>>PREVIEW
BLACKALICIOUS
Slam City Jam
Saturday, August 26
The Corral
The age of hip hop heroes has passed. Pimply mallrats are still dropping money on Biggie albums, future high school assassins find their Insane Clown Posse albums in the rap section at the music store and young kids who can’t tie their shoes want Eminem.
But maybe I’m wrong. There’s some Mos Def and Roots albums thrown in there, too. And it’s nice to know that someone’s still riding the positive tip.
Blackalicious (lyricist Gift of Gab and producer and DJ Chief Xcel) have been tight since high school, with a work ethic that’s either quixotic or masterful. Probably both. Since releasing their first LP Nia, in 2000, the two have gone on to create two more Blackalicious albums – the classic Blazing Arrow (2002) and last year’s aptly titled The Craft. I had a chance to speak to Chief Xcel, the producing genius behind Blackalicious on hip hop, Lateef and The Chief and, um, skateboarding.
Fast Forward: I read that The Craft took a couple of years to put together. How was the process?
Chief Xcel: I think the production on this record is a lot more detailed. The ideas have a complete metamorphosis from the time they’re conceived till we go in and explore the sound and it’s edited.
Really, the biggest challenge is always the physical execution of a record. With each one we’re just devoted to seeing the vision of it. Each is its own child. One of the things we learned early on was that the next work can be your last work. We did Nia, then Blazing Arrow, but people said it wasn’t like Nia. Then they say The Craft isn’t like Blazing Arrow. You just gotta allow yourself to be.
FFWD: What do you think of when you hear The Craft?
Xcel: I think of certain songs and what it took me to make them (laughs).
FFWD: With such attention to detail, do you ever get the itch to go back and change stuff?
Xcel: Once I’m finished with it, I move on. I’m always on a quest – I’m too far behind in work I want to do to go back.
FFWD: You and Gift of Gab have been friends and creators since high school. How do you maintain such a close relationship?
Xcel: We both do a lot of records in-between. We spend two years doing one thing – Blackalicious – then are artists on our own. We’re friends first and foremost before Blackalicious. But we’re extremely intense with both. I like doing Blackalicious records now ’cause I enjoy them. Obviously there’s the business end, but if there wasn’t money involved, I’d do ‘em for free.
FFWD: Is there another Lateef and The Chief collaboration coming?
Xcel: Yeah, Lateef is with DJ Shadow right now, but we’re getting ready.
FFWD: A lot of hip hop artists churn out one record after another, but you guys have never been about that. What do you see as the future of hip hop?
Xcel: It’s got to keep being redefined as new generations come, with new reference points and a perspective of what the old school means to them.
FFWD: Each of your records genre hops and features old heroes – like Gil Scott Heron and George Clinton. What do you like to listen to?
Xcel: I always like working with creative partners. The Staples, De la Soul, Mos Def. I really like TV on the Radio.
FFWD: You’re here as part of Slam Jam City, a skateboard competition. Do you like extreme sports?
Xcel: Watching maybe. Not participating. |
Copyright ©2006 FFWD. All rights reserved.