Quanstar Brings His A Game

 

One man juggling single parenthood, two jobs, and a dream struggles to make it as an independent artist in the world of hip hop. From planning the Bring Your A Game Tour to putting it all back together after sponsors back out, he who wants it does whatever it takes to get it. Whether it’s touring across the country in a car, or performing with a mic in one hand, son in the other - Quanstar is that dude, and “Do It”: A Documentary is his journey. Filmed over a period of six months the film pulls back the smoke and mirrors that has become hip hop.When Quanstar sent me the link for his documentary it was a couple of days before I actually sat down to watch it. I was in no rush. Didn't really think I was going to be writing because of it. But of course then I watched it. I had to write something and decided on a twitterview – this is what Quanstar had to say about the film.

"Do It": A Documentary, follows you for 6 months as you work toward achieving your dream. What made you decide to do it?

Quanstar: I wanted to show people what being an artist is really like: the hustle behind the image.

It’s a vulnerable position to be in. How often were the cameras rollin' during that time?

Quanstar: Pretty often. I think we had 245 hours of footage. If I had the budget, I would have run it all day. I wanted to be honest.

Did you ever wish that the camera hadn't caught something? Were there moments when you maybe weren't yourself b/c of the cameras?

Quanstar: Not really. There were a couple of conversations that didn't [make] the film, but that was more for other people than me. I am pretty much the same type of person all of the time.

So what we see is who you are; we meet your fam, your son, your mother - but there are others. How did you decide who to interview?

Quanstar: The only interviews that didn't make the film had horrible lighting, or ineligible speech, or [were] off the subject.

There were two that I kept going back to, but I'd like to know which were most important to the documentary in your opinion?

Quanstar: My mom and my son.

And while I can guess why, would you mind elaborating on what they bring to the film and also how they've impacted your decisions?

Quanstar: My sons are my focus. It is my obligation to show them if you want it, you could get it. My mother, and all my fam for that matter, is my support. They believe in me. That means a lot.

You’re very blessed to have a support system so strong!

Quanstar: I am definitely very blessed. That’s why I work so hard and won’t give up. I refuse to waist that faith.

There's a lot of discussion about what hip hop is, means, & all the double standards that go with it. What does it mean for you?

Quanstar: I love to hear folks dialogue about hip hop, even though I tend to disagree with what they say. Hip hop should inspire thought.

Is there anything you were hoping to say with the film that maybe didn't come across the way you wanted?

Quanstar: Not really. We made that film at the right time to make it. That was a crazy 6 months. It’s not always like that though. LOL

Nothing you would change if you had the chance, really?

Quanstar: No. Honestly, I haven’t even seen the movie since right before it was released. Should've and could've don’t get you anywhere

That's impressive. Can't move forward if you’re steady in the past! How about the folks who helped on the project?

Quanstar: The filming was done by only two people: myself and the film’s director, Anthony Neal. He also did the editing.

How was it working with only one other person?

Quanstar: Easy. Only dealing with one other opinion; we were pretty much were on the same wave length on what we wanted.

Okay so looking forward, what's next for Quanstar? You have some projects in the works.

Quanstar: My first book Water From Turnips will be out in November with the soundtrack that will be free to download.

Tell us briefly what the book is about.

Quanstar: It’s about how I went from being an under achiever to where I'm at now, the people that influenced, and where I came from

Definitely something to look forward too! Will you be doing another documentary in the future?

Quanstar: Yep. I should start a sequel to do it within the next year. Over the next 5 [years], Hip-Hop in Africa, an internet reality show, I have a few more projects that I'm working on

More than enough to keep busy, it all sounds exciting. To close, for those who don't know, who is Quanstar in 140 characters or less?

Quanstar: The hardest working MC most people have never heard of until they do. Then they’re tapped in Quandom.


Many thanks to Quanstar for his time and participation in this twitterview. For information on the Bring Your A Game Tour visit http://www.bringyouragametour.com/.