Breakin Bread With The Bros./INTERVIEW

E.T. So whats the story of the 2 Hungry bros? How did this all begin?

2HB The answer to this question, answers the second to last two questions. We went to elementary school together and Church classes as well. Our chemistry as class clowns was unbeatable. They tried to keep us apart in all classes. I guess we showed those old Jewish teachers in the end! 2 Hungry Bros for life, since 85. It's been 25 years, a quarter century.

E.T. If there is one thing I love about 2 Hungry Bros its the soul in the production. Is there a particular sound you guys shoot for when you guys go diggin?

2HB Nope! it's not about what you pick up. We pick up a lot of dope records every time. Which records we use is usually reflective of how we feel at that moment when we are making them. The rest of the dope records are used for groove mixes.

E.T. Who are the Bros. currently working with?

2HB Our Respective women! The future is coming! We're both having boys in a few months. so right now getting money is important. we've been strictly in-house with our select few of Likwuid, I Am Many, Sleepwalkas, Janelle Renee, 8thw1, Homeboy Sandman, P.so, and Fresh Daily. We may or may not open the door to purchasers of beats with the proper quantity of monetary value. I Am Many and Likwuid are the 2 we do have in mind for the the immediate future.

E.T. "Open Buffet" tell me a little about how this project came to life?

2HB Dub MD wanted a 2 Hungry Bros project to put out because he's been an appreciator for a long time we heard. it was an opportunity. We gathered up the clan and banged out some fine music with the helpful engineering of Sosa at Ampliphonic Studios.

E.T. How did 2 Hungry Bros. get involved with AOK Collective?

2HB This sounds like asking Redman how he got involved with the Def Squad. Everyone's evolved and the natural order of things for us to work together has moved beyond a crew name. We worked together because our beats compliment their messages. We're happy to be a part of the movement that defined the last days of the Knitting Factory and 07, 08 NYC Independent Hip Hop. We had a lot of support from Sucio Smash and Squeeze Radio, Peter Agoston, Peter Rosenberg, as well as the fine folks at Brooklyn Bodega just gunning for us. We're really appreciative. For about a year we stepped back a little and struck really hard this summer again with The Good Sun and No Room For dessert. This summer the AOK Collective had South Paw Jumpinov!

E.T. Whats the industry like for independent artists... I mean how do you balance your lives and

your music?

2HB Monetarily it's been cheesy because lots of new kids are copping out with the free downloads. They're not believing in themselves hard enough to invest in themselves. We just did Open Buffet as a free download but slapped it up on Itunes anyways, because we can. For producers we're not rocking shows as front men on the mic so it's more difficult. We love hearing our music live. We use that thrill and drive that we know the audience feels to move merchandise to the fans. That's how we make our dollar.

E.T. Who would you guys like to work with in the future?

2HB Well Opio from Hiero just hit us up. We always loved their music. The west coast scene has always been intriguing and something we've been trying to break into. We want to sell more beats to good artists at this point.

E.T. What do you feel you bring to the table that other producers might not?

2HB There's a lot of square nerd types "behind the boards" kids who kill to make an appearance in a video and look all out of place and stiff. Are you kidding me!!! This is Hip Hop. You are supposed to be cool! We don't take ourselves too seriously and love to have and bring fun. Even if it's a hard kill ya self type of beat. We get in those music videos and play just as significant role in it as the artist rocking over our beat. Almost the way Diddy was in Biggie's videos but more welcome and less annoying.

E.T. What are you guys listening to nowadays? Its rough trying to please the ears in these days and times.

2HB New Kanye Album. It's very dope. The production is mind blowing. To think Kanye would work with Rza and then add synths and singing. Oh my God. Its a beautiful masterpiece. The rhymes get a lil Emo at times, but it's great. Kanye says a lot of ill $hit! He drops a lot of truths believe or not. Especially about the devaluation of female porn stars if they have sex on camera with a Black Man.

A lot of people are feeding into all the media hype and tabloids. That's some real pussy $hit. When do rap fans even feed into that? Just listen to the quality of the music.

E.T. Searching for the right records to work with must take you through a world of music.

Can both of you guys name a record that was like finding a hidden treasure once found?

2HB Rafael "Superpak" -Deep

BLack Heat "No time to Burn" -Boogz

E.T. Who inspired you guys as producers?

2HB The Beatnuts, the Rza, Prince Paul, DJ SHADOW, Domino, and Mad Lib.

E.T. Whats next for The 2 Hungry Bros.?

2HB fatherhood!

E.T. Deep what made you want to work with Ben BoogZ?

 2HB He makes great food and makes my jokes sound funny. They're mostly evil but if he laughs at them, people laugh to his laugh and it encourages me to do my worst. Also he wears nice clothes for a big guy so it lets me dress like an undercover cop all I want. Actually I think I may wear the same kind of clothes that Immortal Technique wears except comic book shirts instead of Che Guevara ones. Oh boy, Kanye must've gotten to me, I'm talking Fashion in a Hip Hop interview.

E.T. Boogz What made you want to work with Deep?

2HB Its the Good times we always have,whether we're on the road, diggin or in the studio its fun.Our Team work is impeccable.Plus He has unlimited G force, and when I say G I mean his grind is unstoppable and he's dedicated. Food is also key... we're always eating or putting each other on to good food. Who wouldn't want to be in a Super producer group with there best homie for years.Its Legendary!

E.T. Any last thoughts?

2HB Listen to the Gumpy Gandules show on Sunday nights. Listen to I Am Many. Look for his music on Itunes. Appreciate what he says. Columbia University fuktup and took away Squeeze Radio. Thank God we still have Dj Eclipse!!! Buy our music on Itunes. Thank you to all the photographers and film heads like Nicolas Heller who make us look Good. also, P.So stop defending ya boy, that video sucked a$$ warts!

For more info on the 2 Hungry Bros. click the following links: http://www.dominationrec.com/ , http://www.2hungrybros.bandcamp.com/