D12s Bizzare! The Message goes deeper!! etroit, Detroit, Detroit, massively The year 1998 saw the release of his album recognised for its automobiles, but “Attack of the Weirdos” featuring the work of much within the vast city also lays another credited producers J- Dilla and Mr Porter, as well great feat.. Its music! Everyone and as local talent and DJ Head. As the monumental D everything from Motown to Madon- rise of D-12 spread worldwide so too did Bizzare’s na, and Aretha to Eminem, this town has churned persona with his comical frolics. This helped drive out some mega hitters and Rufus Arthur Johnson sales of the group’s Devil’s Night album and so the better known, as Bizzare is no exception. label were keen to stick with what worked, howev- Ever since D -12 arrived on the scene in 1996 er Bizzare had always had something else in mind we’ve been exposed to his character and as the and sort a different path; SHELLEY PESTAINA SHELLEY name suggests, he quickly became notorious “This time I just wanted to make my album a little for his psychotically, humorous rhymes and of bit more serious and just more lyrical. I just didn’t course the ever iconic shower cap, but it seems want to be known as a comedian rapper my whole WORDS BY: BY: WORDS this rapper’s message goes deeper. career.” Bizarre FEATURE BIZARRE - MIC CHECK August 2010 Musicology 09 “I let the music drive me. I never really come up with concepts, cause it’s in my head already, where ever the music takes me that’s what I write.” Back with the new album “Friday Night at St then laughs Andrews” the rapper makes a point of going back “I let the music drive me. I never really come up to his roots and spreading a deeper message. with concepts, cause it’s in my head already, “St Andrews is the story of hip-hop, well the only where ever the music takes me that’s what I write. hip-hop that you hear about in Detroit. The main Music and weed.” guys today that you heard of went through like So its clear to see that ‘Friday Night At St Andrew’s” Slum Village, Black Milk, Guilty Simpson, D-12, is one to get the heads swaying but also contem- Obie Trice, Eminem. All of us came from that hip- plating. It’s clever bars fuse together with the hop shop.” beats to recreate the spirit from the ’98 Tracks from the album are well thought out and effort. Reconnecting with the roots of his produced to perfection. Lead single BELIEVER ft city, and having travelled the world it Tech N9ne touches on Bizzare’s belief that D12’s holds the stamp of approval from a former label drove the group to maintain their true veteran. “comical” image even in the event of Proof’s death. But one more question remained, “Right, well the song is kind of dedicated to Proof where is the infamous shower cap? in a way. It’s also dedicated to my city because He laughs we’re having a whole crisis issue cause there’s no “I still wear the shower cap, cause jobs and a lot of people are losing their homes. its hot outside!” There’s a big poverty thing going on so just trying Look out for Bizzare’s album to uplift the city.” now in stores. Also expect to Another single RAP’S FINEST sees Bizzare come see him about with fellow together with respected lyricists Kuniva, Seven familiars, Kuniva, Swifty The General and Royce da 59. As well as maintain- McVay and DJ Young Mase ing a sound narrative flow, with everyday stories to at a series of UK dates the more extreme subjects [which he’s known for] this July. Eminem is also Bizzare was also determined to go out of his way confirmed to be back on to incorporate the homegrown talent as well. With board for the new D-12 all these names flying about it’s a wonder he’s album to be released able to keep his focus doing what he does. When later this year. Don’t asked about his creative process he shrugs and miss out! Straight Out the D Byron “Guilty” Simpson He was previously known as Guilt. Over time, he saw that there were more emcees using the alias. In order to set himself apart from the others, he added his last name to become Guilty Simpson. He is signed to Stones Throw Records. He is also known for being a favou- rite of the late producer J Dilla. “Ode to the Ghetto”. Testament to their friendship is shown on the track “Cali Hills”, where we get to hear Guilty’s recollec- tions on how instrumental Dilla was in helping him make it as a rapper. Bizarre FEATURE Slum Village. The group was formed by three members: rappers Baatin (deceased, 31 July 2009) and T3, plus rapper and producer J Dilla (deceased, 10 February 2006). J Dilla left in 2002 to pursue a solo career with MCA Records. Elzhi joined in his absence, after which Baatin also left due to health complications. Rumours on Twitter have recently surfaced that Detroit MC eLZhi was no longer in Slum Village. In his first tweet since March 8, eLZhi wrote, “Not sure what’s going on….I hope Slum Village’s label and T3’s manager respect what I do for SV. Either way I appreciate yall support.” Slum Village’sVilla Manifesto, is set for a July 27 11 release. LOCNVILLE TWIN BROTHERS LOCNVIllE, ARE THE SOUND OF THE SUMMER. WITH RAVE REVIEWS AND CATCHY HOOKS THEY’RE SET FOR WORLDWIDE DOMINATION. Life for twin brothers, Andrew and Brian Chaplin main intro that starts at the beginning and then are pretty sweet right now. Their debut single ‘Sun I wrote this chorus over it. We wanted to make in My Pocket’, has shot into the South African something quite fantastical. Its representing our charts and the buzz around them seems to be ideology that you kind of make your life as you growing by the second, making the Locnville duo go, with reference to the moon and what not so one the most popular electro dance double acts making the day and making the night. of the moment. Born in New York and raised in Shel: How did you first start making music? South Africa, the term Locnville signifies the Locnville: We first started making music I remember coming together of their mixed backgrounds when we got guitars when we were about six and multiple musical influences that they were and we just started doing cover tunes from Billy exposed to whilst growing up. They recorded their Ray Cyrus, like ‘Achy Breaky Heart’, then we first song at the age of 7 ‘Amnesia’ and carried on started writing our own songs around seven, very writing their own material inspired by rock legends basically. Then we both sort of decided that we such as AC/DC, Kiss, Staind, Nirvana and Limp really wanted to do music as a career. Then we Bizkit, so that by the age of 11 they had their first just started writing more music and experimenting full set of songs done. The merger of New York with genres, so it was just a natural progress. Hip-Hop and South African Electro beats give way Shel: Wow that’s quite early to start writing music? to their unique contagious sound. Something they Locnville: ::Laughs:: Yea we have a single that we describe as “just a natural progress”. Sun In My recorded when we were about eight in the dust Pocket’ was named ‘Song Of The Year’ and ‘Jam somewhere. ::Laughs:: Its quite a jamming tune Of The Summer’ in South Africa. So what’s next actually. on their whirlwind schedule? We delve into those Shel: So having grown up in New York and South pockets to get a peek. Africa do you have a preference? Shel: So ‘Sun in My Pocket’ is the debut single, Locnville: In terms of location? We would definitely could you tell us a bit about it? say South Africa. It’s the place where we spent the Locnville: Well, it’s the first track that we’re kind most of our time growing up and I think there’s really WORDS BY: SHELLEY PESTAINA SHELLEY BY: WORDS of pushing from the album. We came up with that no place in the world like South Africa. So we’re Locnville FEATURE August 2010 Musicology 21 Locnville FEATURE very proud of that background collaboration like People and the did previous to that we produced and also it’s a fantastic place XX and stuff like that. ourselves. because every time I go back Shel: What were some of your there I get inspired. So it’s inspirations when coming up with Shel: So having enjoyed such definitely played a much bigger the material for this album? popular recognition so far, what role in our lives. Locnville: It’s kind of from would you say has been your everything, everyday life and the biggest moment to date? Shel: We know you love your kind of music that we listen to, the Locnville: Well, there have been Electro and your Hip-hop what relationships with our friends and a lot of turning point moments about the other genres? What family. It was more inspired by a but I think that the one that will other genres do you favour as mindset of making things happen always stand out in my mind is well? because we recorded plenty of the first time that we heard ‘Sun Locnville: We kind of take albums in our life so far and this in My Pocket’ on national radio influence from and enjoy all was the one that we decided that here.