NEWS
EVENTS
Slaughterhouse Interview
RnB/Hip Hop | Thursday 17th May 2012 | Osh
Tab, of The Guestlist Network, went and had a chat with the members of underground hip-hop group Slaughterhouse. It went well, apart from a bit of tension related to Tab’s question about their new single, My Life. It samples eurodance/ pop band Corona, yet the song is no less badass than any other Slaughterhouse record. Saying its vibe is “a bit different” is bullshit. It is about family, children and loss of grandmothers.
Here’s the transcript:
Tab: How’s it going guys?
Slaughterhouse: Hello. Hi. Alright. Good.
T: We caught your gig last night and we smashed it. How did it go for you?
Joell Ortiz: It went well. The fans were really receptive, the energy was up, we were excited to be in the UK, it’s the beginning of our european tour for “Welcome to Our House”... it’s all been good.
T: The vibes were crazy - I can tell you have really good chemistry with the fans. How did you like London?
Ortiz: Thank you. London is awesome, Nando’s is really good to us. We love it here. It’s a beautiful thing.
Joe Budden: It’s been a while since we’ve been here, so the anticipation has been huge. It’s all for the fans - fans are extended family, that’s how we see it. Most of the people that come to these shows have been through the grind with us over the years, so every time we make an achievement it feels the same for them as it does to us.
T: Have you tried the weed in London?
Budden: No.
T: You guys are veterans of the game, who’s the new blood that you like?
Royce Da 5’9’’: New blood? I like Drake, if he’s still considered new to you - he’s at album number two. I like J Cole a lot. Actually I think hip-hop is in really good shape right now, considering who we have to pass the torch to - A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar...
T: Any UK artists that you like?
Royce: You know what, I’m not super familiar with a lot of UK artists, I’m just being honest.
T: Do you guys have a lot of fun on tour?
Crooked I: I don’t know if you caught any of our web posts, but we have a blast, it’s non-scripted, everything is just real. It’s a big party and I guess you can tell when you see us on stage.
T: Where else is the tour going?
Ortiz: All over the place - Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Poland... this hip-hop thing is beautiful, allows us to see the world.
T: You are all from different parts of the US. What was the link that got you all together?
Ortiz: We did a record for Joey’s (i.e. Joe Budden) “Halfway House” mixtape, we put the record out and we always said it was the fans who formed the group. It was so well received on the internet and all the underground places. They just wanted to hear more from all of us and we decided to work together... we’re here now.
T: What about your inspiration, is it based on the street life or how does that work?
Budden: These brothers constantly inspire me. Life is inspiring for me as it comes - things that you witness, things that you experience - all that. I personally try to never force it - if i’m not inspired I just chill, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem recently.
T: What are the top tunes on your ipod now?
Royce: I’m listening to very little rap, actually. I listen to songs out of my phone and my car, and cd’s... I still buy cds I never stopped doing that - Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, Alicia Keys, I go from way back to current. I try to switch it up, expand my horizons as far as my ear is concerned.
T: The track with Ceelo Green is a bit sort of different vibe from the old stuff, what can you tell us about that?
Crooked: The new single My Life, shout-out Ceelo Green, really came through on that one, really murdered the video. I don’t know if it’s a different vibe, it’s really a celebratory track, inspirational. When I first heard the track I knew I wanted to rap on it.
Budden: I wanna expand on it. That’s a crock of bullshit. To the viewers, so they don’t misconstrue it - don’t just skim through the music, if you listen to the words on My Life, Crooked is talking about how far he’s come and the things he has be able to accomplish solely based on hip-hop and his craft, I’m talking about my child, Joell is talking about his grandmother passing, Royce is talking about his father - this is inspirational and it’s celebratory, but it’s only celebratory because of where we come from. If we didn’t come from rough beginnings, this wouldn’t be such a big deal.
T: If you were like invisible for the day, what trouble would you get up to?
Ortiz: I’d probably go check Barack Obama, see what he’s talking about behind the scenes. See what’s going on with the politics and things like that, I don’t think I’d get into trouble. I get into trouble when i’m visible. If i were invisible I’d just spy on a bunch of people picking brains and apply it to my music.
Budden: I don’t think my answer to this question is suitable for TV. I think I’d just shut up, but I would like to be invisible.
Royce: I would go to Rihanna’s house, see if I can get an invisible erection.
Crooked: I would go to the courthouse and eliminate all the paperwork they got on me. Monday invisible, Tuesday innocent.
T: What if you guys had a superpower?
Budden: Aaalright now... (glad the conversation definitely swayed)
Ortiz: If I had a superpower I would heal people, including myself, I’m all damaged. I’d heal my liver.
Budden: I always said that i would just wanna read people’s minds. That would be amazing.
Royce: If I had a superpower I’d turn myself invisible, and go to Rihanna’s house. Thank you.
Crooked: That’s a tough question, because I’m a big fan of comic books, but I probably would fly.
T: What’s the most exciting thing you guys are up to this year?
Ortiz: The album. Can’t wait for it to be in stores. Welcome to my house is out this summer. There’s no one thing on Earth more exciting right now.
T: Can you give us an exclusive?
Budden: No. The album. For who’s buying it, that’s the only exclusive.
T: Where would you take us out, is there a special place, like a club you like?
Royce: I’ve never been much of a club man. In Detroit, we mostly do strip clubs. I don’t know if you are really familiar with with strip clubs here, but back home we are throwing very large amounts of money all over the place for no reason, then wake up and regret it the next day - that’s the fun.
Ortiz: I’d probably take you back to my condo and show you “the yawa”. That’s it.
Royce: Don’t aks (sic) what “the yawa” is.
T: We have a readership of 1,000,000. What would you like to say to them?
Slaughterhouse: Buy My Life on iTunes. Now. And follow @joellortiz @joebudden @royceda59 @crookedintriago on Twitter. That’s it.
