New York emcee Realio Sparkzwell brings a dose of cinematic flair to his Mafioso rap sound with “Honor My Plate,” the stylish new video/single off his latest project, “Bloody Luciano”. The video is directed by longtime collaborator Trigg The Ruler, who put the focus on Sparkzwell and his crew as they make their way through Syracuse’s Little Italy. The track stems from Sparkzwell’s well received Bloody Luciano album, which dropped digitally this past August and is available now on vinyl and CD formats via Cocareef Records. Through their website you can purchase vinyl and CD (both w/ Obi strip for $50, limited to 50 copies) and CD-only (no Obi strip for $20, limited to 100 copies). And on Bandcamp, it’s available in four configurations: CD (no Obi strip for $20, 100 copies), CD (w/ Obi strip for $25, 50 copies), Vinyl and CD (no Obi strip for $50, 100 copies), and Vinyl and CD (w/ Obi strip for $50, 50 copies).Check out the visuals and go support the physical launch for Bloody Luciano, which is also available for stream and download through all major digital retailers via BMI 19G7 PUBLISHING CO.
We had to opportunity to catch up with New York based rapper Realio Sparkzwell campaigning his new album, “Bloody Luciano“. Read our interview below.
Much respect Realio Sparkzwell for the consistent body of work you’ve been putting out for the past couple years. Before getting into the new album, for the readers who don’t know, how long have you been making music?
Short answer, I been making music since I was like nine/ten years old making breakbeats by making pause tapes and then recording into a boombox [laughs].
Where is NY are you from? Any particular influences from your area that motivated you to make music?
I’m originally from Utica, NY, but I’ve been in Syracuse NY since I was 15/16. There’s honestly not much influence from where I’m from. Rakim is who made me wanna be a emcee. Eric B & Rakim’s Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em LP to be specific. Nas was a big influence. As was Raekwon, Ghostface, really the whole Wu. But deejays and producers had a big influence to me too. I developed those skills under the infulience of DITC crew, DJ Premier, RZA, and The Alchemist to name a few.
How have you been doing during this pandemic? What do you think about the whole situation? How are you pivoting your music grind during this time?
I’m good, my seeds are good. Thank you for asking. I really don’t want to get political about it. The best thing to do honestly is to build your immune system and fortify your health, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Masks are not healthy, constantly sanitizing is not healthy because we need germs to help build our immune system. I’m not saying I don’t wear a mask and of course stay clean. I’m just kicking actual facts. The cure and prevention has been and always will be in mother nature. Herbs, tinctures, eating the proper foods, getting your essential vitamins and minerals is what is important and vital. Nutrients is what is essential, not masks. Fear also breaks down the immune system and most people are scared of the boogie man right now. This is psychological warfare right now. I’m not saying it’s not real, but what I’m saying is real important.
As far as the music, I recorded 12 albums in two years. I released nine projects in two and a half years. So I’m still catching up to myself by making sure everything gets released. I need to get my body of work out. People can catch on now or later. Right now people got a lot to catch up on from if they been sleeping. I’m nine albums deep under the name Realio Sparkzwell. I really haven’t changed anything. I’m just an artist painting visuals for your ears. I also produce still on the low.
Just heard the new album, Bloody Luciano! The production is dope. How did your relationship with Crypto get started?
Infinite thanks. Clypto is fire, I really enjoy working with him. I think the first time we started working together was on a song for his album, “The Loop.” He invited me on a song called “The Life” featuring Supreme Cerebral, Daniel Son, and myself. From there we decided to work on a whole album. This was like 2018 I believe.
Briefly describe the creative process involving the album?
Real simply, he would send the beats and I would choose based off of the feelings of inspirations I was able to drum up. I didn’t use them all but I drew up a solid album and poured out my blood, sweat, and tears over his production.
In a few words, what do new listeners expect to hear?
People can expect to hear soul music. Music from my heart and soul laced over Clypto’s luxurious landscapes. Bloody Luciano is my slang for ‘blood money.’ I’m a slangologist. So as far as lyrics there are layers of metaphors and slang you gotta dig into. I speak in code a lot. You gotta decipher it. You might have to play back songs a bunch of times to catch everything I said and how I put it together. This is wise guy music. Mafioso soul music and I’m dropping raw uncut diamonds along with polished jewels. I had to get this album out as therapy. All my music is a release of therapy for me. I been healing for years changing my life working on being the best version of me. Healing and raising my vibrational frequency. The music is part of that journey.
We do notice the influence of the street life in your project. When most successful rappers forget about the streets and their past, why do you feel it’s so important to remind listeners what kind of life you come from?
Like I said, this is therapy for me. I have PTSD to be quite frank and I have been healing for years. I survived childhood trauma, I’ve been shot at, I lost a lot of friends to death and prison. I’ve been beaten by police, I’ve fought cases. I beat cases, I lost one though. It’s not about reminding people where I come from. This is a part of my own healing. At the same time I can drop jewels on heads from real life experience. I don’t live that life anymore so now I can rap about it in a real way without rattin’ on myself or others. That’s a jewel right there. You can’t live the life and rap about it at the same time cause you will attract the Feds. That goes for artists and fans. Don’t be stupid. Listen to “Insha Allah” song on this album.
All the songs were fire! On your behalf, what are your top three tracks off the project?
Many thanks. I truly appreciate that and happy to hear you’re feeling the music. Now you gotta back track and peep the other eight albums [laughs]. Spotify is an easy way to do that. I’m in love with every song. Top three is hard to pick, but here goes: 1. “Crème Brûlée’” 2. “Bloody Luciano adn 3. “Insha Allah” I pick “Insha Allah” for very personal reasons. It might not be the hottest on the album but it’s the most personal for me.
Any new videos coming out off the project?
We just dropped the “Bloody Luciano” title track video and a few months ago we dropped, “Float With Me.” The next video set to drop is for, “Honor My Plate.” We may decide to do more videos. I really want a video for “Crème Brûlée’.”
Anything else slated for 2020? If so, let our readers know!
Yeah, I have another full album with producer Kyo Itachi called, Porcelain Plates. We dropped Akira together back in 2018 on vinyl, CD and digital. Right after that we recorded Porcelain Plates which I’m really proud of and would like that to drop that. That might not drop until 2021. I went through a really deep heartbreak last year and I wrote and recorded an album as therapy called Songs of Solomon, produced by DaSoulSolution. I’ve been thinking of possibly dropping that digitally on my birthday on October 03…we’ll see. I have to touch up a few things and get it mastered. It’s all about my love for a very special woman. We both helped to change each other’s lives in beautiful ways. It’s another soulful album with an R&B twist. You might catch me singing on it, shhhh. I can’t sing [laughs]. In the past I’ve also written songs about her. On my album, Monoatomic Gold , she’s the inspiration to my song, “Love of My Life.” On my Mahdi Music LP, she inspired “Beautiful Flower.” On Akira, she’s the inspiration for “40 Days and 40 Nights.” On Splashwork Yang she’s the inspiration for the track, “Everything.” Shit gets deep. She was my absolute best friend, I still consider her the best friend I ever had. I don’t give a fuck what anybody might say.
Our infamous question! What’s your definition of “underground hip hop”?
Underground is in it’s own lane. Underground kind of separates itself from the mainstream. I really don’t define my music in those kind of ways. I just make music from my heart, mind, body, and soul. If people dig it and can relate that is a great bonus. Back in the day underground meant that you were keeping it real and you weren’t a “crossover” artist. Underground meant that you weren’t a sell out, ya dig. So I can appreciate the term in that way.
Where can people find more of your music? Is there a main platform?
Through all of the major digital retailers and streaming platforms; iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, Deezer, everywhere really☛ https://smarturl.it/bloodyluciano
And for limited edition CD’s hit up my bandcamp: https://realz.bandcamp.com/album/bloody-luciano
We’re considering vinyl…stay tuned.
Lastly, any shout outs involving the release of you album?
Shouts to man, woman and child. Shouts to Clypto, Tone Spliff, Nowaah The Flood, Ty Farris, Sal Chisari, Trevor Lang, John Armstrong, Trigg The Ruler, and shouts to UGHHBLOG and everyone showing love. Love is Love.
Check out this new album by NY’s very own Realio Sparkzwell titled “Bloody Luciano“. It’s a 14 track LP produced entirely by Cali producer Clypto. It’s a solid body of work with mafioso-based street raps, over lush, cinematic production. Follow him on Instagram @realiosparkz.
