Sunday, 29 December 2019
Tuesday, 24 December 2019
Sunday, 22 December 2019
Monday, 16 December 2019
Sunday, 15 December 2019
Friday, 13 December 2019
Sunday, 8 December 2019
Saturday, 7 December 2019
Tuesday, 3 December 2019
Interview with Black Hesher about 'Rituals' + future works!
Peace Black Hesher, you just released your new album 'Rituals'. Congrats on that!
Can you tell me how to process of creating this album was?
How's it going. The process was alot of starts and stops at first. Working on the music but having writers block when it came to the lyrics. Last summer I went throw some really intense things in my personal life that once I came out of it , the album started writing itself. The first part of it was getting my head clear. Aside from recording properly in a studio, I did a lot of other things to bring this album to another level. Recording vocals in some really weird and strange places to infuse the proper mix of magic into the music.
How is a Black Hesher album made? You are not a regular MC / producer, you involve a lot of live instruments right?
I guess if you think about baking a cake and you were using a recipe to bake it. I get the cake recipe with all the ingredients, then I totally rip up the recipe and create my own recipe. I always make my albums from a hip hop producers perspective. I use a combination of live instruments, hardware,software, and samples to put together my musical vision like a puzzle. Theres really no set formula. I just try to make music I like and hope other people do as well.
This is your third project after the self-titled project 'Black Hesher' and 'Portals'.
How are you growing in the process as an artist?
Acutally "Rituals" is the second album and "Portals" is the third. The both were released back to back this year in Oct and Nov. They were recorded during the same sessions and around the same time, aside from a handful of tracks.They are a 2 album set that completes a cycle or phase. I feel with the first album I sort of was figuring out what the Black Hesher sound was, which is a mix of everything that influences me musically. I feel like with each record I evolve and fine tune what my sound is . On the new reocrds I've gone in several new sonic directions adding some grunge rock , weird moog and acoustic style stuff to the mix and lyrically getting more vunerable and personal. Each record I make , I try to push myself to new sonic boundaries.
You are a versatile artist, what can the fans expect from you in the future?
I sorta have an idea of what I want the next album to sound like so I'm excited to see how I make that work. But for the upcoming new year I plan on playing tons of live shows and touring to promote the "Rituals" and "Portals" albums. I plan on doing more cool videos/visuals for songs from both albums. Do as much press as possible to get the word up there. As well as coming up with other cool and unique concepts to promote them.
Do you have any specific collabs in mind for the next Black Hesher projects?
Aside from the rest of my labelmates on Cult Muzic Media or other artists I've collaborated with on the first 3 albums. I have a bunch of great ideas I want to work on with some new artists I've met recently that I can't wait to explore. Either way I'm excited to see what is in store next for Black Hesher and where things go sonically.
Can you tell me how to process of creating this album was?
How's it going. The process was alot of starts and stops at first. Working on the music but having writers block when it came to the lyrics. Last summer I went throw some really intense things in my personal life that once I came out of it , the album started writing itself. The first part of it was getting my head clear. Aside from recording properly in a studio, I did a lot of other things to bring this album to another level. Recording vocals in some really weird and strange places to infuse the proper mix of magic into the music.
How is a Black Hesher album made? You are not a regular MC / producer, you involve a lot of live instruments right?
I guess if you think about baking a cake and you were using a recipe to bake it. I get the cake recipe with all the ingredients, then I totally rip up the recipe and create my own recipe. I always make my albums from a hip hop producers perspective. I use a combination of live instruments, hardware,software, and samples to put together my musical vision like a puzzle. Theres really no set formula. I just try to make music I like and hope other people do as well.
This is your third project after the self-titled project 'Black Hesher' and 'Portals'.
How are you growing in the process as an artist?
Acutally "Rituals" is the second album and "Portals" is the third. The both were released back to back this year in Oct and Nov. They were recorded during the same sessions and around the same time, aside from a handful of tracks.They are a 2 album set that completes a cycle or phase. I feel with the first album I sort of was figuring out what the Black Hesher sound was, which is a mix of everything that influences me musically. I feel like with each record I evolve and fine tune what my sound is . On the new reocrds I've gone in several new sonic directions adding some grunge rock , weird moog and acoustic style stuff to the mix and lyrically getting more vunerable and personal. Each record I make , I try to push myself to new sonic boundaries.
You are a versatile artist, what can the fans expect from you in the future?
I sorta have an idea of what I want the next album to sound like so I'm excited to see how I make that work. But for the upcoming new year I plan on playing tons of live shows and touring to promote the "Rituals" and "Portals" albums. I plan on doing more cool videos/visuals for songs from both albums. Do as much press as possible to get the word up there. As well as coming up with other cool and unique concepts to promote them.
Do you have any specific collabs in mind for the next Black Hesher projects?
Aside from the rest of my labelmates on Cult Muzic Media or other artists I've collaborated with on the first 3 albums. I have a bunch of great ideas I want to work on with some new artists I've met recently that I can't wait to explore. Either way I'm excited to see what is in store next for Black Hesher and where things go sonically.
Sunday, 1 December 2019
Thursday, 28 November 2019
Tuesday, 26 November 2019
Friday, 22 November 2019
Thursday, 21 November 2019
Tuesday, 19 November 2019
Monday, 18 November 2019
Sunday, 17 November 2019
Saturday, 9 November 2019
Thursday, 7 November 2019
Wednesday, 6 November 2019
Tuesday, 5 November 2019
Saturday, 2 November 2019
Tuesday, 29 October 2019
Monday, 28 October 2019
Sunday, 27 October 2019
Saturday, 26 October 2019
Friday, 25 October 2019
Monday, 21 October 2019
Saturday, 19 October 2019
Friday, 18 October 2019
Thursday, 17 October 2019
Wednesday, 16 October 2019
Sunday, 13 October 2019
Sunday, 6 October 2019
Thursday, 3 October 2019
Tuesday, 1 October 2019
Monday, 30 September 2019
Sunday, 29 September 2019
Saturday, 28 September 2019
Tuesday, 24 September 2019
Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Saturday, 14 September 2019
Friday, 13 September 2019
Thursday, 12 September 2019
Wednesday, 11 September 2019
Tuesday, 10 September 2019
Sunday, 8 September 2019
Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Monday, 26 August 2019
Friday, 23 August 2019
Interview with Supa Kaiju (Napoleon Da Legend & Sicknature)
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
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!
Tuesday, 20 August 2019
Saturday, 17 August 2019
Friday, 16 August 2019
Tuesday, 13 August 2019
Monday, 12 August 2019
Sunday, 11 August 2019
Friday, 9 August 2019
Wednesday, 7 August 2019
Tuesday, 6 August 2019
Monday, 5 August 2019
Monday, 29 July 2019
Monday, 15 July 2019
Saturday, 13 July 2019
Thursday, 11 July 2019
Tuesday, 9 July 2019
Sunday, 7 July 2019
Tuesday, 2 July 2019
Monday, 1 July 2019
Sunday, 30 June 2019
Friday, 28 June 2019
Thursday, 27 June 2019
Tuesday, 25 June 2019
Saturday, 22 June 2019
Thursday, 20 June 2019
Sunday, 16 June 2019
Saturday, 15 June 2019
Friday, 14 June 2019
Thursday, 13 June 2019
Wednesday, 12 June 2019
Monday, 10 June 2019
Sunday, 9 June 2019
Saturday, 8 June 2019
Friday, 7 June 2019
Interview with Ragnar Vallon
Can you introduce yourself? What do you do on a daily base?
My name is Andrew Martin. I'm a songwriter/emcee from Canada. My days consist of taking care of my daughter, Emma, writing music, training Muay Thai at TKO Fighting Arts, and spending time with loved ones. I'm a simple, boring dude.
You are a recognized name in the underground hip hop scene, how long have you been in the scene?
I don't know how long I've "been in the scene", as I've been on different peoples radars, for different periods of time. But I've been rhyming and writing since I was about 13, and I'm 35 now. So, that's how long I've been going at it.
You have worked with Apathy, Doap Nixon, Chief Kamachi and many more. You are also a member of the legendary Dead Rabbits. How did you achieved all of that?
I hooked up with names like Apathy and Chief Kamachi many years ago, before every rappers verses were for sale, to anyone that had the cash. I earned hook ups with legendary emcees, and my induction into the Dead Rabbits crew in 2014, through years of dedication, hard work, and loyalty to my craft. Show and prove.
You have changed your artistname from Words to Ragnar Vallon. What was the reason for the name change?
I'd been Wordsmith or Words for so many years, doing things a certain way, and that persona just became such a part of me, that in order to grow and mature as a man and an artist, I had to kill him off and start fresh. Ragnar Vallon is a unique representation of myself in my eyes, as it is a combination of Ragnar Lothbrok from Viking history, and Priest Vallon, the leader of the Dead Rabbits in Gangs Of New York.
You are doing a lot of hip hop MMA fighter anthems. How did you start with those ones?
I'd been doing random walkout themes for professional fighters since around 2011, when I did Robert "White Dragon" Thomas's pro MMA entrance theme, and Denis "Bosnian Menace" Puric's walkout song. Its something I had been talking about doing, since back in the Words & Rhymes days, around when I started competing Muay Thai, but only recently did I decide to go full force with it, essentially exclusively making walkout songs for pro fighters, and theme music for media related to the fight world. I love fighting, and I love angry hip hop. The two just seemed to go well together, and honestly, when I started making these theme songs.....Or at least WANTING to make these theme songs, I didn't think it would go anywhere. I genuinely thought this would be a dud, and no one would want me to make their theme songs. Especially not such high level idols of mine. I was wrong, I guess.
These days you are mainly focusing on the anthems for the MMA fighters.
What was the point where you realised you wanted to invest your time and energy into this?
I released the highlight video/walkout song for Toby "The Weapon" Smith, of Perth, Western Australia, on March 3rd, 2018. That was the first official walkout song released as Ragnar Vallon, and it was received exponentially better than anything I could have expected. Although it wasn't some hit song, it caught a lot of attention in Australia, which essentially put me on the radar of the Australian fight scene, which I follow rather closely already, very quickly, and it was then I realized that this may actually be something worth investing my whole being into, and see where it takes me. I've been going 100% at it ever since, and have done walkout themes for about a dozen of my favourite fighters around the world, plus a bunch more for other professional fighters that I'm now glad to know and follow.
What can your fans expect from you in the near future?
Any fans or supporters I have can just expect me to continue doing things outside the box, in my own lane, and to be surprised with where this new venture and pursuit will take me. I'm working on a concept album based around the life of one of the greatest American kickboxers of all time, which will be my first album release as Ragnar Vallon. I have no set release date as of now. It will not be rushed.
What artists and/or fighters do you wanna work with?
I want to work with more professional MMA fighters, such as Rory MacDonald or Cowboy Cerrone. I've pretty much worked with the best kickboxers and Thai Fighters on the planet. I'd like to get into professional MMA themes by the end of 2019.
Thursday, 6 June 2019
Wednesday, 5 June 2019
Monday, 3 June 2019
Seven Spherez – BoomBap & Timbo Boots (Album Review)
Tracklist:
01. Da Stomp Out
02. The Bartel feat. DJ TMB & Phlieano
03. Shadow Work feat. DJ TMB
04. Seven FM (Skit 1)
05. Faded feat. DJ TMB
06. 88 feat. DJ TMB
07. Seven FM (Skit 2)
08. Dirty Timbos feat. DJ TMB
09. Warrior Flame feat. Chi MD & Skinny Jimmy
10. Stomp feat. Nappi Music
11. The Rapture
12. Cold Outside
13. Stay Whole
14. Diamond In The Dirt feat. Prima & DJ TMB
15. 528HZ
16. Diesel Powered feat. DJ TMB & Tha Soloist
Review:
Hip hop duo Seven Spherez is back with a new boom bap album! The sound is very versatile and contains some raw boombap and some smoother tracks! Dope features from DJ TMB, Skinny Jimmy, Tha Soloist, Prima and many more!
'Diamond in the Dirt' definitely is one of the smoother tracks on the album, but like I said the album is really versatile. 'The Rapture' for example is one the raw boombap tracks on this project. The beat really reminds me of some old Cypress Hill vibe! The beats by Dr. G are really on point and once again, Ghost One keeps the pen sharp. If you like the REAL boom bap sound, you should get this album!
Favorite track:
I am not a fan of ''love song'', but I would call
Long story short:
Get this album if you love the real boom bap sound! It's an overall dope project with a versatile boom bap sound. If you like the trap sound of Seven Spherez, this album might not be for you, but I bet they gonna make more of that in the future.
Review by Leon aka Skinny Bonez Tha Godfatha for Crypt Keepers of Hip Hop