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Dubcnn Exclusive – RH Bless
By: Chad Kiser
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Dubcnn: What's going on Bless, how you feeling?

I'm feeling strong and successful. First, let me say thank you to Dubcnn for extending its love and support for true hip-hop, no matter where it's from. I greatly appreciate it.


Dubcnn: No doubt! You have been on your job for a long time now. How is the Block Exchange movement going?

The movement, which we call Block Exchange Grindwave, is going according to God's plan. I continue to hustle and pray relentlessly. I'm feeling good about 2010. I'm looking to a lot more business and music opportunities on the west coast with some artists, as well as overseas.


Dubcnn: For people that don’t know - - break down the Block Exchange movement and what it exactly is… 

The Block Exchange movement, the grindwave, is a proactive, relentless and aggressive approach to creating and controlling our own destiny. Our plan is to create this success through our love, passion and dedication to and for hip hop music. We are young, gifted enterprising individuals that utilize our intellect as well as our street savvy business minds to build. We are artists, entrepreneurs and all around good people with various talents and abilities.

There's a very strong will and belief in what we do that we carry with us. That power comes across in the music we release and the visuals that accompany it. We are constantly producing, creating and putting out material. Maintaining the integrity and upholding the elements of the hip hop culture is very important to us. At the same time, so is building a brand and bringing forth product that is commercially viable. Everyday we hustle and pray. That is the Block Exchange way. Hustle and pray.


Dubcnn: Tell us about Block Exchange's upcoming LP The Hierarchy of the Street. Who's on it?

To get straight to the point, the album is dope, and it dropped on the 15th. The production is banging with work from Trakdealaz and the Cannibus Club to name a couple. The lyrics and songs are strong and will stand the test of time. We are making timeless music.

Street records, club records, radio records, records for the ladies, we got them. We covered all the grounds well. This album will only begin to establish the Block Exchange sound and brand because we are only just beginning. There's only one feature outside of the camp and that's Push Montana. Push is family and one of the freshest coming out of New York right now.


Dubcnn: What can hip-hop heads expect to hear?

Everybody can expect to hear a lot of energy, passion, bouncy beats, clever rhymes, catchy flows and hooks, and all around good music from individuals that clearly sound like they love this music.


Dubcnn: Not only is RH Bless an emcee, but you’re also a video director. Talk to us about some of your work. 

My resume is growing as we speak. I’ve shot and directed videos for several artists on the Big Apple’s underground scene; too many to single out any particular.

Since this is a west coast publication, I will single out the homie Sabotawj out of San Diego, whom I have worked with. Another dope artist and a good friend of mine. I also produce and direct indie films and documentaries. The videos are just practice for the feature film that's in the works.


Dubcnn: And B.L.O.C.K Report DVD?

B.L.O.C.K. Report DVD is released monthly and features those who represent this hip-hop culture to the fullest. No matter where you are from. It focuses on the business, life, objectives, culture and keys to success in the world of hip-hop entertainment and multi-media.

I understand there’s another Block Report title on the west coast done by Thizz Nation. I am hip-hop, so I have my ears and eyes open to what's going on in many places. I'm everywhere. Respect to the Thizz Nation camp and to what they do.


Dubcnn: What about its Euro distribution deal? 

My distribution deal is through a company out of the UK. It services all of Europe, so I'm looking forward to seeing what effect the DVD has on the regions it hits. I have eight volumes that I've dropped in the U.S. and my first volume just dropped in Europe in February.


Dubcnn: Have you seen Thizz Nation’s product out on the east coast?

I haven't seen any Thizz Nation product on the streets of New York. I came across their stuff on the Internet in the midst of promoting and pushing Block Exchange projects. I reached out to the brothers through Myspace to introduce myself and to see if we could chop it up and see what comes out but I never received a response.


Dubcnn: You've worked with a couple of west coast artists in the past. Who are you looking forward to potentially working with in the future out here?

I've been on projects with a few west coast artists like Sabotawj, Bo Roc and 40 Glocc to name a few. I’m looking forward to working with plenty more soon. There’s a lot of dope talent out west just as there is in other regions that need to be exposed.


Dubcnn: Who are some of the newer artists on the west coast that are buzzing out in the streets of NY?

Nipsey Hussle, Jay Rock and Roccett are known in NY. They are the ones spoken of when the new west coast emcees convo pops up. They're making the impact that I would like to make on the west coast.


Dubcnn: If you will, breakdown the experience working with each of those artists you named.

Sabotawj?

Sabotawj is a good friend of mine, and the first person from the west to bring me out to San Diego to his town to rock with him. It was a dope experience. Did a few shows, shot a video while I was out there as well. Him and I recorded a whole project together actually in less than two weeks time. We work pretty fast together and the chemistry compliments one another. He's dope and greatly underexposed. He sends me records all the time to hop on and he will tell you himself, he gets those records right back the same day if not the next day. Recorded and done.


Dubcnn: Bo Roc?

I wasn't fortunate to be in the studio at the same time with Bo Roc. Homie is a living legend in hip hop not only to those from the west coast but to anybody anywhere that knows this culture and this music. He's been putting it down for years.


Dubcnn: 40 Glocc?

Again, I wasn't fortunate enough to be in the studio at the same time with 40 Glocc but technology made this one happen. 40 got busy on the “Respect Me” record we did. That record was put together by a mutual associate of ours. I’ve yet to meet 40 in person.


Dubcnn: How did you hook up with these artists on the west coasts?

Most of my connects with the west coast artists came from Internet networking, and then a single trip I made to San Diego to meet up with Sabotawj. He made the connection with Bo Roc, who is his homie. My homie Dap C from the UK made the connection with 40 Glocc and brokered that situation. I look forward to working with west coast artist first hand face to face. The type of person I am, I'm going to always go around the technology and try to get at dudes directly but I'm always ready to do what's needed to get the work done.


Dubcnn: Last words for Dubcnn?

No last words, only opening words to hopefully build a long lasting union and support of one another. I greatly appreciate the time and attention. Sad thing is that there are several publications right in New York where I'm from that don't give the support needed to NY artists. With that said, much love to Dubcnn. I fucks with y'all.

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