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Showbiz – The 730 Interview

posted September 12, 2016 / No Comments

Being an architect of one of the most revered eras in hip-hop comes with a price. Not only is every move scrutinized and every progressive step analyzed to ensure its hip-hopness, but one is expected to speak for an entire generation, and sometimes, the entire landscape of hip-hop. For Showbiz of the legendary Diggin’ in the Crates crew, that burden is never too much to bear. The producer behind classics like “Sound of da Police” and “Soul Clap” while proclaiming the greatness of “Panda” doesn’t feel any pressure, and that’s because he can stand behind what he’s done and knows where he’s going. Whether it’s helping put together his team’s BPM web series or executive-producing the new D.I.T.C. project Studios or O.C.’s upcoming album Same Moon, Same Sun, one can rest easy knowing Show is doing any and everything except mailing it in. In this exclusive interview, Showbiz talks about his role on the new Studios album, how he’s grown as a producer, his production techniques, and much more.

It’s been a long time coming, but the new Diggin’ in the Crates album, Studios, is here. What are your thoughts on how Studios came out?

I executive produced the album, so of course I’m very satisfied with the outcome. It took me a couple of months to put it together and I’m happy with the way it came out it did. I’m very excited about it and we’ve been getting very good reviews on it.

When you look at executive producing an album like this, do you feel any pressure, especially with how long fans have been asking for a new Diggin’ in the Crates project?

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Interviews
O.C. – The 730 Interview

posted August 29, 2016 / No Comments

From holding down the bulk of emceeing, along with partner in rhyme A.G., on his crew’s long-awaited new project, Studios, to a gang of new albums coming in the next couple of years, Omar Credle hasn’t even had time to stagnate, much less consider it. Thanks to an impressive range of verses on the new Diggin’ album Studios, O.C. shows why he’s one of the game’s most consistent. In this exclusive interview, we talk the new album, his creative process, why he can’t remake Word…Life and much more.

I love how you started off the Studios album with the first verse. Your first line is “We’ve still got the game in a noose.” Did you know that’d be how the album would start?

Not at all. That was something, you know, Show is like the orchestrator when it comes to the music and the tracklisting and stuff like that. He runs it by us, usually, when he puts together a tracklist. But I didn’t know it was going to start the album off outside of the Big L intro, nah.

That seems like a really fitting way to start it though.

Right. I mean, it is what it is. You know, at the end of the day, I played my position and do what I do and everybody has a position in the crew, even L. L still has a position. He’s not here physically, but anything that we can implement with him and his voice, obviously, is dope.

When you look at Diggin’ in the Crates and still being on top of your game, do you feel like with this album, you’re at your lyrical best?

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Interviews
Lord Finesse – The 730 Interview (The Complete Interview)

posted August 18, 2016 / No Comments

The Funky Technician sits down with us to discuss Diggin’ in the Crates’ new album Studios, returning to the microphone, his outlook on music, and more in this classic interview. Scroll down for the complete interview.

You’ve got the new Diggin’ in the Crates album Studios album is done and officially dropping this September. How do you feel about the way it came out?

I’m feeling good about it. I’m definitely feeling good about it from where we started to where it’s at right now.

Did it come out the way you wanted it to?

Yeah. It is what it is. It was supposed to be a studio album. Basically after making it at the studio and with some of the new producers that were coming through the studio, you know, with the help of that and some of the members that came as a collective to get on there, yes. It is what it is, you know?

No doubt. Some of the producers aren’t in the official crew, like Vinny Idol. Do you consider them extended family?

I think it’s more work to put in. Right now it’s just a project. You develop family and close friends after years. You can’t just do it after a project. Okay, they’re family now. It’s a project. But they’re extraordinary individuals from a production standpoint. And yeah, if we continue to work, yeah, I think they will be extended family members eventually.

Why didn’t the Diggin’ producers handle the production exclusively?

What it was was we hold a biweekly session called D.I.T.C. BPM and what we do is we have a networking event where you come in, you send your music to this email and you send in three beats and Drawzilla curates that situation and if he likes it, you’re called in and you get to play your beats among other people that were selected and invited and on top of that, we’ll have a guest of honor. Who knows who it will be. We’ve had Pete Rock and DJ Premier and Kid Capri and Large Professor. Da Beatminerz, Rockwilder, Illmind, Marco Polo, K-Def, Bomb Squad.

So you never know who’s going be at those sessions where they tell a story and the steps they took climbing up in the industry. And you can ask them questions. It’s a unique experience. Producers were picked from that batch, like the Vinny Idols and Super Ugly and Motif Alumni. You got a producer by the name of J. Clyde. So you got new dudes where you get to hear their music on a nice caliber, a nice level.

For you, what does a new producer have to do to really catch your ear?

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Interviews
Cormega – The 730 Interview

posted August 12, 2016 / No Comments

The Realness is an album that has stood the test of time. Created over fifteen years ago, Cormega was carrying a huge burden. Released from Def Jam after his debut album, The Testament, being shelved and no longer a member of The Firm, to say Cormega had something to prove on The Realness would be an understatement. There was the label that didn’t believe. A group that cut him loose. And fans that were waiting, some questioning if he could do it on his own, others knowing and waiting with anticipation.

The Realness was the answer to everyone and everything. The classic debut, released through Landspeed, showed that not only could Mega rap his ass off, but he didn’t need a glitzy crew that was more show than prove or a major label’s budget and backing to be successful. The Realness was an instant classic to fans and proved that Cormega was not only better off as a solo artist, but that he had the potential to build a strong independent career, relying on himself and not needing a cosign from anyone.

And while plenty of artists and fans can attest to Cormega’s legendary status today, remember that he never asked for it nor needed it. It’s great, and he’ll tell you himself he appreciates it, but it’s not what drives him, fifteen years later, to continue creating introspective and lyrical hip-hop that withstands the test of time. In this interview, Cormega speaks about the impact of The Realness, his artistic perspective, and much more.

It’s the 15 year anniversary of The Realness. Congratulations. When you look at that today, does it even seem possible?

Nah. Time definitely flies. It doesn’t feel like it. But I’m happy. (more…)
Interviews
Quan – The 730 Interview

posted August 5, 2016 / No Comments

“Can we please have a moment of silence?” Quan asked on his debut “Just a Moment,” a collaboration with Nas that was featured on Street’s Disciple. We know Quan wasn’t talking about his music when he asked for that silence, but that’s exactly what happened, as it’s been nearly four years since Quan’s last project, The Struggle. However, back with a new mixtape, Quan is answering the questions of where he’s been and the battles he’s fighting.

Most notably, though, is that when Quan first asked for a moment of silence, he was asking the listener to pause and consider, remember, those who were struggling in the streets to those in jail to those no longer with us. That focus on the struggle hasn’t gone anywhere, as Quan shows on “All On Him,” a collaboration with Pusha T, that he’s still a soldier in the fight for justice and equality. While the Newport News native remembers his earlier days and what went wrong in the game, from Atlantic Records not knowing how to market him to growing disconnected to once-mentor Nas, he’s also got a bright outlook for the future, one that involves tons of new music, movie placements, and a memoir. After more than ten years in the game, don’t expect much silence from Quan.

It’s been a few years since we heard from you. What have you been up to?

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Interviews
J-Zone – The 730 Interview

posted August 1, 2016 / No Comments

When I call J-Zone, he’s in the middle of doing the dishes. I’ve got lesson plans and papers that need grades. But Fish N Grits dropped, a new J-Zone album, and that’s more important than both. J-Zone has never been the type of artist to just crank out an album of twelve songs, three skits, and some corny artwork and call it a day. To understand a J-Zone album is to fully grasp the many layered steps in the creative process. Rest assured that no detail is left to random chance, from the intricately-selected and placed audio clips down to the compression on the snare.

Fish N Grits finds J-Zone continuing his redefinition. Gone are the odes to dumping your girl before Valentine’s Day to avoid copping a gift or keeping a boombox on the passenger seat, replaced with aging in hip-hop culture, hipsters, and race. With his signature chops as well as live drums, a new skill Zone has recently honed, the music is just as dope, especially because it’s about where he’s at now and not a reproduction of what he’s already given us in celebrated underground classics like Pimps Don’t Pay Taxes and Sick of Bein Rich. Over the course of two hours, J-Zone details his musical evolution, family life, his new groups The Du-Rites and Superblack, and much more. The dishes can wait.

Your new album Fish N Grits is out and you’ve been doing it yourself, like most of your work throughout your career. What’s the process been like for you this time and how has the process changed over the years? (more…)