[TWV x 2DBz Exclusive] The Away Team Talk Signing To Duck Down, New Album And Khrysis The Emcee

While most of the talk regarding the Justus League has centered around Phonte, Rapper Big Pooh and 9th Wonder, there is another producer and emcee tandem from that collective that has made some noise and are set to make a return in 2011. Sean Boog and Khrysis (aka The Away Team) are back at it and talked with TheWellVersed and 2DopeBoyz about their upcoming album, signing to Duck Down and how much they have improved since their last outing.

In early 2011 the duo will release Scars and Stripes, which will be their first release as artists on Duck Down records. For the tandem, their first album marks a new era for The Away Team and, as they explain, will showcase their growth and maturity as musicians.

“We’ve been working and we’re growing,” Sean Boog explains. “The music is more mature I guess you could say. We’ve gotten better. I’ve gotten better lyrically and he’s gotten better with the beats.”

The album, which will feature artists from both Duck Down records as well as 9th Wonder’s It’s A Wonderful World Music Group will also see Khrysis step from behind the boards and in front of the mic for the first time on a full album. He’s teased listeners with his microphone skills on several leaked songs in the past and says that he is excited to showcase his skills.

“This is actually the first album that I’m rhyming on and there’s also other producers on,” he says.

Khrysis also explains that the chemistry between the two has improved drastically since their first album in 2005.

“We’ve never really been this in tune working on an album since National Anthem,” Khrysis says. “We’re actually more in tune on Scars and Stripes than we were on National Anthem.”

Ultimately, the thrill for The Away Team is the fact that they have inked a deal with a collective that they grew up listening to. It gives them extra incentive to prove that they are that good as artists and deserve to be alongside the label that brought the world acts like Black Moon, Heltah Skeltah and Smif-N-Wessun.

“What people miss is that a lot of serious rappers are fans of (Duck Down’s) music. You have to be a fan of the music,” Sean Boog explains when asked what it is like to be a part of Duck Down. “So to be a part of the movement that I grew up on? You can’t tell me shit! And we did it on our own merit and never changed so it’s like a dream come true.”

Scars and Stripes is due out in February/March of 2011.