Crypt Keepers of Hip Hop: August 2019

Peace Napoleon Da Legend & Sicknature, thank you guys for taking the time to answer my questions.

First of all: How did you guys linked up and how was the connection?

Sicknature:

Napoleon had seen me perform at a show in New York. I found out about Napoleon online and I was very surprised and reached out to him. We met in New York and had a good talk and agreed to work on some stuff together. The stuff we worked on evolved into Supa Kaiju.

What does the name Supa Kaiju stand for? Does it has a special meaning?

Napoleon Da Legend:

The term Kaiju refers to a genre of Japanese movies, which feature giant monsters that destroy cities and potential wreck havoc on the planet. The word could also be used to describe the actual monsters. We are just like the super-hyped up version of these monsters, like the final bosses when you’re playing a video game. We are the perfected, elevated, updated and upgraded versions able destroy anything in our path and with the potential to impact worlds and cities like no other force seen in the natural world.

When did you guys decided to form the duo Supa Kaiju?

Sicknature:

Initially we just wanted to make an EP together. But we kept working and working and at some point it almost felt like we were a group more than just a couple of rappers making a single collaboration project. And since we both like anime and that kinda stuff, we had the option to turn this into something fun and new.

What is the favorite Supa Kaiju track that you guys made?

Napoleon Da Legend:

I really have an emotional tie to Sparks of Hope, because it highlights deep-seated issues in our societies. Both living in countries where there’s a lot of money floating around, it’s a shame some people can barely afford a decent place to live and others who can are drowning in the sicknesses that come from chronic stress. Stress kills and there are no remedies for that. In that song I’m breaking down the housing problem in many cities in the United States where the rent is just too high for people to keep up with. Sicknature is touching upon loneliness and alcoholism, which is an often ignored plague in our industrialized countries.

Do you guys have any artists that you would like to work with in the future?

Sicknature:

I am always down to work with different artists. I am also ¼ of the production group Snowgoons, where I have worked with a lot of living legends. But I think it´s refreshing that Supa Kaiju, being a rap group and not a production group, is not focused on doing the same thing. We would feature veterans, friends as well as upcoming artists if we think it fits the song – but most of the time we just do the songs ourselves. After all that is what we are here to do. To make rap songs. But to answer your question: to do a Supa Kaiju track produced by DJ Premier would be crazy.

What kind of artists inspire you guys to keep doing what you do?

Napoleon Da Legend:

I’m inspired by a lot of the independent artists putting out quality work. Guys such as Rasheed Chappell, Recognize Ali, Roc Marci, Giallo Point. Also bigger icons such as Nas, Ghostface, Smif N Wessun who still put out quality music till this day.

Do you have any advice to young and upcoming underground artists?

Napoleon Da Legend:

If you are an artist, then create. If you are an MC, then perform. All these gurus are gonna tell you this and that. I’m from the philosophy that you learn to walk by watching others then taking steps. You might look goofy at first, but after a while you can make it look graceful. You gotta love it though, if you doing for anything else than the love, find something else and let the real artists do what they do.

What can the fans expect in the future? Video, single, project wise

Sicknature:
We have a new Supa Kaiju EP coming soon! And both Napoleon and myself have solo projects in the works, so definitely keep an eye out for that as well!

Thank you very much for this interview!