Luca Brasi 753 Questions:
1 What did you do differently in the lab for Grinch'N II compared to your earlier work?
Answer: My approach when I decide to contact an artist to create a project together is always the same: I am a fan first, I love listening to rap music, so I study the existing catalogue of the artist and try to make new beats or propose existing ones that fit the style. And I'm always open to make changes, adjustments and corrections the artist ask for.
2 If you could only use one sample source for the rest of your career-jazz, soul, or 80s synth-which would it be and why?
Answer: Jazz, without a doubt. My father introduced me to Jazz since my early childhood. I have always been around Coltrane, Miles Davis, Monk, Gillespie and the great ones. Jazz music has that perfect balance of tension, suspension and relaxation that makes it perfect for every moment of life in my opinion. Nothing is better than a perfectly chopped 3/4 seconds Jazz sample.
3 How do you resist the urge to add more layers when you know a simple loop is hitting harder?
Answer: Beside listening to a lot of rap music since I was a teen and studying artists' catalogues to create the perfect beats for each project, I also study the best producers in the game to try to improve my skills everyday. Every producer has his own touch, but everyone will give you this exact same advice: "Less is More".
4 If you had to score a horror movie about the Grinch stealing Christmas, what instrumentals would you use? And then what instrumentals would you use if the Grinch stole Halloween?
Answer: Jazz horns for stealing Christmas (tenor sax as the main one) and strings for Halloween (loud high register violin would be the choice).
5 You worked on The Buzzerbeaters with Here$ Johnny, and now this. Do you have a favorite "weird concept" you've turned into a beat?
Answer: Don't really think about "concepts" when making beats. I have my favorite genres to dig when I'm looking for new samples and then I choose Jazz, old movie scores or library music depending on the mood. I try to jump between these three categories. All of them give me different options for the outcome of my beats.
6 What's one sound or sample you want to use on the next project, but haven't found a way to fit in yet?
Answer: I am also a big rock and metal fan. Have been in a band for a good 15 years playing guitar. I have made some electric guitar-based tracks, but one day I will do a beat sampling metal guitar phrases for sure.
7 What's the one thing you want listeners to take away from this album before they hit replay?
Answer: I am glad I have discovered the whole underground scene and I'm honored to be able to be part of culture I have in my life since my teenage years. Shvmire is an amazing artist, his tone and his delivery are phenomenal and he has really put his best effort to create lyrics we have on the album. We both love Hip-Hop, we both love the freedom this music gives us to communicate with the world outside. I hope listeners can understand and keep in their heads and hearts this love we have for our music, feel it while listening to every track on the album.
Shvmire Questions:
1 You've blended the Grinch, Hip-Hop and of course some bars to remember. Will this be a trilogy? If so, if you had to explain this series to an Alien, what's the elevator pitch?
Answer: Throughout the process of making this album, the beats that were gravitating to me most were the Grimy beats. They sounded really dark, and that built a cohesive theme that I thought was perfect for Halloween, especially visually. I think it's safe to say to say, there's a high chance of me making this a trilogy based on the feedback I'm already getting on it. If I had to explain the series to an Alien, I'd say Grinch'N is like ANU's adaption to the real world we living in and shows more of his necessary evil side. Whether the topics be about street related things, romance, or whatever it's more of a antagonist approach.
2 Your masked alter ego ANU is like your Quasimoto. Does ANU ever argue with you in the booth? Who usually wins?
Answer: Love Quasimoto and Madlib. That's definitely a factor on the inspiration behind ANU. As far as my creative process goes, it's not like a battle between me and my alter ego. It's more like a guiding spirit creatively. Also, a great tool to give the audience a more depth perspective of the world I'm building visually and sonically. Connecting the dots between esoteric truths through the art.
3 You're known for "vocabulary gymnastics". If you had to freestyle an entire verse using only words that start with the letter G (for Grinch), how far do you think you'd get before you tap out?
Answer: Hmmm... That's a good question. Definitely think I could do a whole 16 bar verse with straight G's.
4 You trade bars with Mondo Slade on this album and hold your own. What's the secret to not getting swallowed whole when you're in the ring with a monster?
Answer: I say the secret is to always strive to write your best verse when you're approaching a new song. It doesn't have to be the best, but if you know you put in the effort and thought process to try and make it your best, you'll always come out with solid results no matter who's featured on the album.
5 You rep Brooklyn, but your sound feels like it exist in its own universe. What's one thing about Brooklyn that will always sneak into your music?
Answer: I definitely take pride in trying to make my sound other-worldly, even though it still has the essence of classic hip hop. One thing about Brooklyn that sneaks into my music is definitely the slang. There's always some nuance lingo being used in the music. As well as that go hard or go home mentality when it comes to penning down that verse.
6 If your series Grinch'N had a cereal, what would it be called and what would the prize inside be?
Answer: I'd probably call it "Grinchiez", just cause eat I enjoy eating cereal when I get the munchies. LOL! The prize would be a green ANU mask and a 8th of some fire weed.
7 What's the one thing you want listeners to take away from this album before they hit replay?
Answer: What I want the listeners to take from this album is, that survival is necessary. Not only from a street perspective, but also from a warrior and revolutionary perspective. The "ALL MEN BEAR ARMS" isn't just some cool gangsta code talk. It's really the wild out here in the world, so make sure you're protected physically, mentally, and spiritually.
THE END!
THANK YOU TO SHVMIRE AND LUCA BRASI 753 FOR YOUR TIME AND PASSION FOR OUR RELIGION CALLED, HIP-HOP.
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