Through email Domenique Douglass sent out a few questions to both Rob Lo and I to find out exactly what we had in store when we originally planned to do this album. Some of you may know the story, but hopefully by the end of this you will be more in tune with us.
1. To my understanding, you guys are from two different cities. When and how did you meet?
Rob: I met Illestrate in Chicago. We lived in the same dorm.. but three different schools used that building… I went to Columbia College Chicago and he went to DePaul. I didn’t even know he made beats back then. I just knew he was a Duke fan and I grew up rooting for the Tar Heels.
Jay: We met in 2006 when we both went to school in Chicago. I went to DePaul University and Rob Lo went to Columbia College. We met most often in the lounge area watching various sporting events with our friends from all of the schools in the UCC.
2. You both have a unique flow of sound, What inspired you to link up and work together?
Rob: I didn’t find out Jay made beats until I start seeing him post things on Facebook. He sent me to his youtube page… and I loved his beats… they were so refreshing and spacey… it was like an untapped sound that I discovered. I asked him how much he charged for his beats.. his answer was “hot rhymes” .. I knew from then that we would work together for a long time.
Jay: Both of us have similar interests and inspirations when it comes to music. Both of us like jazz music, lyrical hip hop music, and marijuana….so why not do an album with a blend of the 3?
3. How was the experience with producing a one artist/one producer album opposed to working with multiple producers?
Rob: It was a great experience in this case because me and Jay are on the same page. I’ve always admired albums where there was one producer… its like back in the day when an artist had one band that they worked with… it’s a signature sound that you can’t create when you use a bunch of different producers. Since this is only my 2nd completed tape.. I think I needed to find my sound, and I think this tape set the foundation for that sound, so I appreciate Illestrate for that.
Jay: It has always been a goal of mine to produce an entire album with a single emcee comandeering the vocal direction, while I can focus on the music. A lot of my favorite hip hop tandems go for the same direction; produced by mostly one emcee and one producer (Gang Starr, Eric B & Rakim, Wu Tang)
4. Do you believe the “one producer/one album” trend is a more strategic route as an independent artist?
Rob: I think any route that works to get into the game is a good one. At the end of theday it’s all about the artist/producer and his/her grind. I think that one producer and one artist is good when your trying to build a brand, and its appealing topeople who might want to invest, because they know they got everything they need to push the brand in house. I also want to mention that there was also one engineer who recorded mixed and mastered this tape, and that’s my boy Jay-O. And there was one artist for the artwork, another artist from North Carolina, Wr. D!ce. They were just as important to the tape as me and Jay.
Jay: No, not just for independent artists. I just personally feel that a “one producer/one emcee” direction will promise the most success, especially if each party is versatile in what they do. If the chemistry is right, it will end up being a smooth fusion of two different yet similar art styles in one package. It’s like mixing purple weed with blueberry kush; both are potent alone but they can make a deadly mixture!
5. What’s the name of your upcoming mixtape?
Rob: The name of the tape is Super Loud Blunt Raps, I’ve also got another project coming in the summer, but its untitled for now. I know Jay’s mixtape is due around that time also.
Jay: I have 2 projects on the horizon. Flight to The 4th Dimension with Wr. D!ce and my solo project The Shogun Flow.
6. What inspired the name and theme of ‘Super Loud Blunt Raps’?
Rob: SLBR was originally called “Hoody Seazon” when we first decided to do a tape together…. but the better the music started coming out, the more time we wanted to take to make it. We thought it might come out when it was more like big coat season instead of Hoody Season and we were right. The entire title is a play on words. Blunt raps.. meaning what we use to roll our weed up, and also meaning how real and personal I got with my ryhmes on the tape. “Loud” means the high grade of marijuana we prefer to smoke, and the level the music should be heard it. At the end of the day.. it’s a cool way to say, timeless music you can get high to.
Jay: I was thinking of a visual theme for the album and came up with the idea to present the album like a pack of cigarillos. When you walk into someones crib and see a box of dutches, you already know what it is. So with this album, we bring the super loud potent music for your ears and we’re gonna get you high!
7. After listening to the almost complete version of the album, I felt like I was being taken on a journey. Was that the initial goal?
Rob: For me, definitely, I want all my projects to take people on journeys. I know we both took a lot of time with the track list because we wanted it to be like a movie. I can’t say enough about the sound Illestrate has created; it really inspired me to write some personal lyrics.
Jay: We didnt go for a very strict direction in the lyrics other than necessary references to marijuana; Rob was very honest and clever with the lyrics throughout the entire album. We just wanted to bring you some introspective music with some funky beats and witty punchlines.
8. What are three words that describe the sound of ‘Super Loud Blunt Raps’ and why?
Rob: I would say… sex, weed, and jazz. These are my stories, my thoughts, my relationships, my fears… the weed is to put it all in perspective, and the jazz provides the score for it all.
Jay: Cinematic, Jazz, and Trees.
9. What makes Super Loud Blunt Raps original?
Rob: It was made strictly for the love of hip hop music and art, period. I didn’t make this project expecting to get signed or blow up. This was a passionate project for me, and I just hope that people can relate to what I have to say. I think a lot of young artists chase the fame and money.. I just want to be heard, and respected as one of the best.
Jay: Some of the songs are lyrical epics while others are more traditional with choruses. Rob is definitely mastering his own sword style on the mic. Overall we stick to what we’re good at while still trying to push the boundaries a bit with the cutting edge ideas.
10. Why did you two decide to go the independent route, rather than going after a major label? Is it because you know how to handle your style of music, and/or because you want to be in control of your career?
Rob: My hope with this project is that people will support it because it speaks for them. If we can build a fan base of our own… when we get in bigger situations, we can have more control over our music… for me that’s the biggest thing
Jay: I’ve personally never been interested in a major label. I feel like in order to be in full control over your career, it is worth it to work harder and learn how to do everything, rather than sign to a label and let people do certain creative things for you (such as album art, website etc). If I know how to do some of these things myself, and I have people on my team who can contribute raps, pictures, banners, videos etc, that covers a few things that a major label will try to do for me and take most of the credit for.
11. Not to place anyone in a box or genre, but what type of audience does ‘Super Loud Blunt Raps’ speak to?
Rob: I think it speaks to the struggle of the open minded youth in the close minded world. We all have dreams and have all been faced with that dilemma.. do I go with my head, or my heart? Well this is a story about a kid who went with his heart and the conflicts he faces in standing his ground. Conflicts with friends, family, girlfriends, the industry, and even himself.
Jay: Anyone who likes good music will enjoy this album. This album is geared towards, but not limited to, the marijuana culture.
12. If you had to sign off on your favorite track from the album, which track would it be?
Rob: My favorite track is “Drugs”. It’s been described as a “high thought” by some people and I love that!
Jay: It’s really hard to pick my favorite song. I’ll have to pick 2. ‘Kool’ and ‘Flyy Holiday’
13. What inspired “(replace with name of favorite track)”?
Rob: When I first heard the beat I got an image in my head of a man having a slow death, being eaten by all of his mistakes. A lot of people say I smoke too much or I drink too much. Sometimes they’re right, but at the end of the day that’s me…and those are my addictions sometimes, just like the NBA… pretty girls and fitted hats are, too. I wouldn’t be me without my good addictions, and my bad addictions, and at the end of the day, I guess they’re all drugs.
Jay: I can’t really speak on the vocal inspirations but I made the beat during a time where I was experimenting with other kinds of music and mixing genres into my style. I decided to make a faster dance type beat with the constant kick drum knocking. It worked out I suppose because Rob killed it! [Kool]. Flyy Holiday is a great track because it’s about hanging out with your family members and enjoying those good times with them.
14. Are there any future collaborations in the making?
