, Try-D, Shock, Wreckon, Desdamona, Mn Snipe most recently. Over the years I have shared the stage with Artists from Redman/Methodman to Atmosphere and E&A... HHC:Where have you performed locally and nationally? Cleva:Man... Locally I've been at First Avenue, Escape Ultra Lounge, Bon Appetite(R.I.P), The Annex, Red Sea, you name it... I have also been all over the country... But with all this herb I chief you really expect me to remember the names? Roll up!  HHC:Define your style? Cleva:I've been through allot of bullshit in my life so it has an angry overtone, But I would have to say my style is my life in rhyme pattern...With a splash of street smarts. HHC:You got a new album out whats the name and what can we expect from it? Cleva:The Name is 97%ofDaAlbum... And Bangers should be expected. I am pretty much showin what I go do and pushing my limits as an M.C. I put my ass and foot into this album and can guarantee a favorite track for everyone... I call it 97%ofDaAlbulm because I didn't do exactly what I wanted to do with it because it started to clash. HHC:How many albums do you have? Cleva:This is my first one playa... HHC:Have you done any mixtapes? Cleva:Nah, nothin worth mentioning... HHC:Are you signed? Cleva:Yes I am... HHC:Tell us a about your label? Cleva:It's Been One Entertainment is a label, I feel, That's focused on harder more street artists and acts... They look in the dirtiest corners for the rawest talent... They believe music should be felt not heard... I love my label. It's like a family. HHC:How did you get hooked up with IBO? Cleva:The C.E.O. heard one of my songs through a friend of his somehow...Still don't know who to this day. He came and saw me at the Steak Knife probably 2 years ago now... HHC:Tell us about the other artists on the label? Cleva: Flawless is a street smart ladies man... His ability to make the girls go nuts made Cam(C.E.O. of IBO) want to work with him. He was signed after he knocked some dude out downtown for spittin towards him, not at him, towards him... Moochy-C I have known him for a grip but didn't know he had skills... I ran into him at a show shortly after IBO signed me and he gave me a disc. I listened to it and loved it. It took me awhile to convince the label heads, especially Cam. He didn't think Moochy would fit because he was already doing his thing and had alot of different affiliations... It worked out eventually and Moochy is now one of the strongest links in the Been One chain.  HHC:Was there other labels competing for you? Cleva:Yeah, mostly only locally though... None were the right fit though. Most labels were worried about me being too big for them to handle... I had my own website, album and artwork by then and needed more support than help. It's Been One was the better fit. HHC:Do you think its better to be signed or independent? Cleva:I think it is a matter of what's best for the artist. Some artists don't need labels, some do... This is all perception and opinion. HHC:What do you think of MN's hip hop scene? Cleva:I think we are on the brink of something huge here...Something big is coming and I can feel it... HHC:Where do you fit in Minnesota's rap scene? Cleva:I don't know about fit, but I know I belong... I think I am different than what's going on so i don't actually fit...Maybe I am still on the sidelines watching... HHC:What would you say to other rappers trying to break into the MN hip hop scene? Cleva:Get your weight up, Rhymes tite, and beats bangin'...Then you gotta bug these promoters. Find out who is puttin on the shows and get at them, and at 'em, and at 'em, and at 'em... No one is gonna put you on. You gotta put yourself on brah... HHC:People have come to our forum on www.HipHopClub.Biz asking about Cleva and where can they find out more about you, Where can fans learn more about you and pick up your music? Cleva:Check me out at www.itsbeenone.com www.clevadawhat.com and www.myspace.com/cleva for shows and info... pick up the album at cdbaby.com, Electric Fetus, All local Cheapo locations, Mindstate Distribution, 5th Element, TreeHouse, CD Warehouse Dinkytown and Uptown, and from me in these streets... Peace 
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