Juggaknots Interview (2008)

Back in 1996 a couple of brothers (with their sister lurking in the background) released an album that nearly fell through the cracks thanks to major label shortsightedness. Luckily Bobbito’s Fondle’Em Records stepped in and pressed up the Juggaknots’ Clear Blue Skies for the vinyl hungry hip hop kids of the time. It became a classic of the ‘NYC backpacker’ era, with Breeze and Buddy Slim weaving their distinct intricate storytelling over an atmospheric bedrock. Then they seemingly disappeared. Sure there were a few 12-inches and Breeze’s starring role in Prince Paul’s hop hop epic A Prince Among Thieves, but no new Juggs album ever materialised – until now. Just what have these three siblings been up to?

Slim you have been in the game a little longer then both Herawin and Breeze and a lot of your early success as a beatsmith seemed to have really paved the way forward for Juggs as a group. I was just hoping I could a brief history of your work behind the boards.

Buddy Slim: I started doing R&B work, basically just trying to hustle in the early 90’s. I did a lot of R&B work with Billy Lawrence, an artist who was on Elektra Records. Terri & Monica - a girl group who was on Epic who actually dropped a very familiar song back in the day under the name The Girls, that was produced by Teddy Riley. They came out with a debut album in around 93/94. The album was called Systa and I had the first two singles off of it. “Uh Huh” was the first single and “Intentions” was the second one. I just basically tried to get a lot of work around the industry. I did some work with Father MC, did some writing with Angie Stone. Just tried to keep busy. From that and making those relationships and making those contacts that’s what started the whole Juggaknots thing rolling. Basically the production work parlayed for us to have the deal in 1995 with Elektra that kind of got the whole ball rolling with the Juggaknots.

So Breeze I hear that you used to ghostwrite lyrics for some of the groups that Buddy Slim used to produce for, is that right?

Breeze Brewin: Yeah our history did start a lot with Slim’s production for different R&B groups way back in the late 80’s/early 90’s. I had been writing at that point for a couple of years. Definitely not publicly, but I was writing for the people on my block and for some of the older kids, maybe a cute girl. So I was writing, not professionally, but getting out there. So by the time my brother was working with different people, they were like, “We need some rhymes or a hook or something”. So I started doing that real early in conjunction with him, but I was sort of doing it on the side already.

The three of you are siblings. What do you see as the benefits of being family and not just crew?

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28 May 6 Permalink

Chester P Interview (2011)

Chester P has been described by many as the greatest rapper to come out the UK. Back in 99 he came out with his brother as ‘Taskforce’ and has since released a gang of material, with varying content, diverse production and a consistency with lyrics not seen in many artists today. Chester’s conscious, imaginative and socially aware side has always intrigued me and since he was part of one of the original Peak Street Mags (issue 2), I hit him up to see how he was going today…

You’ve recently released ‘New Mic Order Pt2”, tell me about that project. Has it only been released digitally?

Ok well the new album has now been released on CD, available from Bandcamp and Suspect Packages of course….. The project was initially the further evolution of New Mic Order - Task Force’s first album released in 99 I think! Which to me meant then and means now a shake up of all the mechanical sounding, bandwagon riding, death and destruction dealing kind of vibrations one picks up from much of the mainstream hip hop available today! A challenge to the deeper imagination of creative folk. You know not just cars and guns, drugs and money, but storytelling and thoughtfulness should be a part of creative integrity. But hey thats an opinion and we all have one of those.

I hear you were looking to run for mayor once upon a time, what happened?

Well the running for mayor thing simply started with a phrase - Chester P for mayor! That was it, the minute I said it in public it started gaining momentum. So me being the spontaneous and mischievous character they say I am, i rolled with it! We had solo one and some other graffiti echelons from the UK do a huge full wall reading ‘chester p for mayor’. It was real big and took 7 days graft to finish. We had coupleTV people catch the wave, then i began to take it more serious. I  looked into it and learnt that you need ten thousand pounds deposit that you get back if you get 2 votes from each constituency of London. So I had an offer to be borrowed the money by people who I can see would like to puppeteer a career in politics and thought in honesty I would rather feed homeless people with ten grand than waste it in that way. And thus was the end of the wave. The saying is ever popular, but there will be no further attempt to branch into politics, that I promise.

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16 May 3 Permalink

Chester P Interview (2008)

*We are busy with the Flood Money Auction here at Peak Street, so here is an old interview we ran with one of the UK’s finest back in 2008….

Chester P Hackenbush. It’s one of the first names that comes to mind when talking about the best lyricists that the UK has in its arsenal. The MUD FAMILY and BURY CREW member has destroyed the careers of rappers like Wordsmith in one diss track,  torn Hip Hop Connection a new asshole and repped alongside his brother Farma G under the Task Force banner for over a decade, releasing classic albums, EP’s and the Music From The Corner series. The man has earned the respect bestowed upon him all the while challenging your preconceptions of what hip hop can be. For his latest he steps out on his own…

Peak Street: So I wanted to start off with where the title of the album came from “From The Ashes”. Now a lot of heads would of heard the story now –your studio got robbed, set fire to and that the album you had been working on was feared lost. Was there ever a time just after that incident where you just thought – Fuck it. I’m throwing it in?

Chester P: Yeah, especially with times as they are now where sales are quite slow for everyone. It got very disheartening cause we put a lot of work and time into it. It was Slipperz studio, it was all his equipment and all his classic hip hop records from the 90’s and beyond and they all got burned to bits. So it was real disheartening. But as much as it was a moment where I said, ‘I aint got anymore energy to put into this’, it also rekindled the flame and made me say, ‘Nah. I aint quitting. I can’t let people kick me down. I got to get up and fight back’.

Your lyrics have always been deeply layered, but you’ve said that you wanted to keep the lyrical content of your solo a lot more straightforward and simple. Why did you make that conscious decision?

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4 February Permalink

M-Phazes vs Jase vs Peak Street Interview (2008)

M-Phazes has consistently been a cut above the majority behind the boards. His neck-snapping drums, keen sense of melody and overall musicality prove he is more then a simple beatsmith, but a producer of the finest calibre. Check early work with Trace Elements, his team-up’s with Supastition or his beats for heads like Phrase, Skyzoo, Kenn Starr, Bliss & Eso, Muneshine and Othello as evidence. You want more proof? How about Preemo giving him the nod? “Good gracious” indeed. We got the legendary producer Jase (of Beathedz / Obese / Nubreed / Nuff Said fame) to sit down with the man and talk shop.

Jase: State your name and the crew you represent.

M-Phazes: The name is M Phazes. I represent Crooked Eye, Beat Fanatic Crew and Wax Reform.

And where are they all from?

Crooked Eye is from Melbourne and consists of Phrase, Illy, Unknown, Flagrant, Daniel Merriwether & J-Skub. Wax Reform is from everywhere, but it basically started in the states but we got guys in Europe too and I’m over here. Beat Fanatics? I don’t even know if I’m in the crew, I just got the drop and I like to use it (laughs).

Cause you’re a Beat Fantic

Exactly… Nah I’m down with the guy who started it. We’re real tight and he reps me over in the states.

That’s Slop right?

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3 January 25 Permalink

Guilty Simpson Interview

Gulity Simpson is an MC who lives at the coalface, constantly laying down his thick workmanlike drawl in order to paint everyday stories from the Motor City in vivid monochrome detail. Most of us first heard him spittin on the Jaylib track “Strapped”back in 2003. There were plenty of guest verses after that, but we had to wait until 2008 for his first full length “Ode to the Ghetto” to drop on Stones Throw thanks to a hook up from Dilla, which was closely followed by the exclusively Madlib produced “Guilty Simpson”. Both LP’s gave us Guilty verbally laying down his gritty heart on the cold streets in calculated bars. This was raw and honest and dangerous lyricism all at the same time. An MC who could talk openly about his troubled relationship with his father in one breath and then be tossing molotov cocktails in your crib in the next. We caught up with the man before his Australian tour.

Peak Street: I’ve always thought of your music, and the Detroit scene in general, as real blue collar hip hop - the honest and humble sound of the everyday mans struggle. But what do you think makes the Detroit scene so unique?

Guilty: I think it’s the changes the city goes through in a year’s time. The harsh Winters, blazing Summers and everything in between. The music has the heart of Winter in it to me, if that make sense. The cold dark element, the beauty of struggle and grind of the Winter. After that, is the energy of Spring and Summer. I think our music takes all of those personalities.

It always seemed that Detroit artists were getting more love outside of Detroit (especially overseas) than in their hometown. Does the D still not support its own or has it been coming around in recent years?

I think the scene will continue to be what it is. A close knit family, that’s what hip hop is though. Especially underground hip hop; it takes individuals to be involved in something before it’s the thing to do.

Usually something so unique will grow from the embryo stage and become something bigger and more defined. So people support, just not in numbers consistently like an artist would like. And I think it’ll stay like that, for the underground at least.

You definitely don’t preach, but there are a lot of life lessons within your lyrics. Why do you feel such a responsibility to embed those morals in your rhymes?

I do that because at times I admit I can be a bit selfish in my music. Everything I write is me, me, me. But the world isn’t about me, not all the time at least (laughs). So I try to include the reality of life in my music. I have to include what I know and see in my music all the time!

Instead of just spitting pure straight flames, you usually seem to consciously steer towards subject matter of substance. Who are those MC’s you admire for having mic skills yet also talking about something worth listening to?

Kool G Rap, Scarface, Jay Z, Nas, Biggie, Slick Rick, etc. All of those MC’s could rock a party, tell stories or talk on a subject. There’s more but those are the early influences.

How has becoming a father influenced your work as an artist?

It doesn’t change me as an artist really. It does change my motivation for doing what I do though. It makes me focus on the bigger picture for sure.

Has there ever been a time in your own life when the words of an MC has made you seriously reflect on a situation, perhaps even changed the course of your actions, and led you away from trouble or bullshit?

Yes most definitely. Main Source “Lookin at the Front Door”, was one I could remember. It was like Large Pro was speaking for all men, at least the ones I knew going through drama with their girlfriends. Pete Rock and CL’s “TROY” was another one, that song made me reflect on my own family. Outkast’s “Git Up, Git Out” is another one. I played it every morning for motivation. I’ve been told “Mans World”,“I Must Love You” and “Stress”  have had that effect on people. Songs like that are needed.

Dilla was one of the first heads to reach out to you and you worked extensively with the man over the years. What is that one Dilla story that always brings a smile to your face?

I had recorded a song over one of his tracks that I really wanted him to hear, so I had been trying to get him on the phone for a few weeks. When I finally caught up with him, I told him I was trying for a while to reach him, to let him hear this song. He told me he has mixing and simply put he said “You can be a slave to that cell phone man. Especially when you’re working.” That was the realest thing ever to me. So many are slaves to technology – it’s sick. Just because I’m easy to call, doesn’t mean I’m easy to reach. The ones closest to me can get in touch with me, leave a message and I’ll get back to you.

The chemistry that you and Madlib have together has always been on point. What initially drew you and Madlib together and why do you both vibe as a duo so well?

Because he understands who I am and respects it. He has so many layers of production, I picked the lane I liked the most and went from there. With the foundation established I can pick a majority of the Guilty Style Madlib stuff and then journey more into the left field Madlib stuff to balance it off. He’s a sick producer it’s not difficult to make dope music with him.

So what’s good with the Random Axe project that you Sean P and Black Milk put together? I thought Duck Down were going to drop that this year? Is it true that the entire LP was somehow deleted from Black’s computer?

Not ALL of it, but A LOT of it was deleted. It’ll be out first quarter of next year. What we did after the stuff got deleted crushes the previous anyway.

Can you tell us anything about the collabo project that we hear is in the works with Jay Electronica? Did you guys meet through Kon Artis/Mr Porter? How did the idea for a project come up?

Well we’ve talked about that for years now! With all that’s going on with him, I hope we have time to do it. I admit it could’ve been done already and I was difficult to catch for a while. Regardless he’s a good friend and I wish the best for him. Yeah we met through Mr Porter when we were working on the Runyon Ave music. We go back years now!

You’ve said you want to make the move into production eventually. Who have you learnt the most from production wise and have you started to get behind the boards yet? You going to be an MPC man?

I’ve learned the most from Mr Porter. He’s a monster producer to me, he can do it all. He gave me an opportunity even before I was working with Dilla. Of course I plan on putting the MPC in my weaponry, but I want to learn many different pieces of production equipment. I’ve been doing so much rhyme wise, I still haven’t really settled down and made tracks like a person needs to, to be called a producer.

http://www.guiltysimpson.com/

3 January 1 Permalink

Raven Interview

One of the best releases this year was Raven’s Ravenous20Ten. Hell his entire Crate Cartel crew practically owned 2010. These were some questions we threw at the Melbourne MC for a piece in Beat Magazine, but they absolutely killed me with the word count. So here it is in full.

How pivotal were the Street Science workshops and hitting up The Formula radio show in your early days in your development as an MC?

 Massive! The Formula was a hub for talent back in day for Melbourne. Listening to that show is what got me into local hip hop and Stewbacca and Bias were always happy to give the younger heads the opportunity to do their thing live on the airwaves.

Frankston Street Science was where Budsa, Aetcix and I met Perplex and at that very point we just happened to be scouting for a DJ. So that was really when Lost Soulz and Field Trip came to be which of course lead to our first national releases. Shouts to Sach, Sol and FX.

Your skills on the mic have always come across as polished, but that sounds like it has come from years and years of refining your craft. Do you reckon too many kids these days rush into dropping a release instead of actually spending time spittin in ciphers and live shows?

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29 December Permalink

DJ Dexter vs Peak Street Interview

What else can you really say about DJ Dexter? The man is a veritable institution in this country behind the decks and has a CV that would make most DJ’s as jealous as Charles Barkley is of Michael Jordan’s championship rings. From pushing hip hop in Melbourne clubs in the late 90’s when everybody was a house DJ, to taking on the world’s best turntablists in the DMC’s as Australian champ, to contributing to the glorious fuck-up that was The Avalanches live show and now expanding his sound with his amazing Grrilla Step project- the Pinoy boy wonder is the epitomy of the complete DJ. But you all knew that didn’t you? But did you know the man loves basketball as much as his crates?

Who is your NBA team of choice? (The Lakers is not an acceptable answer)

The only time I like the Lakers was on my PC playing against the Celtics using Magic, Worthy, Kareem etc. I’ve been following the Golden State Warriors since the Tim Hardaway days. My whole game has been built around him. Davis was solid for a minute. What are those new kicks he is flossn’ in LA? Li-Ning??? Check Jeremy Lins numbers in the summer league. He torched John Wall a few times too.

Is there any hope for the DMC comps anymore or are they as dead as Allen Iverson’s NBA career? 

Seeing that A.I. has moved his ass to Turkey for two-years I would say no.

Can vinyl ever jump out of retirement like Mike? Or is it sitting in the stands forever now? 

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15 November 2 Permalink

Malice (Clipse) Interview

Look behind their connections with Pharrell & Chad,  read between the lines of the Justin Timberlake collabos, dig beneath the surface of the mountains of coke and The Clipse are undeniably complex street corner poets whose lyricism kicks the asses of every single one of their Top 40 peers.  The brothers Thornton have been punishing beats much like their Juice Crew heroes since dropping their Neptunes backed debut “Exclusive Audio Footage”. But it was “Lord Willin” that truly showcased their intricate one-two punch of Pusha’s wordplay and emotive cadences against Malices cold-edged icey flow over some of the best Neptunes boardwork ever! Since then they have lived through Industry Rule 4080, released some of the best mixtapes this decade with the “We Got It For Cheap” series, dropped 2 more LP’s and now forged strong links with Yeezy. With their Australian tour around the corner, Peak Street sat down with Malice to discuss movies, being pigeonholed and the future of the Clipse. Did we say world exclusive?!

Peak Street: Whenever you hear the name The Clipse you always hear “east coast drug dealer music” or “cocaine rap” in the same breath. Now there is no denying that the drug game has played a pivotal role in your lives and your music, but has the label ever bothered you? Do you think some people miss the intricate lyricism and the consequences and repercussions that you spit?

Malice: No, I think people here as of lately are starting to see how intricate these rhymes and the lyrics really are. The first time I heard us labelled as ‘cocaine rappers’ it did bother me, because that’s just not a title that I wanted to be labelled as. But it has definitely played a part in our life and our music is a true to life music. But there is definitely so much more in these verses and it doesn’t stop with the cocaine. It might be the canvas, you know what I’m sayin, and it might get you interested, but if you listen you can definitely learn a lot.

I have always described you guys a throwback to those classic vivid storytellers of that classic early NYC golden era – you know Kane, KRS, Rakim, G Rap. Do you think MC’s of that ilk, MC’s who can truly paint a picture for the listener are a dying art and if so why?

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8 November 15 Permalink

?uizlove - Evidence vs Peak Street

Peak Street Magazine caught up with 1/3 of Dilated Peoples, blunted producer of choice and LA kingpin Evidence at the Wax Museum in-store this week and talked about Madlib’s crates, Babu’s dream movie role and Freddie Foxxx’s handskills in front of a bunch of fans for one of our patented quizzes (Excuse the drunken flicks *burp*).

Peak Street: Alright Mr Evidence

Evidence: That is me.

You ready for some random shit?

Ready. You better be good at this shit man, I’m telling you I’ve done this in the past.

What was the last song stuck in your head?

“You Think You’re Too Cool For Me” or some shit., what the fuck was the guy’s name? (Starts singing the Mike Posner song) “You think you’re cooler than me”.

What the fuck is that?

(Still singing) “You think you’re cooler than me”.

Ricey (singing): ‘You got designer shades just to hide your face’

Ev: You think you’re cooler than me.

Sounds terrible

He’s like a Justin Timberlake rip-off, I like him, I like him. If there is no Justin, I’ll fuck with that.

Alright now this is an important one, so get your thinking cap on. What should Beyonce and Jay-Z name their kid?

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2 November 47 Permalink