There are many areas that are making hip-hop proud currently – “DMV” being one on the list. For those unfamiliar, it’s the area where Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia mesh, which naturally developed the now-universal byname. With its rather central location along the east coast, it’s safe and evident to say that musicians by way of the DMV area draw influences from above and below – and it’s something beautiful. It’s a bit tough to pinpoint a sound or specific influence as a whole when you hear it.

To name a few from surrounding pinpoints, do recall Wale, Pharrell, Clipse, Oddisee (as well as a good portion of Mello Music Group recording artists), Missy Elliot, Skillz, D’Angelo and many more. We’d say that’s quite a beautiful hybrid of artists, right?

Tef Wesley gave us the original “Gametime” treatment last year (2015), having released a video for it as well. Fast forwarding a year later to now Tef decided to round up fellow partners in rhyme Jered Sanders and Cane to paint the triumphant, guitar riffed, heavy drummed Grussle canvas. Grussle is an electrifying beatsmith, always paying homage to the traditional, neck snapping and atmospheric boom-bap-esque sound that we all love and want more of. DMV’s Dj Ragz (of the Jazz Addixx) brought his sharpest Ginsu knives to the table, per-usual. Do be alarmed. This joint is potent.

Lets not turn this into a long, exhausting review. Enjoy the record and be sure to keep up with the fellas as 2016 unfolds. Peace and love.

Tef Wesley | Jered Sanders | Cane | Dj Ragz | Grussle

The post Tef Wesley Drops Off His Latest Remix Of “Gametime” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Lately, I’ve been noticing a name recirculating that I have missed seeing in the headlines.  Here’s a couple of clues: This duo’s name has carried weight in Hip-Hop since 2002 and their home state is Virginia.  Of course I’m talking about the rap duo, Clipse, which comprised of brothers, Terrence “Pusha T” Thornton and Gene “No Malice” Thornton.  If you’re a true Clipse fan, then you know that this subject is tough on the heart, especially when you’ve been praying and hoping for a reunion tour.

Recently, Vice.com, dropped a heartfelt episode on their original series, Autobiographies,  featuring Pusha T.  When I hit up No Malice with my reaction to viewing the autobiography, he told me, “It seems unique to many, but, it’s actually biblical when siblings travel different paths..”

View Pusha T story Below:

No Malice, also, announced (via HipHopDX) the premiere date of film, ‘The End of Malice‘ which will air on Revolt TV 3/27/16.

‘The End of Malice’ also features Pusha T, Skateboard P, and Iceman discussing the story of famed rapper.

“Take a trip inside the mind of a coke-rap pioneer,” and watch the trailer below:

No Malice also revealed the dates of his 16-city tour promoting the film:

2/15 Evansville, IN – AMC 16 – Hosted by I Am Second

2/16 Louisville, KY –  Cinemark Mall St. Matthews and XD – Hosted by St. Stephen Baptist

2/17 St. Louis, MO – AMC Creve Coeur 12 – Hosted by I Am Second

2/18 Chicago, IL – AMC Showplace Galewood 14 – Hosted by HipHopDX

2/22 New Orleans, LA – AMC Elmwood Palace 20 – Hosted by I Am Second

2/23 Memphis, TN – Malco Studio on the Square – Hosted by Memphis Athletic Ministries

2/24 Birmingham, AL – Carmike Vestavia Hills 10 – Hosted by Restoration Academy

The post The Tale of Two Brothers: Clipse appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Virginia pulled together for a serious issue in our Nation, the Flint Water Crisis.  People statewide united in a means to help their fellow Americans in need.  The people sent over 2,000 cases of water.  Then, some volunteers took the hike from Virginia to Michigan, and, went into neighborhoods and started to hand out cases.  Many were wondering who carried the weight ($$) when it came to the semi-truck used to ship the water.  The answer is rapper, Pusha T, who is known for his works with Partners in the Community member, Kimberly Wimbush in the past on previous charity events.

According to 13NewsNow,

Lines of volunteers showed up to help “Partners in the Community” donate bottled water to Flint, MI.

According to newsplex.com:

“We want to make sure that the people who mostly need it get it,” said Partners in the Community member Kimberly Wimbush. “A lot of people are lacking transportation or they don’t have citizenship or they don’t have IDs that don’t matter at this point in time they need water so we want to make sure that anybody who is in need of water get that water.”

The call for action started with a Facebook post that went viral and along with the seven cities in the Hampton Roads areas, leaders in Charlottesville felt that it was only right to jump on board.

The post PUSHA T SENDS SEMI-TRACTOR FULL OF WATER TO FLINT, MI appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Photo by
Martin C. Pariseau ©

Kevin Celestin uploaded his first track, “Voices from Heaven,” onto Soundcloud almost a year and a half ago. Since then, the Montreal based, Haitian-born producing machine has earned more than 13  million plays off of his signature style of fruity loop beats. Barely two years into the game, this 21 year-old has made his mark by seamlessly mixing  elements of hip hop, R&B,  black soul, and electronic music into groovy jams we just can’t get enough of. Maybe it’s because his impressive sample pool includes favorites like Janet Jackson, Amerie, K-OS, Robert Glasper, and Missy Elliot? Or maybe it’s because his last music video, “At All,” finally gave us a reason to get up and go to the gym? Either way, this young talent has a lot to offer and his fans are more than eager to pick up everything he’s putting down. If you’ve managed to catch him live during the past year, we’re sure you can agree that 2014’s breakout producer, Kaytranada, is definitely not one to be slept on any longer.

Photo by Martin C. Pariseau ©

Which one of your upcoming tour dates are you most excited about?

I’m excited to go to Europe. Actually this weekend I’m doing the Wildlife 2014 show with Disclosure , so I’m pretty excited about that. The do-over for the Coachella after party- I don’t know when its happening, or whats up with that- but I’m really excited for that show too.

Is tour wearing you out right now? You’ve been on the road almost all year!

Yup, but I’m having a break right now. I’m just chilling for the next three more months.

What’s your favorite part about performing live?

I don’t know. I really love having a good crowd response. I don’t really have a favorite part about mixing except for just playing around and doing stupid stuff. The fact that I can do whatever I want is great. Just playing with two songs at the same time and getting a good transition is pretty cool. But definitely the crowd is my favorite. I like it when the crowd gets hype and has a great response.

What are your secrets to keeping yourself a awake and alive with such a crazy tour schedule?

I don’t even know- maybe just drinking water. I started drinking water for the last two months and it really helped me get back.

Wait, you never drank water before?

Yeah, you know, the way I eat and the way I drink is not really healthy. Just having water has really helped me.

Photo by Martin C. Pariseau ©

I know you were in Brooklyn in the fall for the Electronic Music festival, and you were also there recently recording “My Block” for Mobb Deep’s new album. How do you feel about Brooklyn as a music center right now?

I really love Brooklyn. I wanna live in Brooklyn, but its way too expensive. It’s about money right now, so I can’t live in Brooklyn. But I get excited every time I come to Brooklyn- just New York in general.

Any crazy stories from the last time you were there?

Not really much. Pretty much the fact that we partied. There was this weird after party in my hotel after the festival. Its not really a big story, but in the other room Tommy Kruise was chillin, having another after party and we got to go back and forth. Its not really a crazy story, but it was fun.

I heard you used to dance and draw before you were completely committed to music. What kind of dancing were you doing?

I was just doing Hip Hop dances, you know, back when the Harlem Shake was hot. I’m still the Harlem Shake god, I’m lot gonna lie. And you know when Jersey club dances were really hot?  They’re still hot, but you know, when there was a lot more excitement about dances like the sponge bob and stuff.

What kind of art were you into?

I used to draw a lot, I used to dance a lot, and I was really into every kind of art. I was growing up listening to music with my dad- whatever he would listen to- and he used to paint, too, so painting was really interesting to me. Really any kind of art was interesting to me- dance, music, whatever.

Are these things you still get to play around with in your free time, or are you still too busy with music now?

I feel like I’m not doing anything at all right now [laughs]. I’m off of tour and I’m really just chilling. I’m not doing much production, even though I try to be creative. My creative block is really hard to get over. Sometimes I go to other people’s studios to try and collab with other producers. Actually that’s what I’m thinking about right now. I don’t do any other types of art. I wish I could get back into drawing and painting- all the other types of art I used to do- but music really just took over everything.

Photo by Martin C. Pariseau ©

What do you usually do when you have creative block? What are your rituals or pick me ups?

I’m always looking for inspiration. So I’ll go to other people’s studios, not to bite their style or anything, but just to see them making beats. That really inspires me as well. I also listen to brand new records- like a Brazilian sample or another type of foreign sample will inspire you to make a beat or any kind of new stuff. I just keep listening to stuff I’ve never heard before.

What are favorite places to crate-dig in Montreal?

My favorite is called Aux 33 Tours and its great. They have a lot of secret jams in there, and a bunch of Montreal stuff. I just got into the Montreal jams. I never dug into there and I never new they had some crazy shit.

Really?

Yeah they do

No, I’m not surprise they have great music from Montreal; I’m just surprised that you were never into Montreal music. So what did you usually dig for before you started looking up music from Montreal, just American music?

Yeah, just soul music, new wave. I never really checked the soul music for sampling, I just really like to listen to soul music on my own. For sampling I just checked on the grooves, new wave, psychedelic rock. In Montreal I’ve been sleeping on the Canadian stuff, but I’m learning that they do have a lot of crazy good stuff.

What do you usually order when you go to La Banquise?

Oh, I’ve never been actually, I know it’s crazy! I always plan on going after I party or something, but I’ve never been ever in my life. No one ever wants to go when I want to go, so I always go to this other spot that’s sort of looks like La Banquise. My friend went and he told me its not all that, so whatever. It is the most talked about spot. I’m sure it’s one of the best in Montreal for poutine.

Photo by Martin C. Pariseau ©

How do you get inspired when you’re looking for cover art for your music?

I just get inspired by old records and the fact that they used to draw and make illustrations for covers. That’s what inspires me to make covers with illustrations.

Do you make all of your cover art?

I used to back in the day when I used t make the beat tapes; you know, just an easy photoshop effect and that’s what I used to do with the beat tapes. Now I’m just trying to do photographs with a cool lens or a rare picture. I just like covers without the title.

Some of my favorite covers that you have is the “Massively Massive” cover with the sloth and everything, as well as the “Charles Barkley” cover. Both of those were covers for The Celestics. Can you talk a little bit about the Celestics and your music relationship with your brother?

Yeah, The Celestics is something that we planned way back before the Kaytranada thing got big. We wanted to be famous together, and eventually that didn’t happen. Now we’re trying to make that happen with the next mixtape we’re working on. It’s called “Supreme Laziness,” and it’s about to be a good album. It’s going to show a lot of what I was doing on the hip hop site, because lately I’ve been dropping more electronic stuff and that’s what people know me as. But I’m still on the hip hop tip and I’ve just been saving all of the good beats for my brother for this project. I really want this project to be big.

Is your brother older or younger than you?

He’s younger. He’s 19.

Are you the oldest?

No my two sisters are the oldest

You have one video on your YouTube channel right now, “At All,” which is hilarious. What was it like working on that video project?

The video idea and concept came from my friend Martin Pariseau. He did the Tommy Kruise video, the brand new one. He came up with the idea for the muscle girls and the whole thing about it. I wasn’t really down with the idea, but when we started filming I thought it was kind of nice, so I didn’t get made about it. Actually it was fun, getting carried by the muscle girls, and getting in the gym hanging out with the body builder girls. People in the gym were looking around us like, “Whoa, what is going on?,” but it was a really fun day.

Any more videos you’re thinking about doing in the future?

Yeah, I’ll probably do more videos by the same director maybe, because he has a lot of good ideas. I would definitely like to do Celestics videos with him. He’s a good director, you should check him out.

I heard you’re a basketball fan, is that right?

Yeah, I’m really into the vintage basketball.

What’s your team?

Back in the day I loved the Celtics with Larry Bird and everyone in there. Also I like the Atlanta Hawks but really it’s not about a favorite team. It’s more about how cool it was the NBA back in the day. I can’t really remember exactly how it was in detail, but I remember how much more exciting and raw it felt. The stories behind the vintage NBA thing, there’s some good stories in there.

Are you team Playstation or Xbox?

I have an Xbox at home. I wish it was a Playstation ’cause you know the Xbox has a lot of problems. Like in the last days of Xbox 360 you really wish you had a Playstation 3. My next console is definitely a Playstation 4.

Games?

Fighting games like Mortal Kombat. I’m still into the old school games. Marvel vs. Capcom, I got that on Gamecube. I’m more of a retro dude with the old school games and the wrestling games.

Photo by Martin C. Pariseau ©

What are you listening to right now on your Ipod?

I’m listening to Brazilian music right now like Bossanova. There’s this singer called Gal Costa and she’s really dope. And I’m mostly listening to that new Freddie Gibbs and Madlib record. I really love that album. I think it’s by far going to be the best album of the year, for real. I’m a big Madlib fan and I’ve been waiting for an album for years. So, I was really happy when it came out and its a good album.

Are you fluent in French?

Yeah I speak French and Creole. I have a French accent from Montreal. I really speak French at home; we speak French, Creole, and English all mixed together

Obviously you have a lot of support from Canada, but you also have a huge fanbase here in the States as well as around the world. How does that feel?

I don’t know, sometimes it just happens. I know a lot of people may not listen to Canadian music and underestimate it just because it’s Canadian. It’s really awesome that they like me, I’m not mad about that, especially because the American music really influenced me. It influenced the whole world really. So the fact that I’m in there and doing it, that means I did it right since Americans like me.

Do you really think people underestimate Canadian music right now, even with Drake and Justin Bieber and all that?

Yeah everyone except Drake and Justin Bieber. I’m talking about like Chaos, High Klassified,  Julie Black and all these other dope people. There’s more than just Drake and Justin Bieber.

Photo by Martin C. Pariseau ©

I know you got your first name, “Kaytradamus” from Nas’ album Nastradamus and then you changed it Kaytranada when Flosstradamus blew up first. Is Nastradamus actually your favorite Nas album?

I haven’t heard Nastramadus because everyone says its a wack album. That’s at least what I’ve heard.

You should check it out. It’s not my favorite either, though, but I like God’s Son after Illmatic.

I love God’s Son. Illmatic, I like it, but I don’t think it’s the greatest greatest album. I really like his newest album, too. Nas has problems picking good beats, that’s what bugs me with Nas, that’s it. But it’s okay because his voice is dope and whatever he says is ill. He has a nice flow, and God’s Son is probably one of my favorite albums from him.

What was the first album you ever bought?

My first album I ever bought with my own money was Clipse’s Lord Willin’ and it kind of changed my life.

Have you met Flosstradamus yet? Do you ever mention the name thing?

I saw them and they weren’t talking to me. They don’t know me, so I might as well not talk to them.

Photo by Martin C. Pariseau ©

What music production software do you use?

I’ve never changed it up, I’m still a fruity loops guy. I’m not gonna try anything else other than fruity loops right now.

How long does it usually take you to make your synths?

They actually take me a long time, because the way I work is kind of weird. I don’t have any midi keyboards and stuff, it’s all done by mouse and typing on the keyboard. I just take my time to get the perfect bass line and then add the synths. I just play roads to get the key in the chords right so I can create new melodies. I just change the preset and put my own signature synths and any other dope shit. All that is done in about 25 minutes because I usually take time with my cords.

How do u know when a song is finally finished?

It just depends how you feel [and] how excited you are over it. If you feel your beat and you’re like , “Oh this song is done, alright it’s perfect, ” that’s good. Sometimes it’s only half done or something and you just have you to work on that a little later. Or sometimes I’ll decide I’m just never going to work on it again and start something else.

Who do you want to collaborate with the most right now?

There are so many people I want to collab with, but Erykah Badu is definitely the main. Other than that, I don’t care. I just want people to understand me, so I can understand them and we can just click. The only other person I can think of is Madlib, but I know he doesn’t collab; he only collaborates with rappers not beat makers. Oh, and Flylo and Thundercat.

What are you excited about for the summer?

I’m gonna do a bunch of festivals. I’m also doing a European tour with Sango and Stwo in the beginning of July. Also I’m gonna do a bunch of festivals and looking forward to being home. Last year I just missed summer so I’m looking forward to staying home.

How was your family been reacting to your new fame?

They really like it. They didn’t really understand it at first. They didn’t want me to be just a DJ or a producer because they didn’t know what that means. It’s hard to explain to Haitian parents what that is. But eventually with the tour they see that that I’m out and touring, doing something serious. Then they saw the money coming in so they were like, “Okay you’re doing something great .” Now they can’t really say anything [laughs]. But they are proud of me.

I know you  said your brother is a rapper. Are there any other professional musicians in your family?

My dad used to be in a music group back in the day when I was a little kid. My dad was the singer and the group was called “Moustique” which means Mosquito. It didn’t really have big success. My mom used to sing gospel in churches and stuff like that. My sister is a singer, also.

Do you sing?

I don’t sing. I wish it could. I would kill the game. That’s my dream, but I can’t sing so it sucks. My sister used to play clarinet too. We all were involved in music. I think my dad kind of forced us, but now I really understand why he did that. Its really cool to have musicians in the family.

Who in your family are you most alike?

Really, only my brother. My sister is crazy like me, but we’re all crazy. My two sisters are the oldest.

If Jaydee was still alive what’s one thing you’d been dying to ask him?

Can I have your drums? [Laughs.] I don’t even know, I don’t know how he’d be. Actually, I wouldn’t even talk to Jaydee because I respect him so much and I wouldn’t want to bother him. It’s like me when I saw Pharrell at the airport.

You didn’t say anything?

I didn’t say anything but he nodded at me.

So, he knew who you were.

Yeah, he nodded and I said, ‘Hey’ and just walked away [laughs].

You still get starstruck?

Oh yeah all the time. Talking to those people, those childhood heroes, is surreal.

If you happen to be across the pond this summer, make sure you check out Kaytranada on his European Tour!

The post Interview: Kaytranada, Soundcloud’s Newest Star appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Pusha-T made it no secret that, after a nearly flawless 2013, he planned on hitting the studio on January 2nd for a marathon recording session with longtime producer collaborators The Neptunes. He did, however, fail to mention that his older sibling and Clipse partner No Malice would be joining them. That’s right, folks: the Thornton brothers are back by popular demand.

Fans were uncertain as to whether these two would ever reunite, despite the urgings of both The Neptunes and Kanye West. In spite them releasing three critically-praised, uniquely raw albums between 2002 and 2009, The Clipse has been MIA ever since Malice turned to religion and changed his name to No Malice. Pusha, meanwhile, found another “god”: one by the name of Yeezus, who signed him to his G.O.O.D. Music label back in 2010 and has been instrumental in helping him go from being the younger half of one of rap’s greatest duos ever to becoming King Push, the guy who takes shots at Lil’ Wayne and prances across the stage at the VMAs in a salmon-colored suit.

Thankfully, Karen Civil has confirmed No Malice‘s presence in the studio so it appears that Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, and the Thornton brothers are back at their magical ways. We would have been satisfied if Push had simply put together another solo project on par with My Name Is My Name, but the boys are going above and beyond for their fans. And if Kanye were to get involved like he’s said? Well, that would be kinda like a big deal.

Source:

The post News: The Clipse & Neptunes Together Again In Studio appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Performing at the legendary SOB’s for the Hot 97 Who’s Next series, the talented duo represented for HS87, Hit-Boy‘s record label, and brought everything they had to the stage. Their energy was magnetic and electric, riveting the crowd as well as themselves. They were totally in sync with another, and seemed to be enjoying every minute of it. They were grateful to be on the East Coast, and getting love for their music. They performed a variety of tracks from Come As You Are including “Turn Down,” Theme Song,” and the fan favorite “Shine.” Hit-Boy himself even joined them on stage to perform “Block Party” and his new single “Alert,” featuring Nipsey Hussle. They captivated the crowd and by the end of their set they had everyone hooked. We got a chance to kick it with them before the show to talk about the mixtape, and to see what’s next for the shining stars.

**********************************************************************************************

Lets talk about the cover of the mixtape. What is the meaning behind the cover?

Price: Honestly it’s just a dope visual. We wanted to shoot something that would look like it would be a picture forever. Something you could see in a thrift store forever. It looked like it could be a vinyl, and that’s what we were trying to go for. It has texture, and just looks like a classic picture.

Where were you guys when you shot it?

Price: I think we were in like Tennessee. We were on the Wayne tour in a random ass city, and we were just walking, and looking at the scenery and we were just like, “Yo, we should do a shoot right here.” And we got the camera, and just did it. And it ended up being the album cover.

So you had no idea at the time?

Price: Nope, we had no idea.

Since this wasn’t your first mixtape  did you guys feel like you really needed to reestablish yourselves with this one?

Price: Definitely. The prior tapes were more when we were young. With this project we felt like we found ourselves. We got older, and we just tapped into a different place with our music. We made this whole album while we were on tour and it was just dope. We just found ourselves, and locked into our sound.

So I know you guys recorded this while you were on tour with Lil Wayne, and it seems like every track has its own theme. Was it something that happened intentionally or did it just organically happen that way?

Oktane: It kind of just organically happened that way. Either he would have an idea, or I would have an idea, or the beat and it was just all organic and it came together as one thing. It was just different times, different situations, and us just vibing with it.

Lets talk about this lyric on “Come As You Are,” Oktane:

“Huh, the game done changed, cause it’s like So many people try to be Hov in fear of being Dame/That these New Boys wings get Clipse by the new Young Guns of the game/So don’t Kriss Cross my words nigga, you don’t hear this from California/So I guess were just OutKast, can you smell the Stankonia.” 

Oktane: I know for a fact that line goes over peoples head. I put like all the duos names basically in a rap, and I don’t think people even caught that so that was like something clever. That was actually one of the few times where I’ll go back on a verse and switch it cuz I usually just like to catch whatever the moment was. The good, bad, and the ugly of the moment. That was actually something where I wanted the verse to be super perfect, so I went back and switched that line and I remember being on tour recording it.

Now talking about duos, there are a lot of great duos from Outkast to Mobb Deep to Clipse. There are so many, but few get to be as famous as those I just mentioned. Do you feel any type of pressure as a rap duo?

Oktane: No pressure at all we just wanna take the torch and keep it going.

Price: I feel like we the best. I know that no other group is able to perform like we can, and all around just do what we are able to do. We are starting young, I’m 23/24 so I know we gonna be the illest group to ever rap. Period. I feel like that.

How has the  “Come As You Are Tour” been so far?

Price: This tour was dope just cuz it was our first one; it’s ours. It was small just on some fan appreciation shit. We got to really feel it out, and learn the ropes of a tour, and promoters. We’ve done other artists’ tours, but for it to be ours, it was ill.  All the spots have been just genuine. It’s just genuine shows where we hop off stage and get in the crowd, talking to the people, kicking it with them after.  The reaction has been ill. Next year is gonna be way crazier. More cities, bigger venues.

What is next after the tour? Are we working on the album?

Oktane: We’re always making music so yeah I would say that. We are also finishing up Hit-Boy’s album. His album is crazy. I wanna go see my family for Christmas so that’s what I’m doing , and then I’m getting in the studio with my pals. Making great music, and then we just gonna pace it. We gonna give you these visuals from this awesome piece of work.

Which visual is next?

Oktane: We’re shooting with Joey Bada$$ for “Tis The Season” tomorrow. “Turn Down”, “Theme Song”, they are coming.

Price: We are probably gonna shoot videos for all the favorites, and since most of the songs are everybody’s favorite, we are prolly gonna shoot videos for all of them.

Is Nem Perez directing all of them?

Price: Most of them. He’s ill. He’s a part of Audio Push. He’s directing most of the videos and what he’s not directing the homie Peter Baltimore is gonna do it. We’re directing our own videos as well, like I’m writing treatments. I wrote two treatments so we working.

The album seemed to have a heavy R&B influence in the beginning, and slowly throughout the album, it progressively got more turned up. Was that something you guys intentionally set out to do?

Price: We for sure wanted to capture moods, and we wanted to try it on this album, and we were successful at it. We are gonna try that for all our albums. It’s just about capturing moods, and moments. We want you to get locked in, and just float with it. You just go through emotions with it. I’m crazy about R&B, and we’re crazy about rap so we just fuseing it.

Oktane: It’s everything that we grew up on.

Price: It’s just the moments we feel you should be at so after you hear this, then now maybe we feel like you should be turned down.

Oktane: We don’t want you to just sit and listen to rap and beats. We want you to really feel something now.

Price: We putting it together on how we think you should feel, and how we feel it should be listened to .

What is your favorite song off the album?

Price: “Shine” is mine. I really love all the joints but “Shine” is my favorite. Creating it we just tapped into a whole different place. It just makes me feel different than any other song. Like you always get these special joints, well some people don’t even get some in their career but we were lucky and blessed enough to get a special record and “Shine” is that. And whether or not it sells millions of copies or whatever it does, it’s still special.

Oktane: Mine just changes everyday. Like right now I’m banging “Anything Goes” today. So for right now, me today it’s that but who knows.

Tell me about the ‘Shine” video.

Price: We shot that video in Chicago, and it was our easiest video ever shoot, hands down. It was the smoothest, and the quickest ran. We had never even met Nem Perez before or nothing, and we pulled up, shot the video, left and did a show on the Wayne tour. We had a show that night, and after that show we hopped on the bus and started finishing the album. We were going crazy all tour, and that was one of the longest days but it was so fun. All of the stars were aligning. We were in Chicago and it was sunny, and everyone thought we were in California and it was so perfect. It was a good time.

 Is there any artist or producer you would like to work with? 

Price: For me I wanna work with Jeff Bhasker. He’s fucking ill. He did Kanye’s 808’s and Heartbreak and Fun’s album. He’s like super sick. I wanna work with him. He’s like the only producer I wanna work with cuz we kind of got that handled. I wanna work with Erykah Badu, Musiq Soulchild those kind of people cuz as far as rap is concerned I feel like its gonna happen in time.

Oktane: I gotta say people you wouldn’t really think of. I gotta say people like Daft Punk cuz I’m pretty sure that we are gonna rap with other rappers.

Price: Like I would love to do a song with Sade. That type of stuff doesn’t happen, but I’m just speaking to the universe. But we’ll see.

 How do you guys feel to be representing for Inland Empire?

Price: Amazing. It feels awesome cuz if you go and do your research it is the biggest county in the world. It’s huge and we run it. We are really the first rappers from there. It’s an untapped area that we can rep and be proud of. It’s home for us that nobody else can call home, and we are making people happy to be from there and rep there.

How does it feel being a part of Hit-Boys’s team?

Oktane: It’s dope cuz we’ve known him since we were super young. It feels like if you knew all your best friends, and they all ended up working together and traveling the world. I feel like everyday I’m just chilling with my homies. Last night it was crazy, like we walked into the studio and he was working with Mariah Carey. And It was just like surreal cuz these are our friends, our homies, with Mariah Carey. We just happen to get a check and we be with our homies. And Hit-Boy is the best producer on earth so its cool to be able to just go upstairs and get cool beats, the best beats.

Price: That’s really how it feels.

Is there ever times where you hear a Hit-Boy beat, and want to keep it for yourselves?

Price: All the time. There are definitely beats where he be like “nah I cant let that one go,” but If he does do that then I’ll be like well now you gotta go cook us up something.

Oktane: One thing a lot of people don’t know is that Hit-Boy doesn’t produce all of our music. Haze is incredible too. HS87 is the home of the dopest producers. Rey Reel, S. Dot, Haze, They are all on Beyonce’s new album by the way. They got joints on there. That’s all HS87. We ain’t playing.

So could you be doing making this kind of music anywhere else?

Oktane: No. If It wasn’t with all of my friends, I don’t think so. We get the energy to make this music with people we are genuinely friends with.

Price: We go into the rooms with no ego. There is none of that. We are real homies, and we just keep it g with each other, and are honest with the music. None of us be lying. We don’t do no hoe ass shit. We don’t do wack stuff that other wack dudes do. We solid with each other.

Oktane: I was just saying this the other day like we don’t have normal clique problems.

Do you feel like people have been sleeping on you?

Price: A lot of people say like our timing wasn’t right, our sound wasn’t right but I always felt like we were the best. Like whatever we didn’t have, we made up for it in something else. When people are just catching on it’s like we been doing it for ten years. I don’t think people understand how long that is. I’m not new to this, he’s not new to this, Hit-Boy’s not new to this. None of us are new to this even though we are young.

Price: But they can sleep. If you late you late, but eventually you coming. They will be attending the Audio Push Academy. We letting the music speak, which is the best thing about it. We put this project out with no help, no push, no nothing but us and our team. Like our team meaning like our homies, and we just created the music, and put the music out and it’s speaking for itself. Everything has been organic, there is no label push. Let’s be clear: nothing.

Oktane: A lot of people think because we are signed to a label, that this is why this is here. This is because we decided to make this and put this out. A lot of people think Hit-Boy makes every beat and that’s so not true. A lot of people try to say a lot of things to discredit that this music is good. We are two kids that made a jerk song, and now we make good music. We are good period.

Price: People are haters.

So you don’t regret doing the jerk song?

Oktane: No, were just the kids who showed up to high school naked. Everyone acts like that is the worst thing on planet earth. They want us to be embrassed by it, but we’re not. We liked it at the time.

Price: We could never regret it. At that time jerking was the coolest thing ever. The same way you two-step and grind on a girl, we use to jerk. We made one song, but we went to Africa off that song, we traveled the world, and provided for our families as kids. That song was incredible, awesome. We are on a video game for that song, I could never regret it. That song gave us time to grow. We got to learn the game and become businessmen.

Oktane: Everyone having that bias just made us become so good that you can’t ignore it.

Price: Now we got this album that we put together, and cant nobody tell us shit.

The post Jerks No Longer: Audio Push Puts On For The 909 In The Big Apple appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

The funereal instrumental and imagery imply that No Malice is disavowing the Clipse, but that’s not quite the case. No Malice acknowledges his brother’s abilities and celebrates their run, but he wants to uphold that legacy by starting anew, forging his own, more righteous path. Watch the video below.

Side Note: That Outkast reference is dynamite.

The post New Video: No Malice feat. Jon Bibbs – “Bury That” appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.