I am truly excited to  bring our readers this man’s first interview since his return to the Rose City.  I first encountered Libretto in Matt Dishman Community Center’s weight room. He was one of those brothas that you might get a head nod from, or possibly a fist bump, but certainly not someone you would walk up to between sets to engage in chit chat. Not to say he was or isn’t approachable, he just went about his work with such focus and intensity that you knew interrupting his flow for trivial conversation was prohibited. It felt like you really had to have something profound to discuss with this man, which in hind site makes sense considering the content of his rhymes.

I wasn't surpised at all to learn that he was a skilled and accomplished emcee. If he employed the same focus to his craft as he did his workouts this man was a problem! I imagined him in a dark room with only the faint glow from the bulb of a shade-less lamp filling notebook after notebook with precision bars.

After a long hiatus, I, like many others were left wondering if we’d heard the last of the Slum Funk Beast. Fortunately for us all he blessed us with this interview to separate the man from the myth and continue his journey to legendary.

503tv:  For those that may not be familiar with you can you give them a short introduction?

Libretto:  Indeed… my name is Libretto aka Bretto or Kokanut Brown… ha ha. I am a Portland, Oregon transplant originally from Watts, California… I landed here in the late 90’s.

1/5th of the Hip-Hop Super Group the mighthy Misfit Massive. Which includes myself, Rev. Shines, Wolveryne, Sly Da brown Hornet and the Lifesavas.

503tv: You left the scene in the midst of creating great music. Would you care to explain your absence?

Libretto: Absolutely…. After completing the recording of my unreleased sophomore lp “Captain Crook….Snatchin’ Crumbs and All.” I was in the Bronx, NYC visiting some family and happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, got jammed up by the New York Pricks and Dicks aka NYPD and was booked on Armed Robbery charges…. after a week on the infamous Rikers Isle. I was released on bail, came back to Portland due to my court dates being months apart…putting the finishing touches on my LP not knowing the outcome of my future with this case.

On Nov.5th 2010 I flew back to the Bronx to go to court and the FBI picked up the case and detained me. Wanting me to cooperate with them so they can rail road my first cousin, on “Master Mind” charges they wanted to compile to get him 25 to a Life sentence, I declined and took a plea deal for 61 months. I served 4.5 years in Federal Prison and just got released on May 5th of 2015.

See #Free Libretto Documentary for more details.

503tv: Any thoughts on the current state of the Portland Hip Hop scence?

Libretto: The scene is very vibrant, lots of new artist and talent. I think the creative capabilities in the town are numerous, but tapping in to that source of energy to create a sound is key for the the city of Roses.

503tv: What are you currently working on that the fans can look forward to?

Libretto: I have currently just finished recording a project for Liquid Beat Records entitled “Gangsta Jazz 2:The Album” We are in the process of mixing it down and gettin it ready for release on audio cassette and free digital download.

After that, the loooong awaited release of my sophomore album “Captain Crook….” is prepared for release on Th3ory Hazit’s WetWork label.

With a new remix and video of the already released 12″ single “Ride to Dat” Feat. Guilty Simpson along with “Good For Me” Feat. Vursatyl of the Lifesavas.

503tv: At this point in your career what if anything do you feel you have yet to accomplish?

Libretto: Ummmm, hmmmm I would say a world tour, a series of videos…ha ha. At this point in my career I still havent shot a video yet. ha ha…. which is crazy! Other than that, just moving at least 100,000 plus units independently and making the a dent in the mainstream with pure, uncut, raw Hip-Hop Rap music. We got seeds to water beloved, and the corporate music world is supposed to be out for the money, but there is a responsibility to the children as well. We gotta put big budgets behind good music, not just “hot” music with no moral.