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Clear Soul Forces Interview

July 11, 2011

When I first met Clear Soul Forces, they already had something going for them: the cosign of one of Michigan’s best emcees. Detroit mainstay Finale introduced me them at a show in Lansing, Mich., after being so impressed with the group—Wimpy, J-Roc, E-Fav, and producer/emcee Ilajade—from a recent performance. Since that introduction in 2008, the group hasn’t disappointed: their undeniable work ethic and natural group chemistry has garnered cosigns from or collaborations with the likes of Justus League producer Khrysis, multiplatinum producer/D12 member Mr. Porter, Frank William Miller Junior of RappersIKnow, and many more. After successful performances at A3C and South By Southwest, they perform today (Monday, July 11) at the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival. With the growth shown between 2008’s Clear Soul Radio and last year’s The Departure EP, their music grind is just as official as their hustle. Read below for their tips on how to hold down the D nationwide, worst video game experiences, and highlights from their The Departure EP.

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Hir-O Interview

January 25, 2011

Hir-O, the self-proclaimed “Super Duper Music Producer Semi-Automatic Beat Machine,” is a mix of humbled confidence and organized eccentricity. His Detroit-rooted mixture of electronic music, soul and boom bamp has blossomed into an undefeated record in Michigan beat battles, and his instrumental album The Voyage Home (Download Here) closed 2010 as one of the year’s best. With placements for acclaimed Ann Arbor natives Tree City and Celsius Electronics, Lightheaded member Othello and various members of his BLAT! Pack crew under his belt, even more even more collaborations are in order for 2011. In a quirky, detailed interview with MichiganHipHop, Hir-O talks about the creative process behind The Voyage Home, clues readers into his future projects, and acknowledges the nunchucks that drape his neck during performances.


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Apollo Brown Interview

August 31, 2010

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Mich., Apollo Brown has created a name for himself as the go to producer that has that classic throwback sound circa mid 90’s with his own unique twist. Inspired by albums like Black Moon’s Enta Da Stage and production from greats like Dilla, Pete Rock, and Premier, he’s committed to keeping the boom bap vibe alive and thriving. He’s produced tracks for Little Brother, Finale, and is the man behind the phenomenal “Contra” by Danny Brown and eLZhi. With two instrumental albums (Skilled Trade and Make Do) and a Detroit Red Bull Big Tune championship (2009) under his belt, 2010 saw the release of his first album with Mello Music Group, The Reset. With emcees like Finale, Ken Starr, Grap Luva and others on the mic, Apollo steps to the plate to make this collection of remakes one of his best yet. MiHH had the opportunity to catch up with Apollo Brown as he breaks down how garbage his studio set up is, meshing his skills behind the camera with his skills behind the boards, why he will never be an emcee, and the abundance of upcoming projects he’s readying for the rest of the year.

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Phonte On Making “Hiding Places” With Elzhi

June 11, 2010

[via:TheUrbanDaily]

Crown Royale (Buff1 & Rhettmatic) & 14KT On Radio Wave Prague

May 19, 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGV4_34etkM

Shout out to Pufaz from Cream Magazine for the link

RR Cinema Vol. 2 – Danny Brown

March 24, 2010

[via:CDR]

RR Cinema Interviews Invincible (Video)

March 11, 2010

[via:CDR]

Obie Trice Interview (featuring MoSS)

January 6, 2010

While artists can build entire discographies about their lives before entertainment, many of them spend years running away from their past in one way or another. They’re either busy trying to live up to the accolades from their debut albums, or they’re stashing away records from their formative years. But Obie Trice realizes that to know where you’re going, you have to know where you’ve been. So after with two solid major label albums under his belt and his junior album Bottom’s Up on the horizon, Obie teamed up with his previous go-to producer MoSS (now signed with DJ Premier’s Works Of Mart) to release Special Reserve, a collection of songs the duo recorded between 1997 and 2000 before Obie got his deal with Shady Records. In a trip down memory lane with MichiganHipHop.com that’s equal parts funny and moving, Obie Trice talks about his working relationship with MoSS, growing pains with women and lost friends, and drinking do’s and don’t’s.

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eLZhi Explains “The Leftovers Unmixedtape” (Part 1 of 3)

eLZhi decided to share some brief stories behind each of the tracks from his “Leftovers Unmixedtape.” In this part (1 of 3) eLZhi talks about his songs “The Great,” “Deep,” “Red, Black and Green” and “Dream.”   Part 2 will be posted next week. Here’s what eLZhi had to say:

The Great
I linked up with Oh No, and recorded “The Great” a long time ago. It’s like five or six years old. Oh No sent me a beat CD, and that was one of the beats I chose. I recorded it to the track, I let him check it out, and he thought it was dope. We were planning to work on an entire album, but our schedules didn’t allow for it at the time. Originally “The Great” was leaked on a fan made mix around 2006.  I know it didn’t really get out to the people how I wanted it to, so I brought it back here, for the “Leftovers”. Continue reading →

Stretch Money Interview

December 16, 2009

stretch

While the title of Stretch Money’s The Punishment mixtape refers to his retribution of inferior emcees, it’s a reward to Michigan rap fans. Since his runaway hit “Takes Money To Make Money” and album of the same title, the East Side Detroiter has been saturating the streets with his witty bars and nasally, accented flow. Stretch’s rhymes even caught the attention of Detroit heavyweight Royce Da 5’9”, who used “Rebuild,” from his lauded Bar Exam 2 mixtape, to hand the young’n the torch of Detroit Hip Hop. After a break while his friend and label owner served a prison bid, but his partner back in action, Stretch is back with his partner to show his Detroit comrades and competition how it’s done. In an interview with MichiganHipHop, Stretch Money talks about his latest project, his friendship with Crane, and respect in the city.

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