KOOL SPHERE (Of Verbal Threat) (September 2006) | Interview By: Zuka

   

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Interview was done in September 2006

Questions Asked By: Zuka

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Introduction.

What’s the deal fam? This is Kool Sphere and MC Reppond representing Verbal Threat. We’re a bi-coastal group. I was born and raised in Queens, NYC while Reppond was brought up in Los Angeles, CA.


History.

We met back in 1991. I have family out in L.A. so I was constantly traveling back and forth. After being kicked out of my house in Queens, I broke out to Cali for a bit and ended up meeting Reppond in school. Our friendship began as a result of hip hop… Reppond walked by me rapping a Grand Puba verse and before he sat down I finished it, which caught his attention. Back then the masses really wasn’t up on Brand Nubian, Gangstarr, etc. so we both bugged out that each of us knew what time it was.


DJ Premier & Bronze Nazareth.

Well, unlike all these new jacks running to get the new hot producer of the moment, Verbal Threat initially got into hip hop music with the plans of exclusively working with Primo. After years of working in the studio on tracks we started running into Preme in random spots from NYC to Cali. Finally mutual friends helped put things together wanting to see the collab go down. In the midst of Premier working on Christina’s album we connected in Cali and NYC back at Headqcourterz.
Bronze Nazareth went down after me hearing his production on RZA joint. I was looking for that dark grimey style of production that seemed to fade out as a result of the candy rap taking over the game. After connecting with Bronze we exchanged catalogs of music to see what would go down. After hearing his shit I made sure we went ahead and got a couple tracks for the album. I was instantly impressed with duke… The first joint we did was Autobiography which might be one of my favorite tracks of all time. It was a pleasure working with him. After linking up with Kool G I knew Bronze would come up with something ill, so I hit him up for the reckless eye ballin joint.


Guru & Kool Keith.

It was a real experience rocking shows with them dudes, especially Guru. He’s another real cool cat that I’d run into all over the U.S. in random spots. The only real funny thing about that tour was actually being there.


“Reality Check” video.

Preme was in Germany at the time of the shoot, but we had to shoot regardless because time was of the essence. We had video directors from G-Unit shoot it and it came out bananas. The concept is real hip hop from the streets of NYC to rockin a rooftop in Brooklyn all in action. Real fresh. We will debut it very soon.


“Golden Era” – the album title.

That is the time frame that influenced us. Real hip hop has been ignored for a while now by the masses. We’re bringing that golden era of 1988-1992 era and bringing it back with a 2007 style.


“Golden Era” –production.

Premier, Da Beatminerz, Wu-Tang’s 4th Disciple, Mathematics, Bronze Nazareth, Babu from Dilated, Reef, etc.


“Golden Era” – guests.

There’s one surprise guest I can’t drop because it’s still in the works. The only hint is that he recorded with Premier in the past. We have Sadat X on the Beatminerz track. We kept the MC collabs short because this will be our official entrance into the game on a professional level. Kool G Rap appears as well. That’s a real cool cat as well. Definitely a pleasure working with him. Queens rep!


“Golden Era” – distribution.

By the time this gem is done we will have major distribution, as well as having it online all over the place to purchase. I distributed the Reality Check single in the U.S. and overseas.


Full studio album with Premo?

We were drawn in initially from all the Gangstarr albums. See, unlike a lot of new cats, we copped those joints when they were new releases. I listened to step in the arena so much that I had to put it away for a while. That and Daily Operation are one of my all time favorites. The plan never changed. We plan on that still in the future. As of right now we have to work out schedules that match up.


Most pleasant artist/producer to work with.

DJ Premier, DJ Premier and DJ Premier! We have a little bugged out history between us and Preme, so it was real dope to finally get into the studio and build. We worked on reality check in NYC and Hollywood as he was working on Christina’s album. He had Nas come through the L.A. spot, which was cool. Kelis was working in one of the other studios at the time.


Last words.
Keep an eye out for the Reality Check video about to debut very soon and of course stay tuned for the Golden Era album by Verbal Threat. A lot of dope production and concepts on this album. Check out Sirius Satellite channel 40. DJ Premier has a show called Live From Headcquarterz… Really ill show. Peace out to everybody repping that real shit worldwide. We’re about to change the game and raise the bar! Real shit. Verbal Threat The Golden Era. Peace 5000!