X-CLAN  (May 2007) | Interview By: Eddie Gurrola

       Dubcnn recently got into contact with rap legends X Clan to discuss the rap game. We learn about their new album, “Return From Mecca,” and find out about their views on topics such as the current state of hip-hop and how the Internet has effected today’s music. Read on to find out much more in this exclusive interview.

As always we have the transcript for you to check and please feel free to send any feedback regarding the interview to: eddiegurolla@dubcnn.com

 

Interview was done in May 2007.

Questions Asked By : Eddie Gurrola
 

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Dubcnn: As a group, you’re considered pioneers of hip-hop. Do you feel you still have something to prove in the rap game?

I don’t feel X-Clan has anything to prove as a consistent messenger group, but in the face of independent music we pay dues everyday - through touring, in-stores, community events, etc.


Dubcnn: What caused the re-formation of the group?

The evolution of X-Clan was needed from the 1990’s version of our group. We had to learn how to address a new generation and a new age of music. Most of the new X-Clan members have been with our organization for years outside of the spotlight. The purpose of each member will continue to unravel to the masses as our popularity continues to grow. Each member of X-Clan are also parents of children of this new generation, so our passion to balance hip hop is more than just selling units, it’s about offering elements of the Golden Era that we enjoyed in the early 90’s. Freedom, equality and respect are few of the elements that made us a hip hop nation.


Dubcnn: Is the group’s re-emergence an indicator that you guys feel something needed to change in today’s hip-hop scene?

Yes. I feel there needs to be a seasoned voice of revolution in today’s hip hop scene. Angry music pushes away our elders, [and] without the elders as our guidance, hip hop music has become barbaric, materialistic, and repetitious. X-Clan as a messenger group offers you solid production and intelligent content. This combination opens doors for not only underground music, but for commercial artists that are trapped in a thug image.


Dubcnn: What is your opinion of today’s hip-hop, and what do you feel is missing from tracks heard on the radio?

I am disappointed at the level of composition that is accepted by major music corporations. There are so many artists that represent the new Curtis Mayfields, Nina Simons, and Miles Davises, that will never be heard because of the square standards of pop music. Rap music did not spawn from pop radio, it spawned from the streets. What is missing from hip hop is the true and honest expression of artists and not opportunists.


Dubcnn: Do you feel that the Internet has changed hip-hop for better or for worse? It has certainly opened more avenues for artists, but at the same time many people feel that the quality of music had gone downhill since the Internet became a major factor.

On the levels of promotion the Internet is a valuable source, but the overload of music and information has created a false sense of success from up and coming artists. You can never pay the dues of legendary artists sitting at home behind a computer. 50,000 hits to your Myspace page does not mean that you are hit artist. The lack of dues in the hip hop industry has decreased the sales in the industry. How can a consumer know to trust a good artist versus a viral market made [by a] websurfer?


Dubcnn: Let’s get into your album, “Return From Mecca.” There are many tracks on the album produced by Quazedelic. How did the group link up with him?

Quaze is our young link to Parliament Funkadelic. Back on my first project “To The East Blackwards”, I sampled a lot of George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, now in 2007 I’m proud to have producers like Quaze that allowed me to expand our original concepts.


Dubcnn: What was it like working with DJ Quik on the album?

DJ Quik was a kind of destiny fulfilled, X-Clan and DJ Quik use to tour in the early 90s together when hip hop was more universal. Our relationship proves that there is no division between gangsta music [and] conscious music, it’s about our respect and love for the game.


Dubcnn: What’s new with the promotion of the album? Can we expect another single or video any time soon?

Currently, we are on a tour with ICP. We are promoting to a market similar to the Geto Boys horrorcore following of the early 90’s. These types of tours expand our market base past the stereotype of the “afrocentric” market. The next song we are promoting for a single is “Voodoo.” It is a song about the spiritual elements that come out of people that enjoy good music. When you deal with elements, it relates to all people. We hope that people observe this song as a universal offering towards unity in hip hop.


Dubcnn: What is the atmosphere like when you guys are on tour?

The current crowd that we are serving are known as the “juggalos.” They have a specific theme and taste for the hip hop that they consume. We are listening to ICP’s music on stage, [and] I’m reminded of the original elements of N.W.A. So, when X-Clan performs the future of the funk, it is good to see a theme crowd accept evolution. I am having a good time entertaining and offering knowledge to an audience that was judged to not gravitate towards our message of positivity.


Dubcnn: That’s very interesting, and it must be a great thing to see on stage. Anything else you would like to say to the fans?

I would like to say, not only the audience of X-Clan, but to the nation of hip hop, [that] we have divided into so many subcultures that we have become prejudice towards each others’ music. It is time for us to embrace variety in our videos, in our radio, and in our streets. Only then will we achieve peace in our hip hop culture. Ask yourself why The Roots didn’t go platinum on Def Jam. Was it the corporation not pushing them or the conscious audience not stepping up to make them double or triple platinum? We are currently in a campaign with the slogan “Stop complaining, Start listening”.

This movement will show that the commercial markets and sponsors have ignored the music that the people are currently asking for in the face of the negative monopoly [of] hip hop. Positive music has always existed, but is rarely supported. It is time for the people to do their homework and research on where and who they are. In the face of the confusion of what hip hop needs as a medium for all subcultures to exist in harmony, we are suggesting a time shift of when specific music is played. In the early stages of hip hop, our music was given a time frame from 9 PM to 3 AM. We suggest if adult lyrics and content are to be played on commercial stations, it should be at a time that adults are up and living the lifestyle of that music. This leaves the morning shows through the work day, through the school day, and throughout the evening to be family oriented radio. This will give positive and intelligent music rotation that we lack, and also allow adult artists to keep their sponsorship and rotation. We hope that this time shift will open the door for alternative writing from popular adult artists.