5th Flow Interview

Another older interview from the HHHead days. This one is with Houston-based 5th Flow, a threesome that makes an eclectic brand of music everyone should listen to once. I did this interview shortly after they dropped the mixtape Quarter To A Half. You can stream that shit on their site. Or you can cop the tape here.
For reading clarity; Supreme, Rahlo, and JClay are the three members that make up 5th Flow.

What type of new stuff have you guys been working on lately?

Rahlo: Our new single, "I'm on it". Also new tracks for the vinyl 4 mixtape.
Supreme: We also started working on our album "Trafficin".

How do you feel about the biased view of the south and what are you guys doing to avoid that label of "trapstar" or "d-boy turned rapper"?

Supreme: Simple, we just not d-boys period, so we're being who we are.
JClay: I don't think there is a biased view to be honest.
Rahlo: I like the biased view because the South is running shit right now. We are not trapstars or d-boys. We are business owners and we project ourselves that way.

What separates 5th Flow from anybody else making music today

Rahlo: The content, the lyrics, the business model.
Supreme: We got an old spirit in us cuz we not tryin to be one hit wonders. We're puttin our soul into every song we have.
JClay: Plus we are not afraid to go against the grain. we make music that we would jam.

What is your one album that you can bump from cover to cover and recite every word?

Supreme: Eminem - Marshall Mathers LP
JClay: Boyz II Men - II
Rahlo: Raekwon - Cuban Links

Who are some Houston artists you grew up listening to?

Supreme: UGK even though they from PA
Rahlo: I’m from Fort Worth, TX. I didn’t grow up listening to any Houston artists. I listened to my cousins' mixtapes and other Fort Worth artists.
JClay: I'm like Rahlo, I'm from Chicago so I didn't grow up listening to many Houston artists either. If it was on the radio, I would jam it, but that's about it.

What is your all-time favorite song you have ever made? What makes that song stand out?

JClay: Wastin My Time. This songs sums up everything I'm feeling about myself and people in general, quit wasting time. Do something wit yo life.
Rahlo: 1988. It paints a vivid picture of what I saw growing up.
Supreme: California Dreamin. That song...everything about it. It's like a movie. I can actually see everything we talk about in the song.
JClay: The funny thing is all of these songs are on the Quarter to a Half Mixtape.

If you could collaborate with any musical artist dead or alive who would it be and why?

JClay: Jazmine Sullivan cuz that girl can sang.
Rahlo: I would colab with Biggie because he was a fat boy too!
Supreme: i would love to collab with Jay-Z and Eminem cuz they the best two rappers.

Who's more influential in your opinion; DJ Screw or The Geto Boys?

Supreme: DJ Screw
JClay: Yep, the same.
Rahlo: DJ Screw

What is a 5th Flow show like?

JClay: It's like...one of though 5 Gum commercials.
Supreme: 5th flow show is full of energy and exciting.
Rahlo: A 5th Flow show is like going to the doctor for HIV test results and if you can imagine the moment you find out that you don’t have it, that's what a 5th Flow show is like.

Their MySpace.

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Phonte- iTunes Draconian Measures

I typically watch these videos and appreciate them for what they're worth and then forget about them altogether.
However, Phontigallo's plight with the corporate juggernaut struck a heart chord deep inside. Especially when he and Nicolay are creating quality music, and iTunes makes the album cost $16. Who would buy an album for $16? Steve Jobs and his draconian measures...

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Xzibit- At The Speed Of Life

It's funny how most people know X to the Z as the charismatic Pimp My Ride host rather than a lyrical-lasher who traded verses with the best on the left coast. There was an ill-fated group called the Golden State Warriors which would have combined Saafir, Ras Kass, and Xzibit into one. Saafir was never my favorite rhymer, but Rassy and X together would/could have been deadly.
On that point, it was At The Speed Of Life which established Xzibit's lyrical presence and his need for speed. Another classic from the mid-90's, for the solid production and Xzibit's willingness to throw savage flows all over the mostly unknown beats that grace his solo debut. It's not the most entertaining album you'll ever hear, nor is it the most lovable or memorable, but once you hear At The Speed Of Life, you'll want to hear it again.

Choice Cuts:
At The Speed Of Life


Paparazzi


The Foundation


Carry The Weight


Where To Cop From:
1
2
3

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Visual Spotlight: Mark 563

Mark 563 is an Aussie family man who has a knack for making sketches of the illest artists of the golden era. I found this guy through Philaflava, and I've been subsequently looking through his site (Run The Line), for more dope artwork since. Anyways, here is a thorough selection of his numerous illustrations:

Mefod Man


Ol' Dirt


The Funk Doc


RZA


Tony Starks


Cube




Bishop


The Diabolical

The man wif' techniques dripping up out his buttcheeks


The Teacha


Hav & Prod


Slick Rick


Snoop


The Kane


Eazy


Dre


The Genius


Bussa Bus


Once again, dude's site is Run The Line.

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Diamond D- This One (Instrumental)

Another beat.





http://www.mediafire.com/?mtx2iw0yjun
http://sharebee.com/3fa4b2fd

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The Autobiography of John Austin Episode 1

I hate to come off like a Ras Kass stan, but it's hard not to post anything about the man's somewhat cryptic past. This is a guy who crafted one of the best hip hop albums of all time in Soul On Ice. And I don't say 'best' in the sense of "holistically better", but rather in the sense that Soul On Ice is irrefutably one of the best albums ever made.
Just with that said, the first 30 seconds of this interview are intriguing when he says he's not interested in equaling his first opus. Really gives you an interesting look at John Austin rather than Ras Kass.

There's more, click here.

Diamond D, Lord Finesse & Jahai- Can't Fuck With Them

I found this jawn on an reggae tinged tape by Joni Rewind. Packaged between all that gahbage was Lord Finesse and Diamond D exchanging lyrical gems. Shit bangs something serious.





http://www.mediafire.com/?djnmoyc4nqn
http://sharebee.com/8ce5d7de

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Charlie Parker- Perdido

Another live gem, this time it's from Charlie Parker from Jazz At The Philharmonic, 1949. Parker had some insane skills on the saxophone, far ahead of his time, and it's great that we are still able to fully digest the man's greatness 60 years after the fact. Perdido is by far the illest jawn, especially when Ella Fitzgerald starts singing...





http://www.mediafire.com/?nyttngyvnmt
http://sharebee.com/44648b61

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Freddie Gibbs- Talkin' About You

It's a rarity for me to do posts on newer tapes/albums, but Freddie Gibbs' new jawn is an exception. This isn't one of the prime examples of heat, but instead it's a song for the ladies that slaps something proper.



http://www.mediafire.com/?b2dzmjwmmdn
http://sharebee.com/617acf7d

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Necro- Death Rap (Instrumental)

It's been long overdue for a Necro post.
Truth be told, I love Necro's production, but his albums can be hard to listen to. Especially when they're exaggerated on an hardcore tip. However, the instrumentals are always on point. Take the beat for Gihad that he did for Rae's new Cuban Linx jawn.
Take the beats he used to do for his big bro Ill Bill, uncut dope. And the instrumental for Death Rap is absolutely no exception, this shit blew my mind when I first heard it.





http://www.mediafire.com/?dzwizmownh4
http://sharebee.com/ec39de69

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Ill Al Skratch- Chill With That (Easy Mo Bee Remix)

I've been seeing the group Ill Al Skratch everywhere. Just found this jawn in my collection, and figured I'd throw it up.





http://www.mediafire.com/?gjtgwd1ytdv
http://sharebee.com/c58f1167

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Pacewon & Mr. Green- Children Sing

You know when you here an amazing sample in the context of an loop, and get your head blown by the sheer vicissitude of the instrumental?
And then you hear the artist hop onto the beat, and completely destroy the magic of the instrumental with an assortment of awkward flows and off-kilter lyricism. That's the case for Children Sing although to a minor degree. Incredible sample of children singing, yet no matter how dope the delivery is it can't live up to the expectations of the instrumental.
Don't let that discourage you though, this jawn is remarkably ill.





http://www.mediafire.com/?mmmzjgwzzgw
http://sharebee.com/354a527c

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Hi Tek: 1-9-9-9 (Instrumental)

The problem I have with this record is Sadat X's god-awful verse on the OG 1-9-9-9 version. Don't take it the wrong way, I have nothing against Sadat X, in fact his shits with Brand Nubian are nothing short of classic, and Wild Cowboys wasn't too bad. But to ruin Hi-Tek's masterpiece the way he did is purely shameful.
That said, Tek more than outdid himself on this one, a Rawkus gem in fewer words.
While I'm at it, I'll link to this candid interview once more.





http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?mmwoyziznon
http://sharebee.com/b42fae73

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The Perceptionists- Black Dialogue

I've never been a big fan of Mr. Lif, although he does have his considerable moments. Maybe it's just a general dislike of most Def Jux artists. Regardless of the fact, Mr. Lif and Akrobatik were part of The Perceptionists and released Black Dialogue in '05. The majority of the album is hard on the eardrums, what with the odd Def Jux instrumentals and Lif's unusual voice.
However, on the title track Lif and Akrobatik get together to spit some dopeness unparalleled.





http://www.mediafire.com/?jnyjoyabqyx
http://sharebee.com/6166b369

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Raekwon & Carlton Fisk freestyle

Got this one off some Doo Wop tape that spotlights rare freestyles and the like. Rae freestyles are always something to behold, although they usually fare better without a random Wu weed carrier (in this case it's a drug dilla that inherited his name from one of the best Sox catcher's evar).
That's not to say Carlton Fisk does poorly, in fact he almost matches 'Kwon even though he has 1/4th the mic time that Rae does. Solemn instrumental too.





http://www.mediafire.com/?ndumz2n1dmz
http://sharebee.com/b672c8b6

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Da Lench Mob- All On My Nut Sac

If you couldn't tell yet, I have a strong affinity for Cube's earlier material. Not to be 'all on his nut sac' but post-NWA Ice Cube is the King Midas of hip hop, as in everything he touched turned out dope.
Guerillas In The Mist with Da Lench Mob is no exception, a great left-coast remnant. And All On My Nut Sac is the stuff legends are made from. Listen to that hook!





http://www.mediafire.com/?mywtylzkljm
http://sharebee.com/a575fc5d

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Redman feat. Keith Murray & Jamal- Def Squad

Remember Flipmode Squad Meets Def Squad? Well, for those of us who don't particularly go bananas over the idea of Busta Rhymes and his melancholy gang of weed carriers ruining a good jawn, I've got a solution. This is the sans- Flipmode Squad version. Meaning it's just Red, Keith Murray, and the oft-forgotten Jamal exchanging dope rhymes over an above-average boom bap instrumental.





http://www.mediafire.com/?omznzmm1iyc
http://sharebee.com/75ac40cd

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Ras Kass feat. DBA Flip- It Ain't Nothing Nice

This one comes from an extensive compilation by the good folks at Philaflava. From my limited understanding, I believe this was an 12" single released by Rassy back in '96 alongside DBA Flip.
It sounds dope, but nothing like Soul On Ice, maybe the lyricistic nihilism could be compared to Miami Life. I say this about most '96-'97 Ras records, but this really seems like the jump-off point where you can clearly note the metamorphosis from Soul On Ice Rassy to Rasassination Ras. Luckily, this is a mixture of both.





http://www.mediafire.com/?tzocyn241xm
http://sharebee.com/62e8b92d

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Lighter Shade Of Brown- Dip Into My Ride

I know criminally little about these guys, which is a shame because Layin' In The Cut is quickly becoming a staple in my online tapedeck. Although the subject matter is somewhat soft, the instrumental for Dip Into My Ride is serene. One of those beats you can listen to on repeat for days on end. The rhymes are surprisingly simple for '94, but they fit the vibe to a tee.



http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?t21ogjjwud0
http://sharebee.com/ff222157

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Prince Paul/De La Soul- Breakadawn Instrumental

A long bus ride made me realize just how in love with Buhloone Mindstate I am. Whereas the rest of De La's catalog is a far-more acquired taste, their 3rd album is the stuff jazz heads go crazy for. I'd say it's even somewhat comparable to The Low-End Theory in terms of sheer illness.
Breakadawn was the 1st single off Buhloone Mindstate, and I promise this instrumental will have your head nodding for the whole 4 minutes and change.





http://www.mediafire.com/?2jn2yo3toni
http://sharebee.com/d8a33e76

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J.A.M.E.S. Watts- Shameless Promotion: The Game Needs James

J.A.M.E.S. Watts has long been my dude. An introspective rhymer with the expansive vocabulary and thought process of an author, equipped with an insane ear for beats, and an thoughtful discography that solely consists of quality material.
Shameless Promotion: The Game Needs James was released a bit before his 12 Minute tape, that got some serious buzz a few years back. Although both are good in their own way, this tape shows off James' versatility and countless methods of making dope records.

Choice Cuts:
Wish You Were Here


Twist, Push


If...


Game's Over

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Flipmode Squad- To My People

Uploading is back. This jawn is off the supergroup Flipmode Squad's The Imperial. Not an amazing album by any stretch of the imagination, but fairly listenable material from Busta Rhymes weed carriers like Spliff Star among other no-names.
This jawn was produced by EPMD's own DJ Scratch, well-produced instrumental too if only because of the lingering bassline on loop.





http://www.mediafire.com/?mgmojmwgbon
http://sharebee.com/47d34495

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Maddox Interview

One of my greatest influences as a human being has been George Ouzounian also known as Maddox from The Best Page In The Universe and his relatively new book The Alphabet of Manliness. The above-mentioned site is well-known across the internets, and easily one of the best free forms of literature available for public consumption online. The book itself is amazing, although I only got in a quick read at Barnes & Noble a few months ago.
Anyway, it was dope when dude agreed to do an quick interview a while back, and he provided some interesting answers to the incredibly generic questions I posed as part of the old FunCrusher Plus.

1. When will we finally see your name on an election ballot?

Probably 2016, when it'll be legal for me to run. Though that hasn't
stopped people from writing me in as a write-in candidate in the past, bless their misanthropic hearts.

2. Has anyone ever confronted you in person over something on the site?

Yes, on my book tour. Generally people are very positive because most people who read my site aren't dipshits (in spite of the impression I give people based on my hatemail section). There was a chick who waited in line for about an hour in Oregon during my book signing to tell me she hated me and my website. I acknowledged her criticism, and asked her if she had anything for me to sign. She didn't, so I moved on to the next person and that was that. I don't what she was expecting, but she came away from the encounter with both ovaries intact, and that's the most anyone who doesn't have a penis can hope for.

3. Do you ever regret creating your site?

Regret is a longing to have done something differently. That's the
dumbest thing I've ever heard of in my life. So, no.

4. Who influenced your writing and satire?

Talk radio primarily. The Don & Mike radio show (now the Mike O'Meara show out of WJFK in DC), Tom Leykis, Phil Hendrie, Howard Stern (but to a lesser extent because he was never syndicated in Utah), and a few others.

5. What's in store for Maddox the author?

I'm working on a manliness themed calendar, and possibly another book. I want to write for film and television, and have done some of the latter, but my forays into TV have thus far been disappointing. There's way too much censorship on television, and way too many hands in the cookie jar. Everyone has an opinion about how a piece should go, and by the time it makes it to the air, every semblance of anything edgy or humorous is usually stripped from the script, so what you get is more bullshit. I'm trying to find a way to circumvent the bullshit in my career.

6. Did you ever think your site would blow up like it did?

Yes.

7. What are people missing if they haven't yet read "The Alphabet Of
Manliness"?

They're missing out on a milestone in literature. Also, hairy knuckles, an increased frequency of intercourse, and a marked improvement to their charisma (as well as a marked decline in hygene). That's what my book does to people. Believe it. Also, it has drawings of boobs.

There's more, click here.

Nas- Illmatic

Despite the fact everyone's heard this album, that doesn't make it any worse for audio. Illmatic defines the hip hop bucket list. Bible, holy grail, whatever you want to call it, go ahead.

Choice Cuts:
The whole fuggin' thing. Stream here.

Cop it here:
1
2
3
4
5
6

Goodies:
The homie Ivan went all out on Illmatic b-sides, remixes and the like. Check it here.
The legendary DL of FDB threw together this crazy deconstruction of Illmatic samples and whatnot. Peep it here.
An extremely unheralded write-up from what an incredibly knowledgeable individual. Here.
And the god Guy Fawkes did this intrinsic review a while back. Shit's major here.
FWMJ's breakdown on the making of Illmatic, here.

There's more, click here.

Best Child Emcee- Shyheim

I posed the poll question of 'best child emcee' a few weeks back, and you guys voted and chose Shyheim as the best evar. I personally would have preferred Special Ed, but no love lost for The Rugged Child. Below are his better works (in my humble opinion), and let's hope the lot of you vote more for the next question.

On And On


Shaolin Style


One's 4 Da Money


Furious Anger (feat. Big L)

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Peruvian Graffiti Part 1

As part of an ongoing feature, I'll try to spotlight graffiti from other parts of the world, as well as the United States. The following is all from Peru, which has quite a bit more taggers than one would assume...

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