Some believe the world runs on currency, or natural gases. Others say it's love, or perhaps even greed. Dunkin’ Donuts would like you to believe it's them, but we like to believe that the world truly runs on inspiration. All great art started as an idea, a thought triggered by something somewhere that led to the creation of something new, which in turn inspires something else. In this new column: RH Inspired By…,We take a look at the people, places, and things that continue to inspire some our favorite artists.

This week we take a look at Kevin Coval, a Chicago based poet and spoken-word artist.  Kevin just released his second book of poems, Everyday People. Here he gives the inspiration behind his poem "Late To You On The Blue Line".  The poem, and much of Kevin's book, is inspiring because of the way in which he writes.  Rather than a pedestal view that is commonly associated with works of poetry, Kevin's voice is filled with familiarity as he writes from the same place where most of his subjects dwell.  Not an outsider painting literary portraits from a window high above the streets, Kevin takes an insider's perspective as he journals on everything from crowded el-trains, to state fairs in his new book.  "Late To You On The Blue Line", which he describes below is simultaneously uniquely Chicago, yet also easily universal.  Check it out, and get the backstory below.

"Had I not been a DJ, I don’t know what I would have been," states Kid Capri when asked to reflect on his career.  Dubbed 'the world's greatest DJ', Capri has amassed a long list of accomplishments that most DJ's only dream of.  Young baseball players take backyard swings like Ken Griffey Jr., and millions of kids perform Michael Jordan's classic tongue-out layups before dropping back in the pocket like Brett Favre.  If there's a DJ equivalent for kids locked in their room with two turntables and microphone, Kid Capri is definitely that dude.  

Capri has innovated DJ culture on two fronts.  He revolutionized the mixtape game, both stylistically by the way he incorporated his voice into the tracks, and also by the way he sold his products, essentially creating the mixtape industry in the process.  Live on stage he ain't no joke, and has served as the DJ for artists the caliber of Rakim, KRS One, and Diddy. Beyond just playing records, Capri becomes a one man band, adding an incredible amount of showmanship to any Hip Hop show.  

"When I get on that stage, I’m not trying to be whack for nobody.  I’m trying to be the hottest s**t you’ve ever seen in your life!" Capri said about his live performance. "The day that it don’t be like that anymore is the day I quit, the day I stop doing shows, and stop being on the road.  If I’m not hot no more it won’t happen."

The end appears to be nowhere in sight as Capri is ready to unveil the first big release from his own label, No KID'N Records.   The release takes the form of Bronx emcee Budda Early, who will preface his LP, PM To AM, with The Treatment Mixtape.  

In this exclusive interview, Kid Capri speaks to RubyHornet about his artist, his own motivation, and has some words for those talking slick about the DJ profession. 

Hip Hop's not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Indianapolis, Indiana.  After Peyton Manning, Bobby Knight, and Reggie Miller, but somewhere before Purdue and Glenn Robinson (sorry, it's science) is the public's consciousness of Nap Town's Hip Hop scene.  While the country at large may be sleeping on this Midwestern city's beats and rhymes, there are plenty in the Circle City that are doing their thing.  The city is a hotbed for some of the most skilled DJ's in the Midwest, most notably DJ Topspeed.  Speed's dexterity on the decks, and music knowledge is perhaps only outshined by his willingness to mentor other upcoming DJ's to ensure they grasp the past while moving into the future.  One such DJ that has come under Topspeed's guidance is DJ MetroGnome, a turntable technician in his own right, who got his name from a vertically gifted friend.

"I was sitting at my computer while recording and saw "metronome" in the bottom corner of Cool Edit Pro. Well, a good friend of mine is 6'7" and gives me short jokes all time the time, so I put a 'G' in the word and made it my own: MetroGnome."

MetroGnome has also been able to craft his own style, one that regularly includes mixing classic soul and funk with the Hip Hop beats that they have spawned.  His unique live show has made him a favorite on Indy's Hip Hop scene and MetroGnome can be found spinning somewhere almost every night of the week.  MetroGnome recently hit us with a live mix and after bumping it around the office, we felt it was time to take an RH First Look at one of the Midwest's best kept secrets on the 1's and 2's...

From 2004-2007 I served as the managing editor of SoundSlam.com, a website that I help get off the ground as a senior in college.  During my time at SS, I was also a corps member of Teach For America, teaching elementary school on Chicago's Southside.  This duality was very interesting to me, and my two jobs often bled into each other.  I would utilize Hip Hop often in my classroom, both to actually teach lessons and concepts, as well as connect better with my students.  On the flipside, I found that many of my interviews included questions surrounding education, and the messages that Hip Hop artists were sending to inner-city youth, and my students in particular.  I was able to speak with groundbreaking artists during my stint, and my students would be amazed when I would bring in drops featuring the likes of Busta Rhymes, Common, the Beastie Boys...and the list goes on. 

Today, our guy AB over at Fakeshoredrive dropped another rare Lupe Fiasco song sent his way from an "unknown" Chicago producer.  Since there's so much Lupe coming out of the vaults these days, I'd figure I'd showcase my 2006 interview with Lupe in the second installment of the Treasurechest's Vault Series.  This interview was originally published on May 11, 2006 before the release of Food and Liquor.  The album had recently leaked, forcing Lupe to return to the studio and make some changes.  Here he talks about the origins of his name, how Chicago has influenced his sound, and his aspirations in the music biz.  Check it out.