pimpin' aint beasy
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Homepage: http://www.crumpsville.com
Posts by pimpin' aint beasy
RAH RAH… RAHZEL!
Oct 2nd
After a heavy touring schedule and a new album in the pipeline, legendary beat boxer Rahzel (of The Roots fame) makes his way down to Australia again, bringing JS-1 from Rock Steady Crew with him. Here, he chats to Crumpet about Roc Raida, The Roots and his new album.
How are the vocal cords holding up?
Vocal cords are great. Of course you need a break here and there just to let them relax.
What do you think of Roc Raida’s [RIP] death? You guys did a Pepsi commercial together?
It is a tragedy to loose Roc Raida. He was a wonderful person and always fun to be around. Yes, we had a good time on the set together doing the commercial. What a great dude. Left behind some unforgettable memories.
What made you say yes to visit our shores again?
I love coming to Australia. The people are welcoming and always showing Rahzel much love. Great fans.
Do you think beatboaxing AKA the fifth element of hip hop, is alive and kicking?
I do think hip hop is alive and kicking. It has become very global. Now, corporate companies are integrating beat boxing in commercials etc.
You been doing anything with The Roots lately?
No, have not done anything with The Roots as of lately. We worked together recently at Radio City in NYC. Were still connected just busy working on our individual projects.
Any new albums in the pipeline?
Yes, just finished up the new album Greatest Knockouts 2.
And we understand that you’re joined by JS-1 from Rock Steady Crew?
Yes, JS1 and I have been together rocking over 10 years. He is a huge part of Rahzel. You see Rahzel you gonna see super dj JS1.
Join Rahzel on Wed Nov 11 at Oxford Art Factory.
ROCK ROCK, WHO’S THERE? PASE. PASE WHO? PASE ROCK.
Oct 1st
Producer/DJ/rapper Pase Rock has been known to DJ at private parties for Snoop, JT and Li-Lo; occasionally be Spank Rock’s right-hand man, earned his DJ stripes on Steve Aoki’s Dim Mak label, wants to call his next album Slutface and runs rings around the Hollywood party posse. Crumpet chat to the mischievous Brooklyn bad ass.
How did you introduce yourself to music?
I was introduced to me at a young age via my family, god bless them.
For all the tone-deaf people out there, describe your music.
Hmmm. Basically its hip hop. But dancey hip hop. I like to dance and I’m a professional DJ so it tends to be more geared toward the dancefloor more often than not.
You’ve DJ’ed at private parties for Snoop Dogg, Justin Timberlake, Playboy and Lindsay Lohan – what’s been the funniest thing you’ve witness at any of them?
I once watched Kate Moss do lines off the penis of Ronnie Darko from Spankrock, amazing!
Who runs in your social circles? I run myself in social circles…
You always have awesome titles from your 2003 album Bullshit As Usual, the 2007 Lindsay Lohan’s Revenge to song titles like The Motherfucking Rave Is Over. How do you come up with such brilliance? And why? Do you like taking the piss?
Yeah I love taking the piss. I think something is wrong with my kidneys I have to pee so much. You know that’s not really an expression we use in America, taking the piss. Anyway, who knows how I come up with stuff. A lot of times I just take it from conversations I have with people or whatever. You have to laugh at life, it’s pretty comedic if you take a step back and remove yourself from it once in awhile.
What music are you feeling now? hmmm, my friend just sent me this Gladys
Knight song and it’s pretty amazing its called “The Makings of You” so good.
Last record you bought? Eli Escobar’s “Glass House 12″.
You got a new album in the pipeline?
I hope so. I have a record finished and I want to release it but who knows what will happen tomorrow. Everybody has been dying lately. So what will be will be, you know. I want to call the album Slutface but I dunno if that will fly. It sounds kinda mean. Like I don’t wanna listen to an album called Slutface so I’ll have to think of something else. The music is really beautiful and genuine so the title will have to reflect that. What do you think? I feel like I come up with good titles every day but I always forget them.
Finally, can you do a little rap about Crumpet?
I fucking hate crumpets so, no.
Thanks for you time!
No, thank you for the interview!
Catch Mr Rock on Friday 16 October at Oxford Art Factory
5 minutes with arabian prince
Sep 24th
He shared a group with Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E; he cut classics like Something 2 Dance 2, Panic Zone and Dope Man; goes by an alter ego Professor X and has just launched his new animated group Funky Lil Anime. Crumpet caught up with none other than the godfather of electro and N.W.A. dropout Arabian Prince. But you can call him Rab.
What have you been up to in the past year or so? I have been touring all over the world rocking crowds with my DJ and live sets, me and Egyptian Lover do a lot of shows together so we get to bang the electro funk beats to the masses.
Tell us about your new album? I am working on my alter ego the Professor X album called 2012 The Electro Funk Xperiment and a new animated group I created called Funky Lil Anime due out next year.
Funky Lil Anime? Yeah my new animated group. It has three members, me and two girl singers animated, we are trying to push the envelope when it comes to music so I think it will be really hype and fun. We plan on doing a cartoon show, toys and a video game as well.
What was N.W.A. like when you left? The reason I left N.W.A. was because we were not getting paid the money we should have been getting for the albums that we put out, it was bad enough that we had to split the money so many ways but to not get paid too made me have to get out, I made more loot before we did N.W.A.
Do you still talk to your N.W.A. homies? Yeah I still talk to everyone, everybody is so busy we don’t hang like we did back in the day.
What was the music scene like back then? Not as crowded as it is now, there were not many rap groups back then, and everything was so much more creative, everybody had an identity, now there are so many groups that sound too much alike.
And how has it changed? I think one of the main changes is that anyone and everyone is doing music, good or bad, technology has made it possible for this to happen, even people who can’t sing grab auto tune and now are singers, back in the day you had to have some talent.
You helped invent electro? I was one of the first besides my buddy Egyptian Lover to mold and bring the electro funk sound to LA, Dr Dre from the Wreckin Kru and a few others were rocking electro funk as well on the west coast in the ‘80s.
What do you think of the electro today? There is a big return to our old school sound. Will.i.Am used my song Supersonic to make the song Fergalicious, and there are a lot of new songs popping up every day that are sampling or redoing ‘80s electro.
Music you dig? I was really into Prince, Kraftwerk and Parliament Funkadelic back in the day and all this contributed to my music style.
Tell us about Professor X? Professor X is an alter ego of mine that I created in the ‘80s when I made this song Professor X (Saga), I could not release it under Arabian Prince because I already had a record out at the time, so I created the name Professor X.
Catch the Prince at the Arc Factory, Sydney this Saturday.
UGLY DUCKLING CHATS TO CRUMPET
Aug 28th
This year Obama was inaugurated as president, Michael Jackson died (RIP) and we got up close and personal with swine flu. On a happier note, it was also Ugly Duckling’s 10-year anniversary. Sadly, there was no cake or strippers. Just a quick chat to Crumpet…
10 years is a long time – aren’t you all sick of each other by now? Who has the most annoying habit?
We’re beyond sick of each other [laughs]. But that’s 10 years working and making a living; we were a group four or five years before that just knowing each other. It’s kind of like family. You’re really sick of each other but as long as you have a respect and a common purpose, it’s like a marriage. Just hanging in there for 10 years and actually working and touring and doing some of the things we’ve done it is remarkable we’ve been able to pull it off. We’ve been able to fool them for this long. [laughs] especially when I don’t think of any one of us as being remarkably talented. It’s all smoke and mirrors, I assure you.
You are veterans – do you feel like the grandfathers of hip hop these days what with all the Soulja Boy’s and Dwele’s?
Strangely, we’ve been doing this for a very long time. We started in our late teens in the early 90s trying to put together a band, but at the same time we are intensely immature and refuse to grow up. I kind of feel like an old boy if that makes any sense.
Why the three year wait after Bang For The Buck?
First of all we’re remarkably lazy. But we toured for a long time. When we start the process of making new music, it’s really tedious to design the songs the way we do using samples and trying to create bridges and choruses and all those vehicles for song writing and the production of it.
Tell us about your new 4th album Audacity. It’s more experimental?
We tried to develop things a bit. We’ve always loved songs. Like rap traditionally is beats and rhymes. We love bridges and courses and breakdowns and build-ups and all the little techniques. We love song writing. We listen to all kinds of music. So this time we were trying to use melody more and some different harmony things. We’re a bunch of knuckleheads. It’s like cavemen rubbing sticks together when we try and develop music.
And it’s on Fat Beats this time?
Yeah this time it is a new label isn’t it? That’s one of the bad parts about being a rogue independent group – we’ve been through so many labels, so many people going out of business [laughs]. I don’t even remember what we’re doing. We’ve had five different labels on different continents. So yeah this is the first time with Hydrofunk (who do Resin Dogs).
Finally, whereabouts are you speaking from?
I’m sitting here at home doing a crossword puzzle. An Emu? That’s a big bird from Australia right? E M U?
FINALE … straight outta detroit
Aug 28th
First there was Eminem, Slum Village, D12 and Royce Da 5’9 representing Detroit. Then came Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, Elzhi, Obie Trice, Trick Trick, Phat Kat and One Be Lo. Now there’s Finale, and his new album A Pipedream And A Promise, quite possibly the hottest sound to come out of Detroit since, well, Eminem.
Right now I’m working on… Promoting my current album A Pipe Dream And A Promise, mixing the full-length album I did with House Shoes and solo album number two.
I introduced myself to hip hop by… Learning every single word to Too Short’s Short But Funky. Then I started actually doing music on a serious level when someone gave me a copy of OC’s album Jewelz.
I got to where I am by… Paying dues and I’m still making payments.
Getting Dilla, Black Milk, M-Phases and Kev Brown was… Definitely an honour. It’s a small world and good to know that I have friends/family in the hip hop community.
People who run in my social circle are most likely to… Succeed. It’s only the beginning folks.
People like me because… Well you’d have to ask them but I hope people dig the fact that I’m only focused on the music. I stay clear of drama and gossip… just handle biz on stage and in the booth and you’ll be good.
A wise man once told me… I am the captain of my ship – I determine whether I sink or sail.
I’m all about the… Music. There’s always a new pattern or pocket to catch in the beat that no one else has found yet.
The first thing I do in the morning is… Work out.
The last thing I do at night is… Shut down Pro Tools.
I love it when people… Actually listen to me instead of hype/album credits.
I hate it when people… Assume; instead of just ask whatever questions on their mind.
If you ever see me walking down the street… Say what up and tell me what you honestly think of the music.
I’m a fan of… Skills. If you got ‘em I’ll listen. I don’t care what style or genre you claim. I grew up on it all from UGK to DITC)
Future pipedreams and promises… Keep growing as an artist. I want my audience to follow me through every stage and try not to disappoint.
A Pipedream And A Promise is out now on Grindin’
pimp or limp?
Aug 28th
MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA
First there was America Apparel’s nerd glasses phenomenon. Then the shutter shades craze made famous by Kanye West. Even Ray-Ban had another five minutes of fame with their ‘90s sunglasses, thanks to Michael Jackson (RIP). Now comes Maison Martin Margiela and his single lens sunnies creation. Be warned – the one-piece lens by the Belgium fashion designer is only for the fashion-adventurous (think: Lady GaGa and Amber Rose).
WE LOVE… KIDVISKOUS
Aug 19th
We love jewellery. But not just any jewellery – KidViskous jewellery. Crumpet chats to Tiffany Lee, the brains behind the hottest jewellery label out.
How did KidViskous come about?
I’ve been making jewellery my whole life on and off, and selling (or at least trying to) for just as long. I like making things, particularly little things, so it’s perfect for me to make jewellery. KidViskous specifically came around when I was painting on Louis Vuitton handbags and selling those, but wanted to do something on a smaller scale, so I jumped back into jewellery after a couple years of hiatus. I was really getting into street fashion, and there wasn’t much at the time as far as street jewellery so I took up lucite since it was so versatile and different.
Your pieces are very directional – where do you get your inspiration from?
A lot of it comes from music. I feel like music and fashion are of the same ilk. More often than not, people who wear certain styles listen to a corresponding music, and visa versa. And if you only do one or the other, you are sometimes seen as a poser, it’s funny. My first collection was really rock ‘n’ roll, military-come-street punk fashion, the second a softer, silly, vintage, folksy theme, and this current one is technotronic neons, geometric shapes, larger pieces, relating to the nu-rave/dance/party scene that was just emerging at the time. From there on, I’m waiting for the next wave.
kidviskous.com
djs + sneakers
Aug 19th
What is it with DJs and sneakers? And no I’m not talking about the local bedroom DJ that wears the latest Nike’s because everyone else bought a pair on eBay six months ago. Or the DJ that spins Baltimore club all of a sudden, because it’s “cool”.
I’m talking about the A-Traks, Klevers, Crazes and Premiers of the world. Who knows when it all started? Blame Run DMC, maybe? But you have to admit, more and more DJs are hopping into bed with sneaker companies. Or are the sneaker companies hopping into bed with DJs? Whoever’s picking up who, we don’t care for it. All we care for, as the consumer, is what comes next. And so, with a bit of investigatory crumpet journalism, here are the greatest DJ/sneaker collaborations…
DJ CLARK KENT + NIKE
DJ Clark Kent is an old hag at designing sneakers. So it’s no wonder he’s called the shots for the 2009 NBA All-Star Game Air Force 1’s. With a yellow, orange and purple colourway to represent the Phoenix Suns, these kicks are slated for release next month.
DJ STEVE AOKI + SUPRA SHOE
You might know Steve Aoki as the American DJ or record producer but in this case, know him as the guy that teamed up with Supra shoes to collate the signature ‘strapped shoe’. It’s like half moon boots, half ski boot. Not really, but it sure does have a lot of straps. Um, hence the name.
A-TRAK + NIKE
First, it was A-trak’s record Running Man: Nike + Original Run that was inspiration for the Running Man Dunk. The kick’s white, blue and yellow colour scheme was loosely based on the artwork for the album. Then it was the Fool’s Gold Nike Air Max 90. Is there anything he can’t do?
AESOP + ADIDAS
Okay so he’s not a DJ. He’s an MC. But he too has collaborated with a sneaker, this time with adidas. He’s chosen to personalise the smooth Stan Smith sneaker by putting personal touches on the sneaker like the green and gold colours he has on his None Shall Pass album. With only 500 pairs available worldwide it’s safe to say it’s probably sold out already.
DJ NIGO + BAPE
Founder of Japan street wear label A Bathing Ape (AKA Bape), DJ Nigo decided to branch out his uber cool threads and churn out the infamous shiny patent sneakers. When he’s not DJing for Japanese hip hop group The Teriyaki Boyz, he’s with Pharrell Williams working on the Billionare Boys Club & Ice Cream Footwear brands.
common’s blog
Jul 25th
at the risk of blowing our own crumpets, we’re not the only ones with an awesome blog. seems common is penning his thoughts and internet findings daily too. check out his recent posts… one word: dope.
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- Busta Rhymes ft. Estelle – World Go Round
- Portrait By Jenny Lee Fowler
- Trailer Time: Via Current’s Rotten Tomatoes Show
- USB Vinyl Record Player
- Health Care…
- CONVERSE CTS HIGH “DIGI RED”
- Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland Teaser Trailer
- Mystery Team Trailers
- Foldable Gym Shoes
- Kuroshio Sea – 2nd Largest Aquarium Tank In The World
new jay-z, rihanna + kanye ‘run this town’
Jul 25th
where ever you were in the world just over eight hours – whether you were sleeping, macking, drinking or passed out somewhere – jigga dropped his new track ‘run this town’ ft rih-rih and yeasy on the www … and we have it here. peep it and tell us what you think… it’ll grow on you. promise.
KINGS WAY BOOK = ROYALLY AWESOME
Jul 22nd
For years, the graffiti culture has enjoyed many books and DVDs dedicated to the colourful art: Subway Art by Martha Cooper, Style Wars, Getting Up: Subway Graffiti In New York by Craig Castleman. For years, all the aforementioned material on graffiti has come out of America – until now. Kings Way: The Beginnings Of Australian Graffiti has set the precedent as the first Australian tome to be published of its kind. This part visual encyclopaedia, part social history book dedicated to Melbourne’s emerging graffiti scene brings to the fore nine years of production, 3000 scanned photos, 50 interviews with artists and 1200 chosen images. Duro Cubrilo, Karl Stamer and Martin Harvey gives us some Graffiti 101.
What were you trying to convey with Kings Way? “To tell the true and balanced story of evolution on the local writing scene and most importantly the preservation of paintings that no longer exist other than a photograph,” says Duro Cubrilo.
“It’s a visual story and historical account of the early days of the underground Melbourne graffiti scene,” chimes in Karl Stamer.
Kings Way contains so many images – how hard was it collating it all?
“I can’t even begin to explain how difficult this component was, I knew what had to go in then worked back from there. The hardest part was selecting which picture of which painting was better as many of the contributors had pictures of the same painting. There were over 6000 images in the end and we only utilised 1200. If this isn’t an indication of the enormity of this scene I don’t know what is,” says Cubrilo.
Was 1983-93 graffiti’s glory days?
“As far as I am concerned, yes, these were the glory days. I guess anyone’s glory days are the times when they were growing up. Although the artwork produced back then was a world away from what’s being painted these days,” explains Martin Harvey.
Was it an easy or hard process sorting content and writers for interviews?
“Potentially the book could have been 1000 pages long if we’d put everything we wanted in it. Kings Way covers a 10-year period that begins in 1983, which were the golden years for Melbourne graffiti. It was a laborious process going through so much amazing content, unfortunately we simply couldn’t add it all,” Stamer tells.
What’s the difference between New York graf and Melbourne graf?
“The difference is that New York has the juice. New York, the “Tuff City” is where it started on the dark and dangerous subways, where style was developed and mastered. New York is the Mecca. Melbourne, as far as I’m concerned was New York’s little sister city. I have never seen pieces so closely aligned to New York in feeling and style as I have in Melbourne’s golden era. But maybe I’m a little biased,” admits Harvey .
kingswaybook.blogspot.com
ROUGH RIDERS
Jul 1st
Wanna know what the music moguls demand (sorry, require) when on tour? (and there’s not a blue M+M in sight).
JAY-Z
$400,000 luxury cars and rooms heated to a specific temperature (22 degrees), Sapporo beer, vodka, tequila, two bottles of $300 champagne, two bottles of expensive 2004 Sassicaia red wine and a pack of Marlboro Lights, ‘good quality’ peanut butter and grape jam, two fruit platters, chicken, cheese, one martini shaker and 12 shot glasses. Because he can.
(source: celebritywonder.com)
50 CENT
50 Cent has been known to demand KFC chicken buckets and a well-done expensive fillet, along with peanut butter, various jams, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, French toast, pancakes, waffles and crepes. All food served to Fif is to be on the finest china and correct silverware. Because presentation is important to him.
(source: thesmokinggun.com)
P DIDDY
P Diddy is a mac. But is his rider just plain wak? Puffy requires 204 towels, 20 bars of soap, two bottles of Hennessy cognac, two bottles of Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, two bottles of Veuve Clicquot, a bottle of Dom Perignon, a bottle of Grey Goose vodka. Drinking problem? He also needs (apparently) a boom box, bouquet of white flowers, cheddar cheese, sour-cream chips and sweet tarts.
(source: thesmokinggun.com)
MARIAH CAREY
We all know ol’ mate Mimi is high maintenance. Even her rider is high maintenance. If she’s not sulking for fluffy and cute puppies and kittens, the diva is demanding Cristal champagne (natch) with one box of bendy straws. She also needs one special attendant to dispose of used chewing gum and tea service for eight, a Honey Bear pack of honey and two air purifiers. Random!
(source: davidrowan.com)
TALKING THREADS WITH THEOPHILUS LONDON
Jul 1st
THEOPHILUS LONDON
LOVER x BROOKLYN EMCEE
THIRD EYE CAMERA NECKLACE – “I found this in a dusty vintage store three years ago. It’s a kaleidoscope, when you look through it you see 15x images. I own 13 different pieces. I wear it because I’m all about capturing moments. Oh and yeah, this gets you a lot of head turns and plenty of women.”
ROCKSMITH TOKYO ENGINE 9 TEE – “This shirt is one of my favourites. It’s a play on vintage Chanel No. 5 and Engine Engine #9 by Black Sheep. It’s not in stores yet, so look out for it.”
LEATHER JACKET – “The jacket is a very intimidating piece I must say. People don’t say much to me when I wear it – they just stare. It’s actually made out of horse. When I first got it, it was stiff. I started sleeping in it and performing in it to wear it in. In about 15 years this jacket will be the shit.”
LEVI CUSTOM-MADE JEANS – “I bought these in Montreal for the hell of it. I love jeans. They make up my whole steez. They were actually baggy when I got them and I didn’t wear them for six months. One day I had a dream that some one could make them a tighter fit. I went to the cleaners and they made them tight. Now they are comfortable and I’m in the process of getting them duplicated many times.”
CIPHER SEDITIONARY – “These remind me of Michael Jackson in Bad. Through out my whole sneaker collection these are the cleanest. In two months these should be finished!”
