Hip-Hop from the Heart & Brain : Earz Magazine

Hip-Hop from the Heart & Brain

July 13, 2007 · Words: Martin S ·

The Heart & Brain Interview We caught some minutes with Tzarism from Floridian production / emcee duo the Heart & Brain, who just released their debut EP ‘MBodiment’, which features eight tracks of soulful boom-bap niceness, and is available for free online. We asked the producer about his and emcee Vis Major’s project, the state of hip-hop, and his work producing for Apathy and Celph Titled.

Audio: ‘Brain Muscle‘ by The Heart & Brain

For those who don’t know, can you break down who / what the Heart & Brain project is?

Yeah sure, The Heart & Brain was an idea in the essence of Gangstarr and Pete and CL…present Madvillain… Producer and Emcee duo… Me being the Heart because I supply the heart beat (production) and Vis Major is the Brain (thoughts in lyric form).

Cool.. What is the history of the group, and how did you link up?

Well I migrated to Florida from Tennessee 10 years ago and immediately wanted to find and be part of the Hiphop scene… It didnt take long for me to be a regular on stage in Orlando performing and hosting local events. I eventually met and started building with a group called Magnus Fam, eventually becoming a duo called The Tenth… Vis Major and CL Mecca were the two emcees and I did production for the projects at the time.

We did a lot of shows and made plenty moves in FL together, (then) I drew to Vis Major couple years back about a project together just for the hell of it… The chemistry grew bigger than we anticipated and (we) started pushing it more than just a side project.

Nice man, you can definitely feel the chemistry on the tracks.. So what was behind the decision to release the MBodiment EP for free online?

Thanks….well, we felt the need to implant our sound to the heads since we are a new group trying to spread the sound… I was a solo emcee/producer before getting involved with Heart & Brain. I built a little buzz with an independently pressed album backed in 2003 and since then released a remix album “Beatz To The Future” in 2005. But we felt that the duo needs a full introduction before we put out the full length album. Basically we want heads to appreciate the music free and know it will be worth it to cop the LP. They wont regret it lol.

Will the album still be called MBodiment, and will it be all new tracks?

It will be the MBodiment LP and it will be a whole album and possibly video goodies as well.

You guested on Apathy and Celph Titled’s cut ‘Drink Specials’.. How did that come about?

That was dope… I produced the joint and meant for it to be on my actual solo album, but Celph was like I need that on my album! So we put it on that album and I may still release on mine when ready…

Hehe that’s a nice track man, So to completely change the subject.. On tracks like The Lost Cycle pt 1 on your EP, you deal with street and social themes- do you think rap / hip-hop is losing it’s social / political edge?

Hell yeah it is… Hip-hop has dumbed down so much since the turn of the century for the worst. Political/ social music is forced to very minimal outlets and has been completely removed from mainstream awareness. There are few like Common and Kweli that have made their presence. But most are pushed to independent status… I hate that HipHop is being represented by what TV impersonates… it’s not our culture…it’s the industry’s culture.

I hear that man.. It’s like a way of pacifying what was once a threat to those in power.. making it commercial and less dangerous.. so what hip-hop are you feeling right now?

Exactly. Right now- I listen to alot of instrumental music… but listen to a lot old shit lol- but from present day- I’m a fan of Premo produced shit, anything from Dilla…Sean Price got some dope shit too. Can’t wait to hear that new Common album.

What’s next for the Heart & Brain, have you got plans to tour with the album?

Yeah definitely on the agenda… we will release a mix cd right before the album mixed by our DJ Y-Not… and also a special edition 7inch. After the album drops we will be setting tour dates and possibly get the ball movin’… hopefully we can rock it out by your way in soontime.

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