Liks Interview.....

[Hambone (Guest)]

To The Boogie: Tha Liks discuss their love of 40s, groupies and Lil’ Bow Wow's lyin' ass!


By C-Lee

With their fourth album imminently dropping, and their nationwide tour with Xzibit just coming to a close, Tha Liks are full force ahead with a new video, innumerable side projects and even some community service thrown in. Despite being the first group signed to Loud Records (a roster which includes Mobb Deep, Wu Tang and Big Pun) and their fellow Likwit crew member, Xzibit, currently blowing up like a Dr. Dre helium balloon, Tha Liks have managed to stay off many folks’ radar for their 10 plus year career. With their current release, X.O., which includes production credits by the Neptunes and guest appearances by Defari, Xzibit and Kurupt, they’re hoping to change all that.

Tha Liks have formally appended their previous incarnation as Tha Alkaholiks to appease various unnamed institutions that banned their videos or denied them performance space due to their controversial name. The left coast’s biggest party crew, however, has by no means sobered up (although they could barely slurp down a double-shot with me, come on guys you know I ain’t lyin’). More than just a frat boy’s godsend though, Tha Liks’ production (by E-Swift) has garnered a loyal following for their old-school breaks and obscure samples (is easy listening music and Lawrence Welk random enough for ya?). And Tash and J-Ro’s spirited juvenilia MCing has grown up just a tad without losing its gruff.

As I waited to knock heads with the madcap trio, their publicist described Tha Liks’ tardiness as a result of a "rough night" and upon their arrival Tash hobbled in on crutches while E-Swift and J-Ro giggled like school boys at a fart convention.

[Hambone (Guest)]

I heard you had a rough night, what went down?

TASH: I don’t know, I just woke up in the hospital.

Are you kidding?

TASH: I don’t know for shit. (vague mumbling)

So, you have a new album, a new name, have Tha Liks arrived?

TASH: Boy, I think the Liks were here a long time ago but we were Tha Alkaholiks, now we the official Liks, I think its our turn now you know what I’m sayin? We’ve paid a lot of dues in this business, we put a lot of hard work in this album.

You talk a lot of shit about getting liquored up. I heard that DMC used to put down about 12 40s a day and Dana Plato could put down a gallon of vodka everyday, what’s your-

E-SWIFT: I think our claim to fame was early in the game. I was doing St. Ides commercials and the big St. Ides truck used to pull up in front of my house. And the dude would come out in a St. Ides uniform and just wheel on a dolly like 10 cases of 40 ounces to our house. We used to drink the majority of them and then sell the rest for like a dollar each.

J-RO: We used to drink em hot though. We had just moved in this house. We didn’t have no refrigerator.

E-SWIFT: We was too worried about buying drum machines, you know what I’m saying? Fuck a refrigerator.

Speaking of warm alcohol, will you guys do a toast with me?

J-RO: Oh yeah! We’ll do a toast with you. You got some drinks?

(Pouring double shots of scotch into plastic cups).

E-SWIFT: That is NOT a shot, girl!

J-RO: You’re spilling that shit! You already drunk, woman?! (To himself) I’m scared of her, man.

TASH: (wiping spilled scotch from his forearm) I’m gonna smell like a straight lush.

It’s all good.

TASH: (holds up cup.) We just takin’ it to the neck, straight down?

Sure.