I finally got the chance to do an interview with Hip-Hop group The Barbershop Quartet. A rap group that I'm actually a member of, scheduling was a little tight since we're working on our album, but it was good just to sit down and talk. This group has a strong history starting from way before I even joined. With influences from Spanish boleros to the heavy hitters of underground hip-hop. The Group consist of S. Kai, Geo ( The God Of Diction), Remmus, and yours truly Mr. Sykes all haling from Brooklyn New York. Our motivation is to be the saviors of hip-hop. Our music is real, and we talk about real issues...Album coming soon so watch out for us.
Mr. Sykes: So how long as the group been going on?
Geo: The group as been going since....
Kai: Gotta be three years now.Mr. Sykes: How did it start?
Kai: We had this group called GS9, we had my man Wize, Geo, Remmus, MAC 40, L Ripper, Hurtz, Element... Anyway I guess you could say we were a hip-hop super group. And just started ripping tracks it was one of those high school things where we started making tracks.
And the group already existed before we hopped in. But eventually whole shit split up so we started this new shit. Me , Geo, Remmus, and also you. (Mr. Sykes: every now and then) But still we this new shit going on and we making a lot of movement, working hard.Mr. Sykes:
[Paraphrasing] It's funny how you should mention not being in GS9 from the start, because when I had joined this group after you guys had been together for a while. And I remember being over at your crib one day just joking around saying like: this is like the Fugees and I'm like lauryn hill, I'm here but I'm really not. Then you said 'well I'll be damned if I call Remmus Mr. Roncal, or Geo Mr. Remirez.' And that's how I kinda got my name when I was just like well you can call me Mr. Sykes.
Mr. Sykes: Your Music Is different than everyone else's... There arent really a lot of rap groups out there now. So how are you going to bring back the rap group, in essence?
Geo: Just be real with it, just be real. There's no other way you can do it, as your real with yourself even when you're up there spitting a verse you're not just spitting a verse. You're expressing yourself, people can tell your being truthful. But if you're there just spitting Verses trying to make some money, just writing verses to write the verses, and cash in on it. Then you can tell you're being a fake it doesn't sound as good.Mr. Sykes: Your music is different also in that fact that you guys flip a lot of Spanish samples, and like old school music, so where does that sound come from?
Geo: Well I grew up listening to a lot of Spanish music and stuff. In the house my mother would always play these old school boleros with sick organs and shit, and crazy singing. I just got the idea to start sampling Spanish stuff originally from my bother, he was the one who started looking thru Spanish stuff. And I'm just the one who caught on to it and I got more deep into it. And eventually I came across this group "The Enemy Of Mankind" and I was already switching all these Spanish samples. When somebody introduced me to this group and that inspired me even more. Cuz he wasn't just sampling English stuff, he was sampling Italian stuff, Spanish stuff and it still rocked as English hip-hop. He didn't even have to spit a Spanish verse and it still rocked.Mr. Sykes: So with that said, best rap album of the past ten years?
Geo: There is no best... Kai: If you had to chose like one honorable mention?Mr. Sykes: On a good day what joint could you rock all day and not be bothered by it?
Geo: well on a good day, recently "So. illaquists Of Sound" that one and "Ur Turn" That shit is ill Kai: I'd Have to say "
Blackstar"
and it doesn't matter if it's a good day or a bad day...That Mos' and Kweli right there, you gotta feel that.Mr. Sykes: Mine most people already know, is the "
Unplugged" album from Lauryn Hill...I can rock that and it's been 8 years now I still feel it.
...
Mr. Sykes: whats the message behind the music?
Kai: The Message behind the music is life itself. Cuz everything we kick is life itself. It always has a relevance to something. We don't pick up a pen " and oh I'ma start some beef with this cat." Cuz i'm trying to make records sale. Naw it's like, this is going on, we're gonna write about it. We come with a concept we come a beat, we got an idea and we flip it. It's life itself.Mr. Sykes: Vodka or Cognac?
Kai: I'm not really a drinker...Mr. Sykes:
sure make me look like the alcoholic of the group... I'll go with the 'gnac.
Mr. Sykes: Favorite Video game?
Geo: Metal Gear Solid 1....
Mr. Sykes: What is hip-hop?
Geo: Hip-Hop is being yourself Kai: Hip-Hop is true expression Mr. Sykes: What are we going to change the game?
Kai: We trying to bring good music to the peoples ears it's just as simple as that. Like what I just said about the TV and how I don't turn it on. It's the same thing with the radio. I really don't turn it on cuz there's not to much good hip-hop on there. You turn it on and everything is sounding the same. We want it to come to a point where you turn on the radio and you hear good shit playing. and it doesn't have to be us . But if one person or one group can get in there and rock that shit and make people understand it more than just this, chain, bling bling. That's bullshit, that's just jokes and stuff, it's gimmicks. Geo: It's not about trying to act gangster and trying to look cool. It's about making music.Mr. Sykes: It is all about the music and we're knocking anybody per se. all that shit is valid but thats not all hip-hop is, it's better to have a balance.
Kai: All that shit has it's purpose like you said ain't gon' be no Crank barbershop quartet.For more from the Barbershop Quartet Check Out:
http://www.myspace.com/kaigs9
With Feature Tracks From Artists:
S. Kai, Yung Mac, 3x a Lady Crew, Chanes, Future, Yung Squad, Born Wize, Mr. Sykes, Jimmie Reign, Tauros, & Philly Spade
Tonight was such a blessing I had great time, and I hope everyone that was in attendance had great time. And to all the young people out there, dreams to do come true if you stay on your grind and have faith.
Thanks to all the performers, SITY, Ade Marie, Chanes, Yung Squad, Carly D. & Arson, Yung Mac & Fats (sorry for the sound problems).
We had an awesome turn and please expect more great things from us in the future.
I'm on my grind stay on yours
- Mr. Sykes
PS: THE BIG URBAN MIXTAPE TEAM IS THE SHIT!!!!
So I got a chance to sit down and talk to the spirited R&B singer Adé Marie. She was preparing to leave to fly out to ATL to do a show, so I was glad to catch a moment with her. Generally I don’t speak this way about artists, but it was a real blessing to speak to this girl… I was not in the best mood that day and she encouraged me so much and made me laugh. She is definitely on the rise so watch out for her.
Mr. Sykes: There are a myriad of female artists out there, you have your Beyonce’s, your Ciara’s, your Ashanti’s, so how do you differentiate yourself from those people?
Adé: I differentiate myself by remaining true to myself always! Everything I do has to be a reflection of myself; I’m not trying to be Beyonce, or Ciara, or Rihanna or anyone like that. Every time I sing, I try to immerse my heart and soul into everything I do. When I’m working with other artists, songwriters, or producers I try to let them know who I am. I want them to know about the journeys I’ve been through in my life so that they can understand me. Also I wanna be a trend setter not a trend follower. I definitely don’t wanna be like anyone, I’m Adé Marie.Mr. Sykes: When did you realize you where mean to be a singer? How did you know you were meant to be a singer?Adé Marie: I realized I was meant to be a singer ‘cause God told me I was supposed to be singer. He gave me this voice, since I could talk. And When I was 4 years old I was given the opportunity to sing in front of a large crowd, and I embraced it. I enjoyed being in the spotlight and ever since that day I’ve always had the urge to be on stage. Going to concerts and seeing various artists on stage I always wished that I was in their spot, I envisioned their fans as my fans. So That’s al
ways a feeling that was set in my heart…Mr. Sykes: So who’s in your ipod right now? Adé: Well I listen to various type of music, it ranges from Sam Cooke all the way to Maroon 5. I’m not just focused on any one artist…Mr. Sykes: What do you feel is wrong with the current state of the music industry, what do you feel is right with it?Adé: Lets do this backwards lets start with the positive. Music first and foremost makes the world go round so it’s necessary. But unfortunately music lacks the effectiveness that it used to have. Now a day’s people can just make a hit song if you have a hot beat. But the context of the music is not where it needs to be. I feel that’s a problem that needs to be changed immediately. Mr. Sykes: Where in the world would you most like to visit?Adé: I would love to visit the motherland that being Africa, if you haven’t known my father is Nigerian, so I’m part Nigerian. I would love to go back to the motherland and help out as much as I can…
Mr. Sykes: What song did you sing in the shower this morning?Adé: Oooo what song did I try to sing in the shower this morning? Well normally when I get up in the morning I try to do my vocal warm up, you know a little 20 min la, la, la before I start singing. Yesterday I started working on this new song so I was actually trying to figure out some lyrics to the new song I’m putting together.
Mr. Sykes: I think that’s common with singers; we come up with stuff in the shower. I know personally I’ve written some of my best songs in the shower like, ‘Man I wish I had some paper in here this is great [Laughs]
Mr. Sykes: If you where offered a recording contract right now would you take it?Adé: It all depends on the contents of the contract; I don’t want to be quick to take anything. But if you know anybody who’s offering a contract tell em’ feel free to holla me and my manager. [Smiles]
over at Brown Sugar Recording studio, so we worked with V.I. He's a great artist from Cleveland but he's out here too. But truthfully the biggest thing that New York has given us as songwriters is just an avenue to express ourselves. Where at home it would be a little harder to do.
Melissa: I wanna be honest, cuz I want people to know the truth about me. I love being in the studio it's my own space where I can be creative and become whatever I need to be for that song.
