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AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
WITH RAP ARTIST NUMSKULL OF THE PLATINUM GROUP "THE
LUNIZ"...
Before you check out the interview lemme rewind the
clock to the year 1995. Actually lemme take it back
to 94 when DRU DOWN released his classic album
"Explicit Game". That album was a hit from start to
finish. But more importantly the album prepared the
rap scene for for 2 new rappers named NUMSKULL &
YUKMOUTH who were known as THE LUNIZ. It was the
first time they'd appeared on anything and thier
collab track ended up being the standout song on the
cd. About a year later THE LUNIZ dropped thier first
album "OPERATION STACKOLA". Almost as soon as it was
released the hits "I GOT 5 ON IT" and "PLAYA HATA"
were saturating hip hop radio stations all over. The
album ended up going platinum very soon afterwards!
This led to some extensive touring with the likes of
NOTORIOUS B.I.G. and JODECI. These tours in the U.S.
and overseas would take up the better part of 2 years.
As 1997 rolled in so did the anticipation of THE
LUNIZ 2nd album "LUNITIK MUZIK" which remains one of
the most memorable rap albums released in the 90's.
The album was a big success with the fans and went
gold in record sales. Besides featuring a ton of
collabs with such big name artists as- REDMAN,
EIGHTBALL & MJG, TOO $HORT, E-40, and more...the album
really showcased THE LUNIZ lyrical talents. In the
years that followed both members of THE LUNIZ have
stayed extremely busy with solo projects(including
YUKMOUTH's GOLD debut album), various group projects,
and recording more material for thier 3rd and beyond
LUNIZ albums. Okay, now that I've caught you up to
date on things. Lets find out exactly what's going on
in the life of a LUNIZ member- NUMSKULL. Enjoy!
HODGE- It’s been exactly 1 year since I saw you rock
the mic with SHOCK-G on DIGITAL UNDERGROUND’s “Sex &
The Studio Tour”. At that time you were promoting a
group project called “Ghetto Storm, Hittaz on the
Payroll”. Do you have any albums in the works right
now?
NUMSKULL- Right now I’m finishing my NUMSKULL solo
album titled X-GAMES, cause I do a lot of X or maybe
the DRANK-A-LOT album, cause I drank a lot. Plus I
got this CALI-BAN album which is comin. It’s a couple
of oldschool cats from Oakland rapping with me. We
got names like FIDEL FIASCO, IATOLA CAANUMMY(which is
NUMSKULL), CHEESEY WHOSAIN, EEDOLF HITLER. We’re
gonna put together an album, like you know a terrorist
album.
HODGE- It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 10
years since THE LUNIZ dropped the classic album
OPERATION STACKOLA. That album took the rap industry
by storm! However, many fans including myself feel
that THE LUNIZ 2nd album LUNITIK MUZIK managed to
surpass your amazing debut album. However, OPERATION
STACKOLA went Platinum while LUNITIK MUZIK went gold
in record sales. Why do you suppose that even though
your second album received better reviews, OPERATION
STACKOLA still remains your biggest seller?
NUMSKULL- The song “I GOT 5 ON IT” was a classic, and
that album was a classic you couldn’t deny that. The
LUNITIK MUZIK album was an album that really showcased
me and YUKMOUTH. It didn’t get the kind of exposure
that it should have got because of the record label.
The record label just figured that they would only
stick to singles and didn’t have to push the album,
because “I GOT 5 ON IT” took off by itself and they
expected something like that from this album. But, on
your 2nd album or sophomore album you always have to
promote the album to let everybody know who you are
why you’re worth their money. And the label didn’t do
that for us.
HODGE- A few years back I read some articles on the
internet stating that your partner YUKMOUTH had beef
with SCARFACE and RAP-A-LOT Records. Weren’t you guys
on RAP-A-LOT for your 3rd album release SILVER & BLACK
in 2002? Did this fued hurt the album?
NUMSKULL- Yeah, yeah we were. We were on RAP-A-LOT
for the SILVER & BLACK album, and cause of the beef
that didn’t go very well. That 3rd album didn’t go
like we hoped because I guess RAP-A-LOT don’t put no
promotion in their artists either. We even went to
RAP-A-LOT and was like we don’t want this album to be
like the last album with no promotion and no money put
into it. And I guess nobody listens to the artists.
Everybody thinks artists are just dumbies who rap and
collect money. We can’t collect the money if ya’ll
don’t promote us and give people something to talk
about. So that was kinda an ugly situation with them.
HODGE- My personal favorite of all the LUNIZ and
LUNIZ related albums was the CLEE & DRANK-A-LOT cd you
made with DIGITAL UNDERGROUND’s CLEE in 2000. That
album is a comical gem amongst rap albums. The parady
song “Livin La Vida Broka”, “Jack Off”, “Family
Affair”, and “No DNA feat. SHOCK-G” really showcase
the comical genius of the album. Ever think of
releasing another CLEE & DRANK-A-LOT album?
NUMSKULL- Yeah. The thing about me and CLEE is that
me and CLEE have been best friends for a lot of years.
We always wanted to rap together but I was always
involved in something else. I was always on tour or
outta the country. I couldn’t do nothing with him.
But when we got the time we came together and we made
that CLEE & DRANK-A-LOT album. Once we made that
album, right when we finished it…we wasn’t gonna
listen to nobody and what nobody said. We already
knew the album was a hit. And we gonna continue to
make albums. We just have busy schedules right now.
He’s busy with his SEX & THE STUDIO project. I got my
groups that I’m working with. So it’s just a lot of
work right now. But yes, theirs definitely gonna be
another CLEE & DRANK-A-LOT album.
HODGE- Your LUNIZ partner and longtime homie YUKMOUTH
has been releasing impressive solo’s since his Gold
debut album THUGGED OUT, THE ALBULATION in 99.
Besides yourself, it seems like TECH N9NE has appeared
on more of his guest tracks than anyone else. Are you
also a friend or fan of TECH N9NE? Would you ever
consider linking up with him for a song?
NUMSKULL- TECH N9NE is one of the best rappers that I
know in the industry right now! I have nothing bad to
say about TECH. That is my man. We done traveled
together. Went outta the country together. Everything
TECH does I love and I’ll support him forever.
HODGE- I heard a rumor that the Underground LUNIZ hit
“OAKLAND RAIDERS”, from your SILVER & BLACK album was
almost another big radio hit for you guys. Weren’t
you even asked to perform that track at the Superbowl
a few years back? What happened with that?
NUMSKULL- We was gonna do it at the Superbowl, but AL
DAVIS denied us. I have no idea why. But from what
we got, he eventually said no and that was it.
HODGE- Last year I purchased the aldult DVD/CD SEX &
THE STUDIO. That shit is hot! I had no idea what to
expect, but both the DVD and the CD are well worth it.
The DVD features a ton of extras like Celebrity
Interviews with SNOOP DOGG, WARREN G, REDMAN, NAUGHTY
BY NATURE, YOURSELF and many others. Your also
included on the music video “PUT YOUR THANG ON ME”.
Plus, your featured on all kinds of tracks on the
bonus CD as well. Is their gonna be more SEX & THE
STUDIO DVD/CD’s? Will you be on them as well?
NUMSKULL- Yeah. Actually we’re putting out a Episode
2 of SEX & THE STUDIO soon. ME, EDDIE P(from the
HITTAZ ON THE PAYROLL), and MONEY-B of DIGITAL
UNDERGROUND have the first single off of the cd.
HODGE- You’ve worked and toured with such notorious
party animals as 2 LIVE CREW and DIGITAL UNDERGROUND.
Any wild road trip stories you can share with me?
NUMSKULL- Man, everything that could
happen...happened on tour with those cats. I was
coming in as a newcomer. I didn’t know what to
expect. But when I got out there I had a ball because
I was a real person. I knew how to deal with other
people. I’m a person that can talk to everybody. So
when you go out on tour and if you can’t do that you
won’t have fun. But me I’m that type of person, an
acquarious. So I get along with everybody. I had fun
anywhere and everywhere. With me, you can take me to
a funeral and I’d still have fun.
HODGE- I was fortunate enough to get the PRE-MASTER
from SHOCK-G(HUMPTY HUMP) of his upcoming
HALLUCINATIONS album. He recently told me that he’s
changed the album title to “FEAR OF A MIXED PLANET”,
and that the final release will also have a few more
differences than the Pre-Master. Will your track
“OPPINIONS” with SHOCK still be featured on his
upcoming solo album?
NUMSKULL- Yeah it will. I do that song with him
“live” on tours to.
HODGE- Can you clear up the old rumor that when you
first broke into the Music Business the rapper TOO
$HORT refused to work with you guys cause you’d steal
his shine?
NUMSKULL- That’s very true. All the beef really
surrounded CHRIS HICKS who was our executive producer
at that time. Everybody finally got enough sense to
realize we all needed to talk about it and see what’s
really going on. We talked about it and ironed out
all the lil problems and everything. We talked about
it and realized all the beef was really over nothing.
Then we were able to work together and made a classic
track with him on our 2nd album.
HODGE- Many fans felt that the collaboration track
“SURVIVE” you did with SNOOP DOGG on the TURF STORIES
soundtrack was the standout song on the cd. What was
it like working with a rap icon such as SNOOP DOGG?
NUMSKULL- We see SNOOP like every now and then and
he’s always been a good person to us. I ain’t got
nothing bad to say about SNOOP. He’s just a regular
person just like anybody else. It was good for him to
come in and help us out on the track like that when we
were still trying to make a name for ourselves in the
industry.
HODGE- I’ve heard a radio remix you did with R.
KELLY for P.DIDDY’s “SATISFY YOU” single. What album
did this remix ever end up on anyways?
NUMSKULL- Yeah, the “SATISFY YOU” Remix with ME & R.
KELLY. We did that at interprise studio in L.A.. I
don’t even think it was on an album or anything. I
just think it was released on a maxi single and for
the radio.
HODGE- In your career you’ve collaborated with such
big name musicians as- E-40, REDMAN, TOO $HORT, SNOOP
DOGG, EIGHTBALL & MJG, SPICE 1, RAPHAEL SAADIQ, MC
EIGHT, DIGITAL UNDGERGROUND, DJ QUICK, R. KELLY,
P.DIDDY, KURRUPT, DAZ DILLENGER, 2 LIVE CREW, and many
more. Is their any artists you’ve never worked with
that you’d like to ad to that list?
NUMSKULL- MICHAEL JACKSON.
HODGE- Alright, lets do a lil bit of word
association. Just say whatever comes to mind when I
saw a random musicians name. Here we go.
SHOCK-G - Musical genius.
KRS_1 - Lyricist.
SAAFIR- Talent.
SCARFACE- Gangsta.
MURS- Artist.
DEL(HIEROGLYPHICS)- Insane.
GHOSTFACE KILLAH- Don’t like his music.
TECH N9NE- One of the best performers I’ve ever seen.
SNOOP DOGG- Hustler.
E-40- Hustler.
REDMAN- Eastcoast Playa.
MC EIGHT- An Icon to me.
SPICE 1- One of the towns best artists.
KOOL KEITH- he's a nut.
HODGE- Okay, that about wraps it up man. I really
appreciate this opportunity to interview you! Any
last words for the fans reading this?
NUMSKULL- Thank you HODGE. I would never call em fans
though. Fans is short for fanatical. I would call em
my fam. F-A-M, short for family cause they feed my
family when they buy my albums and I appreciate
that.