" Zulu Nation’s, King Kamonzi"
At this year’s “Rock The Bells”, I got the opportunity to build heavy with my Zulu brothers…..Peace to Mad Planet, Cashis D, Refa One, King Sha, King Kamonzi, Mannie, Ground Level, Cold Chris, Fooders, Kufu, Riff, Swift, and Bambaataa of course………….This is a interview I conducted with the international spokesman of the Zulu Nation, King Kamonzi………….He is a insightful brother, with a lot of jewels to share…..And I must also mention he is an m.c., that knows how to get the party started {Kamonzi,Cashis D, Swift, and Bam killed it at “Rock The Bells” }…………Peep the interview…..
1.{HHBF}…….Iv’e seen you a couple times on the lecture circuit, so when I found out you were a m.c. I wasn’t suprised. What are you bringing to the table lyrically, and what projects are you working on currently?
{Kamonzi}……Yeah, I don’t just drop lyrics, I drop knowledge, wisdom and overstanding…The chidren today don’t need to hear the same tired rappers with the same basic stories that all sound the same..Right now I am working on a album with a high power, uptempo, hyper-kinetic energy that will be released in Japan next year. I also will be putting together a Zulu Nation compilation album that will feature Zulu’s from all over the U.S. as well as internationally……
2..{HHBF}…..What exactly is your title within the Zulu Nation, and how long have you been affiliated with the nation?
{Kamonzi}….I am the international spokesman for the Zulu Nation. I have been with the nation 10 years strong…..
3..{HHBF}……Biggest misconception about the Zulu Nation…..
{Kamonzi}….The biggest misconceptions I have encountered are those falsehoods about Zulu being some type of street gang organization..To set the record straight, Zulu Nation is a global Hip Hop awareness organization that stands for overcoming the negative through the positive and peace, unity, love and having fun…
4…{HHBF}….Where do you currently reside, and what countries have you travelled to?
{Kamonzi}…I reside in Milwaukee Wisconsin…I have travelled to Brazil, Belgium, England, Japan, Italy, Sweden, Czech Republic, Finland, England, Serbia, Canada, South Korea,Spain, Norway, Germany, Holland, and Switzerland.
5..{HHBF}…What is the current Hip Hop scene like in Milwaukee?
{Kamonzi}..I love my city and it is full of talented artist, but as a whole the Hip Hop scene in Milwaukee is making a resurgence after a long period of stagnation due to the lack of opportunities and outlets…
6..{HHBF}…Can you share some of your earliest Hip Hop memories?
{Kamonzi}…..Some of my earliest recollections of Hip Hop was first hearing the Sugar Hill Gang..The first song I heard was “Rappers Delight”..Back then we were dubbing everything on tapes, so when I finally saved up enough money, I bought the “8th Wonder”….The first major Hip Hop concert I went to was ‘Fresh Fest” in Milwaukee 1984……..
7..{HHBF}….Out of all the countries you have visited, which one had the greatest Hip Hop appreciation?
{Kamonzi}…A lot of countries appreciate Hip Hop, some even more than the U.S……But the ones that appreciate the most {In my opinion} are Germany and Japan…
8..{HHBF}..Ill stories……
{Kamonzi}….I have witnessed a lot of ill things on my travels throughout the world…Back in 2005 we were in a bullet train in Tokyo and we experienced a earthquake, all praise due that no one was hurt……..
9…{HHBF}…..Shout outs….
{Kamonzi}…..If I gave shout outs it would take a whole notebook, so I will shout out the universe, Peace
Check for Kamonzi on myspace……..A major big up to all the Zulu chapters all over the globe……..UZN/NS/GBK
"Producer Spotlight," {Muggs}
It seems just like yesterday when ‘Coolin In Cali” {7A3}, was blasting out out of my boom box……This was the first production I had ever heard from ‘GrandMixer Muggs”…..When I copped the 12 inch, the flip had a song entitled “That’s How I’m Living”…..Damn, ‘This Muggs dude has some beats”, I thought to myself………….For whatever reason “7A3” folded and Muggs popped up with another crew “Cypress Hill”, and the rest is history……………………Muggs should be mentioned whenever you are talking about cream of the crop Hip Hop producers………His catalogue reflects diversity, creativity, and a certain grittiness that is lacking in mainstream music nowadays…………Recently he has teamed up with ‘Planet Asia”, and released ‘Pain Language”…..The name of this joint is “Shadows Of Hell”………..Take That……………Peep Muggs at http://www.soulassasins.com and cop a fitted….
"The Original Banton"
Yesterday I picked up my cousin from the “Cayman Islands”……After we cracked a couple jokes and updated each other on the latest happenings, she informed that a major hurricane is about to hit the carribean………….Tonight at midnight the eye of the storm will be hovering right over the main city in Cayman {Georgetown}………..Hopefully my family will be safe, hurricane “Ivan”, already took it’s toll on the island a few years back………….It’s only right I post up some reggae shit………..”Burro Banton”, “Tenor Saw”,” Cutty Ranks “, and “Supercat”…….Live 1985, Shockout….
"Beat You The Fuck Up"
When it comes to beats I’m sitting on a healthy stack
of joints……..I might as well share some with ya’ll motherfuckers…….These are kinda old, but they still sound official {To my ears anyway}…….The reason why I usually put accapellas over my shit, is because I am afraid fools will just rob me…………To all you beat nerd bandits……Bite this
"The Infamous Mobsters’
This is from the ‘Blood Is Thicker Than Water” D.V.D.
"G.Z.A., Pro Tools"
G.Z.A’s new album sounds like he is on the right track…….This time around he has better production……The name of this joint is called “My Life Is A Movie”….{Featuring R.Z.A. and Khan}…..
"Megagraphitti"
When Cannibal Ox first came out they had such a huge buzz behind them……..I was skeptical because people were all wound up about it before the first album even dropped…….And then I heard “Iron Galaxy”……..That was some fresh shit……Grimy,metallic, different, natural, etc…………….Fast forward to 2008 and “Can-Ox” is still dropping joints……..This is from Mega’s new solo album ‘Megagraphitti”, its called “Learn” {Produced by Ravage}……….My personal favorite off the album.
"Washington Dc’s, Damu"
I have been checking out a gang of ‘Damu’s” beats lately, and I have come to the conclusion that this cat is on to something……This joint that I am posting up is called “Now Generation”…..It sounds like a “Pete Rock” type of vibe, but I guess that’s a good thing……
"New Shit"
Damn, this new Preemo jump off is grimey……Termanology and Bun B bless this track with ease……Who would of known “Bun B”, would come through in the clutch with this type of wordplay?…….Dope…….Cop doubles fast……It’s called “How We Rock”.
"Motherfuckin K-Def"
K-Def is the man…..But I can’t front, that “Beats From The 90’s” joint wasn’t all that explosive……..It feels weird even saying that, because I am one of his biggest fans………His instrumental album “Willie Boo Boo The Fool” is fresh though……….Iv’e read some interviews with him lately, and he claims he wants to stay away from sampling……..Hopefully he can keep it grimey without his M.P.C. {Most cats can’t, but I have faith in K}…….Here is some footage of him spinning at “Fat beats” a week ago, and a video of his old group “Real Live”……….BooYaaaaa
"Make Way 4 The W"
When most fools think of “W.C.”, they think of a crip walking, chuck wearing, “West Side Connection” flag waver…….But truth be told, W.C.’s best work was pre-Ice Cube affiliation……….There was a time when ‘W.C.”, had scratching on his tracks…..There was a time when he rhymed over sample heavy beats……..D.J. Alladin {World class battle d.j.} was W.C’s right hand man in the group “Low Profile”…………….Even W.C.’s output in the group “M.A.A.D. Circle”, sounds better than his later material………Hip Hop Battlefield salutes you “W.C.”., for being one of west coast finest……………
"Wax Weapons 8"
Act like you know…..It’s Wax Weapons number 8, and it’s time to let all hell break loose……..All off the dome mix, 30 minutes of mayhem………..Blessed by yours truly………….Wild “Rock The Bells” footage posted up this weekend…….Stay tuned motherfuckers………360..
"West Up", {The Nonce Edition}
Before I get into this piece I have to say R.I.P. “Yusef Afloat”…….It seems just like yesterday when I got the horrible news………But the thing that makes it even worse, is that “Yusef” didn’t truly get the props he deserved………………..The Nonce didn’t sound like any other crew out there……Their sound was heavy on the bass, jazzy, abstract, funky, etc…….It’s hard to describe them because they were so unique…….”Nouka Bass Type”, has carried on with his musical endeavors since Yusef’s untimely passing……And he sounds better than ever…………….In 1992 The Nonce put out a test press of “MixTapes”, on the flip there is a joint that wasn’t on the album called “Crew Jam”……It’s extremely rare, and under the radar………Peep…..
"Philly’s, Phil Most Chill"
Do ya’ll remember that joint “Uptempo”, by Phil Most Chill? That was some raw ass shit…….Anyway “Phil”, is now known as the “Soulman”……His site {WorldOfBeatsv2.blogspot.com} is very fresh………….The song I am posting is from his album “Lo-Fi Theory”…..Beats made in 1994-Rhymes made in 2004, on Puma Strut Records……..Check it…..
"Producer Spotlight," {Buckwild}
When it comes to beats, you’d be hard-pressed to find another producer with as much output as D.I.T.C.’s “Buckwild”….Since 1994, Buckwild has maintained his status as a musical genius……..From the bugged O.C. ‘Times Up”, to the melodic ‘Daam rmx”, his productions remain timeless…….He has worked with the Beastie Boys, Channel Live, Biggie, Kool G.Rap, Mic Geronimo, Jay Z, Big L, and a host of others……..There was a period of time when Buckwild remixes were coming out at breakneck speed….One of my favorites from that era is the Funkdoobiest “Rock On” remix………….Inspiring…..
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