sosad2112: Sure to be filled with fireworks and more, this is the 4th of July Genius Interview with moderator Freeus! Freeus, thank you for doing this.

Freeus: No, thank you for having me. After seeing your work interviewing others, this is a great honor!

sosad2112: AW, you're too kind. Let's start with a question of great relevance: What are your plans for this 4th of July? Fireworks display? Traditional BBQ?

Freeus: Haha... Well, growing up I rarely ever was involved in 4th of July festivities, so I created my own tradition. Not many people are aware of this, but I have a degree in history and a crazy affinity for American politics, so to me, the 4th of July is about one of the biggest holidays after Constitution Day and Christmas, so I read founding materials of the nation, especially the Declaration of Independence...

But now that I'm older, I also go to a local park here in Los Angeles every year for their dope music and food vendors -vegan only for me! I create animal balloons for the kids there [and have] for the past about four years; I love bringing joy to others. There's also an awesome about 30 minute firework display, but flashing lights as well as loud sounds mess with my epilepsy and health in general.
sosad2112: Oh, my gosh; I did not expect that, but I am happily surprised! For starters, I'm currently reading a book on the development of our American Constitution as summer work for AP Government, so we should definitely discuss that sometime. Secondly, that's quite the tradition you've created for yourself! You could say you took after Hamilton as a self-starter, huh?

Freeus: Stealing a line from serein here, but sure, "Talk Congress to me, Baby." Love the Hamilton reference, and while Hamilton was quite certainly an important person in American government, I share a really close connection with...

Madison!

sosad2112: Ooh, and why would that be?

Freeus: I'll be the first to admit that part of my personal connection to Madison is romanticizing his historical significance, but I certainly do have reason! First, Madison is often seen as the Father of the Constitution; while a convention of delegates and political thinkers vehemently argued over the contents of the Constitution, it was largely Madison who took the collaborative efforts of many and created ultimate solutions to the issues the convention faced. For instance, Madison is largely regarded for drafting the Virginia Plan which settled the quarrel over how representation would be divided between more populous states and less populous states.

Furthermore, Madison was traditionally liberal, un-trusting of a strong national government and so forth, making our political ideologies rather similar as well. In short, I hope in my lifetime to be considered such a foundational architect of something revolutionary as Madison is to the constitution.

sosad2112: Well, damn; that's ambitious. Just to clarify, you feel a connection between yourself and him because of your strong desire for compromise mixed with the desire for creating a foundation for new concepts and such?

Freeus: Well, it's less about a strong desire to compromise and more about being an effective problem solver, thinking up new solutions, but also being able to synthesize the best out from others: crowdsourcing! As well as what you said, laying a foundation for something important :)

sosad2112: Would you call him your role model, or does someone else deserve that title?
Freeus: Honestly, I've never considered Madison, or anyone for that matter, my role model. While I see attributes in others that I admire, I have never tried to emulate them. I see others who have been successful as an inspiration, but I plan to forge my own path by continually improving who I am.

sosad2112: When were you most satisfied along that path?

Freeus: Hmmm, I'd say about two years ago, I was most satisfied with my progress in life. I was working a job as a communication director, got accepted into my dream school, found Genius, [and] was overall content. While I see my circumstances as a setback now, and this makes me unhappy at times, I see the experiences I have lived as making who I am intrinsically better than before.

So while two years ago, I was closer to my goals, today I feel more personally capable of achieving them because of who I am.

sosad2112: Speaking of Genius, what got you interested in the site to begin with? How did you even come across it?

Freeus: Funnily enough, the day I found Genius is the day I joined. I never used to look up lyrics because I took pride in my memorization abilities, but one day, I decided to Google my all time favorite song, "Sea Lion" by Sage Francis. I knew the lyrics by heart, I even made an awesome ceramic pot inspired by the lyrics before, I once contemplated getting a tattoo based on the song.

So I searched their meaning. I was curious if anyone had a different insight than I did. I stumbled onto Genius and found that the hook annotation simply said, "We don't know what these lyrics mean, but here's a picture of a sea lion." I was downright furious; I made an account, proposed suggestions, created insane amounts of annotations, and was made editor about two days later! I was on a mission; I still am.

sosad2112: What, specifically, is that mission of yours?

Freeus: Why, to annotate the world of course! In all seriousness, though, I immediately fell in love with the endless possibilities of Genius upon joining the website. To me, Genius utilizes the best parts of technology to spread knowledge: a knowledge that isn't handed down but co-created, a knowledge that is accessible through merely the connection of the internet, a knowledge that does not discriminate, a knowledge of whom there is no author but rather authors, a knowledge that is permanent and explores modernity in a way never before possible.

In times past, historians would rarely reflect on their own era because of bias, as well as a lack of resources. Genius allows us to make history happen NOW. I'm thankful that I'm able to contribute by laying forth the canvas for analysis through transcription, by outreaching to artists who have another perspective to offer on their works, and to let others know of our work through social media.

To, in a small sense, be a part of the foundation of something revolutionary... Oddly similar to Madison ;)

sosad2112: Where do you see this mission of yours going, exactly? What will be your biggest success one year from now?

Freeus: In my two years on Genius, I try to push myself every single day to do just a little bit more than the day prior. Admittingly (sic), some days, this causes paralyzing anxiety, but taking things day-by-day in this way has helped me appreciate the progress I've made so far. I went from nervously sending a message to Scopey with lyric edits to being voted the best transcriber in 2015 and 2016. I went from admiring people like Notero's insane ability to reach out to artists to having brought Lil Yachty to Genius.
I have no idea what my biggest accomplishment will be a year from now, but I know that it will be better than anything I could ever imagine, because every day, Genius gives me new inspiration to push forward my own capabilities. One of my biggest hopes is that I will be employed by Genius in either transcription or artist relations so I can have the most tools to do what I do now in an even more effective way, being truly integrated with the culture and pulse of Genius.

sosad2112: Where do you see Genius being five years from now?

Freeus: Eventually, everywhere. I mean that quite literally. Genius has grown from a cult rap website with Gucci Mane lyrics to a household name used by Hillary Clinton. When the next generation of college students download their Chemistry ebook, Genius will be there. When fully automated cars are a common thing to own, shame on you if your on-screen radio doesn't come with Genius powered lyrics.

Realistically in five years? We will probably be moving towards more monetization and gain exciting new partnerships, we will be fully integrated with at least one major streaming service, and we will be building our brand in more and more mainstream media outlets.

sosad2112: What is advice you have for new users?

Freeus: Connect with someone. Whether you find this person in the forums or in song pages, to be fully integrated in the community you need to build community. I was sort of aimlessly annotating until I found Barrk's thread for whitehats on the forums, was lost on how to improve my editorial skills until DetroitLeprechaun found me, only joined transcriptions when streetlights mentored and taught me. Even now, my best days come when I feel like I'm working with others towards a goal.

sosad2112: I'm honestly smiling like an idiot right now. Generally, you're really modest about yourself, so hearing that you think and feel all of this not only makes me happy to be working with you but also makes me even happier to have you as a friend.

Freeus: Aww, you're the sweetest. I know I tend to be a pretty reserved person, but inwardly, I'm constantly bursting with emotions, and people like you really do help to make my world a bit better with the smallest of actions.

sosad2112: AW, I love you so much! You're so good to me. ^u^

Now, we've been talking a great deal about things you love, but let's shake things up for a moment: What is a thing you don't like to do, and why?

Freeus: Hmmm, that's actually really an interesting to ask me because I think, barring something harmful to myself or others, there's nothing much I don't like to do - I just have preferences. Things that rank on the lower end of the spectrum include: watching movies, seeing spiders, cooking meat (especially fish), really difficult outside labor, hot showers, and talking to people who refuse to take all views into account on a given topic.

sosad2112: What do you see in cold showers?

Freeus: I feel like cold showers make me more alert and help me feel mentally and physically ready. It's a great jump start to your body to be put in a stress situation like that. I love to simulate stress often as it forces me to grow as a person, whether it's purposefully giving myself barely enough time to study for a test, or taking a freezing shower.
sosad2112: You said that spiders and fish were animals you have trouble with. What's your spirit animal, though?

Freeus: Well spiders do scare the wits out of me, but I simply dislike the smell and thought of eating fish. Hmmm...

My favorite animal is the walrus, but my spirit animal is definitely a red fox.

Walruses are my favorite animal because they simply look majestic, like kings and queens of the ocean. Simple, slow creatures on land, but in their element swift and clever. The red fox has been equated to me many times, and not just because my name reminds people of the Pokemon Eevee. The animal has a sense of danger to it, sly and cunning, elusive. Yet still maintains an air of elegance and cuddly demeanor - a really, really idealized account of how others see me.




sosad2112: I think "Kings and Queens of the Ocean" is the best description I've heard of walruses ever, honestly. For the sake of switching things up one more time, here's an interesting question: Give me a top ten list of anything.

Freeus: Okay, Top Ten Things I Own...

1) A 4.3 Octave Marimba
2) A 1980's Japanese Stuffed Animal (Dog)
3) A Coin with Ron Paul's Face On Tt
4) A Vinyl of Copper Gone (Signed)
5) An [American] Stuffed Animal (Hedgehog)
6) My Desktop
7) A Pillow That Looks Like a Cactus
8) A Grain Sack Bag That I Use for My Books at Uni, Handmade by Me
9) My First Violin, Which is Now Broken
10) A Brown Sugar Perfume, Given to Me by a Since Passed Friend

sosad2112: Ooh, interesting choice, not only for your list but for the items as well.

Well, this has made for a wonderful interview, and I'm so glad I could share it with you. All I have left to ask in closing is, "Do you have anything to ask me?"

Freeus: Hmmm, I'm so terrible at asking questions which is probably why you're the one who is interviewing! I guess my only question is, "What do you wish someone would ask you?"

sosad2112: I'd wanna better question than that, smh. That's all the time we have for today's Genius Interview! Join us next time for when VinylZombie_MCR interviews Zachary Mahabir!

Freeus: RIP.

PS: Play the audio