by Paul James
I sat down (via email of course) with Ace Fadal & Blaxel Rose of the Crushproof Studios crew to get their take on the Kansas City hip-hop scene and their newly released album, Around The Way. Previously unfamiliar with the duo, I quickly learned that these local artists are even more interesting than their monikers.
Tell me about Crushproof Studios. What artists are involved?
Ace Fadal: Crushproof Studio was started back in 2003 by myself and my best friend Brendon O'Neal (DJ Heironymous Crotch). As the Bogmen, we would spin records at house parties and bars. We started KinesthetiC Records and formed CrushProof Studio as a way to get shows booked. It has evolved into audio/visual production, artist promotion, and will eventually be a publishing label.
CrushProof Studio as a unit is:
Ace Fadal - Founder and creator, Manager, Producer, Beat Maker, Promotion, Back up singer
Blaxel Rose - Emcee, Songwriter, media, audio/visual recording, web design.
Tracey Hillman - Female Vocalist, songwriter
Natural E - Female Vocalist, Emcee, songwriter
Maestro - Emcee, Producer
Brendon O'Neal - Co-Founder, Editor
Honorary Members:
Headfella - Emcee
Anna Cole - Female Vocalist
Les Izmore - Emcee
Matt Epstein - Guitar and Bass (dope stems)
Dustin Mott - Percussionist
Let's talk about "Around The Way". The beats seems to stand out to me. Who did the beat production? Where do you record?
Ace Fadal: Thank you. I produced all of the beats, but there were certain songs that Blaxel Rose chose and asked me to sample. After I showed him how I chopped up the beat, that is how we would decide the basic theme of the track. Alot of the production was music I was sitting on for about 5-6 years.
We record at my house (CrushProof Studio Lab). I make all of my beats using Ableton Live, A M-Audio Trigger Finger and an M-Audio Axiom 49 Key. We record everything in Ableton Live. I love that program!
Name a few artists that inspire your music.
Blaxel Rose:
Nas, DOOM, Slick Rick, Rakim, Ghostface. Thats who we listen to the most.
Ace Fadal:
We both listen to all genres of music. Im the biggest Wu-Tang fan in Kansas City. I would be lying if I dint say that this album has a heavy influence of say Biz Markie meets Odd Future. We had a specific idea in mind when we were arranging the album. We even cut some tracks from the album that didnt fit the concept.
What things inspire you when you're writing lyrics?
Blax: Life stories, my fam, what the world shows me when I travel (good and bad), and sometimes I just wanna have some fun and get loose on a track.
Do you write lyrics quickly or take time to analyze and think them through? Do you ever write lyrics for each other or share lyrics?
Blax: I write pretty quickly but sometimes if I wanna really get a point across I'll re-write it a couple times to make sure it feels right. Ace helps me out a hell of a lot when I get stuck. His production and direction can make a song really pop off. He actually introduced me to Wu and skating when I was younger. When I moved back from Vegas, we linked up not knowing that we each made music.
Ace: That is what was really important to me. There are alot of rappers that have great flow, but they have no lyrical content. If you listen to "Beans & Fat Back" it has a message, but its still fun.
What's your favorite track or tracks on "Around The Way" and why?
Blax: Space Jam is my fav. lol. It's got layer upon layer of nerdery that works well with a trife lifestyle at the same time (and it makes us laugh).
Ace: My favorite Track is Blak Sincere. Witty story telling with a gritty conclusion. If you think about it, Its like watching an episode of the Hill Street Blues or 21 Jump street, the one with Johnny Depp.
I'm a big fan of Space Jam. What inspired this particular track?
Blax: Growing up in the 80's. Seeing crappy low budget futuristic movies around that time that you can't help but love. Krull, Flash Gordon, Escape from New York, Cyborg... lol. Star Wars is legit but I just had to dig into that story (too epic). That track is about a futuristic merc that's a cross between "Dog the Bounty Hunter," and "Boba Fett." Somehow, it works...
Ace: That was one particular track that Blaxel sent me and told me to chop up. There are alot of songs like that he just knew I would smash up. The song made itself.
What are your plans for the album? For the future? Any live performances coming up?
Ace: We want to do some videos, we hope to tour. We want to polish our live performance first. See understand we have been sitting on this project for about 2 years and were originally going to call it "One, 2, Won Too" and release it on New Years Day in 2012, but we just got too busy to finish. We have talked about a live band or maybe just going on the road. Blaxel has connects in Cali and Arizona. We have already been invited to Vegas by Phil A., but who knows.
Do you play shows often? Do you find it difficult to find places or events to perform at in KC? How are the KC crowds?
Ace: I know a few people that promote events and book shows. For the most part if I want to "perform" I can just ask. It does depend on what part of town that you are in and most times its who you know. Whats really good though is that there have been a few movements begin in Kansas City, that are putting everyone "serious" about their craft on. Anarchy Movement and Shameless Management are 2 promotion teams that I would keep an eye out for. They are really just trying to promote local talent.
The crowds are just like the weather in Kansas City. It can be nice and sunny, 75* one day and 34* and ice cold the next. But I love my city. It really is about location. I have been at bad venues and have seen good shows, I have been at great venues and seen some bad shows. I know that when ever I would play "Space Jam", people would really dig that track. That was encouragement.
Let's talk Kansas City hiphop for a moment..... What do you think of the scene in KC?
Ace: I personally feel like the scene needs a little more cohesiveness among peers and show promoters. Its frustrating to only be able to attend a Hip Hop show on a Monday or Wednesday night, when people have jobs, you know what Im saying. So its hard for people to come out. The worse is when there are 3 different Hip Hop shows at 3 different venues, at the same time. I dont mind paying a cover, but talk to other promoters see what they are scheduling..... I mean even mob bosses have meetings with each other, lol.
But on a positive note, I will say, If you follow the scene, you can see that it is starting to change. People seem to be communicating about booking shows and I know they don't control the calendar at the venues. Something else really good is that there is so much talent coming out of KC right now and people are wanting to try new experimental stuff. The scene is alive!
With so many sample heavy beats used in hiphop today, do you think the beats have evolved much over the years? Why or why not?
Ace: Easy access to music programs make music evolve. You can literally record an idea on a smart phone and upload it to soundcloud, come back and work on it later. Thats been a game changer. In KC, everyone one knows everyone, so its not hard to hook up with a band or know someone doing different music than you do, and want to link. I dont think enough producers are purest, Im not. I sample rare 45 records from youtube. I like the idea of emcees using live bands to perform their music. I just put soul into my 16 pads.
Likewise, what do you think of female rappers? Do they have a more difficult time breaking out a female?
Ace: There are alot of female artist who do not get the props that they deserve. I would love to hear more from Nina Dot Ross, Ne'Kol Kris (now in Cali). But Im looking for a female emcee to add to the team. I hope to do work with a Female Emcee named "Stitch" shes real dope.
Let me think of the most cliche question I can ask you. Um.. If you could do a song with any rapper alive or dead, who would it be?
Blax: Marvin Gaye and Ace Fadal
Ace: This was fun! Thank you!
I'm not sure Marvin counts as a rapper, but that would certainly be an interesting collaboration. My favorite thing about
these two is how "down-to-Earth" they are. Not a lot of fronting here. Not a lot of hype. Just good rhymes over cool beats.
Ace and Blaxel are just getting started. If Around The Way is any indication of where they're headed, you'll want to keep an
eye on this Kansas City team.
- Paul James
@AuthorPaulJames
