Real Talk w/ Yung Tunez #Ahuihou

As you leave the island, what memories will you take with you?

My first show.(lol). It was kind of bad and my first Dis n Dat interview. My first show was at Club 4 Play. No-one really new me so no love was shown. Some people at the end of my performance actually came up to me and said I did well. When my Dis and Dat interview aired a lot of people thought I was too cocky. I never wanted to come off that way. I just think it was the difference from where I came from to where I ended up which is Hawaii.

What would you say are some of your more memorable performances?

The performance I did at Level 4 it's on YouTube! No-One knew who I was and the reception from the crowd when I hit the stage was unbelievable. Another was the DARE performance at the Stan Smith Center. The kids were great! They cheered as I took the stage and my message was to stay away from drugs of any kind and stay focused in school. The Hawaii block parties always made me feel like my music matters. When I came out and the crowd roars makes you feel like the king of the world you know.

Who do you truly make music for?

Well I want to say for myself to express myself but I never keep the ones who are struggling and dealing with problems far from mind. I also keep my home Virginia close to heart, and lastly the "screw" (chopped/screwed). I'm doing a lot more of that to my music.

Talk about some of the struggles you had to overcome, given that the hip hop scene is so small here, and how did you over such obstacles?

Getting recognize was a big part. It takes a lot of promotion to get a buzz going. Also being accepted and yet I still feel like I'm truly not and that's fine. The music I produce comes from inspiration all over so trying to make that into something that's me is pretty difficult since you want your own sound. My music is much different from what people are used to hearing. I have more of an East Coast sound. As well as my mixes are different too.

Fill us in on your next project, I heard it's a good one.

Long nights x Early mornings, the name speaks for itself. The EP will have a new side of me only a few know. This project will have Houston influences, rock and roll, and R&B. We even have story telling. It will drop this summer while I'm back home in Va. I have already put out 2 albums. My first was "InVasion", my second was "Boy Meets World" both are currently sold on iTunes.

Your last performance is this Saturday, how do you intend to make it a great one?

I really don't know it's all spur of the moment but I will guarantee it will be one for the people.

Final words, shouts, plugs and praises.

I want to Thank God cause without him there would be nothing. Mama Bear for believing in her son. Montez for being hard on me when I needed it and the managing of my music, thus building StarBoyRecords LLC. My brother who knows every word to each song I've ever written and performed. He's right there with me. Actually one of my songs "Inspiration" on my first Album "InVasion" was about him. Shackhouse Productions for being there in the beginning works. Kutmasterspaz for being my music manager and opening doors for me. Brysen G for being a brother to me and more than a friend. Imua Garza for mixing and mastering my production. Brett Ortone for welcoming me into his studio and taking me up under his wing. Last but not least, you the fans and the ones who take the time out of their day to listen and spread the word about my music. To ALL that read this article.. Thank You!

J. Rocc & MED / GOLDEN @NextDoor / June 13

w/ Resident DJs: Westafa | Jami | Technique

Wednesday June 13, 2012
9PM-2AM | Ages 21+ | $10 special event cover | Coors Light on special

One of the original turntablists, J. Rocc founded the Beat Junkies in 1992 with Melo-D and Rhettmatic, but has done just as much on his own as in a group setting. He began DJing in the mid-’80s with a California group named PSK. Soon after forming, the Beat Junkies became a seminal force in the rise of instrumental hip-hop, including core member Babu plus future stars Shortkut and D-Styles.

The west coast MC called Medaphoar is known lately by the first three letters of his name: M to the E to the D. Three short letters for a long-awaited, full-length album which arrived at long last in 2005.
Representing the Oxnard, California family of MCs and b-boys that boasts luminaries such as Madlib, Oh No, Declaime, Wildchild and Kan Kick, MED stands out for his “perforating wordplay and extraterrestrial breath control” (URB Magazine). His subject matter reflects the struggles and hustles of a young black man caught between the street life of Oxnard and the nightlife of L.A. Fans receive a healthy dose of muscular lyricism on “Push Comes to Shove”, with guest MCs including J Dilla (rapping on and producing the lead single “Push”) and (…oh sh*t!) the one and only Diamond D, for that all-time heavyweight flavor.

6/23: Art Contest + $600 = @NextDoorHNL

Ill Talk w/ Sirenz #Part1

The tracks you sent over are pretty damn beastly break down the new album for people and the blood sweat and guts that went into it?

This album has been five years in the making. I record so much that I either get bored of certain songs or save them for other projects. Not to mention whatever is currently going on in my life at the moment kind of affects the mood of my music. StarKiller initially started out as a much darker and harder album till I started going thru beats and writing and the tone changed. Having to invest so much of your own money can be a pain and not having the financial backing of a label is tough but it allows me the create the kind of music that I want to make. The internet opened the playing field for all aspiring artists to get out there and network and gain a fanbase. The more u put into it the more u can get out of it as long as u dont get discouraged by the bullshit that comes along with pursuing your dream.

What tracks would you call the "meat and potatoes" of the project?

Tequila Gundam is straight up lyricism which I've always been a fan of lyric driven hip hop. H On My Fitted is reppin my home town, I was born in Cali lived in places like DC, Vegas and Japan but HI has always been my home off and on for the past 12 years so I gotta show love. The homie H.E.A.T Banga produced like 8 joints on the album. But then I have joints like the Havoc produced "Cosmonauts" which is a club joint but really reflects what the night life is like in Waiks. I got something for everybody on this album, the girls, the backpack heads, the street niggas, the hipsters I tired to make a balanced album that people can just ride and smoke to

Now that the album is available, what's the game plan in ensuring it infects as many ears possible?

Hitting the net and maintaining a heavy online presence is the key to staying relevant in this game nowadays. Social networking has really gotten rid of a lot of leg work an artist would have to deal with. Making sure my videos are dope and creative and not the same rented car with one of my homegirls grinding on me with a stack of money all my boys chipped in to make a stack lol Making sure I rock every show and entertain the people who want to hear dope lyrics and banging beats. U create the demand, u give the people something to hold onto and they keep coming back for more. I made this album for those days you and ur homies or u and ur girl drive around the island blazing, eating shrimp truck and u play it all the way thru cuz ur just vibing to it

Give us a brief history on how the Hammer Brothers initially all got together?

The Hammer Bros. started out as and still is a collection of solo artists who come together on some Avengers shit to kill mics lol I always wanted to put together a crew of some of the 808's best emcees or at least who I thought were the best. Individually tho u got cats like Joekerr who has 2 solos on deck, Qron and Jik have the Therapy album which is amazing and have their own solos on deck as well. We plan on coming together on one album once we release our solo projects but there isn't a show or a stuido session where one of us isnt with another H.B that's fam

Often times,the 9 to 5 grind gets in the way of our passions in life, has your daily work grind ever had an effect on putting out and creating music?

Hell ya getting scheduled on show nights. Putting aside music to make money to support myself which takes away from my time with my art. I dont have kids and Im not married so I do have more time to devote to my craft but still not as much as Id like to. If it was up to me Id live in the studio haha This the only thing I ever got better at, I wanted to be a marvel comics artist and I peaked at some point, I wanted to play pro ball and I peaked at some point, making music is the only thing I kept getting better at and continue to. I feel like I owe the world a few classics before I hang it up

Criticism……..how has it effected you in a positive way?

I dont let negative criticism affect me for the simple that Im my own worst critic. I put so much time thought and effort into my songs that Im only worried about disappointing myself. I listen if its someone who has a frame of reference to speak from half the people that talk shit couldnt even string a few words together much less make a song so I dont pay that any mind. Our scene is so small and every body is a rapper so its hard to get the support from actual “fans” Niggas hate on each other cuz ur in competition with the next person. Over here cats are fighting for shine more than making money or getting they business up. Our venues are being shut down, our nights being taken away, name artists are not coming as frequently as years past so Im more worried about that than petty in fighting with other rappers. If It wasnt for cats like DJ Bone and Riana we wouldnt have much of a scene left. I came up when Cix and Tassho and Creed them were all young bucks and God Im gonna sound old before all this online shit lol Big City Dinner was the spot and cats would come every other week. Souls one week, Slug and Eyedea (RIP) the next, the like Micah 9 the next its not like that no more

Bangin Top 5: DJ Moments w/ DJ Westafa

1. Getting turntables and a mixer... thats where it all began.

2. Touring with Damian Marley, DJ What?! Welcome To Jamrock Tour 2005.

3. Touring with Stephen Marley, Damian Marley, DJ What?! Mind Control Tour 2007.

4. Touring with Distant Relatives World Tour Nas & Damian Marley for all Hawaii shows 2011.

5. Touring with J.Boog 2010 Australia, New Zealand & Western Samoa.

Real Talk w/ ShingO2

Does Japan celebrate Earth Day?

Yes it does, in recent years many organizations have held festivals to talk about environmental issues.
I've helped out on a couple of shows in Tokyo, and this year I was in Miyazaki to talk about the radiation issue.

How did you first become involved in political and social issues?

It was a natural progression for me, living in the Bay Area.A big turning point was when I worked with composer Ryuichi Sakamoto to talk about the Rokkasho nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Aomori, Japan. I couldn't imagine that a nuclear disaster would happen five years later, but there still are a lot of issues such as waste reprocessing and disposal.

How have the concerns of Japan changed since the Tsunami?
I think it has changed dramatically. It might take years for the government to adjust systematically, but the fact that zero nuclear power plants are in operation as of today attests to that shift in public consciousness.

What are some environmental causes that you hold closest to heart?
I think that all issues are connected, which is the most critical point. If we pollute the air, water, and land, it's all going to come back to us or to future generations.Basically we pay for by our health and bills.

I think many people out there have given up on the local government or have a lack of awareness. How important do you think it is for people to “pay attention” to what the local government is doing and how it operates?

Obviously it is really important to educate each other, not just government officials, to learn from our mistakes and improve on the way we live. Everything has a cost, nothing is clean. I wrote a paper on how fabricating computer chips leads directly to global warming in college, I understand that using laptops and cell phones are never going to be friendly to the earth, even after we're done using them.

Talk about your relationship with Nujabes and the importance of keeping his legacy and memory alive?

We had a good artistic relationship, so I think that it's important I keep his legacy alive through our songs. I never really get tired of performing his songs, although I like to progress and experiment with my personal career. Currently we have luv(sic) part5 and part6 that are in the mixing process, both unreleased works by Nujabes.

Ill Talk w/ DJ Keoki & Soundsex

DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERESTING STORIES YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOUR BROTHERS?

KEOKI: Honestly, every time we all get together, we have a blast. To pick one story would be hard. Just know that when we get together it is always something to talk about later.

SOUNDSEX:You kinda have to be there.

MIKO, HOW HAVE YOUR THREE OLDER SIBLINGS HELPED YOU IN LIFE?

SOUNDSEX: Having three older brothers in the same industry as myself, has been nothing but beneficial, if not just for the advice side, but also the pathways that they've paved. I'm so blessed to have such success shown to me, and even some set backs, but all easy to study and improve, cause hey, if you're not thinking forward, you're not thinking, right?

HOW OFTEN DO YOU ALL GET TO KICK IT?"

KEOKI: We get together several times a year at our parents' house in Hawaii. It is immportant for our family to stay connected.

SOUNDSEX: It's been a while since we were all together, we try and play shows, if not just meet up at least 2-3 times a year. Not enough if you ask me.

HOW DO YOU KEEP TABS ON WHAT THE OTHERS ARE DOING AND HOW DO YOU HELP EACH OTHER OUT?

SOUNDSEX: It's funny, but text, chat, n email seem to be the most used forms of communication. Who has time to talk on the phone these days? Except on Easter and Christmas. But when it comes to helping each other, we kinda just do it whenever we can.. my brother and I share agents for the most part, so it's easy to know where he's at, and what's going on.

KEOKI: All of us brothers Miko, Maleko and Kekoa share a very deep passion for music. It has kept us connected through the years.

AND FINALLY, KEOKI, HOW DO YOUR BROTHERS INSPIRE YOU?

KEOKI: To succeed is a bare minimum but to set the new standard is the goal. They blow the doors off of anything that they do.

DMX / Blaisdell Concert Hall / June 30

Diplo / The M / May 17

Magnetic / The Venue / June 2