Harlem duo Cannibal Ox, made up of Vaste Aire and Vordul Mega, first made their debut back in 2001 with the underground classic "The Cold Vein" on Def Jux. Since then the two have split from the label and amongst rumors of them disbanding themselves, have released few material.
In 2012 there were talks of the two pairing up again to work on the sequel to their debut and in April of 2013 they dropped their "Gotham" EP. With 15 years behind their debut album the two have formed their new label IGC and have released the long overdue sophomore album "Blade Of The Ronin" which you can get here.
We had the pleasure of getting in touch with the two to talk about "BOTR" as well as other things.
Whats up fellas we appreciate your time and wanna say congrats on the new album. So let's start from the beginning, who were your inspirations to get into Hip Hop and Recording music?
Vast Aire:
All of The Classic Artist, Eric B & Rakim, BDP, Public Enemy, Juice Crew, Hieroglyphics, Native Tongues, D.I.T.C., WuTang, Nas & AZ etc.
Your both Harlem natives, how did you guys meet and decide to form a duo?
Vordul Mega:
We meet in high school, Vast use to rap with my cousin Ali, but he lived closer to me in Harlem NY.
Vast Aire:
Yup, we both started to hang out at lunch more and Ali was our link along with a handful of other heads. This is the birth of our relationship. We were part of a huge super group known as Atoms Fam. We had 3 projects out before we dropped "Cold Vein".
How did you guys link with El-P and sign with Def Jux?
Vordul Mega:
We met El-P in the NYC Underground Hip Hop Scene. We use to open for the Indelible Mc's and became very close. We help found Def Jux, "Def Jukies" is a phrase I came up with in the studio!
Vast Aire:
Indeed we knew El-P before the idea of Def Jux when we all still worked wit Rawkus. Cannibal Ox never had to submit a demo? Lmao We helped build Def Jux. This is why we are smart enough to run our young label now...IGC Recordings. We always had good ideas on music and art and how to blend both togther to create a vibe. We got close with Juggaknotz first then we met El-P.
That's whats up, so your debut "Cold Vein" was an instant underground classic, what was the experience like making it and did El-P have a lot of control over it?
Vordul Mega:
El-P would make beats and we would pick what we felt worked with us. Vast would help create order of songs. Give ideas on hooks and bridges. We all put our input in Cold Vein. It took about two years.
Vast Aire:
We would zone out to various beats, and would give our ideas on how to make the beat better. We had mad fun, we worked extremly hard. We made a classic. We always have total creative control, El-P didn't live our life experiences? "Blade of the Ronin" is in stores now and we did it again!
New York was such a big influence on your debut LP, does it still?
Vast Aire:
Yes...Hip Hop is New York First before anything else. It was made and formulated in NYC. We are New Yorkers to the core.
Vordul Mega:
Most definitely, its our roots, our core!
Back in 2003, there were rumors about you guys disbanding, why?
Vordul Mega:
I have no idea, people just want to find reasons to talk about us. And its easy to say a group a broke up when they are independent and strong willed.
Vast Aire:
People are attracted to negativity so they tried to say we broke up.Vordul and myself are always on each others solo material so....how and when did we break up? Fuck what you heard, its all about IGC Blade of the Ronin!
During your hiatus, was recording and Hip Hop a Factor?
Vordul Mega:
Nobody took a real break, i myself dont make as much music as Vast, but nobody just stopped. We love Hip Hop Culture we have solo projects and side group projects.
Vast Aire:
I hate when writers act like we havent done anything since Cold Vein, its disrespectful to what we have done for Hip Hop. I have projects that have been written up in XXL & Source that have nothing to do with Cold Vein, Cold Vein is a Dope project but its not our origin! We are good musicians before and after Hip Hop is our life.
Its been 15 years for your sophomore project Blade of the Ronin, Vast confirmed your reunion, how long did it take to make?
Vast Aire:
The process was about two years. Creating music and vibing out. We know how how music should sound and feel. And again we both had various projects out that were bangers! So its not like we havent been creating!
Vordul Mega:
We just like to create, zone out in studio not worried about time.
What are your takes on the state of Hip Hop Now?
Vordul Mega:
Hip Hop is changing just like all things, sometimes its good, other times its not. For the most part there is a lot of good music out.
Vast Aire:
Hip Hop is fine, Blade of the Ronin will show and prove that. We pushed the bar again. We love our culture and we are not here to bash it we rather promote the greatness. As long as I'm alive Hip Hop is just fine.
So your sophomore album is released on iHipHop, were they the only label you purued or did you shop your LP around?
Vordul Mega:
We released the Gotham (Ox City) single, with IGC / Below the System, that blew up and let the world we were not playing.
Vast Aire:
IGC is our label, but we partner up with other companies ...Iron Galaxy Clik is RocaFella, iHipHop Distribution is Def Jam, understand. We did have a Kickstarter also that made huge buzz that we were creating Blade of the Ronin. Peace to iHipHop Distro for stepping up and releasing Gotham Deluxe and Repressing the classic Cold Vein.
You have a number of features on "BOTR" what was the process like picking them?
Vordul Mega:
We talked about who would sound good on our LP, its all about the beat and voices first then we make the magic.
Vast Aire:
Everybody on this LP is a brother, or close peers like Crimson Godz our grand family. We don't just create with anybody because we are not here to play games, our music is serious and so is our brand.
What is your relationship like with MF Doom?
Vast Aire:
Doom knows us, but he is closer to me we have worked on a few bangers throughout the years. Cannibal Ox are KMD fans! It was an honor to get him to rep for the IGC movement. He knows we always got his back!
Bill Cosmiq and Black Milk produced your new album, was it hard to get them to make that Cannibal Ox sound?
Vordul Mega:
Not at all. Bill is our brother so that raw vibe is there, we have chemistry.
Vast Aire:
Both of them are great producers. Bill Cosmiq is on another level and it was my duty to make sure the world heard him. We dont have a sound, we just create. I'm an Aikidoka, in a real fight I'm,not thinking about a form...or a Kata, I'm reacting to my opponents. Stop thinking we have a certain "sound". It limits us. And we have no limits.
Are you still cool with anybody from the Def Jux / Weatherman era?
Vordul Mega:
Yes, we are cool with most of them.
Vast Aire:
Indeed, some of them are on the current LP. We don't got beef with anybody currently and trust me nobody wants beef with us. We are peaceful but don't cross that line. Keep it real.
What new artist or producers are you into?
Vordul Mega:
If its not our crew, we dont like it.(
Vast Aire:
Crimson Godz all day. IGC! Lmao #BladeOfTheRonin
What are your takes on El-P & Killer Mikes Run the Jewels?
Vordul Mega:
It's cool, I like the single.
Vast Aire:
I didn't hear the first one? But I love Killer Mike and the Outkast fam. The new single was dope.
What's next after the new LP?
Vordul Mega:
Look for us on tours!
Vast Aire:
Tours, Videos, Documentaries, more music and im finishing up a book on metaphysics and spirituality. We are going to take over the game.
Comments
Post a Comment