Slaughterhouse Discuss Side Projects And The State Of Hip-Hop
Hard Knock TV’s Nick Huff Barili interviewed the Slaughterhouse crew last month at Paid Dues in San Bernadino, California and got the scoop on future projects, creative influences and why hip hop legends don’t get the props they deserve.
Although the world awaits the group’s sophomore project, don’t think that the elite four aren’t busy in the studio. Crooked I recently released the “Million Dollar Story” EP; a pre-album to hold fans over while he settles his business situations.
“I think it’ll give the fans some taste of what the record is gonna be,” he said.
Royce also estimates a July rerelease of Success Is Certain, which takes a 180 from 2004’s grim Death is Certain.
Barili opened the floor on the subject of influences, to which Joell Ortiz professed his allegiance to ‘golden era’ hip hop. While he does listen to a few new artists, he wants to ensure that if his pen is influenced it’s by the era that he was raised on. Royce supported his argument, giving a nod to ‘throwback’ emcee J Cole.
“You not from this era, this era is different. It’s a lot of crazy emcees in this era [like ] J Cole. And they’re throw-back emcees, they probably vibe off of that era. It was a more impressionable era for us because we were young and you’re impressionable at those ages. Then you get to an age where you’re desensitized and nothing really moves you. You can recognize talent, but it don’t move you. It don’t make you wanna dress a certain way or nothing like that; you grown. You not hanging posters on the wall so it’s just what it is,” he explained.
But Ortiz wasn’t as forgiving.
“Besides the dope dudes there’s a lot of wack dudes right now. People are listening to music with their eyes,” he said. “I can’t get swagger out my headphones.”
Crooked I chimed in and spoke to the need for rappers to know their history.
“I wish more artists felt the need to do their research when it comes to approaching this shit called hip hop.”
Ortiz asserted that they’re not the only ones that feel that way; noting that the group itself was formed because of “kids rooting for real stuff.” He also speaks to the group’s focus on music.
“We seem outlaw in interviews and stuff like that because we really don’t give a eff about some of the questions that are being asked we just concentrate on music.”
So what else influences them creatively? According to Ortiz, new experiences. Using a trip to Los Angeles’ Skid Row as an example, he stressed the importance of traveling outside of your element; for better of for worse.
“It’s not always seeing the glorious things that traveling brings you, sometimes it’s seeing the most messed up things that helps you out. Music is allowing every one of us to see the best and the worst of the globe; of the world. And that’s just a blessing bro. It’s something to talk about, it’s something to think about,” he told Barili.
Others agreed, Royce adding that seeing the world has helped him in maintaining a universal style, and Crooked I crediting his versatility in rhyme to his nomadic childhood.
Appropriately Barili asked who the group feels doesn’t receive their propers in the game, and Crooked I named Elzhi to everyone’s agreement.
Joell Ortiz said the legends, namely Kool Herc.
“None of this stuff goes on without them.”
Joe Budden attributes this to the fans.
“The majority of hip hop fans are not as savvy and as in the know as maybe they should which leads to the legends being looked at like shit, it leads to guys like Elzhi with all the talent in the world not getting his just due.”
In the words of Crooked I, “Fans need to be educated.”
