This is by all means not the definitive documentary or story of Paul C McKasty. The Legendary producer from Queens NYC who had his life cut short aged only 24 years old. This is a film put together from a footage I had accumulated from 2000 to April 2013.
Friends, Family and Fellow artists share some personal stories of their time with the man. I am as you may know a record collector and Hip Hop activist. I can admit that I never knew or had every record that Paul C had touched, I have plenty of them, not all of them. In the late 90s I had got to know Nottingham based group the P-Brothers very well.
I was around as Ivory made his now notorious ‘Here No Evil’ CD. He used to show me records I had missed out on, a lot of Paul C’s productions. Prior to that I had gone to New York to start work on my film ‘The Men & Their Music’. Chronicling the birth of New School Hip Hop, from 86 on. Interviewing Ced Gee and Moe Love they spoke highly of Paul, this was the beginning of filming a chapter on the man from Queens.
As I began editing the film the Chapter on Paul. It was so long that it manifested it self into its own film. Learning so much more about the man, watching back the footage of CJ Moore and how heartfelt he spoke about his friend. I felt that this was a story that needed to be shared.
As you will see there is absence of some very key people, not to say I never tried to contact them, those that know me very well can confirm I did. My challenge was that I had made a rough of this film so many years ago, what do i do?, hold out hoping that one day they will want to tell there story which I did for nearly 7 years or drop the film?
Bear in mind Ive never been a sponsored film maker or belong to any in or popular crowds. I was just a man with a camera traveling round filming when ever i could. In my early days building my reputation maybe there was a miss trust from some artists, who is this guy?. Time has showed that I kept my word and that I’m a man that prides him self on his integrity. So I made the decision to drop the film. Maybe those missing can see it for what it is, I can always re-edit. If anyone has photos of Paul that i can insert into the film (who would not mind) please contact me?
I would like to thank all those that contributed footage towards the project and believed in me. Rakim who took time out of his tour to do this. Dr Butcher who traveled from Texas to NYC to link up with Damian Wilkes to shoot his piece. Lindley Farley for his guidance throughout.
Another reason i never dropped the film was that there is a video that exists of Paul making beats in his studio, but it was amongst hundreds and hundreds of video tapes in a spot in NYC, to this day it’s not been found.
I made a choice not to feature a soundtrack to the film, the audio quality of some of the footage, but mainly because this is not like one of those movies that sensationalize and concentrate on the death and mystery behind it. This is sincere stories from people who loved the man. I stripped the film down to the raw footage. Its not often you get to see such films like this about artists of this genre. Most people will know of Rakim, but you tell me where you ever see him like this on film?
Paul C played a huge part not just in the music but helping develop some of the groups who today are considered classic. Mikey D, Super Lover C and Casanova Rud, Main Source, Large Pro, Organised Konfusion, Rhazel and Ultras to name a few.
In a day when music has become so disposable, bed room studios, back track listen to music produced by the likes of Paul C, there is a reason why that music is classic and never tiring, it was a made by a man that was not a beat maker but a master of his craft.
Part 3 will be online next Sunday.
For a full Paul C Discography please click here
