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#HHBAllDay .Support the movement.
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Edito Le nouveau numéro de HHB, le numéro 17, est parmi nous ! Comme d’habitude, les interviews sont en versions originales. Découvrez l’article sur le vétéran, la légende Wordsworth, ainsi que de l’artiste de la HHB Family Ray Pearson, puis direction L.A avec Trizz. Vous pourrez également découvrir l’ interview du New Yorkais Grand, et du duo Tone et Frost. Réalisées par LADYSU. N’hésitez pas à partager, commenter !
@LadySuMusic @HipHopBreath
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Sommaire Ray Pearson … P.6 Trizz … P.10 Wordsworth … P.15 Tone Chop & Frost Gamble … P.18 Grand … P.26 …
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Ray Pearson Interview
Hello Ray Pearson! For those who might be a little unfamiliar with the name, tell us a little about yourself. Who are you, where are you from and when did you start out in hip hop? I am Ray Pearson. A Kaged Animal . I am an emcee/songwriter/lyricist/re cording artist. I am originally from The South Bronx aka The Birthplace of Hip Hop. I started rapping when I lived in Jersey City at the age of 12 years old I been recording since I was 13 years old. From the days you started, which artists would you say you learned the most from, those who influenced you
the most in developing your own style? To be honest I have to say Eminem as well as Rap Battles (URLTV/KOTD etc). From being lyrical to improving my double time flow. When I Started rapping you can say I rapped fast but it wasn't something that was perfected it was there. But once I heard Eminem's verse on Drake's "Forever" I tapped back into it. I wont say I'm the greatest at it but what I can do double time is more than other artists I know. I also still listen to Big Pun and he will always inspire me but I would say more Eminem because he's still around and has evolved
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with skill so I feel like as he evolved I've evolved. Can you tell us about your last project “Beast UnKaged�? Beast Un-Kaged if you follow my music I released my first official solo project titled "Kaged Muzik" 3 years ago. "Beast Un-Kaged" you can say is a part 2. Kaged Muzik represents the real emcee's who are like animals. You don't get to hear them as often but when you do its a breath of fresh air. Beast UnKaged is the rebel the emcee who breaks out of that cage. The animal who will no longer be lied to. I literally explain it within both artworks and you hear it today. As far as the collabs go I didn't really go crazy with alot. I mainly worked with my brothers my oldest and my youngest.
What are your inspirations and motivations for this project, and in general? Its funny because I didn't realize what my project was actually going to do as in the response. I believe my last project is the cause of the outcome due to lack of solo songs. My last project it was like I made music for me and I didn't make it for the people. So having a lack of material I can perform ontop of too many collaborations from people who I can't get on the same stage I needed to redeem myself. That and the normal artists I listen to from Big Pun to Eminem etc. You make many rap/freestyle videos, on fb, for Cypher Circuit, for TBP.. Can you tell us about? It has been said that the music I make is rarely accepted now and days which I disagree with. So with platforms such as Cypher Circuit & 8
TeamBackPack etc, I am able to still be who I am by displaying my skill.
MethMurda, Pyschotic, Famine and other producers I already know personally.
I know you have other upcoming projects, can you tell us about? My goal going into 2017 is to already be working on my EP. I also do various artists mixtapes so I want to get that ball rolling again. I took a hiatus on that due to my project.
Your goal in hip hop is: To gain recognition. To be respected for my art.
You sound like: Myself! Of course any artist who has been inspired by another artist you tend to hear it in the music. You’d like to work with: MyVerse, Denzil Porter, Chris Rivers, Snow Tha Product, Whitney Peyton, Dizaster and more Cypher Circuit members they're all dope as hell. Producers I would love to work with: Araabmuzik, Dame Grease, Johnny Slash, Domingo, Statik Selektah,
You gonna be the next: Whatever it is will be God's plan for me. All I know is I'm going to be it. Anything else you would like to say to our readers? If you're a fan of Hip Hop contact me follow me. If you're a producer contact me lets work. If you're an artist contact me lets work. If you're a promoter contact me lets work. If you do PR/Marketing contact me lets work. If you're a DJ contact me I'll send you my music lets work. I WANT MY MUSIC TO BLOW UP OVERSEAS MORE THAN THE US. LADYSU
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TRIZZ Interview
Hello Trizz. For those who might be a little unfamiliar with the name, tell us a little about yourself. Who are you, where are you from and when did you start out in hip hop? I’m a 24 year old artist from Southern California, LA and the Inland Empire to be exact. I started rapping at 9 years old but didn't get serious till my senior year in high school. I got my first major break when underground legend Brotha Lynch Hung took notice to my music view Twitter and took me on tour with Strange Music. From the days you started, which artists would you say you learned the most from, those who influenced you the
most in developing your own style? I would say I learned from a lot of the west coast legends like Pac, Snoop, Tha Eastsidaz, Westside Connection, a lot of the "Gangsta" music. My dad bumped all this shit around me and it just rubbed off. I twisted that with a lot of the horrific shit I like with a little bit of weed, that's how I got my style haha if you feel what I'm saying Your project LeatherFace 2 is out. Can you tell us about? Why this title? LeatherFace 2 is a street horror album. It's the way I see the world around me. I grabbed Bizarre because I felt he would grab he attention I wanted and go along perfect with the story I 10
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was trying to tell. Same with Twisted Insane on "A Night Out" which is produced by my boy Ac3 Beats along with the majority of the project. Twisted gave it that dark gangsta shit I was looking for. I also recruited Sahtyre, Futuristic, Chuuwee of course and my nigga Roc$tedy. I call it LeatherFace because when I am LeatherFace I am what you hear on the record, it's my alter ego. It's inspired by the movie and Krayzie Bone. He's one of my favorite rappers of all time. How long did it take you to make the project? What was the most challenging aspects in terms of putting the concepts and then recording? It took all of a month to record it but the most challenging shit was the mixing and mastering. Shout out to Ac3 and Moni Beatz for the help but we had to do everything by email because I was on and off the road and then I had to rerecord the entire album cuz
some random fuck shit happened but yea, it came out dope so fuck it. Ha Were there any particular inspirations for you in making this project, and in a wider sense, what else acts as your biggest motivational factors? I watched a lot of Investigation Discovery shows like Disappeared, Date Line and shit like that to get in my mode. A lot of the shit I talk about on the album I actually seen or have done. So a lot my motivation comes from personal experience. I rarely over exaggerate my raps. I mean, we all do, that's apart of art. Do you have a favorite track from the project? If so, which one and why? "Suburbia" is my favorite because it's a clear description of where I come from. If you want a clear answer to your first question, play Suburbia.
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Are you working on another project, a new collaboration? I'm working on a free project called "Funeral Music". Stay tuned! I have a few collaborations about to drop but I want to surprise the supporters. What has been your best experience to date in the rap game? Going on my first nation wide tour with Strange Music. It was my first tour and it changed my life, that shit was 2 and a half months. I gained thousands of fans and it shaped my career.
I think it's trendy. I believe it's just for the moment. You can tell who has long gevity and who will get swept under the rug. Some of these niggas ain't even got catalogs, they have a few singles but their major. That's the time we are in but I don't focus on that. I'm building an empire, I may not be on a magazine cover right now but I know I will be and I don't want it to be because of a single, I want it to be because I actually put in work and I didn't follow behind some label telling me what I can and cannot do.
There has been much criticism on the latest XXL Freshman ... Even though (thankfully) hip hop not end with that .. but what do you think of the current rap?
Anything else you would like to say to our readers? Shout out to Hip-Hop Breath Mag for having me! Break Bread Posse in full effect! LADYSU 13
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WORDSWORTH Article
Si je vous dis Brooklyn ! … Une longue liste d'artistes vous vient à l'esprit ! … Et Wordsworth en fait parti. Le brooklyniste a puisé ses influences de Kool G Rap à KRS One, en passant par le Flow de Busta. De Punch and Words (avec Punchline) à eMC (avec Masta Ace, Punchline et Strick), le légendaire lyricist ne laisse pas indifférent. Connu dans un premier temps pour ses freestyles, le mc a entre autres, travaillait avec A Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def et Talib Kweli. Son premier projet solo « Mirror Music » est apparu en 2004. Côté actu, Wordsworth a sorti récemment un album avec J-Soul nommé "Blame It On The Music" qui traite des questions de société et ce qui cause la
pauvreté. Et comme il nous l'expliquait : "La musique est en fait le remède. Il permet aux artistes de faire la lumière et de gagner un revenu pour aider les pauvres et offrir des opportunités.". Le emcee nous a également révélé qu'il travaillait sur d'autres projets, en collaboration avec Sam Brown, et également avec le collectif TheIdea, composé de Range Da Messenga, Jacqueline Constance, Robot Scott, et Pearl Gates (que vous avez pu découvrir sur HHB). LADYSU
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Tone & Frost Interview
Tone, Frost, hello from us at Hip Hop Breath in Paris. First of all, looking back to when you first met, we understand you were rap battle rivals. Tell us more about that and how you began working together. Tone: We started out as competition because we were from the same area. Frost was an M.C. at first and so was I. Frost thought I was the better M.C. and decided to make beats and hang his mic up. So we teamed up together and recorded a bunch of tracks in his basement on his four track recorder. That’s what started years of working together. Frost: Each of us had been featured on a local radio mix show, and that was the basis of the competition originally, trying to be the hottest new MC in the area. But we became friends after realizing how much we had in common, and started working on music as a duo. When I first moved into the city, Chop basically took me under his wing and took me around to battle and spit for different people in the
scene. He also gave me the ‘street smarts’ I needed to survive in those days. So you began performing during hip hop's "Golden Age". Which artists and cultural elements drew you in to become involved? Tone: All elements basically cause I was an M.C., I used to write graffiti, breakdance and even tried to DJ.I make beats as well. As far as artists go BDP was the first tape I ever had which was the "Criminal Minded" album. I was into Lord Finesse, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, Craig G, EPMD, Redman, K-Solo, M.O.P., Ultramagnetic M.C.s…. the List goes on. Frost: I started out breakdancing, and loved all the early records, especially “The Message” – that was what planted the seed. Run-DMC drew me in more, and by 87 or 88 I was obsessed with absorbing everything I could – BDP’s By All Means Necessary floored me. I tried MCn, beatboxing, a little graff (but I was never good at)… for whatever 18
reason, I developed an ear for crate digging early on and realized that was the path that fit me the best. Diamond D’s Stunts Blunts & Hip Hop made me want to become a producer more than any other album. You were together in New York State, but Frost, you moved to Canada and became a producer. Can you both tell us about your solo careers? Tone: My solo career consists of several mixtapes of my own which I always included Frost Beats and put together and released on my own. I had a series called Chopper City that did pretty well as far as exposure and what not. There’s 5 mixtapes in that series. Frost: For the longest, I didn’t really want it to be a career per se, I really wanted to play the background and just feed beats to dope MCs. But I had so many disappointments – big projects and placements that fell apart, and I wasn’t achieving the goals I had set for myself. So I
realized I was going to have to act like an artist and be my own record label, start promoting music myself more effectively. I was fortunate to have some great mentors (shout to bgyrl!) and it was still a slow journey, but in time I build up a personal platform and a track record that enabled me to make some bigger business moves. What was the inspiration to come back together after all these years to record a new EP? Tone: It wasn't like we were coming back because we never stopped working together. Timing is everything. Anytime we tried to make a whole project it just didn't work out due to trials and tribulations in our lives. Guess it just wasn't time till now. As far as the inspiration we always inspire each other. Frost: Chop was the first MC to really put full faith in me to truly executive produce a project, and not just make the beats. It’s incredibly satisfying to make our world debut together, and I couldn’t ask for a better partner. Everything that’s
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asked of him gets knocked out of the park immediately. Musically the 'Veteran' EP draws on the true school sound. Frost, tell us about your production techniques and the concept you had for the record. Frost: On this project, we made a conscious decision to use recognizable samples – it was important to introduce ourselves in a way that people could relate to our origins, even this many years removed. But on future projects, you may hear me use different techniqu es, more twisted chops and flips where you’re not sure what’s being sampled, or even use more live instrumentation at times. But we will always build from a core philosophy of hard bars, hard beats, and honest talk from the streets. You’re also going to hear Chop speak about more topics and concepts, not just nostalgic themes. Chop, in the tracks 'Dedication' and 'Leave it Alone' you pay tribute to
hip hop's pioneers. Why did you feel it was so important to make such a strong statement? Tone: It was important because these are the artists I grew up listening to and wanted to pay homage. We may do a part 2 to dedication due to the fact there’s more artists that could have been mentioned as well that I salute. As far as Leave It Alone, I always been a big fan of Sean Price (R.I.P.), he was one of my favorite M.C.'s to listen to - he was a beast on the mic. Tell
us more about 'Leave It Alone' which pays homage to Sean Price. Why Sean P specifically and how did you connect with Ruste Juxx and Nobi, the featured artists? Tone: Frost connected with Ruste Juxx and made it happen. Nobi is actually an artist I always been a fan of as well who had tracks with Sean Price and Ruste Juxx already. I reached out and he was with it - the rest is history. Frost: I had always planned on working with Sean P, he was just 20
one of the most amazing MCs I ever heard. I have a lot of friends from Brooklyn, so I always planned on taking a trip and trying to connect with him, but stupidly I never did, and I was really mad at myself when he passed. I decided not to make the same mistake again and reached out Juxx, Sean’s protégé and a super dope MC in his own right. We did a track together for my compilation project, that’s how it started. Then when we decide to a tribute track to Sean P, we had to careful how we approached it – Chop & I didn’t know him, so it we didn’t want it to look like we were trying to come up off his name. That’s why it was important to get Juxx on there, if he didn’t think it was dope we weren’t going to do it. Thankfully, Juxx loved the track and got busy on it, and Chop and Nobi smashed it too. Three dope NY MCs from different areas all spitting heat – that’s a great way to pay tribute in my opinion. Having worked for many years independently releasing your own music, what has been the difference for you signing to Seven 13 Music and how did that happen?
Tone: A much bigger platform and tons more exposure. Salute to Seven13, I appreciate the opportunity very much so. Frost: Seven13 has been an incredible partnership; they find opportunities we never would have had access to on our own. Plus we still have the freedom of an independent, no A&R telling us to make club records or anything like that – just great business and promotional support for our brand of Hip Hop. You plan releasing an album in 2017. Have you started the recording process and what might we expect, any surprises? Tone: We never stop working so you can trust and believe we have some tracks done for the album untitled as of yet. As far as surprises you never know only time will tell. Frost: There’s been a lot of early excitement about this project, and we’re so grateful for that. We will definitely have a full LP follow-up in 2017, and the surprises may come in terms of features – new doors are being opened every day, it seems.
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There is a growing CD and vinyl market for the style of hip hop you produce, so do you think the album might be in these formats? Tone: I definitely think it should be in those formats not sure if that will happen for this project though. Frost: My only regret on this project is that we didn’t print any vinyl. We will try to respond to demand as it grows and changes, if someone is a fan of our music we want to put it in their hands in whatever form they desire. We've heard many US artists say they feel there is a greater appreciation of traditional hip hop in Europe. Is that your experience? Tone: I appreciate anyone that appreciates what we do, wherever they may come from. Frost: I think that’s probably true, I’ve heard it often. I live in Canada now, and I’m amazed by how well the kids here know and appreciate the old school - it seems more appreciated than back home. Europe’s support for authentic Hip Hop so important; I know many acts appreciate the opportunities those markets create.
Speaking of Europe, have you heard any artists from this area, and Frost, are there any FrenchCanadian artists you would recommend? Tone: I haven't but if you point me in the right direction I would give some a listen. Frost: I was a big fan of Derek B back in the day, and I’ve heard plenty of good music from Dizzee Rascal, MC Solaar, Snow Goons and others. I don’t know the scene well, but I know there’s talent everywhere in 2016. I often work with a dope FrenchCanadian producer named S.One – he played Sax on “Better With Time” off Veteran. He also plays in an excellent French Funk band called “Jérémie & The Delicious Hounds”. We must ask you about the US elections. Chop, what do you think were the reasons Trump won, and Frost, from a Canadian perspective, what has been the impact so far? Tone: To be honest I think Trump won because the fight was fixed I'm not really into politics.
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Frost: Trump’s win is the just the latest example of the prominent role that racism and hate has always played in American politics. In Canada, there’s more of an attempt to heal going on, through dialogue about race and the terrible effects of colonialism. It’s not perfect, to be clear, but an effort is being made. The fact that 60 million Americans would vote for an openly racist, misogynist man is very depressing, but hardly surprising. I’d also like to say that I find France’s courage very inspiring – while the US tries to build a wall and Great Brittan left the EU, France has doubled down on their democratic and inclusive values. Also, we desperately need a little laïcité on this side of the Atlantic. Going back to your origins, the rap battle scene has grown strongly in the past few years, helped by the internet with channels like KOTDTV. Do you think this produces a breeding ground for superior rappers and who do you rate now? Tone: I love battle rap, I'm a big fan. I like Arsonal Da Rebel, Bigg K, Tay Rock, DNA, Charlie Clips, Murda Mook, Loaded Lux to name a few and they all make good music too. Frost: I go to local battle events all the time, and I watching the growth of kids in my city. It is absolutely a great breeding ground, and I’m thankful the global scene to date is
still mostly organic, not being controlled by big corporations. Tell us each about your funniest moment in music. Tone: Drake trying to go at Joe Budden - had to laugh at that (Lol), Joe is by far away the better lyricist. Frost: A couple years back I was mistaken for Macklemore in a nightclub. I was pretty drunk, and I had an unfriendly reaction when dude approached me – I feel bad about that, but it’s kind of funny today. Live and learn. Finally, where do you hope to see yourselves and the world of hip hop in five years, and do you have a message for our readers here in France? Tone: Hopefully in everybody’s Top 5 best M.C's list. Thank you France for checking us out be on the lookout for more good music to come. Support real Hip Hop and thanks to you for the interview - I appreciate it. Frost: I have spent so many years looking forward, goal setting etc. – now I’m at a point where I try to just appreciate life more. I mean, I went from poverty and danger/drama to being relatively comfortable and stable – I’m just thankful and amazed that I’ve been so fortunate. And a lot of the playbook came from 23
the lessons of Hip Hop. Thank you to everyone checking out this article! If you love Hip Hop & reject racism, hate & oppression – we’re family. Holla at me on twitter anytime, I’d love to hear from anyone who cops the Veteran EP. And big thank you to DJ LSM for the love! LADYSU
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GRAND interview
Hello Grand! For those who might be a little unfamiliar with the name, tell us a little about yourself. Who are you, where are you from and when did you start out in hip hop? My name is Grand… and I’m an artist from the upstate capital region…Warwick New York… 845 y’all know what’s up ! I always loved music for as long as I can remember…my first ever album I had was Michaels Off The Wall album…then I remember I had to be around 8 or 9 and my cousin let me borrow her jay z life and times of shawn carter vol.1 album which eventually became mine lol and that’s when it felt like my life changed & I started writing my first raps. From the days you started, which artists would you say you learned the most from, those who
influenced you the most in developing your own style? From when I started, if I had to say who influenced my style the most , it comes from a bevy of people but a few key artist’ that really made me want to become who I wanted to be…artist like Jay Z of course, Nas…Kanye, MJ…BIG….they really played a major part of my life which is my music, so those are the shape shifters who pioneered the game and influenced me most. Can you tell us about your last project “Left Lane”? (about the collaborations, the title, etc). My project ‘left lane’ that I released this year was my first body of work that I’ve released. I’ve had the title for about 6-7 years, so it really is a long time coming with this project (hence the title of the intro) lol the title comes from me just separating my self from the pack, i feel like 26
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what I bring to the table is a breath of fresh air… I can give you hard complex raps blended in with lush melodies to paint the picture more vivid for the listener. i feel like that alone is a great tool to have..to be a chameleon. as far as collaborations go, theres only two on ‘left lane’ .I really wanted to give the people an introduction to me and my world so I kept the collabs to a minimum. a record I have called ’take a ride’ features my day one brother dub aura from Harlem….if you know me then you know exactly who he is , we been on this journey forever and its only the beginning…and the other collab I have is a song i got titled ‘show stopper’ featuring my dawg Maleek…definitely another banger ! should expect a video for that soon as well…shouts to Ray Rukka & the whole SoundHouse ! What are your inspirations and motivations for this project, and in general? I love this question…my inspiration & motivation for this project and in general is to just aspire to inspire like i always say….ppl who inspire others to do great will always see the light @ the end of the tunnel…and its a revolving door, empower our ppl ! especially with
everything going on in our country right now , and I’m far from an activist or anything like that but I’m a realist , and we need more people set the tone & inspire & motivate others to excel in anything they want to do in life ! You sound like: I sound like….the top floor of the berj khalifa ! lol You’d like to work with: There’s a lot of artist’ that I would like to work with… probably too many to name right now lol but some of my dream collaborations would definitely be to work with Hov of course… Ye’ …. get production from pharrell , sit with drake & 40….Cole, Nipsey… that’s all I’m gonna name right now lol. Your goal in hip hop is: My goal in hip hop is to transcend the game…every few years its happens…we’ve all seen it, there’s always those new gaps of greatness…and that’s what me and my team intend to do ! longevity to the destiny word to Esco. Anything else you would like to say? Stayed tuned for all new music , visuals, Merch , everything thats 28
coming FMM (FAMILY MONEY MUSIC) follow me on IG/TWITTER grand_fmm and download ‘left lane’ right now on soundcloud and Audiomack ! shouts to LADYSU & Hip Hop Breathe for the platform, much love ! aura out… LADYSU
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