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Crew54 Interview on Hip-Hop Game
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7/3/2007
What’s up?
G-Christ: We’re doing all right.
M.O.S.: We’re doing pretty go...7/3/2007
What’s up?
G-Christ: We’re doing all right.
M.O.S.: We’re doing pretty good, man.
How did Crew54 come together?
G-Christ: I had my own group. I was in Texas Immigrants at the time. I was looking to get started with the group that I had. I was introduced to M.O.S. through a mutual friend, Lady K from 104.9 The Beat. That’s how we met.
M.O.S.: We were seeing each other at shows and talking back and forth on MySpace. Come to find out, he lived right around the corner from me. We were talking about music and I heard some of his solo stuff. I was like, ‘Let’s do a collab.’
G-Christ: And we took it from there.
M.O.S.: He came through and we did the collab. At the time, both of our groups were doing separate things. Since he was right around the corner, every time he would come through, I would ask him to jump on a track. Before you knew it, we had a full album done.
G, you’re from Wilmington, North Carolina and M.O.S., you’ve been in DC and other places before you both landed in Texas. How do you mesh all those different influences?
G-Christ: I’m not going to lie. I got into it through a friend of mine in Texas. I didn’t really even think about rapping until he told me about it. A lot of my stuff really does come from Texas even though I’m from North Carolina. As far as getting into it, being in Texas and listening to them rap really helped me out.
M.O.S.: I’ve been doing my thing, as far as the so-called “East Coast†style. When I was in DC, I was working with a producer who told me to make my music clearer. I listened to artists from Texas because they spit it real clear. That really helped me. I’m still doing my thing and I think that’s how I mixed all the different styles together.
G, you were in the army for six years. How did that change things for you?
G-Christ: The army, that’s what brought me to Texas. That changed everything, because I probably never would have put my foot in Texas if it hadn’t been for that. The army put me in a lot of positions to learn from a lot of different cultures, learn from different people and listen to different genres of music. We were moving around a lot. I got to learn how to deal with different types of people and see different types of people every day.
How important are shows to Crew54 at this stage in your guys’ career?
M.O.S.: The shows, that’s us, man. The music and making tracks is great, but the shows are what actually inspires us and motivates us to get out. If we’re not at a show, we’re at another show, watching what other artists are doing right or wrong. I know the worst feeling is having a show and not having people there to rock in front of you. We try to keep people inspired and come with a lot of energy. We’re big dudes and we get up there and wild out. We don’t want you sitting there, looking at your watch and whatnot.
G-Christ: Yeah. Like M.O.S. said, the shows are our moneymaker. We pretty much got everything started off of the shows. A lot of the connections we got is because of people seeing us at the shows.
M.O.S.: You have a better chance of gaining a fan at a show than having them listen to your CD, because they have a million cats handing them CDs. The shows show your true talent.
Your first project was Beaters and Babies. How did that project do for you guys?
G-Christ: It did real good. We thought it was just going to be an EP at first. It really allowed people to put a name with a face.
M.O.S.: It was really well-received. As far as a first project, I don’t think too many people come out with a project that’s that strong.
Your latest project, The Middle Road, is up for free download now on your MySpace. How’s that doing for you guys?
M.O.S.: It’s doing real well. It’s doing better than we thought it would do. We’re using the internet to keep our buzz up until we put out the album. We had a release party for it and a lot of people came out and showed love. The Middle Road was supposed to be a bunch of tracks that we did with artists trying to come up on the scene.
G-Christ: It definitely worked out. I love The Middle Road and the people love it. The feedback we get, truth be told, surprises me.
You have a real soulful sound mixed with high energy, hunger and rawness. Where does that sound come from?
M.O.S.: Thank you very much. The sound comes from where we started. We were two guys who started out hungry. We love the soul samples, or whatever you want to call them. We just got together and everything happened. So far, so good.
G-Christ: A lot of the cats that do this type of music, they’re a lot smoother and laid back. A lot of our energy stems from our live performances. We get a great response at our shows. We’re aggressive and whiling out. We’re screaming, almost MOP-style. You get a blend of soulful hip-hop with high energy. That keeps the people entertained.
Are people surprised when they learn that you guys are from Texas?
M.O.S.: It’s funny. Through the internet, I connect with a bunch of artists and the first thing they say is that they didn’t know cats in Texas were doing it like that. There’s a lot of cats out here with a different sound other than the “Texas sound.â€
G-Christ: Yeah. There’s a good variety. Look at our producer in Houston, Qenetic Storm. You think everybody sounds alike and then he’s coming with his beats. Then you have cats in San Antonio. There are a lot of different styles of hip-hop in Texas, it’s just that one style is showed the most.
M.O.S.: And I don’t know if they love us or hate us. I would say that a lot of people, when they hear us, they’re surprised. I think a lot of people who like other styles of hip-hop can still respect what we do. One thing is that we get a lot of respect in a lot of different areas of hip-hop. The underground and thug-type cats all respect our music.
G-Christ: What helps us a lot is that we’re getting a lot of respect from the veteran artists in our area. We’ve helped put on shows and sometimes we go to shows and through word of mouth, we’re getting pushed forward faster than we thought we would be. When you have a guy that walks right by you and doesn’t say anything to you and then a week later he says, “Crew54, what’s up! How are you?â€, that means a lot. That means that we’re getting more respect.
M.O.S.: It’s only been a year too that we’ve been a crew. When I was M.O.S., I wasn’t getting the same love from the cats that love us right now. I’m just excited right now. I think we can take this as far as we want to.
Has it been easy to find producers to work with?
G-Christ: We’ve been blessed so far to have producers that want to work. They want to get down out here and they want to work, just like we want to work. We want to help them just as much as they help us. We’ve been trading off. With Qenetic Storm, he liked what we did and he sent us a beat. We tried to make the tightest track possible and he loved it. We try to push him as much as he pushes us. We’ve been blessed.
M.O.S.: We like to reach out to a lot of different producers, especially producers that aren’t known for their name but they have a lot of quality production. Those are the ones that are hungry. I’d rather not work with some of these producers who would rather send a beat for $50 or $60 and nobody ever hears them. We did the song with Qenetic Storm and pushed it out, and it’s really helped the both of us.
Qenetic Storm, you produced “Titan†for Crew54. How was it working with them on that?
Qenetic Storm: It was dope! The chemistry and the charisma took me back to the days when hip-hop was about expressing one’s true self, not an image. I thought to myself, ‘This is it. This is the song that many people will like.’ And it’s true. Cats wild out a bit at their shows when this song comes on. Speaking on that, this song would be the perfect theme song for the Tennessee Titans!
What is it about Crew54 that made you want to work with them?
Qenetic Storm: What got me interested in producing for them was the fact that they expressed their lyrics with a raw passion. That’s really hard to find these days. There’s too many MCs that are rapping just to make words rhyme. When I first heard G-Christ and M.O.S., the first thing that came to mind was M.O.P.’s “Ante Up†and Little Brother’s “Light It Up.†They’re a blend of aggressive yet soulful hip-hop. Most importantly, these cats are super-hungry, so I lace them with dope beats and we all flip through this music business, achieving goals one stepping stone at a time.
Will you guys be doing more work in the future?
Qenetic Storm: Yep! No doubt about that, homie. We stay in the production lab and studio on some sweatshop shit, knocking out tracks left and right, whether it be for a mixtape, album or dropping a nice single to keep our name in the streets.
How’s your new album, Aggressive Soul, coming?
G-Christ: Aggressive Soul, right now, we’re gathering up our ideas. We’re coming up to a point where we’re about to get down on it and get real serious with it. Right now, it’s coming great. We like the way it’s looking. We got some things to work out on it and we’re going to bang them across the head with it.
M.O.S.: This is the official thing right here. We have that fresh, new feeling. We can do this. Aggressive Soul is filled with official tracks. This is that one right here that solidifies us.
Ideally, how would Aggressive Soul come out?
G-Christ: The sky’s the limit. We’re going to ride out with what we got and keep going. We still have to get more connections. We’re still going to have to get to where we can press more albums out than what we need because those first albums that we press, that’s where we’re going to make our money and see where it can go.
M.O.S.: Aggressive Soul is going to go as far as we take it. A lot of cats that put out albums, they think they’re going to be superstars and everybody is going to love it. If you never get it anywhere, nobody can ever hear it. We’re going to try to take it around the world. If anybody wants to holler at us, we’re going to take this around the world.
When will Aggressive Soul drop?
M.O.S.: We were thinking about the end of September or early October. We had some issues with taking care of the business side of things. With our last projects, we just recorded some tracks and threw them out to the streets. We want to get everything in order. We don’t want Aggressive Soul sitting on the shelf because we didn’t take care of our business first.
Does it ever get hard balancing the business with the art?
G-Christ: It’s definitely rough, but you always have artists that have gone there before you. You always have those veteran artists that have been there, or they might be going through it at that time and they’ll tell you, “Don’t do this†or “If you do this, watch out.†That’s helped us a lot. Those artists have really helped us out a lot. We’ve learned about booking shows, copyrighting and all that. There’s always somebody out there you can ask. It would be nice to have that accountant or that lawyer or anyone, but right now, we have to go on advice until that comes along.
M.O.S.: I used to think about that a lot. We would go to shows and we’d see artists on our same level and they had a whole team behind them. As far as what we do, I actually like it that it’s just me and him because we have control of our own destiny. We both work hard and sometimes G-Christ goes harder than me. I like the fact that we don’t have to depend on anybody like a manager or anybody. We can get out there, do it ourselves and keep that money ourselves.
What do you want to say to everybody?
G-Christ: I want to use this time to just say that I appreciate all the love and all the producers that have gotten down with us on all our projects, like Qenetic Storm, C-Royal, Reeplay, Slimdog, King Verse, and Precise. If I forget you, that’s my bad. But I want to thank all the producers that were involved. We appreciate it.
M.O.S.: Check out The Middle Road. I know there’s a bunch of them out there, but this is quality. And there is good hip-hop out there, you just have to look out for it. Stop looking in the same places. There’s good hip-hop everywhere out there. Also much love to all the artists out there on the grind doing it for hip-hop, M7 Music, and everyone else putting it down. That’s what’s up.
http://myspace.com/crew54
http://www.indieoma.com/crew54
http://myspace.com/qeneticstorm
http://m7music.com
By Brian Kayser
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Crew54 - Aggressive Soul Review
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Crew54 :: Aggressive Soul :: M7 Music
as reviewed by Patrick Taylor
There is a skit in the middl...Crew54 :: Aggressive Soul :: M7 Music
as reviewed by Patrick Taylor
There is a skit in the middle of "Aggressive Soul" called "Nothing On A Track." Over a generic synth beat, the Vocoder-filtered rappers repeat "I can make a million with nothing on a track." The skit showcases the Texan duo's sense of humor, and their sense of disgust at the state of mainstream hip hop. Their message is clear: hip hop better step its game up.
Crew54 don't waste a lot of time whining about the state of hip hop, though. They are too busy proving by their example that the genre is meant for bigger and better things than ringtones and dance fads. MCs G-Christ and Master Of Self got together with the goal of making feel-good music, and they succeed on "Aggressive Soul." The album name perfectly captures the mood of the disc – soulful and aggressive, banging and smooth.
Like Little Brother, Crew54 are a Southern duo who don't immediately sound like they are from the dirty south. There are no rhymes about grills, candy paint, syrup or hoes, and their beats don't rely on Triggerman or synths. Instead, their production is dripping in soul, with beats provided by King Verse, Remax, Qentic Storm, Zaire, Reeplay, Keelay, Derelict, Eska hines, Alpha 20/20, and Mike & Ike. The beats range from the seventies strings of "Dreams" and "Loyalty" to the mellow R & B of "The Way It Is" to more banging tracks like "Titan" and "Dirty Dirty."
Their lyrics balance out their Texas drawls with the kind of thoughtful lyricism that is more common in the Northeast than below the Mason-Dixon line. On "The Way It Is," G-Christ challenges the scapegoating of hip hop:
"You hear about my generation all the time
Talking to me like I started black-on-black crime
But we've been divided since slavery
Niggas in the house, niggas in the field
That's how it came to be
Our culture's been split down the middle
It's hard to unite when your foundation's brittle"
On "Back At It" M.O.S. gives some insights into the struggles of an aspiring rapper, along with an excellent dis to haters:
"We them brothers on the brink
We them niggas on the verge
A favorite rapper's favorite rapper
That nobody's heard
On a myspace page acting like we 'bout to blow
When it's hard as hell to even get somebody at a show
Dropped a classic on my own
Well, I thought it was a hit
And the twelve folks that downloaded it said it was the shit
Then I linked with G-Christ niggas thought we was crazy
When we banged them on the head with "Beaters and Babies"
When we started getting love, niggas started misbehaving
Acting like we played the game by cheating and point-shaving
Well it's ok, nigga, do what you do
If I was wack as fuck, I'd be mad at us too"
Throughout "Aggressive Soul," Crew54 displays humor, humility, and positivity, three traits that are all too rare in hip hop. They define their sound as "feel-good music," and it definitely makes you feel good. Both their beats and lyrics are hard-hitting and uplifting, combining a positive message with some classic boom-bap. This is a great album, and I'm looking forward to this duo's future projects.
Music Vibes: 8.5 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 8.5 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 8.5 of 10
Originally posted: January 22, 2008
source: www.RapReviews.com
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Artist of the Week on Adam's World Blog
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Crew54 may be from Texas, but they’re nothing like the state’s previous Hip-Hop offerings. Broug...Crew54 may be from Texas, but they’re nothing like the state’s previous Hip-Hop offerings. Brought together by a want to make “feel good music,†the duo of G-Christ and masterOFself are looking to bring a little positive fun to Hip-Hop. Recently Crew54 released their first full length album, Beaters & Babies, and this week I’m sitting down with them to discuss their unique sound, how it fits into their hometown’s Hip-Hop scene, and what makes a song “feel good music.â€
Adam Bernard: First thing's first, how did you two link up?
G-Christ: We met through a mutual friend. At the time we were only with our groups, MOS with M7 and me with the Texas Immigrants. We found out we stay literally around the corner from each other and started chopping it up. MOS did a feature on a Texas Immigrant track and every since then it’s been on and poppin.
MOS: I was surprised that someone from this town liked the same music that I did. We both were big on Little Brother at the time. I had a beat that I asked him to get on with me, “Street Soul.†When it came out so lovely we both knew right then that something special was going on. We started doing shows together, but it was a split set, he would do Texas Immigrant songs, and I would do masterOFself songs, till I joked around with the idea of creating a crew and he took the idea and ran with it. We started this out of a mutual respect for what we do, so it wasn't like we were leaving our own crews, it was more of a building of an entire network.
Adam Bernard: You've described your work as feel good music, in fact you even have a track on Beaters & Babies titled "Feel Good Music." What is feel good music to you and why do you feel it's important that you get it out there?
G-Christ: Man, feel good music is inspirational music. When you wake up early in the morning, tired as hell, you can throw it on and get your day started right. It's not going to get you ready to fight or have you walking around angry, it’s just going to make you smile and rock out with it. There is very little music that just makes you feel good, it’s either murder music, pimp shit, or extra revolutionary shit. Feel good music is music for people that just like to chill and bump good music.
MOS: And I love that track! We have people who don't even really listen to Hip-Hop bumping that track around here. Little kids, old folks, and just regular ass folk can throw on Beaters & Babies, put that “Feel Good Music†on and get their head bobbin. Cats are always talkin bout recreating the Golden Era or whatever, we’re just trying to take what we are doing now and make it hot.
Adam Bernard: What other concepts and topics did you look to address on Beaters & Babies?
G-Christ: Really we’re just feeling the vibe of each track and session. It's well rounded, there’s something on there for all types of listeners. We got songs about grinding, inspirational stuff, backyard barbeque music, and even something on there for the ladies.
MOS: Yeah, we really tried to showcase ourselves on this album. Listen to Beaters & Babies and you will really know mos and G-Christ. Everyone I know has different aspects to them, it’s not just one thing every day all day, and that’s what we tried to get across. Sometimes we want to get a drink and chill, sometimes we want to wild out and act a fool. It’s all there.
Adam Bernard: You're from Texas, which has a legendary Hip-Hop scene, dating back to artists like The Geto Boys. Where does Crew54 fit into Texas’ Hip-Hop scene?
G-Christ: Being in Texas you have a diverse Hip-Hop scene. Some shows will be all dirty dirty south type shit and other shows will be extra backpack underground type of stuff. When we go out to perform we’ll usually be the only ones on the bill performing the type of Hip-Hop we do, but we show and prove, leaving with fans every time.
MOS: And being in Texas right now most people associate you first with the Houston sound that blew up recently. We love that shit, bump it all the time, but it’s not really how we put it down. Also doing a lot of shows in Austin, which has a large college music scene, you get a lot of people wanting the extreme opposite. We really lay in the middle ground, but we bring it from every direction.
Adam Bernard: Finally, hit me with your favorite moment of being an MC so far.
G-Christ: "Street Soul." That was my favorite moment as an MC because up until then I didn't feel like I was ever on a track that was so complete from beginning to end. At that time Texas Immigrants were compromising on tracks, trying to find a good sound, instead of it just feeling natural. When MOS and I did “Street Soul†each part fit so perfectly, everything we both brought to the table was used, nothing was left out. I felt like I didn't have to hold myself back to make someone else happy, it made me step my shit up from there on out.
MOS: For me, it has to be the shows that we do. We’re trying to bring back the excitement of live shows that the game is missing right now. We go to a lot of shows were these dudes are on stage really uninterested in themselves and the crowd ain't feeling them either. When Texas Immigrants go on, or anyone from the M7 Movement rock, it’s pure energy from start to finish. G-Christ and I just take it to that next level. Most guys have an ego problem where they would love to be on a set with four wack acts, so they could shine. We hate it We want to rock with the best cuz we feel we can hang, we want that chance to show and prove.
You can check out Crew54 showing and proving on MySpace at myspace.com/crew54 and take a listen to their individual groups at m7music.com and myspace.com/texasimmigrantrecords.
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Crew54 Interview on Austin Hip-Hop Scene
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Straight outta Killeen... Crew54's tearin it up in Austin. We recently got a chance to catch up with...Straight outta Killeen... Crew54's tearin it up in Austin. We recently got a chance to catch up with them in their busy schedule. Thanks for taking the time... here's what they had to say...
Can you give your fans a quick bio of yourself?
G-Christ: Two cats that love hip hop
mos: We were both working in different areas, at the time I was doing solo work, and G-christ was putting it down with The Texas Immigrants. Crew54 started out as a collaborative effort that has manifested into what it is today.
Which is your latest CD? and how do you think it differs from your previous works?
G-Christ: Middle Road Mixtape. On this one we were more involved with other artists on the scene, and it shows versatility.
mos: Our first effort is Beaters and Babies, that was more of an "we coming, yall better open up them doors," type of thing. Middle Road is a "well we still coming, but we further along, and we got some folks riding shotgun."
What gives you inspiration and how does that transpire into your music?
G-Christ: My inspiration is and has been, knowing that when it's time to move, I won't be moving by myself. We have healthy competition. I know MOS is going to bring it, so I have to step my game up!
mos: I am inspired by the quality of music we end up creating, whether it be soulful, aggressive, trash talking, street music, or political. I know that we are both dedicated to bringing the heat, whether on track or on stage.
Which artists inspire you the most? and why?
G-Christ: Any artists out here, on the grind, trying to bring good music to the people. To name one, the group Little Brother. The drive they have to keep pushing out music the way they do inspires me.
mos: lately its been the small acts that I have noticed start to make a real buzz and name for themselves. I see the moves they are making and compare it with what we are doing and know we are on the right track.
What has kept you from moving to cities with larger markets? Especially since it's only been recently that Houston has blown up.
G-Christ: Truthfully we talk about moving to Austin all the time lol! Right now as long as we can make it these to these big cities to do shows, I'm not worried. We will still have a presence.
mos: If the time comes to move to a bigger city and everything falls in place then we will have to consider it. Neither of us is from Killeen, but right now its home and I like it here. The way we grind, most people either think we are from Austin or San Antonio.
How do you see the scene locally? and where do you see it going?
G-Christ: The local scene right now just needs more support from the people. I understand the drop off, I've seen the shows people don't want to go to, but there are a lot of artist who have great shows and they need support from the fans and other artists. We get a little bit of that the scene will blow up!
mos: You can only get out of anything, especially the local scene, what you put into it. Thats why we stay on the grind, passing out flyers, building with other artist, and interacting. We feel like we have the type of music that can spread globably, but if you cant get love where you live at, how are you posed to go somewhere else and ask them to rep ya?
What is your favorite venue to perform at? and why?
G-Christ: Well, since the black sheep was my favorite, I have to go with EMOS . I know every time we do Emos we are going to kill em, because our style of hip hop is normal there.
mos: I don't what my favorite venue to perform at is, Emos is probably at the top. But I have to say that when we did our song SHINE for the first time at Redrum we blew it up, that will always stay with me.
Can you give us 3 of your most favorite local artists?
G-Christ: Mr. Bavu Blakes, Alpha 20/20 (the boy's in like 3 groups son), and probably Brokebread from Under the Table.
mos: Well he named my list, so I will go with DJ Diamond Tip, Cali Zack, and all the other cats out there really doing it right, sorry for the cliche answer.
What is the best piece of advice that someone in the industry has given you?
G-Christ: Have energy when performing and never sleep on the game, because there is always someone out there just as hungry!
mos: Someone told me to speak to my fans and not at them, once you learn how to connect with the listener then your message will have a more powerful effect.
And a more light-hearted question: Have you seen a correlation between your level of success and quality of hoes?
G-Christ: Nope they just get crazier and have stalker tendencies now lol!
mos: yea G-Christ should redo "Somebodie's Watching Me" and have that play behind him everywhere he goes.
Any parting words?
G-Christ: Check out M7music.com, www.myspace.com/crew54, and go download that Middle Road Mixtape when it hits the page!
mos: Put ya tiddies on the glass
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In The Club with Crew54 on Austin360.com
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IN THE CLUBS
Crew 54 out with new record, 'Aggressive Soul'
Austin-by-way-of-Killeen MCs build buz...IN THE CLUBS
Crew 54 out with new record, 'Aggressive Soul'
Austin-by-way-of-Killeen MCs build buzz with music tackling spiritual struggles, love and the daily grind of an underground rapper
By Deborah Sengupta Stith
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Crew 54 rappers Master of Self (MoS) and G-Christ exude an easy everyman vibe. They come off as the kind of low-key cats you might politic with while watching a game. At a recent show on a chilly night at the Creekside Lounge, MoS coaxed fans to the front of the stage with a self-deprecating bit about a wager over a bucket of wings. It was the antithesis of hip-hop bravado, but it worked. The Creekside audience crowded the front of the stage and remained there throughout the group's set, fists pumping in the air.
In their mid-20s with less than three years apiece in the game, the two MCs are based out of Killeen, but they consider Austin the home of their music. "Killeen is the perfect spot for my alter ego 'Eric,' " jokes MoS. "I don't even think my neighbors like us."
Tammy Perez FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN
(enlarge photo)
G-Christ and MoS make up Crew 54. The group brought the crowd at the Creekside Lounge together at a recent show with insightful words and compelling beats.
Meanwhile, on the streets of the ATX the duo has been building a buzz, making the trek into town multiple times a week in anticipation of their coming album release. The album, "Aggressive Soul," is a tightly produced collection of real-life street anthems. No rims, ice or scantily clad dancers here. Instead, with sharp-witted lyricism and soul-infused hooks, the rappers tackle spiritual struggles, love and the daily grind of an underground rapper.
"Aggressive soul is like neo-soul for the streets with appeal to backpackers, old heads and young bucks," MoS says. "On the real it's music for the soul with plenty of energy."
Crew 54 approaches the stage like they've got nothing to prove, but a lot to share. They seem to strive for a meeting of the minds, and it's effective. When they spit real talk, you feel compelled to listen.
The 'Aggressive Soul' album release is 9 p.m. Friday at Flamingo Cantina, 515 E. Sixth St. 494-9336. Crew 54, Mike and Ike, Cali Zack, Zeale 32, the Gyft and Notion are scheduled to perform.
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Crew54 Interviewed by Bavu Blakes on Indieoma.com
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Crew54, “real music for real people.”
Crew54 is a Killeen, Texas-based hip hop act quickly workin...Crew54, “real music for real people.”
Crew54 is a Killeen, Texas-based hip hop act quickly working their way
into the emerging Austin hip hop scene. They dub their musical style
"aggressive soul" and are a performance-oriented, musically versatile
duo. By Mr. Blakes
I: Please give me the back story on crew54.
G-CHRIST: I was very young on the scene, I hadn't even performed at my
first show before I saw MOS and the rest of M7 at Redrum. I was
introduced to them by Lady K of 104.9, a mutual friend of ours. It's
funny because I was in the middle of moving, and happened to move
right around the corner from MOS. We started out with one track and
went on from there. It wasn't planned, we were both hungry and made it
happen.
mos: At first it was just cool to connect, cuz we both knew Lady K, but
then I found out he did music and heard one of his tracks. We got to
talking and once he said he was a fan of Little Brother, it was on and
poppin.
I: Please describe your sound and style of music.
G-CHRIST: Our style is "Aggressive Soul.” When performing, our energy
is often compared with M.O.P. but we try to make songs that get the
blood rushing a little bit, whether it be inspirational, political, or
just plane feel good music. Our sound reflects on how we live.
Everything is from the heart.
mos: I think we take the spin on the newer form of soul music and put
that energy into it that is missing from a lot of acts. I've done
music that ranges from uber-backpack to raw political fire, but this
right here is the best I've ever been apart of. Its real music for real people; no fantasies or movie scripts.
I: What are your goals as a band?
G-Christ: To get good music to people who want to hear it and force
feed the one's that don't lol! We want to bring balance back to the
scene.
mos: To keep making “feel-good” music. We've had people tell us they
stopped listening to rap, but our CD brought them back. I've seen
folks who I know never listen to hip-hop bumping our cd because they
loved it.
I: What is your typical songwriting process?
G-Christ: Wow! Well I think my best writing has either come while I
was at work, or in the lab with the artist to be on the track. I
usually write with performance on my mind. Getting that first couple
of lines is what starts me up. Once I get a good intro I am usually
good from there on!
mos: Crew54 changed my whole process man, before this it took months,
at least a week or two for me to be completely finished with a song. I
would write, rewrite, edit so much that when I actually did the track
it didn't feel natural. Now we get together, bounce ideas off each
other, write to the beat, and feed off each others creativity to make
a tight track.
I: How do different segments of the hip hop audience respond to your
music and performances?
G-Christ: We try not lean too much in any direction of Hip Hop so, as
of right now we are getting a little bit love from all sides. We try
to perform to whatever crowd we think will be at the show.
mos: Crew54 is a representation of a large cross section of musical
tastes and it reflects in our tracks and performances. One day we
might lay down an emotional song, and depending on where our next show
will be and what type of crowd we can anticipate, we might switch up
the total feel of the track and spit the lyrics over a banging hype
beat. We really feel what we do, that’s why we feel like we can go
in front of a variety of crowds and still put it down.
I: If you could pick one artist to go on the road with for 100 paid
shows all over the world, who would it be?
G-Christ: Man! There’s are a lot, but if I have to pick one, it would be
Brokebread from the "Under the Table" camp. Now if it were mainstream
that would be a different story, but we've worked with him a lot and
the energy working with him is great!
mos: If it wasn't someone from the M7 Camp, or maybe Bavu Blakes, the
I could definitely see rocking it out with Brokebread, crazy, crazy
energy.
I: How does doing the crew54 duo compare to your solo work? Please
compare and contrast...
G-Christ: I've never had a solo career prior to MOS and I linking up,
I was trying to make it with the Texas Immigrants. The group was
actually broken down by differences in taste of music. I don't think
I've made or been apart of a track close to anything Crew54 has done.
To me I was looking at MOS as the professional so, I had to step my
game up. It's always nice when you say "go" and there's no hesitation
on the other side. Before Crew54 there wasn't a lot of that going on.
mos: Even though my name is masterofself, ask anyone I know, I never
wanted to do solo work. I did it mainly out of desire to make music
and lack of consistent people to work with. Before when I was writing
a hot track I used to have to inspire myself with a dope line or a hot
hook, now when we are making a track he will pull a line or flow out
that makes me have to dig deep to stay on the same level with. We both
push each other, without saying really, to make better music. That
type of motivation can't be matched on a solo track.
-
Crew54 Interview on Wake Your Daughter Up
[+ Show ]
Hip Hop is everywhere these days, and Crew54 is a prime example of that. Coming straight out of Kill...Hip Hop is everywhere these days, and Crew54 is a prime example of that. Coming straight out of Killeen Texas, Crew54 first appeared on WYDU in one of my (never) Daily News reports, when I posted up a track from them. I liked it enough to hit the guys up doing a spotlight. I hate comparing groups, but I'd almost say that Crew54 sounds like a rougher version of Little Brother. The employ melodic tracks as the duo of G-Christ and M.O.S. kick their southern twinged lyrics that brings a neck spasm from the head nodding. Their newest album, Aggressive Soul, is armed with some great tracks, such as "Therapy" and gets WYDU's seal of approval by forking out my hard earned money for it. We sat down with the duo and discussed their music, their reality series, and titties....
Crew54 Myspace (Free Downloads)
Crew54 Youtube 54 Reality Show
Crew 54 feat Alpha 2020 - Feel me
http://www.zshare.net/audio/168351407ebe0d90/
WYDU: What's good guys? Gotta ask the boring generic questions to get them out of the way...So how did y'all get together to form Crew54? Shine a little light on the history of the group....
(G-Christ): Man, we were supposed to do one song then, mos forced me into being his sidekick lol! Nah we met through a mutual friend and to make a long story short we started making music.
(MOS): Even thought it was only a few years back, it feels like we've been running in this forever. G was in another group and I was doing the solo thing, but basically since we did our first track we've been a crew.
W: How do y'all compliment each other the mic and in the studio? How is it working with each other in the lab, do you both sit down together to brain storm or is a little bit of individual work then hash it out later?
(G-Christ): Man, that's fam right there. I'm at the house even on days we aren't doing music. We know each other so it's easy in the lab. There's no ego, just trust. We concentrate on the same thing… making a hot track, performing well, whatever it is we want to get better as Crew54.
(MOS) Well I write all of his lyrics, and he edits all of my videos so it works out real well for both of us. On the real though, we both push each other to make the track as hot as possible and their is no sensitivity when opinions are given.
W: The sound from what I've heard so far is one that is kind of different than I would expect for a group coming out of Texas (once again, generalizations are a bitch...) How would you explain your sound and your music. What are some of your influences?
(G-Christ): Aggressive soul is our sound. Any LP I hear (hip hop) that the artist still has that hunger to make it.
(MOS): Well neither one of us is originally from Texas, but I got nothing but love for it because it gave us our start and a place to grind. I would say our style is mainly east coast flavored but its the "keep it real" music that anyone from anywhere could relate too.
W: Your new project is Aggressive Soul, what can a new listener to Crew 54 expect from this release? What are some of the producers and guests we can expect on the album?
(G-Christ): A balance. It's definitely a well rounded album anyone can vibe to from beginning to end. Bavu Blakes, Mike and Ike, and Rochelle Terrell all made the album classic! The production inspired us to go at this album hard.
(MOS): Man we got a wide range of producers that truthfully like our sound and wanted to work with us. Remax out of Germany, The Sole Vibe, and Qenetic Storm. You're going to get some powerfully soulful beats with true to life energetic flows.
W: Coming from a place on the map that isn't exactly a hip hop hotbed, do you think hip hop is slowly breaking down the regional bias that ruled it so much in the early days, or is it still in exsistence?
(G-Christ): I believe it's still there. Hip Hop has spread over the years, but we are in a spot heavily overlooked. So we know it still exists.
(MOS): It's 08, there is hip-hop everywhere. Even as I type my answers back I'm chatting with an MC from Scotland. Just like alot of places, Texas has plenty of brilliant acts, and probably more wack acts. I've seen headlines come through and get shut down by a local opener. If people can go in with an open mind they could find some heat in all the different hip-hop genres in Texas.
W: You have a reality series out there on Youtube, what was the reason for doing those? Any crazy ish happening on those? Naked chicks? Crazy parties?
(G-Christ): Mos hit the jackpot with the show. We started off just doing video blogs and decided to call it the "54 Reality Show". It's us on a weekly basis plain as can be. No skits nothing it's all us all real whether it's hip hop or crazy parties with R and B singing lol!
(MOS): Man we are late as hell to the youtube party, but in essence we are ahead of lot of our peers in that same manner. Our reality show not only showcases our daily grind, but gives coverage of the Cen-Tex Hip-Hop Scene. I got some footage that I haven't used but yeah, there is some crazy shit going on.
W: How do you feel about promotional tools such as the reality shows on youtube, mixtapes and just the internet in general?
(G-Christ): The internet gives you access to a lot of things as an artist that were impossible back in the day. The show has opened so many doors for us It's crazy. Dookie Alowishus( MOS) is a beast on the edit so it's looks professional.
(MOS): We don't have major cosigns, we really can't afford these exuberant prices for collabs and videos, so we have to do it ourselves. This is our way to bring something new to the fans without a major marketing budget and butt nekkid video chics. People got so much new music that they are almost lazy about it, so you have to find away to endear yourself and showcase what you can do.
W: What do y'all have lined up the future that we need to be looking out for?
(G-Christ): Every week check out the "54 Reality Show" and leave a comment! "Damage is Done" the G-Christ EP mixed by DJ Kidcut coming soon for free download, and the Crew54 Mixtape is gonna bang your head against the wall later this year.
(MOS): Since he stole my answer, let me just add that if we get the folks The Table Manners Crew on our new mixtape its going to be nuts. A real throwback to oldschool mixtapes with hot tracks and dope turntablism. Plus we got more videos, you want to be down come holla at ya folks.
W: Any last words for the good people of the internet?
(G-Christ): To the fans and folks who aren't fans just yet, support your upcoming artist in whatever genre you like, because if you don't there is no future.
(MOS): Check out the 54 Reality Show and I gotta give some love to C-Hova the four bar superstar. Oh yeah, and this is important...Put your titties on the glass!
-
Crew54 Interview on Boycott Magazine
[+ Show ]
These Killeen, TX MC's are making big moves these days from their reality show, to opening up for ac...These Killeen, TX MC's are making big moves these days from their reality show, to opening up for acts such as Bun B, Yarah Bravo, and Prince Paul just to name few. Crew 54 (G-Christ and M.O.S.) are always in the independent hip-hop scene in Austin showing love to all the other upcoming artist, even when they don't show love back....If that's not real, then I don't know what is. So, if you haven't heard of Crew 54, check out their myspace page: myspace.com/crew54.
Enjoy the interview:::
1) How's the Crew 54 reality show coming?
M.O.S: It's going strong, almost to the end of the year, getting ready for the Year In Review episode. Its dope cuz its getting us alot of access to new things, and serving as a platform for new jump offs.
G-Christ: Like mos said it's great! We've had alot of doors opened for us that weren't before.
2) When is Blue Rain or Son God Yamaha going to make an appearance? Haaaa!
M.O.S: In fact Blue Rain just got a request for a collab/feature earlier. Blue Rain - Gonna Make You Wet coming April 09!
G-Christ: Haaa! yeah Blue Rain 09' bishes lol! Blue Rain & Lil Moses EP coming soon!
3) How's the progression with the fans been since beaters and babies till the drop of aggressive soul?
M.O.S: It's been a steady growth process. Our music is elevating while still maintaining that Crew54 vibe, and the we've been able to spread our music to a larger base with each release.
G-Christ: Everything been going well, we are definitely starting to reach more and more folks everyday. This upcoming year should be real interesting. Should be traveling a little more next year.
4)How was your recent show with the Table Manners Crew?
M.O.S: It was crazy had bitches doing the stanky leg, Ricky Bobby and all that. Oh wait, naw that's not how it went down at all. On the real it was a dope night, always is with that crew. Plenty of people dancing, some drunk chick freestyling all night, and hating on Avi's hat game. Plus C-Hova danced so hard her legs hurt for days, that's the measure of a good night.
G-Christ: Plush is always nice. The TMC always show love, every time we have an event there, it's wild.
5) Do you guys have a new album or some singles in the works?
M.O.S: We're working on this Crew Deep Mixtape that's gonna be dope. Got a banger in the works produced by Mr. Kwestro himself, also with plenty of collabs. Just trying to keep hitting folks with good music.
G-Christ: Yeah, we have the mixtape dropping and we have been working with the fam Keelay and Zaire on our EP coming next year. We are picking up speed in 09 for sure.
6) Now that you guys have got multiple hustles. Do you have any people in your hometown on your jocks and if so, how do you feel about that?
M.O.S: We had one cat that found out about what we do (videos, blogs) and thought it was his come up moment on free videos and what not, but fuck all of that. Mainly we've been building with some cool folks, cats on that bullshit will eventually fall off so its nothing to worry about it.
G-Christ: A few folks jumping, but like mos said it's mostly what they can get. We have done some hot music with the boy bashwon. He's a dope MC. We just continue to build with the real folks.
7) What else does the Crew like to do besides music?
M.O.S: Well, in my free time I like long walks in the park, playing the flute in coffee shops, and re-enacting select scenes from Next Friday for the children. I mean it's all about living a full life. haha
G-Christ: Trying to avoid being corrupted by Mos and C-Hova lol! Naw besides eating wangs lol! I'm on my NCAA basketball 09 right now, and of course just getting my single on. You know how that is.
8) What are your plans for the future?
M.O.S: Make every year better than the last man, period! I'm in the gym tryna' go busta rhymes on y'all hoes lol! I ain't eating babies though.
G-Christ: Better songs, better albums, better blogs, better videos, in fact look out for DOOKIE VIZION PRODUCTIONS in 09.
supersonic
Crew54 - Pump It Up
