A high school teacher by day, Big Meridox is one of Tucson's most ferocious MCs. He's shared the stage with Lauryn Hill and Big Boi, to drop a few big names, and just finished a minitour with KRS-One. He's working on his fourth album and his previous efforts can be found on iTunes.
Joshua Levine, mailbag@tucsonweekly.com
What was the first concert you attended?
Steady B, Public Enemy, Big Daddy Kane, Ice Cube and Main Source at Summer Jam 1989 in Philadelphia.
What are you listening to these days?
As far as hip-hop—Boldy James, out of Detroit. As far as other music—The Best of Smooth Jazz Vol. 1 always keeps me sane!
What was the first album you owned?
The Fat Boys' Crushin'.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone seem to love, but you just don't get?
This whole hipster Eurotrash culture. ... The "I don't like this because it's popular or because other people like it" culture! I find it disrespectful to what hip-hop really is.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
Boogie Down Productions in their entirety.
What is your favorite guilty pleasure?
Prime-time TV.
What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
"Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos," by Public Enemy.
What band or artist changed your life, and how?
Public Enemy without a question! Chuck D's ferocity combined with Hank Shocklee's James Brown-driven beats! I'll never forget buying that first cassette and playing it over and over ... until the reel warped!
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back ... I can recite the whole album word for word!!
