Azariah: The scene in Rochester is growing it's a lot of artists from the town making music some are following the current trend of what popular now for instance the trap stuff and more hip pop type of sounds, some have a more traditional upstate NY sound such as Hussle, Quest on the production tip and myself. Not to many venues are messing with hip hop out our way right now because of the negative stereotypes rap music has and people not really knowing the culture we come from.
Kidd Called Quest: It's pretty much like Azariah have said, "It's pretty much like the music scenes everywhere else." You have the trend followers and the artists that do them. Rochester, NY is full of talented artists and producers. But one of it's biggest problems is the lack of venues that doesn't support hip hop for the simple fact the owners of some of these performances spots think it's bad for business and bring the wrong energy. The sad thing is most of the spots that did hip hop shows in Rochester are not around no more it might only be 3 spots left but then from what I've heard they really don't support it like that either. But in a way it's kind of good because now those who are serious and want to get their music and names out there have to go travel and build up their followers by doing shows and networking in other cities around the upstate NY region and NYC. There are a few dudes from the Roc making noise in other markets and their all traveling making moves and networking.
Ty Jones: How the group Young Black and Gifted came about?
Azariah: Young black and Gifted came about because me and Quest have been working together for years as early as 2006 when Quest produced a couple joints on my "Subject To Change" album. Our chemistry was always dope he knows what I sound good on. We wanted to form a group to keep pushing our movement. Quest came up with the name. The first name he came up with was actually called Livin Proof. We put a couple of promo items out under the name as well as spoke on it in interviews but Quest decided to change the name since Livin Proof was already used by other artists.
Ty Jones: Jay Hussle, How did you get linked up with Kidd Called Quest?
Jae Hussle: I actually first heard of Quest through some of his early instrumental tapes he used to consistently drop during the early 2G's. Once me and Azariah started plugging hard on the music together. I seen he had a direct plug to Kid Called Quest, Azariah linked us and I began doing business with Quest. In the beginning it was me getting a few beats here and there from Quest but I never really promoted any of them let alone my music during that time. Once my music began to drop more consistently, I started gaining more attention from well respected producers and Quest was one of them. Him and Azariah had a conversation and Quest mentioned that, "he liked what I was doing and that he could possibly help me out!" He was a man of his word and ever since then, he always keep something in the bag for me! It went from doing business with him to him sponsoring me! Really appreciate that brother!
Ty Jones: Tell us about the new project "The second Coming"?
Azariah: 2nd Coming is the follow up to Long Time Coming, the first album we released under Young Black and Gifted in 2013. We figured it was time to hit the people with another project and show the growth Quest and myself have had since then. LTC was recorded over a couple years with multiple engineers working on the project. 2nd Coming was recorded in 3 sessions in
about a span of a month or so with one engineer shout out to Midnite on that. So the sound is more consistent throughout the entire project. One of the few criticisms of LTC was that the project sounded like it had multiple artist due to my vocal tone changes up and the fact that the project wasn't recorded and mix and mastered by one engineer and we used different studios. Sonically, I feel it's better then LTC as well as lyrical. People can expect dope lyrics over dope production.
Kidd Called Quest: On this project I definitely wanted to make sure the production was more versatile and sound more better sonically. I also wanted to make sure it had a different feel than the last project.
Azariah: Iron Sharpen Iron was just a introduction to people to showcase what Hussle and I do. It was more of a promotional project to get a buzz around Hussle and me. Quest produced the first joint on the project as well as other brothers and even some production that has already been used by others. I came up with the name Iron Sharpen Iron cuz it's like me and Hussle bring the best out of each other. We got another joint project fully produced by Quest coming soon as well.
Jae Hussle: This joint project started as a bunch of features from freestyles and songs that I had with Azariah in the cut that I thought sounded good when played together. When I brought the concept to Azariah as an album he agreed. We added some more songs to tighten it up and the next thing you know the blades clashed and the sparks flew as Azariah came up with the title, Iron sharpen Iron! Kid Called Quest produced two songs on that album, "Divine" and "The Process." As far as the meaning behind it, well like my brother said it's all about bringing the best out each other!
Ty Jones: Where do you see hip hop going in 2019?
Azariah: Hip hop is evolving; its older now then when it first came on the scene and its audience has grown as well. I speak from the perspective of a dude in his early 30s so my feelings and what I relate to or consider "good music" is gonna be different from a dude that in his early 20s and didn't grow up on what I did I feel I'm from a different era. I see the music changing and some of its core values being lost. But it still good stuff out and there are mad varieties for people listening tastes as well.
Kidd Called Quest: Honestly, I don't know because things are always switching up. Right now you have the rhyming over samples without drums and you still have the trappers and you have the mixtures. I know samples are really big again on the popular scale. Dudes who make trap music are using samples more than ever now. They are incorporating the trap 808 drums over samples more consistently. But in a way it also sounds like the gritty boom bap sound is also starting to appeal again on the regular more consistent to. Hopefully being original becomes popular again.
Ty Jones: With the recent tragic passing of Nipsey Hussle. How did his death affected you musically?
Azariah: Honestly, I wouldn't say Nipsey passing affected me musically. I would say that the business sense that he had is gonna be missed and he helped lay the groundwork for independent artist like us.
Kidd Called Quest: I can't really say it really affected me musically. But when you think about it, it was a hard hit and loss to this era of hip hop. Nipsey was one of the few who ain't sound like the next artist.
Ty Jones: Kidd Called Quest, are you planning to work with Golden and Verse Essential in the near future?
Kidd Called Quest: Once we get YBG back up to where we had it. I'm going to start doing more projects again with other artists. I talk with Golden before about doing a EP. Once everything gets right I definitely will do a few EPs.
Ty Jones: The current state of hip hop involves streaming and social media views. How does it change the creativity of amassing a fan base?
Azariah: I think streaming can help get your music out to a broader audience and help you cultivate a fanbase with the right promotional tools, patience, timing, and investing in yourself.
Kidd Called Quest: I think it's great right now,because it's giving artist the ability to get their music out everywhere. At the same time it's also giving artist whose moving on their own a good chance to build a fanbase following and make some money as well. Right now streaming is a good thing I think.
Ty Jones: Kidd Called Quest, your beats are really soulful with a little boom bap in the mix. Of course we have some naysayers who may say the boom bap sound is dead. Do you think the boom bap style has run its course?
Kidd Called Quest: Hell no boom bap is the birth of everything. Anyone who says it's not appealing is an idiot. Really how you go say boom bap is boring or played out but think trap ect... is better. Boom bap is the foundation of every style of beats. That's like saying soul, rock, disco, and jazz is boring. When that shit birthed hip hop and R&B. Trap is boom bap influenced and people forget the 808, kick and snare was one of the main drums used in the earlier stages of hip hop music. The 808s been around since the 70s. It will never die out it may come and go but nothing can never replace that feeling boom bap gives you.
Ty Jones: What fans can expect from the Jay Hussle and Azariah's EP?
Azariah: Quality Music
Jae Hussle: Precision or in other words what you hear is what you see! No gimmicks, No fabrication, No fantasies!! Authentic and Precise is what they could expect!!!
Ty Jones: Azariah and Jay Hussle, what's the process like when creating rhymes when hearing a beat?
Azariah: I go off vibes. Sometimes I write it right on the spot if the music moves me to do so. Other times I take my time with it. But I'm not one of them cats that front like I don't write my rhymes. Everything I do is premeditated.
Jae Hussle: I usually just let the beat take me where I need to go!!! No need to force its all pain I'm going to give'em anyway!
Ty Jones: Azariah and Jay Hussle, when you hear a Kidd Called Quest beat, how does it motivate you to go in on the beat?
Azariah: Quest is dope and he pushes his stuff likes hes an artist so I give anything I'm working on with him that lil extra cuz I know it may get more attention.
Jae Hussle: Kid Called Quest is known to have a blazing sound! His beat styles, samples, kicks, snares, drums, creativity, etc... always up to par so that alone is enough motivation for me.
Ty Jones: Dream collabs on a Kidd Called Quest track. Name 5 artist.
Kidd Called Quest: At this point I don't even have any dream collabs. I just want to make good music and build a legacy and be able to fully eat off of music. There's a lot of artists I would love to work with. But here’s 5: Kendrick, Casanova, David Bars, Freddie Gibs and Ross.
Ty Jones: What's next for YBG?
Kidd Called Quest: Just gonna keep building and making music, We have another YBG project already done. Plus the Azariah and Jae Hussle Ep fully produced by myself. Jae Hussle also have a solo project I fully produced “Reflections... A Story Of My Lifetime” coming soon. I’ve been thinking about doing another
compilation soon not sure when I’m going to start but we just focused on getting the music out there to the people and building up the brand.
Ty Jones: Any business ventures outside of music?
Kidd Called Quest: We gonna just keep going and going and let everything fall into place.
Ty Jones: Where can fans follow you on social media?
Kidd Called Quest: Follow us @kiddcalledquest @smoothfreshness and @jaehussle585
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