| "Where We At?" is a track on Hangar 18’s first release, The Multi-Platinum Debut Album. From the turnout at their recent show in Toronto, it would appear that where they’re at, or at least where they’re near, is the bottom.
"We were sort of expecting around 400 people and we got about 30," says Alaska, one third of Hangar 18, regarding the first few shows of their first major headlining tour.
Hangar 18 is the self-professed "best opening act in the world" and they’ve sure had a lot of experience. Playing to crowds of 600 plus, they’ve shared the stage with Mos Def, Talib Kweli, El-P, Aesop Rock, Murs, Aceyalone, RJD2, MF Doom and Atmosphere, to name a few.
"The Hangar" – Alaska, Windnbreez and DJ-producer paWL – released The Multi-Platinum Debut Album in June 2004 on Definitive Jux, one of underground hip hop’s most respected labels. While the album has found a warm welcome in the arms of many critics, the crew’s recent tour has been a bit of a reality check.
Alaska thought people would remember the name Hangar 18 from the early tours. "But at the end of the day, they just know of a group who opened for RJD2," he says.
"After those first few dates we realized that this is us," says Alaska. "We’re striking out to build our own audience and not piggyback on anybody else’s."
Of course it’s going to be hard – no one makes friends on the very first day of school, do they?
"A lot of people complain about being on the road, but we love it," says Alaska.
Five months ago he was stuck doing something he didn’t really love – selling advertising for a trade magazine. Alaska and Windnbreez (a former Grade 1 teacher) both quit their jobs this year to focus on music. Alaska says the day he quit that job was the greatest day of his life.
This move has been a long time coming. The two MCs have known each other since 1994, when they both listened to a lot of metal and hardcore music (the name Hangar 18 is a track on Megadeath’s seminal album Rust in Peace).
"We pretty much don’t listen to hip hop," says Alaska. "A typical ride will be Master of Puppets or Ride the Lightening, followed by that new Loretta Lynn album with Jack White followed by Ben Folds Five."
That love for metal and hardcore, common among the whole group (including DJ paWL), shines through on The Multi-Platinum Debut Album. At less than 50 minutes, the album is a refreshing burst of speed and energy in the current world of eight-minute hip-hop tracks and 74-minute albums (25 minutes of which are often shit).
The production is typical of what you might find on any Def Jux album – grimy, heavy electro beats form the backbone for numerous uptempo, intense and infectious tracks.
The album also drips with the flavour of NYC – the lyrics are spit with that easily identifiable drawl (aside from a sample of Canterbury Tales done in perfect Olde English during the outro), "Boombox Apocalypse" describes the life-altering effects that September 11 had on Alaska, and the album even features an appearance from New York legend Sadat X of Brand Nubian fame.
Although he’s New York through and through, Alaska is becoming jaded with the hip-hop scene in NYC. "New York is weird right now. Sometimes you get a really good show," he says. But on the whole, says Alaska, "the scene is kinda dead." Alaska’s roots in hip-hop go back to 1990 when he would sit in his car and rhyme along with whatever was playing. He feels that the craft of being an MC is largely getting ignored these days.
"I think anybody can rap," says Alaska. "I don’t think anybody should. But I think anybody can." Reason being, says Alaska, is that more people are trying to rap right now rather than listen. And he says this is hurting hip hop.
"I feel like we spent years building our craft and everybody I know spent years building their craft to get good," he says. Alaska says MCs are putting stuff out before they’re actually ready. "It’s like the NBA, with all these kids jumping in, but they don’t know how to play the game and then the game suffers because of it."
For the time being, Hangar 18 doesn’t seem too concerned with where they’re at. What’s important is where they’re going. They have a new EP ready to go and they will soon start working on a new concept album. It’s going to be a sort of time travel through the various stages of hip hop but with a special twist.
"We’re gonna go through all the formative years of hip hop, but do songs for all those years Hangar style," says Alaska. "Bambaataa, RUN DMC – the last era is gonna be Hangar." |
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