THE PLAGUE :: WE'RE SPREADING.

From Frank151 Magazine • Issue 11
Interview by Breezly Brewin of Juggaknots.
Article by Graham Sibirsky & Breezly Brewin.

You used to see them all the time. When Washington Square Park was open at night. When MCing was “all about the lyrics”. Before “Giuliani time”. Before you couldn’t congregate on New York streets, without cops movin’ you for no reason.

Someone held a beat up radio, with dented speakers. When batteries died, heads would beat-box while freestyles took turns dancing under street lights. Some flowed in circles, others were more sporadic. The unspoken rule: Don't disrespect the cipher!

This rule was broken many times. Honors had to be defended. An eclectic crowd would gather – all captivated by the sight and sound of a live Hip Hop battle! Spectators cheered when an MC really killed it, until - just as suddenly as it had begun – it was over. Defeated MC’s left in a hurry, or pounds were exchanged, a sign of mutual respect. As the crowd dispersed, a call would rise up … “The Plaaaaaague … is spreeaaaadiing!”

In high school, you had jocks, brainiacs, tough guys, cheerleaders, the “in” crowd, etc. In the rap game, you have “cliques” too - progressive, underground, gat-packers, backpackers, and straight up gangstas. Artists in many crews are so similar that their ‘fam’ seems like the result of an experiment in biogenetic cloning.

Sure, thugs have always run with thugs, pimps with pimps, revolutionaries with revolutionaries & so on, but it gets dull when every member of a crew acts the same way, talkin’ about the same stuff, in the same flow, every time.

With this, I introduce “The Plague”, a hip-hop family so different from each other; you might wonder why they run together at all. Different musicalstyles, lyrical flows, racial & religious backgrounds, views on politics and life - yet, when you see them perform or hear their tracks, there’s undeniable chemistry. And it’s those very contrasts that make their sound so refreshing.

Once a self described “battle crew” comprised of founding members LR Blitzkrieg, GMS, Wild Child, Pumpkinhead and a few others, The Plague set out to make a name for themselves; inspired by EPMD, K-Solo, Redman and Das Efx’s winning combination “The Hitsquad”.

LR BLITZKRIEG: It was really all about honing our skills. We used to build off of each other in ciphers and go out and battle in the streets.

L-R: Mecca, Substantial, WildChild, Tonedeff, PackFM, GMS, DP-One, Blitzkreig, Kameel-Yen The Plague eventually evolved from a rowdy battle crew intosomething more: a family of MCs, DJs, B-boys and producers, dedicated to their crafts. The current roster is: HYDRA(GMS, Wild Child, LR Blitzkrieg), Pumpkinhead, Bad Seed, PackFM, Mecca, Substantial, Kameel-Yen, Tonedeff, DJ DP ONE … and the newest member Jin, who entered the hall of fame a 7 week battle champ on BET'S 106 & PARK and recently signed to the Ruff Ryders label.

Well known for their live performances, HYDRA began organizing and hosting hip hop showcases, MC battles and open mics. Inevitably, their organizational skills were parlayed into club promotions and as Stormtroopers Entertainment, they have arranged many industry events and Hip Hop/Reggae jump offs, jam-packed with celebs and tons of gorgeous women - not your average male bonding session, as hip hop showcases can sometimes be. Hydra feels that being part of both the underground scene and the club circuit - from the smallest lounge to the biggest venue - is essential to their success as artists.

GMS: ‘Your ear to the street’ is a common catch phrase, but you have to have your ear everywhere …the streets, clubs, radio, underground. You can’t say ‘I only like this kind of music’, you can’t pigeonhole yourself. You gotta’ be versatile”.

After a hot promo for Stretch & Bobbito’s radio show (89.9fm), got him recognition, Pumpkinhead (aka PH) signed to Makin’ Records and released “Dynamic”, his first single, which went to the #1 spot in Hits, CMJ and Gavin charts. So did his follow up, “Wack M.C.'s”. After that, a collabo with Word A’ Mouth for a Skeme Team single, “Con Artists”, went to #45 on Billboard's Top 100 Hot Rap Singles. This lead to a tour with the Lyricist Lounge, opening for the Goo Goo Dolls, all over the United States.

Pumpkinhead callin his beach. PH has since toured Japan, Australia, Amsterdam and Sweden. His current album on Makin' Records, “The Old Testament”, is a compilation of his older material. “The New Testament” with production from Geology, Jean Grae, Shawn J Period, Mr. Khalyl, Will Tell, Wild Child, Apathy and others, is highly anticipated.

The Bad Seed’s first single on Makin’ Records (“Dem Grits”), also entered at #1 in Gavin and CMJ, followed by collabos with PH and Meatpie (as O.B.S.). After that, Seed put out a blazin’ independent single with Fat Beats distribution, "For The Kids". It was a huge success, getting radio play from major stations around the country and attracting the attention of FunkMaster Flex, who put Seed's next single "UHHNNH” on his Mixtape, Vol.4, on Loud Records."UHHNNH” also sold 27, 000 copies independently. He’s currently putting finishing touches on dozens of new songs and preparing for release on a major label.

Many of The Plague members are recovering battle addicts. Some of their more famous showdowns are legendary. “Blaze Battles”, “Braggin’ Rites”, “Supa Bouts”, the “88hiphop” Radio Show and the “Hookt Battles”. Everyone in the Plague has tested their mettle at some point, in high publicity cash contests, at shows and in street ciphers for name and reputation.

Most of the Plague members do more than MC. Florida transplant, Tonedeff, is probably one of the fastest MC’s ever (check the Plague track “Most High”, his singles “Ridiculous" and “Clear em out”w/ KRS-ONE). He also has QN5 Music, a record label and production company consisting of him and 4 other top-notch producers.

The multi-talented characteristic seems to “infect” the whole team. Hydra and PackFM can be seen in the Organic Films Hip Hop documentary “Freestyle”. WildChild has toured the world as part of the musical “Stomp”, stared in an upcoming IMAX movie, several independent films, HBO specials and has scored two off Broadway musicals.

DP One, Pumpkinhead’s DJ and official turntablist for the crew, practices five elements of hip-hop (he also rhymes, writes, produces and dances), but considers himself a DJ first. Also a member of Turntable Anihilists, Heavy Hitters, and Full Circle, he recently toured with J-Live, getting the crowd hype with scratch routines.

There’s no one phrase that describes this diverse squad. You have gangster shit, punch-lines, storylines, battle raps, concept songs, party shit, hardcore and witty. Not really concerned with constantly evolving subcategories, The Plague members do what the fuck they want and just make sure it comes out hot.

MECCA: I know once we drop an album together, the media will label us whatever they want. I just do me. Let them call it.

Substantial: Don’t call me a “battle MC” Just an “MC”. There’s 13 tracks on my album. Only 3 of them are battle-tracks. I’m a lot more complex than that and so are the people around me.

Maryland native, Substantial’s album, “To This Union A Sun Was Born”, a huge success in Japan, is now available stateside on Vinyl LP.

Lately, the Plague has found itself in less battles, and more studio sessions, focused on making classic music. They are working on their crew album, tentatively titled "Outbreak", in the tradition of Def Squad, D.I.T.C., and Wu Tang Clan.

PACK FM: Battling is important in terms of proving your skills and getting your name out, but…the ability to make good music is what makes an artist.

So who’s making the music? Well, WildChild and Tonedeff pump out beats for members of the crew and many other outside artists, both Hip-Hop and R&B. The other Plague heads are all newer to the game, but have been coming up with hot tracks as well. Other producers who’ve made beats for Plague members include Megahurtz, Nottz, Domingo, Celph Titled, Jean Grae, Kno, Deacon The Villainm, Elite and Nujabes.

And what do we know of Kameel-Yen, the only female Plague member? She’s rocked a few mixtapes and is on a Plague song produced by PackFM, which can be found on the Frank151 compilation CD, but other than a handful of impressive performances at shows, she has remained very mysterious.

Kameel-Yen: I been on the low, blending in to the back for a while, but I’m about to step up and show that I’m not the “token girl” of the crew.

Also known as “Gang Green”, The Plague is coming at the industry from every angle. From the streets to the club, from the cipher to the studio, from battles to songs, from underground to mainstream radio and video, their presence is slowly infecting the masses. “The Plaaaaaague … is spreeaaaadiing!”

Links: [Substantial] :: [PackFM] :: [Tonedeff] :: [Mecca] :: [Session] :: [Bad Seed] :: [HYDRA] :: [DP-One]
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