Interview: Grandmilly Speaks On Bandanas, Black Magic & The Lost Island

On a windy and slightly overcast friday afternoon RESPECT. went out to Long Island to cover what feels like the next step in a resurgence of early 90’s New York styled group rap. Raider Klan, a crew started by A$AP producer extraordinaire SpaceGhostPurrp, is a movement reaching from Florida to New York. Grandmilly, the Long Island Raider Klan representative, has got people talking with his project entitled BVNDVNVZ ▲ BLVCK MVGIC | BANDANAS & BLACK MAGIC.

In the same vein of A$AP and Odd Future, the imagery is dark. The triangles and devil talk is something that this generation has gravitated towards. After sitting with Grandmilly & some friends in the Iceberg Lounge, a basement where they spend free time, Milly opened up about his own life saying , “I feel like I fight demons my nigga.” It’s something he said loosely, but listening to the music, the picture is clear. This music is anthemic for a lost generation of kids trying to find their way dealing with teenage angst.

In the basement we played his album, along with a mix of tracks from the 90’s that inspire their crew including UGK, Three Six Mafia and The Lost Boys. Eddie Murphy’s Coming To America was on the television for the entire visit. We conversed about the gang activity in Nassau County, and the local music culture as they sipped styrofoam cups of Muddy Water, also known as Drank. It seems that we’re in an era where the mecca of hip-hop culture has been diluted with traits of the south and the west coast. One thing for certain is that Grandmilly and his crew want to put The Lost Island back on the New York map.

How old are you & where are you from?
I’m 22 and I’m from The Lost Island.

How did you get hooked up with SpaceGhostPurrp and the Raider Klan?
We were talking on the net on some obscure shit. He told me he liked Boon’s SILENCE line and he wanted to rep it. We just connected on some shit like that. We still haven’t recorded together. He’s from Florida but it’s Raider niggas all over.

Is their any connection to the A$AP Movement?
I’ve partied with those niggas before . Their music is cool but we haven’t really chilled yet.

Your music has a boom bap sound like that of the 90’s and it has hints of what feels like Three Six Mafia’s original work. What are your influences?

Yea. All That. I’m definitely influenced by Three Six (Mafia), EPMD and UGK and Bone Thugs and Grand Puba. My brother listened to a lot of Redman, Das FX, Brand Nubian, Helta Skelta. A whole lot of Three Six Mafia and Jay-z and all the other usual suspects. He was really into the whole mid 90’s New York Funkmaster Flex Tunnel scene.

Where does the name GrandMilly come from?
It comes from Grand Puba. I do a lot of references to Grand Puba in my music and I’m a big fan of Brand Nubian.

How did the project get that 90’s feel to it. How long did it take for you to record it?

We went really lo-fi on the recording. We didn’t record it at any place special. I had some of the rhymes written for a while but I waited to record it. We felt like it was only right to let it go on 4/20.

It seems like your first tape has had more NY influence than the rest of the stuff I’ve heard from Raider Klan?

Thanks man. We’re really just trying to bring this New York feeling back. The groups and the rhymes.

Who does all the production in your camp? What do you use when producing?
A lot of the production is in house. “Black Magic” is produced by my man (Recycled Sounds) who lives right up the street. I use Reason, Fruityloops and anything I can get my hands on.

What’s it like in Hempstead? How did this place influence your rhymes?

We might not look like it but we all come from crazy situations. I’m not telling you in my music that I sold cocaine or anything. I did sell weed. I come from a situation, where not too long ago the nigga that I was living with was using coke. It’s just real situations man. All my music reflects what’s going on around me. At the end of the day its a lot of talented individuals coming out of Long Island. I’m just one of them. I just want to make it and put Long Island on because we’ve been in the back to long. I’m for the underdog because I am one. My music is bringing people together over here that don’t usually speak.

Why do you feel like it’s like that out here?

There’s just no jobs out here for people like us man. They don’t want to hire us.

The imagery is very dark on the cover of the album? What do the triangles represent to you guys?

I like the imagery done by Boon Tobias. I always connected with that. I feel like it’s just a way for us to separate ourselves from everyone else.

How did you get hooked up with designer Boon Tobias ?
Me and Boon hooked up by just having a mutual respect for each other’s brand building. We really just clicked after we met on Facebook and skyped.

Do you see this as the future of hip-hop? Do you think the culture can expand?
I feel like it’s gonna go back to the 90’s where you had groups like Bone Thugs & Harmony, and Brand Nubian and Das EFX. It’s definitely going to be more group oriented.

When can we expect to see your next project? Is there a title yet?
You can expect another album around June and I’m going to call it THX TRVMVN SHXW | THE TRUMAN SHOW.