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Necro – Interview Pt. 2 (At Rock The Bells – Columbia, MD)
Video Summary: Part 2 of 6: Two of history’s most innovative producers (and self-proclaimed “funky Jews”) Necro and Alchemist swap stories about songs and samples they’ve shared, including the origins of Non Phixion’s “5 Boros” beat and the infamous “Agent Orange” instrumental. Then in true Necro fashion, the most sadistic segues into a quick recap of the history of Harlem’s gritty underworld; where he recounts how Jews were the original gangsters, paving the way for kingpins from the black community like Bumpy Johnson. Necro takes it a step further even, expounding on how being gangster is therefore a major part of his Jewish birthright. Other highlights include the possibility of a collabo with fellow Brooklynite Billy Danze, along with Evidence reminiscing on the time Beatnut’s member JuJu discovered Necro and relayed his awe-inspiring find to him and Alchemist, telling them they must checkout the rapper “Neko.”
Necro – Interview Pt. 1 (At Rock The Bells – Columbia, MD)
Video Summary: Part 1 of 6: “I’m a really nice guy. I rock fat jewels. I punch people in the face.” – Necro. America’s largest hip hop festival opens its doors to Necro. In part 1 of the 6 part Necro interview series, Necro talks about his new distribution deal and introduces his crew. Exclusive Rock The Bells performance footage from Necro and Mr. Hyde premiers at the end of the video.
Hailing originally from Ottawa, the Canada wide/Seattle seasoned producer REL!G!ON is gearing up to release his first compilation, “Revelationz” on URBNET records on January 26th.
MVRemix took some time to discuss the compilation, his influences, the Olympics and more…
MVRemix: For those that are now hearing about you for the first time, tell us about yourself.
REL!G!ON: My name is REL!G!ON and I’m a hip hop producer. I live in Vancouver, Canada and I’ve got an album coming out called Revelationz I. It’s a compilation and it’s being released through URBNET Records.
MVRemix: Do you find that living in Vancouver you’ve got more options with music in comparison to where you’re originally from in Ottawa?
REL!G!ON: I don’t know if I’d say that I have more options, I mean I could produce tracks if I lived in the Yukon Territories. Most of the artists I work with I meet over the internet so really I could be anywhere. They definitely have great recording and engineering studios in Vancouver, that’s something Ottawa seems to be lacking. Wherever I live I hustle and try to get as much from the city as I can. I went from Ottawa to Toronto after high school to create more opportunities for myself and my team. In 2003, I moved to Vancouver to do the same thing.
MVRemix: Why did you choose the moniker Rel!g!on and why the choice to replace the i’s with exclamation marks?
REL!G!ON: I’ve made wack beats… tons of them over the years and there’s nothing more depressing than knowing you yourself made a wack beat. So I treat the art of beat making as though it’s a religion. I work hard at it, I practice daily in my studio which is like my church. I open up to ever flowing creativity and I make music. When I start making music from my head I’ve lost touch with the soul, so I quit for the day. Music is my religion. The exclamations are there because know one would ever be able to find me on the internet. It’s branding.
MVRemix: What was the first beat that you can remember made an impact on you? The one which stopped and stunned you, making you think – “I want to do that.”
REL!G!ON: My best friend in Ottawa, we went to high school together and we used to drive around the city listening to a lot of rap on cassettes. We’d spend hours dissecting what we liked about the beat, all the sounds, the shit in the background that was hardly audible. I remember when I bought Mecca and the Soul Brother. I bought it because I saw the video to “They Reminisce Over You” on Rap City and lost my mind. We played that song for hours, days and weeks. It was that horn sample, and the bass line complimented it beautifully and the drums were crackalicious. Shortly after that I realized I had to stop fucking around trying to make beats on my Casio Sk 1 toy keyboard and start figuring out what this whole production thing was about. I made my first beats on an ASR 10 that me and this other dude got through a bizarre insurance scam
MVRemix: I’ve read that your original influences were Marley Marl and DJ Premier. Is there anyone currently making beats that inspires you today?
REL!G!ON: Marco Polo. I’ve listened to Double Barrel over and over. I like that he makes music for the underground regardless of current trends. If it was up to me we’d be hearing Double Barrel on mainstream radio all day.
Also Madlib, Ohno, Jake One, Alchemist. When I DJ that’s the stuff I’m playing. People really appreciate it and feel it.
MVRemix: What’s your preferred equipment to produce on?
REL!G!ON: My preferred piece of equipment is Reason 4.0 with Record. Yeah I’m a software guy…blah blah blah… I have an Akai MPC 2000Xl and I used to be one of those guys that swore I’d never use software. For a while I was hell bent on finding another ASR 10, but I’m telling you Reason 4.0 is the main tool I use. I also have a Dave Smith Poly Evolver, An old Crumar T2 Organ, Pro Tools, my Ibanez electric, two tech 12’s and other secret gadgets. I like to keep it fairly simple though.
MVRemix: The album cover features a masked man, was there any significance to this choice?
REL!G!ON: The idea is pretty simple. A lot times I feel like your typical bedroom producer in the sense that I’m an introvert who makes his beats, and like I said before a lot of my networking and promotion is done over the internet so I was starting to feel like an invisible man to the people I’m working with. I’m on project three with Ny Oil… we still haven’t even met in person, just phone calls and internet! So when you flip the CD over on the back cover the mask is off. I feel like it’s time for people to get to know me.
MVRemix: How did the compilation “Revelationz” come about?
REL!G!ON: I just mentioned Ny Oil. I was already working with Ny Oil and I told him that I was thinking of doing a mixtape and I wanted to know if there were any MC’s he thought I should work with. He linked me up with Donny Goines, Jasiri X, Shyheim, and Lah Tere (Rebel Diaz). When I heard their tracks I was really feeling them and I said to my business partner Rodney Davidson “screw a mix tape lets keep going and do an album”. At which point I contacted Moka Only to do the “Lucid” track. I met Moka over the internet through MySpace. He asked me to send him the beat. I was at his studio recording that same night. I go to a lot of live events in Vancouver, usually by myself to check out talent and I saw E.d.g.e. perform so I got him to do the other verse on “Lucid”. Planet Asia, I met at the Vanquish Beat Battle, the next day we were recording “Pyramids”. Then Jenson Vaughan who I knew before called me and wondered why weren’t doing a track for the album. I sent him the beat for “Turn Me Up” and he got New York MC Theory on the track and knocked it out. I met DJ DVOne at the Red Bull Big Tune Beat Battle in Seattle. He hooked me up with J Pinder for the “Evening News” track.
As far as the beats, I go to Seattle for inspiration so a lot of the rough versions for the beats were made there on my laptop then I’d polish them at my home studio. The sound of the album was really inspired by Seattle one of my favourite cities in the world.
I got a lot of help and support from my friends and family over the year it took to make Revelationz I and I am thankful for that.
MVRemix: Are there any interesting stories about the songs – experiences that happened in the studio or with regards to getting one of the songs made?
REL!G!ON: I think getting the opportunity to hang with Planet Asia for a day and to record “Pyramids” at my home studio was pretty crazy for me. I’ve always been a big fan of his work and to be able to work with him was kind of surreal. It was like one minute we were chatting at The Vanquish Beat Battle, the next day I’m meeting him at his hotel, then we go for sushi, I play him the beat for “Pyramids” in my car, next thing he’s on my couch writing. He’s a pro in the booth and I learned a lot just watching him do his thing.
MVRemix: How many songs in total were recorded for the compilation? I know when we spoke before you mentioned that you were very much about making great songs, favouring quality over quantity, were you able to uphold that here?
REL!G!ON: Twenty songs were recorded over the course of a year and we put 16 on the album and I never take short cuts just to rush and put an album out so I’d say we most definitely delivered 16 solid songs. I’m very happy with the album.
MVRemix: Have fun with this one, a la “Fight Club” – “If you could fight any celebrity, who would you fight”?
REL!G!ON: Tito Santana, I’m a huge wrestling fan and I always thought he was a bitch. I didn’t like his character.
MVRemix: Would you win?
REL!G!ON: I would beat the shit out of him in a real fight.
MVRemix: Thus far Canada has rarely been able to compete on a larger scale in Hip Hop music without some American affiliation. Why do you believe that Canadians don’t pick up on their own talent until after the US gives the co-sign?
REL!G!ON: It comes down to marketing and promotion. Take a guy like Drake. I had know idea who he was until he got signed in the U.S. Now I flip open a hip hop magazine… Drake, I turn on the TV… Drake… I turn on the radio… Drake. I don’t think it’s so much that Canadians don’t pick up on the talent, they just don’t know they exist. And the Canadian music industry doesn’t seem to have a lot of interest in Canadian hip hop talent I think mostly due to the fact of how tiny our little market is up here so naturally the audience picks up on it when they hear about it. And they hear about it when it explodes down south.
Also something that annoys the hell out of me is when I talk to Canadian rappers and they sound Canadian but as soon as they step in the booth this fake American accent comes out of nowhere and to me it sounds really corny. I think it’s hard for anyone to take any artist seriously that’s not being themselves. So I guess when an MC makes it in the U.S. it’s that co-sign that makes people feel that Canadian artist is legit now.
MVRemix: I know that you also have your hands in the film industry, do you have anything we should be looking forward to in that department?
REL!G!ON: I recently worked as a producer on a U.S. movie called “Confined” that my brother from another mother Andrew Erin directed. Other than that in a few projects in development. Rodney and I produced the video for “Lucid” feat Moka Only and E.d.g.e. that will be on Much Music very soon. You got a good movie script?
MVRemix: When the Olympics begin in Vancouver, what will you be up to?
REL!G!ON: I’ll be dj’ing at a spot on Granville St called The Edge Social Lounge. The night is called “Check Your Head” and I’ll be playing underground hip hop, soul/funk, and a lot of 90’s hip hop.
MVRemix: Any last words?
REL!G!ON: Canadian rappers find your real voice, no more fake accents. It’s great to be alive. George St. Pierre is a bad motha www.religionbeats.com
MVRemix took a little time to speak with Vancouver rapper e.d.g.e. (Eternal Determination Grants Everything). Heavily rooted in the local scene, his next project is a compilation of EP’s called “The 48 Laws of Power.”
MVRemix: Over the past several years, Vancouver has changed a lot. What have you noticed alter in the city since we last caught up with you?
e.d.g.e.: It definitely has, and initially music wise, I’ve noticed that the number of MC’s seems to have jumped exponentially. In 2002 when I released my first mixtape, there weren’t nearly as many battles, open mic showcases, or as many outlets for lyricists as you see now. By no means is the city where we need it to be in any of these aspects, mind you, but it’s a definite improvement. The only drawback I find is that nowadays the amount of MC’s leaves a lot of room for individuals who think that everyone should rap. Quite the opposite is true.
MVRemix: Compare a day in the rap life of e.d.g.e. five years ago, versus that of today.
e.d.g.e.: 2005: Alcohol. Alcohol. Studio. Club. Hangover. 2010: Baby daughter on the way. Head Chef position coming soon. Responsibility. Studio. Focus.
MVRemix: How did you end up working with Rel!g!on on the “Revelationz” album?
e.d.g.e.: He contacted me originally for one verse on a song Emotionz had already recorded on (“Auto Pilot”), and from there it turned into 3: “Lucid” with Moka Only, and “Evening News” with J. Pinder & Jasiri X. He’s become a good friend as of late, and he is one of the producers I respect the most because his work ethic is always on point.
MVRemix: I had only heard of you as a rapper, but I see you also produce. How did you get into producing and what do we have to look forward to from you next in that department?
e.d.g.e.: I always wanted to learn how beats were constructed, so I learned the basics from Jason Garner (Roswell), and just took it from there. I’m far from being considered a full-fledged producer though, I am still learning and I don’t really make beats for other people yet.
MVRemix: “Superiority Complex” was your last mixtape, how do you feel it was received?
e.d.g.e.: It hasn’t received the recognition it fully deserves yet. To be completely honest, it’s the result of a year’s worth of writing and planning. I consider it my most complete and coherent project to date, and if you listen to it front to back, you’ll understand why. It has started to catch on in the States lately though, and it has been featured on KevinNottingham.com (One of XXL’s Top 100 Hip-Hop Blogs), and FreshKutAve.net, a popular hip-hop blog based in Los Angeles.
MVRemix: What gave you a superiority complex?
e.d.g.e.: I don’t have one. That title was spontaneous and random, it actually has nothing to do with my personality.
MVRemix: What are you currently working on rap wise?
e.d.g.e.: My next project is a collection entitled “The 48 Laws Of Power”, and the premise is simple. 8 different 6-song EPs produced by 8 different producers. Headspace, Moka Only, Bigg Knock, Jimmy The Bang?, Jeff Spec, Beats Me, Religion and Savage Beats. I’m releasing them all separately, and at the end as a package which will contain all 8. In between this, I’m working on a project with Moka Only, and an EP with an MC named 3rd Degry from New York.
MVRemix: What are your thoughts on the book The 48 Laws of Power, do you draw from the theories within the book in your own life?
e.d.g.e.: To be completely honest I haven’t read the book, I just used the title due to the number association. Eight 6-song EPs equals “48 Laws Of Power,” where each song represents a law in my theory.
MVRemix: Have fun with this one, a la “Fight Club” – “If you could fight any celebrity, who would you fight”?
e.d.g.e.: Really? Next question.
MVRemix: Thus far Canada has rarely been able to compete on a larger scale in Hip Hop music without some American affiliation. Why do you believe that Canadians don’t pick up on their own talent until after the US gives the co-sign?
e.d.g.e.: The reason for that is simple. Canadians in the music industry generally look to the U.S. as the standard with which to measure success, and rightfully so. If American artists who have much more pressure to succeed in the industry recognize Canadian talent, it automatically becomes a green light to the rest of Canada that said artist has achieved a certain level and is ready for the U.S. market.
MVRemix: Do you believe it has anything to do with the accent?
e.d.g.e.: Ah… the accent. Well aside from the fact that Canadian MC’s, including myself, usually don’t carry the same cadence or vocal inflections/mannerisms as our American counterparts, it can be said that this will hinder our ability to break into a market where our voices will be perceived differently than everyone elses. I’ve been told that I “sound Canadian” before, which makes perfect sense considering where I was born and raised.
MVRemix: When the Olympics begin in Vancouver, what will you be up to?
e.d.g.e.: Waiting for the birth of my baby daughter, preparing to release projects on Headspace’s independent Jellyfish imprint, more on that coming soon… Working, writing, and trying to avoid the chaos that a world-class event is going to bring to Vancouver.
Born in Lebanon, grew up in Dubai, and has been living in Montreal since the age of 16, Karl Wolf has made a household name for himself Internationally this year with the success of his remake of “Africa”. En route from one city to another, MVRemix was privileged enough to catch up with Karl for a little Q & A.
MVRemix: Tell us about your latest album Nightlife. It was released on November 17th correct?
Karl Wolf: Yes. It was released on the 17th, and it was my first studio album. I had a lot of people help me with the production because I’ve been touring for the longest time, so my producers would send me tracks, and I would write the songs, and then send it back to them. The cool thing about this album is that the first part is all up-tempo, you can play them in the clubs or before you go out at night, and the second half is deeper. It talks about the issues of the world and where I’m from; I always touch on my culture. Actually, Yalla Habibi is the first single on the top forty in Canada to be titled that way. I’m always trying to just bridge that gap between East and West, and that’s my ultimate goal. I’m not trying to educate people, but I do want them to know that there is other stuff out there than CNN that just tells you about how bad a certain culture is, so I think that’s part of my goal as a Lebanese Canadian.
MVRemix: And it’s interesting that you mention that. I understand that you came to Montreal in your teens, and I being from Montreal myself, am aware of the past violence and tension that has taken place in that city over the wars in the middle east. How do you feel about that happening in a city you’ve come to embrace as your own?
Karl Wolf: It’s part of life you know. When my parents and I left Lebanon, there has been a lot of conflict as well, and as much as you hate it, you get used to it, as it’s a part of life. Lebanon has been a part of war and turmoil and political instability for the longest time and that’s where I was born. I came to Canada when I was sixteen. What I dislike is that the news broadcasts tend to give out a lot of false information sometimes, and it creates a lot of ignorance about that part of the world, and people just make up their minds based on that information, and it’s good for me to do things like this and to educate the young kids of the future and show them that there are ways of doing things peacefully. I have to do my part, and if I can even make a small difference, imagine what others can do.
MVRemix: Absolutely. So with that in mind, what process do you go through when you are first inspired to write a song or compile an album, and how does it all come to fruition?
Karl Wolf: I do a lot of soul searching when I write music, I basically lock myself up, I have a beautiful place that’s high up, on the twentieth floor, I have my studio and my piano, and I have a beautiful view that really inspires me. It helps me think outside the box, and it helps me feel like the world is so much bigger than just the studio I’m in. Then I start off with the piano or other instruments or sometimes I just work with a beat, and I play the bass, I play the guitar, and once I get the melody down, I start working with the lyrics – which can make the song become larger than life, and you want music to be open and beautiful and spacious, and you have to talk about what you feel in there.
MVRemix: And you’ve also been collaborating a lot, I know you have another single coming out with Culture, what has it been like working with him, and traveling with him?
Karl Wolf: Yeah, well, were such good friends. You know, you have to work with the people who you like, and who you get along with, and it’s all about working with good people, and not who the most famous person is or whatever. So with culture, were always going to be making hits together – that single will actually be shot in the Bahamas this summer. And I keep people like that close to me, their good friends, and they’re talented.
MVRemix: You’ve also been performing with Aikon a lot, what is that relationship like?
Karl Wolf: Yeah, Aikon is good. I don’t know what he’s been up to lately, but I don’t bug him, I know he’s busy. And that’s my style, and it’s why I think I get respect in the industry, because I just do my own thing and I don’t bother anybody. But Aikon is a great guy, we’ve known each other for three years, we’ve done at least fourteen shows together.
MVRemix: So you say you have been traveling all over the world recently. Describe some of the best experiences you’ve had and in what cities they took place.
Karl Wolf: Well, Japan was pretty crazy, I’ve never been there before, and it’s interesting to be in a place where you go to the airport and everybody knows you and is greeting you. You know, fame is a weird thing. I’m still getting adjusted to it, and having people knowing who I am, even when I walk around in Montreal – I mean, sometimes I forget. I think people around the world are so similar. Everybody loves to party, and no matter where I go it’s the same thing. Music really brings people together, as cheesy as it sounds. You know what, if George Bush was a musician or a singer, I think America would have been in a different situation than they are now. I mean, look at Bill Clinton with the saxophone. I think he was amazing.
MVRemix: So how do you feel about Obama then?
Karl Wolf: What do I think of Obama? I love Obama!
MVRemix: He’s fantastic isn’t he?
Karl Wolf: He is fantastic! You know why? Because he is so passionate. His body language speaks for itself. I think he’s a great people’s person.
MVRemix: So then what about the worst or hardest place you’ve performed in?
Karl Wolf: Some of the hardest places have been in the Middle East like in Israel and Palestine. It was tough to see the segregation over there. That whole area is so… what’s the word for it, it’s a kind of unrest.
MVRemix: No doubt. Karl, tell us about the first time you’ve performed in front of a large crowd and how it felt. And With your recent success, how does that compare to performing now?
Karl Wolf: Well the first time I’ve performed ever on stage was in college, and I did a talent show. And I froze. My voice just froze. I had tea and honey, but my voice disappeared on me, it was so embarrassing. But in time it got better, with practice. You got to love the business. It takes a lot to get up on stage and perform. And you need to have thick skin to be up there, and entertain and inspire people. Today I can perform in front of twenty thousand people, and it’s nothing. I think it’s even scarier to perform in front of ten people than twenty thousand believe it or not.
MVRemix: That’s probably because you see their reaction more.
Karl Wolf: Exactly. And it’s all about the vibe. As a performer you have to be able to start up the vibe. It’s like fuel. And once you start it, you transfer that energy on to the audience, and then they transfer it back to you and we play off each other. But you have to be the one to start it, because an audience can really be hard on you, and if your not confident enough, they can eat you alive. And you have to be up there, delivering with passion and conviction.
MVRemix: What would you say your future looks like?
Karl Wolf: Well, the near future looks very good. We’re shooting my next video in a few days, and it’s a boxing film so I’m training right now to really be the part. The song is called Hurting, it’s on the nightlife album. And it’s great because I’m playing my own part, so it’s an acting part. And I’m always going to direct my own videos, because I don’t feel like anyone can replicate what I feel better than myself because I wrote the song. Long term goals, is for Lone Wolfe Entertainment to be established as a company and have a few artists signed and succeeding around the world. Just like they had done for my career, I would do for someone else’s career.
MVRemix: So you’re training for boxing! If you could fight any celebrity, who would you fight and why?
Karl Wolf: I don’t know, a celeb, well I have someone in mind, but I’m not going to say it. For whomever that knows me and is reading, they would know who it is.
MVRemix: And for whoever knows you, do they think you would win the match?
Karl Wolf: Well whomever knows me would knows that it’s what’s in my heart and my mind and that I can win any fight.
MVRemix: And in terms of the acting you mentioned earlier, I heard you were writing a script?
Karl Wolf: Yep. I just wrote a thriller script, and I just got asked to do two movies, I can’t say what, but one is a major blockbuster, it’s a sequel to something massive, I’m going to read that script, and there’s also another script, and I’m going to get into acting sooner or later.
MVRemix: I don’t suppose we can get a quick synopsis of your script could we?
Karl Wolf: Ah, I would rather not. But it’s one of those Tarrantino style psychological thrillers, where things start to make sense only at the end kind of things….
MVRemix: Interesting! So would be your dream person to collaborate with?
Karl Wolf: Dream person? Well it would be Michael Jackson, but you know…
MVRemix: Sadly, yes. How did you feel about that day?
Karl Wolf: It was very hard. It’s funny because my mom told me that when I was a kid, I was glued to the screen watching the Thriller video, and the making of it, and when he passed away I was actually editing my Carerra video, so it kind of came full circle for me. He was the one who got me interested in being a performer and making videos, and it felt symbolic for me because I was living my dream when he passed. It was a very sad day, but it was a sign for me. It was kind of saying that, his time ended, and your time is beginning.
MVRemix: On that subject, how important do you feel an artist’s image should be in the industry? Do you think the media goes too far sometimes?
Karl Wolf: Well, we live in a very visual media age these days. People want to see bad and good things that happen to people. The star system that we created is beneficial for the artist and also negative. You just have to do your best, and be responsible and be aware that people are watching you, and it’s just better to not be careless. Some stars never have anything bad said about them. We choose this life, and you don’t become a star easily, and no celebrity can say that they hate the publicity, because they worked hard to get where they are, and it comes with what we do and our responsibility.
MVRemix: So with the holidays coming up, how do you plan on spending them?
Karl Wolf: Oh my god, you don’t understand, We’ve been so busy right now, since Jan 1st, 2009. You know, the last album went triple platinum, and I’m busy with tours until the 23rd of December. I can’t wait. And then on the 23rd I go to Dubai, where I see my family every year for the holidays, I’m going to spend six days there. Even my record company in Arabia wanted me to do signing, but I said: “ I love you guys, but I don’t want to talk business for six days”.
MVRemix: And you stay in shape with such a busy schedule, and with all the holiday eating?
Karl Wolf: Well here’s the thing. I always do push-ups on the road. It works out your arms, your abs, your chest, everything. You don’t need a gym. But with my mom feeding me so much turkey over the holidays, I mean, she kills me with it, she always tells me I’m too thin, but I need to tell her that I need to be fit for camera.
MVRemix: And you are indeed! The ladies love you! So tell us, what do you look for in a woman Karl?
Karl Wolf: I look for someone who is caring, sweet, and unpretentious. Some who is smart and not jealous, and who understands what I do and that females will always be around, it’s part of what I do, but just not to be jealous. And physically, well, I don’t know, I think that you can find beauty in someone for who they are, it’s their personality, but also someone who takes good care of themselves, I wouldn’t mind a girl with a sick body.
MVRemix: Before we go, do you have a message for your fans?
Karl Wolf: Yes. Thank-you for supporting me, everybody in Canada. You guys are awesome. I love you guys, and I really want to say, Hurting is my favorite song on the album, go on Itunes, download it, whatever you got to do. Thanks for supporting my music; I’ll keep making videos! And I’m really doing something deeper this time, enough of this fluff and pop stuff.
MVRemix.com caught up with Prevail of Swollen Members on Friday, November 13th to discuss the new forthcoming Swollen Members album Beautiful Death Machine, Madchild’s addiction, how it influenced their music and more.
Joe Budden – Interview (Joe Budden vs. UGHH.com) (Mansfield, MA – 2009)
Tentatively titled “No Comment,” witness UGHH.com versus Joe Budden! Foregoing formalities UGHH.com CEO Quest descends upon an unsuspecting Joe Budden as the rapper turned Internet personality is busily conversing with his fans via his blog backstage at Rock The Bells. UGHH’s Van Stylez doesn’t hesitate to add injury to insult as he berates Budden with a slew of questions concerning his recent beef with members of Wu-Tang along with allegations that the idea for Joe Budden TV was birthed by recently incarcerated Amalgam Digital label mate Max B’s Biggaveli TV. Weeks after this interview Amalgam Digital released Joe Budden’s new album “Escape Route” featuring the track “No Comment.” Which came first the chicken or the egg?
Necro – Re-Introduction To Chaos – Interview Trailer (Mansfield, MA – 2009)
Video Summary: The most sadistic returns! Necro at Rock The Bells 2009 with a little help from his friends in the DMS (Dirty Money Syndicate / Drugs Money Sex) and Psycho+Logical-Records, along with the legendary Lil Fame & Billy Danze of M.O.P., Evidence and Alchemist. This trailer is the follow-up to the most viewed video interview series in the history of UndergroundHipHop.com. Stay tuned for full interviews with Necro dropping over the next month and checkout Necro’s new snuff film / music video, “Human Traffic King (White Slavery 2)” which debuted earlier this week. Necro’s new album “DIE!” is expected to drop in February of 2010. NOTE: Please don’t watch if you are under 21, have children, have parents, or have any inkling of moral rigidity.
British hip hop act HST (Heaven Sent Thugs) held their first live performance in 2006 at the Essex, formerly known as Club Rinse. “The support from the crowd was amazing,” the boys recall. “Everybody was feeling the vibe and we smashed it.” The group’s eclectic and sometimes hard-hitting sounds quickly captured people’s attention and their popularity shows no sign of slowing down. With a slew of successful YouTube videos and a fan base that’s growing by the day, HST is poising itself to take over the UK rap community.
Following their first performance the boys, comprised of lifelong friends Ras-Daniel, Ace, Playa.Gee, Die-no, Drago and A-Class, have performed at various clubs and raves near their hometown of Rainham, London and have made TV appearances on the Sho Sho Show on Sky channel A.K.A. (formerly Channel U).
HST has also generated some internet hype. Their hit single “Struggling/ Say Your Prayers” has been viewed over 52,000 times on Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/heavensentthugs) and YouTube and their latest single, “Taking Over” is faring just as well – having received close to 40,000 combined views in only four months.
MVRemix was able to take some time out of the boys’ busy schedule for a Q&A. HST is currently in the studio, working hard on albums which plan to be released in late 2009 and early 2010. To find out about live shows and other HST events, visit their Myspace.
MVRemix: Do you have any musical influences?
HST: You’d be surprised. We listen to many genres of music, some that go as far back as the 1950s, and we appreciate all forms of music for the powerful way it can reflect the time in which it was made. We have been influenced by many of the legends, like Bob Marley, John Lennon, Jimi Hendrix, etc., but our main influences are each other.
MVRemix: Any non-musical influences?
HST: We’re influenced by humanity, everyday struggles in society, the things we have to go through individually and as a group and we’re influenced by what goes on in our area. There are so many important changes going on in the world and we have too much to spit about.
MVRemix: HST’s music speaks about struggle and the rewards of hard work. Are there any other messages in your music?
HST: Yes, most definitely. We are a group of mixed races and we’re proud of that fact so we promote diversity, love and peace, but that isn’t apparent straight away. You have to listen in between the lines to understand our messages, hence our group’s name.
MVRemix: What are your long term goals?
HST: Our long term goal is to earn the respect we deserve, for the right reasons, and not ‘cos we jumped on a bandwagon. We want to be respected for being solid English rappers who make music that’s real and not regurgitated American hip hop. We don’t want to be known as a group that jumped on a beat we wouldn’t normally be caught dead on, just to make a few quid. We won’t lie: we all want large bank accounts, the chicks and all the trimmings that come with being successful rap artists, but the main thing for us is to enjoy the process, travel, remain entertaining, meet people and, of course, focus on our music.
MVRemix: What have you learned from the artists you have collaborated with?
HST: We’ve collaborated with some highly talented people, like Ghetto and Shizzle from the grime scene, and we’ve come to realize that you have to stay on it or, as we say, stay ‘warm’. Constant writing is a must. It’s like training at the gym. You can train once a week to keep yourself in check but you’re never really gonna make substantial gains. If you want to be outstanding you have to work hard at it.
MVRemix: If you could collabo. with anyone, who would it be?
HST: That’s a tough one. We favor a lot of the top American artists, like Kanye, Dre, Eminem, 50, Busta, Fabolous and Jadakiss … and the list goes on and on.
It seems that the music industry doesn’t want to take UK hip hop seriously. The industry just won’t take a chance on it. We’ve been told that that’s because the UK isn’t buying hip hop and R&B, but when you look at the British Top 20 each week, 10 of the tracks are hip hop. Apparently, we’ve been told, that’s ’cause they are American artists, and people tend to favour American artists. When an American hip hop/R&B artist scoops up an English artist and gives them their support, like Kanye did with Estelle and Mr. Hudson, or what Akon did with Sway, the music industry praises the great English artists! Were they not great before [they worked with American artists]?
MVRemix: How would you describe your sound?
HST: At the moment it’s best described as Electro-Rock-Rap. We’re pushing the boundaries as much as we can to reach new heights. Electro is our way of representing our future sound and our way of taking the mind into space, so to speak. Rock demonstrates our respect for the past and we like the gut-wrenching, raw power that the guitar has to offer. Rap represents our present struggle in today’s society. We are binding fierce street bars with enlightened ideas and thought-provoking topics.
MVRemix: Are you working on any interesting projects at the moment?
HST: We’re currently working on a few different projects. We’ve just finished the HST album The Awakening, which is due for release in October. The Awakening is an absolute must-have for anyone who enjoys hip hop/R&B and for anyone who has a pulse. We have a plethora of ‘choons’ to please just about everyone.
Ace has just finished his solo mix tape Steel Spittin. It shows his harder, underground side and it deals with darker issues. It’s suitably rated as parental guidance only. There’s another HST mix tape, which is grime-based, called Intravenus Music, which is due for release around September and it promises to be double-hype. We have another two mix tapes that we hope to have finished before Christmas. We’re busy-busy.
MVRemix: What have you learned about the recording industry?
HST: We’ve learned that nothing is guaranteed. There are a lot of ups and even more downs. You have to have a strong faith in what you’re doing before you can expect anyone else to, and you must stay positive, no matter what.
MVRemix: Anything else?
HST: Buy our CDs, watch our videos, and study and enjoy them for what they are … Peace!
